Mini-Lesson

Reading Like a Writer

Mini-Lesson: Grades 2-3

Objective: Students will notice craft when they read.

1. Start a discussion about writing. Ask: How do authors develop the skills that help them write interesting stories? Point out that good writers are critical readers. When they read a story, they are on the lookout for techniques to try out in their own writing. It's called reading like a writer.

2. Pass out a timeforkids.com story. Focusing on the first paragraph, demonstrate reading like a writer. (Examples of craft you might point out include: a lead that grabs the reader's attention, interesting or precise language, a variety of longer and shorter sentences and descriptions that help the reader to visualize what happened.)

3. As you read the rest of the story together, encourage students to jot down one example of craft they might want to try in their own writing. Then, have each student discuss the example he or she selected with a partner. Encourage students to be on the lookout for writing ideas whenever they read.