This week I would like to explain how we use ‘mentor texts’ in the classroom.

You might hear your child talking about their class ‘mentor text’ and I wanted to give you a quick and easy understanding of what they are and why they're so valuable!

Think of mentor texts as our classroom superheroes for learning! They are simply high-quality books or pieces of writing that we use to show students how good readers and writers work. We also use mentor texts as an exemplary tool to explore textual concepts, such as, point of view or how a story is structured.

Mentor Texts for Reading: Our Guiding Stars
When we're focusing on reading, these mentor texts help us demonstrate specific reading skills. For example, we might use a picture book to show how to:

• Decode tricky words: How good readers sound out unfamiliar words
• Make predictions: What might happen next in the story based on what we've read.
• Infer information: Reading between the lines to understand what the author isn't directly saying.
• Discuss characters: Noticing and talking about the different qualities and actions of characters.

Instead of just telling students how to do these things, we show them examples in real books using quality. It's like having a guide showing us the best way to navigate a new place!

Mentor Texts for Writing: Learning from the Masters
Just as they help with reading, mentor texts are powerful tools for improving writing.

Instead of just saying "good writers use repetition," we can show students a passage from a mentor text where an author uses repetition effectively. Then, we can discuss why the author chose to repeat those words or phrases and what impact it has on the reader.

These mentor texts help students learn about the "craft" of writing –  things like:

• How to start a story in an engaging way.
• How to use descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind
  How to organize their ideas clearly.
• How to use different sentence structures for effect (and so much more!)

Why are Mentor Texts Important?
Using mentor texts brings stories and writing to life! They provide clear examples and inspire students to try new things in their own reading and writing. The texts we choose are carefully selected to be engaging and to challenge students in ways that help them grow their skills.

We hope this gives you a clearer picture of what mentor texts are and how they're helping your child become a more confident and skilled reader and writer. Engage your children in conversations about their classroom ‘mentor texts’ and enrich their lives with quality literature!

Nerissa McCartney
Leader of Teaching and Learning