What if you could use one mentor text to teach reading, writing, grammar, and even science or social studies—all while saving time and engaging your students? With the right approach, you can! Integrated ELA instruction doesn’t have to be overwhelming or time-consuming. In fact, with mentor texts, you can simplify your planning and create lessons that flow naturally and build on each other.
Let’s bust the myth that integrated teaching is too hard. This blog post will show you how to turn one mentor text into an all-in-one teaching tool. Plus, you’ll walk away with actionable tips and a sample to get started right away!
Raise your hand if this sounds familiar:
🙋♀️ You’re teaching skills in isolation, and connecting lessons feels forced.
🙋♀️ Finding resources that align to multiple objectives is like hunting for buried treasure.
🙋♀️ Without a structured framework, integration feels like a mountain you can’t climb.
If any of this resonates, take a deep breath—you’re not alone.
But I’m here with the answer. MENTOR TEXTS! Integrating with mentor texts doesn’t just save time. It makes your lessons more impactful and cohesive.
Mentor texts are like teaching gold. They help you:
✔️ Streamline Planning: One text can teach grammar, reading, writing, and vocabulary.
✔️ Bridge Subjects: Tie your lessons to science and social studies for deeper learning.
✔️ Engage Students: High-quality literature sparks curiosity and makes lessons memorable.
Here’s an example of how you can take one text and create a week of powerful lessons.
In this sample, I’m using Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin to seamlessly integrate reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and science into a cohesive, skill-building week.
📚 Reading Focus: Learn about Wilson Bentley’s passion for snowflakes and his determination.
Activity: Read the text aloud. Discuss how Bentley’s persistence is portrayed. Use evidence from the book to answer: “Why did Bentley keep studying snowflakes despite challenges?”
✍️ Grammar Focus: Study similes in Snowflake Bentley.
Activity: Analyze the sentence from the book: “Snow was as beautiful as butterflies, or apple blossoms.”
📝 Writing Focus: Explore the vocabulary used and how it contributes to sensory details.
Activity: Highlight words like “delicate” and “intricate.” Discuss how these choices create imagery. Define vocabulary using context clues.
📚 Reading Focus: Integrate text with nonfiction sources to understand Bentley’s scientific contributions.
Activity: Pair the book with a nonfiction article. Use a T-chart to compare how the two texts describe Bentley.
✍️ Grammar Focus: Study similes in Snowflake Bentley.
Activity: Have students create their own winter-themed similes.
📝 Writing Focus: Apply similes and sensory details to writing.
Activity: Write a descriptive paragraph about a snowflake, using sensory details and similes.
📚 Reading Focus: Integrate text with nonfiction sources to understand Bentley’s scientific contributions.
Activity: Read another article about how snowflakes form. Use close reading strategies to identify information that was also shared in the other texts, as well as new information. Answer text dependent questions.
✍️ Grammar Focus: Focus on vocabulary development with vivid verbs from the book like “pelted” and “jumbled.”
Activity: Create analogies (e.g., “toss : fling:: pelted: threw”). Revise sentences with vivid verbs.
📝 Writing Focus: Strengthen writing through revision.
Activity: Revise the descriptive paragraph from Day 2 to include at least two vivid verbs.
❄️ Science Connection: Examine a video about snowflakes or Bentley’s photography. Discuss the shapes and symmetry of snowflakes.
✍️ Grammar Focus: Imitate the author’s style and structure of writing.
Activity: Write a sentence or two about snowflakes using a simile and sensory details.
📚 Reading Focus: Reflect on the central message of Snowflake Bentley: perseverance and the beauty of nature.
Activity: Group discussion: “How does Bentley’s story inspire us to pursue our passions?”
📝 Writing Focus: Reflect on information learned to write about it.
Activity: Respond to literature: “Describe a time you worked hard for something, like Bentley did.”
📚 Reading Focus: Integrate information learned to write about it.
Activity: Using evidence from the article(s) to support their answer, students should explain why snowflakes are unique.
✍️ Grammar Focus: Review/assess understand of similes.
Activity: Students identify things being compared in similes, and write their own.
📝 Writing Focus: Finalize the response to literature.
Activity: Direct students to be sure they have included Bentley’s achievements as well as descriptive language.
❄️ Science Connection: Draw and label a snowflake diagram based on Bentley’s photographs. Include terms like “dendrites” and “hexagonal plates.”
📕 Combine Skills Naturally: Grammar, reading, writing, and vocabulary flow together.
📙 Connect Across Subjects: Build bridges between ELA and content areas like science or social studies.
📗 Save Time: One text does the heavy lifting for multiple lessons.
📘 Engage Students: Memorable stories and vivid examples hook your learners.
Transforming your lessons with mentor texts is easier than you think. Want to learn exactly how to do this? Join the Mentor Text Makeover Challenge, where I’ll guide you step-by-step through transforming your lessons in just 5 days.
You’ll walk away with:
✨ A reusable system to save time and stress.
✨ Strategies to seamlessly connect reading, writing, and grammar.
✨ The confidence to create lessons that truly captivate your students.
It’s just $10 to join, and the challenge kicks off January 26! (Replays will be available for all challenge members!)
Don’t miss this chance to revolutionize the way you teach.
