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Sunday, July 7, 2013

Bedhead-Writing Workshop Mentor Text

Happy Sunday everyone! I am back from my mini-vacation to Rhode Island and am excited to link up with Collaboration Cuties to share a Mentor Text with you.


This week we are sharing a favorite language arts mentor text. I want to share one of my favorites to use during Writing Workshop.

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Bedhead by Margie Palatini is a fantastic book to share with your kiddos near picture day. The story starts out with a boy named Oliver. He has bedhead....not just any bedhead, but the big-bad kind. The story shares how Oliver and his family try to get rid of his bedhead with very funny results. Things seem just fine until Oliver arrives at school (with his bedhead crammed under a hat) and discovers that it is picture day! I won't spoil the ending for you-but if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. You kiddos will love it!

Once I have read this book to my students, I have them write down any "seed ideas" in their Writer's Notebook that they thought of when they heard the story. Many students will jot down an idea that has to do with a bad haircut, hair day, or picture day! I let the students quickly share their lists with their table group and then I normally have my students do a quick write-they pick one of their ideas and write for five minutes. When the five minutes are up, the students set aside their writing and we look at the story again. This time I show the book under our Elmo, and we look at the words the author used. This book has lots of examples of onomatopoeia, descriptive details, and dialog (just to name a few.) The students and I "notice" what the author is doing and then I have them try to do it in their quick write. It is a fun way for them to try a new skill in a very nonthreatening way.

Margie Palatini has a great website that actually has PDF's with teaching ideas on it. You can go here to check them out.

What are some of your favorite language arts mentor texts? Have any of you used Bedhead before?

13 comments:

  1. I have heard of this book but still haven't gotten it! I will have to get it because I've heard great things about it! Thanks for sharing the resources that go with it!

    Thanks for linking up!
    Amanda
    Collaboration Cuties

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  2. This book looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing.
    Courtney
    Polka Dot Lesson Plans

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  3. This books sounds like it can be used in so many different ways! I am definitely going to have to add this book to my library! Thanks so much for sharing-I love that students can relate so easily to this story! :)

    Amanda
    Learning to the Core

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  4. Thanks for dropping by my little corner of the web. I've never heard of this book either but it sure looks like a whole lot of fun! Putting it on my Amazon wishlist! :)

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  5. I have never heard of this book so thank you for sharing it. Your seed idea sounds like a really great idea!

    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings


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  6. I love new book! I haven't heard of this one! The seed idea is great!
    Fabulous Fifth Grade Fun

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  7. This book sounds so cute! Another one to add to my ever-growing library! I love to use picture books with my big kids.

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  8. What a great example of a text with a narrow focus. Thank you for sharing the title.
    Mary
    Fit to be Fourth
    http://fittobefourth.blogspot.com/

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  9. Sounds like a great book. Thanks for sharing. My district is diving into writing workshop this year and I am definitely looking for books to use for mentor texts. Have you ever used the book Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street? I love this book and first introduce during the launching unit. It's great for writing ideas as well as creative use of language.
    Antoinette :)

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  10. I have this book in my classroom. It is a fun read and the students enjoy it, too.

    Foreman Teaches

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  11. I have never heard of this book. I'm always looking for a new one to add during my writing instruction. I'm pinning this one right now, so I won't forget about it before my next book purchases.
    Have a great week.

    School Is a Happy Place

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  12. Just bought this book because of your post. Thanks for the idea!

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  13. Just bought this book because of your post. Thanks for the idea!

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