Mini-Lesson

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 students read the rest of the story independently, encourage them to jot down three examples of craft they might want to try in their own writing. Then, have students discuss the examples they selected with a partner. Encourage students to be on the lookout for writing ideas whenever they read.