Read Like a Writer

Do you remember the last time you wrote a resume? What is the first thing you did? I would bet my lunch money that you went online and found resume examples or templates. You probably needed a reminder of what a good resume looks like. You knew better than to just sit down and try to write.

When we embark on any new learning adventure, we do better when we are allowed to see examples of what GOOD looks like. This is why we need to inundate our students with great children's literature. We need to teach them to read like a writer, noticing the strategies real authors use.

If you are looking for guidance in choosing books to share with your class, visit the Book Savors blog. The blog author is a literacy coach who posts a book review every three days. In addition to summarizing the book, she gives teaching points.

She recently did a book review on Splat the Cat, by Rob Scotton. It just so happens that I picked this book up at a book fair two weeks ago! Because of this blog, I now have six ideas for mini lessons to go with the book. That's not just GOOD, that's GREAT!