Picture Books That Model Writing and SEL

monkeybusinessimages / iStock The final weeks of school are exciting but overwhelming. Before becoming a literacy consultant, I was a fourth-grade teacher; one of my goals was to ensure that students had time to reflect on their accomplishments and set goals for their academic as well as social and emotional learning (SEL) the following year. I leveraged our final writing assignment and chose mentor texts to model the best examples of craft, structure, and conventions for my growing writers and illustrators. Marrying writing and reflection can be efficient and effective at the end of the year. Below, I share my favorite mentor texts that create opportunities for SEL. Start of newsletter promotion. A hand holding a phone with the Research Newsletter on the screen New! The Research Is In Get a first look at our new newsletter—a monthly roundup of education research curated by our editors, and presented in a way that’s clear, concise, and practical. Yes, count me in End of newsletter promotion. Picture Books That Boost Literacy and SEL Maurice : Maurice—a Parisian, accordion-playing dog—has music to share with the world. When times change and Maurice loses his audience, he’s heartbroken and uncertain how to survive. With help from feathered friends and memories he carries in his heart, Maurice learns how to share his gift with the world once more. As students follow his journey, there are many opportunities for them to think about responsible decision-making, self-awareness, and relationship skills. Jessixa Bagley’s book demonstrates foreshadowing; the use of precise nouns, verbs, and adjectives; different kinds of sentences (simple, compound, complex); similes and metaphors; introductory prepositional phrases; speech bubbles and dialogue to deepen character development; white space and line breaks that echo musical measures and create surprise for the reader; and rhyming action. Students can craft their own verse set to a familiar song or original composition; their lyrics can describe themes of loss and rebuilding. You can also copy the cover of the book (under the jacket), which is a replica of Maurice’s accordion, and ask students to add words to each of the keys to describe […]

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