Books Selected as Mentor Text Favorites for Strategy Instruction
Synopsis
(K-Grade 5) This is a story about a good dog named Hally Tosis who has a big problem. She has bad breath. The Tosis family is sad because they are going to give their dog away because her breath is so bad, but something happens that allows them to keep their dog. This picture book is funny with lots of wordplay.
Blog
Dog Breath is a great mentor text for strategies such as: character traits, plot/story problem/resolution, setting, written summary, main idea, word play and many more. Students of all ages love this book. I have used it in K-5 as a Read Aloud and as a text to model strategies. It is a short text which makes it great for mini-lessons. Students love to look at the pictures and reread the story because they always find something new each time they read it. It is a great book to have in your library.
Synopsis
(K-Grade 5) This is a wonderful story about an elderly man who has just come from Mexico to live with his daughter and grandson Francisco in California. The grandfather does not speak English and allows his grandson Abuelo to go with him to translate for him as they look for work as day labor. Abuelo convinces an employer that his grandfather is a fine gardener, but in fact his grandfather is a carpenter. Abuelo and his grandfather are taken and dropped off by the new employer and are asked to pull the weeds and leave the plants along the side of a highway. After their new employer drives off in his van, the two set to work-but they pull up all of the plants and leave the weeds. Abuelo is taught a valuable lesson by his grandfather when they agree to go back the next day and repair the damage for no pay. It is a loving story and a great lesson for students taught by an honest grandfather. The characters in the story show a strong sense of honesty and integrity.
Blog
This is great story to use as a mentor text for character traits, cause /effect, plot/story problem and resolution, setting, main idea, written summary, inference. I love to use this book because of the strong characters and the valuable lesson taught in the book. Bilingual students in your class will especially love this book.
Synopsis
(Grades 1-5) Hachiko was a real dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station for ten years after his owner died. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day. This is Hachiko’s story through the eyes of Kentaro, a young boy whose life is changed forever by his friendship with this very special dog. The legend of Hachiko will touch your heart and inspire you as it has inspired thousands all over the world.
Blog
The first time I read this book the kids were amazed. They talked about it long after and asked to read it again and again. It sparked an interest in the true story and some students did more research to get more details about the true story. Students were excited to know that there is a monument of Hachiko in the Tokyo Train Station. For older students there are several versions of this story that can be used for research and literature groups. This is a great book for character traits, setting, plot/story problem /resolution, inference, theme, summary, generalizations, main idea and many more strategies. Your kids will love this story and the loyalty of the dog Hachiko.
Synopsis
(Grades 2-5) It is Iditarod day. Fifty-six dog teams will race through 1,151 miles of rugged Alaskan terrain from Anchorage to Nome. Akiak knows these miles well. As lead dog, she has raced the incredible trail before, but never won. She is ten years old: if she is going to win, it must be now.
When snow hurts her paw on the fourth day out, Mick, her musher, must leave her behind and continue the race without her. The rules say once a dog is dropped from the race, it may not rejoin the team. But Akiak doesn't know about rules. She is a lead dog, and her place is with the team. Nothing, not blizzards, not breaking ice, not the people out to catch her, will stop Akiak from catching up to her team. The question is, can the team still win?
Blog
This story will warm your heart. It is a great story to use as a mentor text because it has everything. It has strong characters, setting, plot/story problem and resolution, cause/effect, new vocabulary, inference, sequencing, foreshadowing, and fact and opinion. This is a story you can go back to again and again to dig deeper into the text. This is a great story about the relationship between humans and dogs that the students will love. They will never forget this story.
Synopsis
(Grades 2-5) Charlie, a fuzzy gray cat, walked out of the woods one evening and into Elizabeth's and Sarah's hearts. Now he sleeps on their beds, lets them dress him up in doll clothes, and laps up warm milk on chilly nights. But where does Charlie go during the day?
It's not until a storm keeps Charlie away one night that the two sisters discover his other, daytime, home. But maybe that's not such a bad thing. Because, just like Elizabeth and Sarah, Charlie has two houses, two beds, and two families who love him very, very much!
Blog
Your students will enjoy this story and many students who go between parents can identify with Elizabeth and Sarah. This is a great story for personal connections for students who have pets.