• Poetry Mentor Texts: Some Bugs by Andrea DiTerlizzi

    Some Bugs By Andrea DiTerlizzi Illustrated by Brendan Wenzel Beach Lane, 2014 Some Bugs is one of those books that completely absorbs the reader in it’s fun but spare language. It’s a brilliant 94 words! Like Raindrops Roll, it’s one I typed up because I wanted to study the…

  • Poetry as Mentor Texts: Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre

    April is poetry month. Every Friday in April, I will feature a poetic picture book that can be used as a mentor text for writing. For past Poetry Month resources, check out these resources. Raindrops Roll By April Pulley Sayre Beach Lane, 2015 I can’t say enough good things…

  • PiBoIdMo Prep 2014: Mining for Ideas

    Come November, I’m usually physically and emotionally spent. I’m exhausted from the first few months of school and anticipating the exhaustion of the holidays. But a challenge comes along every November that I just can’t pass up. PiBoIdMo. Picture Book Idea Month, started by the amazing Tara Lazar. I’ve…

  • Baseball Books as Mentor Texts: BARBED WIRE BASEBALL by Marissa Moss

    Barbed Wire Baseball By Marissa Moss Illustrated by Yuko Shimizu Abrams, 2013 Kenichi Zenimura loved to play baseball. He play baseball for years. Until World War II, when he and other Japanese families lived their lives in internment camps. But inside that bleak camp, Zeni made a baseball field.…

  • SHE SANG PROMISE by Jan Godown Annino, Mentor Text Lesson Plan

    SHE SANG PROMISE: THE STORY OF BETTY MAE JUMPER by Jan Godown Annino Illustrated by Lisa Desimini A few weeks ago, I featured SHE SANG PROMISE as a mentor text on the Grog site. This week, I’m debuting the full length lesson plan. SHE SANG PROMISE MENTOR TEXT LESSON…

  • Ode to Scrivener

    Writer friends often hear me talk about my love for Scrivener. In fact, on several Facebook writing groups, I profess my love for Scrivener often. Here’s the thing, I still haven’t mastered Scrivener, but I’m overwhelmed with the sheer possibilities that it offers. What do I use Scrivener for? Blog…