From Models to Mastery: Using Mentor Texts to Build Powerful Readers and Writers

This workshop includes:

• Three meetings
  • February 12^th, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, LBPSB, in-person
  • March 13^th, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, LBPSB, in-person
  • May 7^th, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, LBPSB, in-person

Total number of participants: 15
This offer is available in English.

Requirement for Participation

• Authorization from school administrator

General Selection Criteria

In view of the popularity of certain project proposals and the number of spaces, selection criteria have been retained:

• A proportional representation of the targeted schools of the two English-language school boards in Montréal as a priority, and of the three French-language school service centers depending on the spaces available
• A representation of the cycles
• The participation of the individual in other offers of professional development (current school year).

Description

What do we know about the opportunities students have had to engage with rich, meaningful literature? Do we underestimate students' abilities if they have not had these opportunities? In what ways can such literature help reduce educational inequities and narrow the gap in achievement for students from disadvantaged backgrounds?

Mentor texts allow teachers to explicitly teach reading and writing strategies using quality picture books as models.

Using mentor texts in the classroom supports the interconnectedness of reading and writing in the development of literacy for all students, at all grade levels. Mentor texts can be used as an equitable classroom practice to develop more proficient literacy skills in reading and writing, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Foundational reading and writing strategies are developed and taught and all students can learn to be great readers and writers!

During this three day workshop, teachers will have the opportunity to plan and experiment with various and varied picture books to use as mentor texts that can be implemented in their classrooms the very next day!

This offer includes an experimentation that allows participants to reinvest the contents in the targeted program components:

• Subject Area: Languages

Specific and Measurable Goals

• Develop an awareness of the use of mentor texts as an equitable classroom practice
• Describe how using mentor texts to develop literacy skills can better serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Identify rich, meaningful children’s literature as examples of mentor texts
• Plan and experiment, using one's own classroom library as well as new picture books, activities to develop literacy strategies in reading and writing in the classroom
• Develop a critical view of the impact of using mentor texts to teach reading and writing skills

Costs

No cost assumed by the school

A Montréal School for All covers the following costs:

• Substitution or replacement
  If applicable, a fixed amount is allocated by A Montréal School for All to school boards and school service centers to cover the costs of substitution or replacement.

Professional Development Team

Sheila Dunwoodie, pedagogical consultant, école LBPSB
Nancy Saltarelli, Professional Resource, A Montréal School for All

A Montréal School For All

Contact person
Nancy Saltarelli : nancy.saltarelli@education.gouv.qc.ca