Reading and Writing Workshop Mini Lessons

I like to select mini lessons that can have a dual purpose. Since it is important to integrate my writing workshop with my reading workshop many of my mini lessons are well suited for both workshops. As an example, I demonstrate in class how most stories have one of several shapes. I use the Mentor Text, Ira Sleeps Over to model the triangular shaped story with the climax coming at the end of the story. Another shape that brings student writing to life is the circular shape. I use Cynthia Rylant’s, The Relatives Came to model this shape. The third type of story shape that fourth graders can manage is a symmetrical shape story.  I use the Mentor Text, The Two of Them by Aliki for this lesson. A good shape to use to get young writers to use imagery would be the “collection of snapshots” mini lesson. Though there are many texts that would work here, I like to use a When I was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant. Each of these lessons would be just at home in one workshop as well as the other.