What if writing became the most joyful and meaningful part of your students’ school day? In this two-day workshop, you’ll explore the reimagined edition of Wondrous Words and discover how studying powerful mentor texts can spark students’ passion, purpose, and skill as writers.  

Together, we’ll closely examine mentor texts to notice and name the craft techniques writers use across genres—and explore how to bring these discoveries into your classroom through strengths-based, culturally sustaining practices. You’ll leave with practical, flexible teaching approaches that build students’ confidence, deepen their understanding of writing as a meaningful act, and support your district’s writing standards.  

Participants will: 

• Gain practical strategies to enrich and extend their existing writing curriculum through student-centered craft study 
• Develop the habit of mind to read like a writer  
• Study a range of mentor texts to identify craft moves that writers make related to word choice and text structure  
• Learn how to plan and facilitate organized inquiry that helps students transfer craft into their own writing  
• Build a repertoire of language prompts and teaching moves that support intentional decision-making in writing and drawing  
• Examine the key elements of student-driven planning. 
• Leave with a curated list of mentor texts you can use right away to enhance your writing curriculum