In today’s Building Strong Authentic Reading Experiences episode we’ll dive into the benefits of using mentor texts within your reading instruction.

As a mentor teacher and reading coach, I’ve been asked several questions about mentor texts from finding the right kind of text to use as a mentor to how you actually use it within the minilesson.

Answers to these questions fill this episode all about finding and using mentor texts within your reading instruction.

What you’ll gain from this episode…

1. What is a Mentor Text?


2. So just what makes a good mentor text?


3. How do I find good mentor texts?


4. What do I need readers to gain from the mentor text?


5. Where do I start looking?


6. Does the text support what my readers need?


7. Just what do I look for in a mentor text?


8. How do you use a mentor text?


9. When do I teach from a mentor text?


10. How can I revisit a mentor text in a minilesson?


11. What part of the text will I use?


12. How will I use the text to teach the strategy or skill?


13. How will I engage my readers in the text use?


14. How will my readers be able to access the text after the lesson for reference?


15. Will there be other mentor texts to illustrate the same strategy or skill?

If you are looking to revisit these ideas about mentor texts you can find it in these resources linked below.

Grab Using Mentor Texts free download inside the Literacy Treasures FREE Resource Library

Looking for a planning tool for a mentor text, check out Mentor Text Considerations Tool

To read more about using mentor texts in reading instruction visit the Literacy Treasures Blog

Long term planning resource How to Plan Readers' Workshop to Ignite Your Readers All Year Long

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Here at Literacy Treasures, I LOVE to talk about reading and writing and share with teachers all that I've learned about what it takes to build strong readers and writers. I have immersed myself in the research of Lucy Calkins, Jennifer Serravallo, Stephanie Harvey, Debbie Miller, Carl Anderson, Gay Su Pinnell, Irene Fountas and so many others.  Every resource, strategy, tool, minilesson and teaching tip that is shared on Literacy Treasures is rooted in this research.

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