Yes, I have a list of standard mentor texts for different genres that I will drop into their project library/source list to get them started. For example, if a student wants to do a writing project using magical realism, I will provide a few examples for them and they will then find an example on their own. (Their "project library" or source list needs to have at least one craft text (how to write X), one research text, and one mentor text.)
Sometimes their projects are in a genre I have not researched before, and I have to go digging! About four years ago, a student wanted to write an Open Letter to our school district, so we both researched for examples of Open Letters as a genre.
Because everyone in the room is doing a different project, I don't typically do whole class lessons unless it's something that applies across the board like research tips, revision tips, time management tips, writing identity, etc. But typically I might have one group who wants to write a blog, for example, so I might pull them in a small group to do a mini-lesson on blogging structure or tone. I almost always have several people who are writing poetry - so I might pull them out for some mini-lesson regarding line breaks or form.
Do you find the mentor texts for them for the 3rd setup as well? Whole class lessons or mini lessons? Thank you!
Yes, I have a list of standard mentor texts for different genres that I will drop into their project library/source list to get them started. For example, if a student wants to do a writing project using magical realism, I will provide a few examples for them and they will then find an example on their own. (Their "project library" or source list needs to have at least one craft text (how to write X), one research text, and one mentor text.)
Sometimes their projects are in a genre I have not researched before, and I have to go digging! About four years ago, a student wanted to write an Open Letter to our school district, so we both researched for examples of Open Letters as a genre.
Because everyone in the room is doing a different project, I don't typically do whole class lessons unless it's something that applies across the board like research tips, revision tips, time management tips, writing identity, etc. But typically I might have one group who wants to write a blog, for example, so I might pull them in a small group to do a mini-lesson on blogging structure or tone. I almost always have several people who are writing poetry - so I might pull them out for some mini-lesson regarding line breaks or form.
Hope this helps!