This clip shows the first two steps of a mini-lesson: "Connect" and "Teach." I connect today's lesson with previous lessons, reminding everyone that today's work is part of our ongoing personal narrative unit. Next, I introduce what I want the students to try in today's lesson, which is to use a mentor text.

Mini-lessons and the books that help to guide your teaching point

Fantastic list of mini-lessons and books

Memoir unit resource

"Launching Readers' Workshop"

Resource for our first readers' workshop unit written by Stevi Quate

"Using Literature the First Weeks of School"

ATN READING LIST Welcome to ATN Reading Lists. ATN Reading Lists was started in 1996 as part of a librarian collaborative project, All Together Now, begun by Dale Copps. The intention was that librarians could not only use this resource but contribute to it as well. At that time, there were several of us who began web sites and hoped that we could use this fairly new technology as a place to share and collaborate. As well intended as the goal was, it soon became apparent that the vision was really not viable at that time. Dale handed the list over to Nancy Keane in 1999."

Mini-lesson: improving sentences with thoughtful prepositional phrases. We have this text in the middle school library: 398.5 MAC

"10 Ways to Develop Expository Writing Skills With The New York Times"

Great ideas for mentor text lessons focusing on the six traits of writing, using picture books at grade levels 3-12

Boxes and Bullets Graphic Organizer

Personal Essay Unit

Poetry unit of study