Literacy

Mentor Texts

Mentor texts for writing, are pieces of text we can hold up as examples of good writing. A mentor text could be a single sentence or an entire book. It could be something written by you, a student, a published author or someone else entirely.

Mentor texts allow you to show your students what quality writing looks like rather than telling them.

Used well, they become a magician’s trick book; when you pull them apart with students and discuss the author’s craft moves, you can remove the smoke and mirrors and demystify the sorcery that goes into effective writing. With a clear view behind the scenes your students can then recreate this same magic in their own writing.

So what are some of the Mentor Texts are Solway students investigating this term?

Prep

Dirt by Sea by     Michael Wagner

It is a heartfelt Australian story about a father and daughter who take a road trip from their inland home to the coast

Handa’s Surprise – Eileen Browne

 A children's classic featuring a young Kenyan girl named Handa who decides to bring a basket of fruit to her friend, Akeyo, in a neighbouring village. Unbeknownst to Handa, a series of animals steal the fruit one by one from the basket she is carrying on her head, only for a happy and unexpected surprise to await them both in the end

A Ticket Around the World-Natalia Diaz and Melissa Owens

This book takes young readers on a global journey with a boy who visits friends in 13 different countries across six continents.

Year 1 and 2

 Hey, Little Ant is a children's picture book that tells the story of a conversation between a child and an ant. The book, originally a song written by the father-daughter team of Phillip and Hannah Hoose, explores themes of empathy, peer pressure, and respect for all living creatures

      The True Story of the Three Little Pigs – by Jon Scieszka

A popular and humorous retelling, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!, by author Jon Scieszka and illustrator Lane Smith. This book presents a parody of the original tale from the perspective of the "Big Bad Wolf," who insists he was framed.

The Day the Crayons Quit – Oliver Jeffers

The story follows a boy named Duncan who loves to color. One day, he finds that instead of crayons, his crayon box contains a pile of letters, all saying the same thing: "We quit!". Each letter is from a different crayon, detailing its specific frustrations and reasons for quitting.

Year 3 and 4                                    

Finding our Heart by Thomas Mayo     

Finding Our Heart teaches children about the First Nations' history, culture, and the call for constitutional recognition. The book frames the Uluru Statement as a gift to all Australians, encouraging them to help "find the heart of the nation".

Czars and Shoguns- Read2Learn

Students will be exploring a knowledge rich unit about Russia and Japan in the period from 800 to 1800. This unit considers whether Russia, a small principality at the time should follow the east or west.

Year 5 and 6        

Can you see me? 

This book is based on the co-author's personal experiences with autism and is perfect for younger readers and young adults. It explores the challenges of hiding your true self and learning to embrace your unique identity.

Runt by Craig Silvey

 Eleven-year-old Annie Shearer, who lives in the drought-stricken Australian town of Upson Downs, adopts a small stray dog named Runt. Runt is an incredibly skilled agility dog, but there is one problem: he will only perform when no one else is watching. To save her family's farm from a greedy landowner, Annie must enter Runt in the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London, forcing them to overcome their biggest challenge yet.

Sarah Watkins

Acting Assistant Principal

Literacy Learning Specialist