Author’s craft is a really important skill. Some authors have a way of using words to show versus tell about a topic. When you find a book filled with description, you know you have a great mentor text for author’s craft. Here in Virginia, signs of fall are all around, and Cynthia Rylant describes it so eloquently in her book, In November.  Here’s one example of author’s craft. Can you picture this?

In November, the trees are standing all sticks and bones. Without their leaves, how lovely they are, spreading their arms like dancers.  They know it is time to be still. 

Cynthia Rylant

In November , a Mentor Text for author’s craft

Wow!  Isn’t that poetic?  It’s because of this poetic language that I chose to study author’s craft with this mentor text, and if you explore Cynthia Rylant’s work further, you’ll find many of her books to be similar in this way.

Analyzing author’s craft is a challenging skill for struggling readers, and unfortunately, it’s not the easiest to find resources for either. Like you, I went to my go-to places for ideas…Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers, and although I found some options, the options were not plentiful. I hope to share a few ideas you might try to help your struggling readers struggle less and use thinking more. After all, I see analysis is at the top of Bloom’s, but with strategy work, all of your students can figure it out through discussion and deeper thinking.

Introducing Author’s Craft

So, the first step is to break down the skill into strategy steps. The way to do this is to anchor thinking with something that will hook students in.  Once hooked, then walk your students through the thinking process using think aloud. By using this approach, you scaffold your students and can gradually release that task to them.

One of my favorite schema building activities is to get students talking and brainstorming. Upper elementary students are naturally social, so use that to your benefit. You might try bringing in a pumpkin (or gourd) and have the students brainstorm describing words for it.  You might use an ABC Brainstorm form to have your students come up with words related to fall. Regardless of what you choose, you want to get your students thinking (and talking) like a writer with as much description as possible.

Begin with an Anchor Chart:

Once you’ve set the purpose and have students thinking as writers, you might share an anchor chart such as these two superbly done freebies from Hello Literacy and Erintegration to explain what we think about when we’re analyzing the author’s craft. My suggestion would be to include one of these handouts in your interactive notebooks and have your students using close reading strategies to mark the most important points.

Modeling author’s craft with In November:

Once your students know what to look for in the text, it’s time to work *with* the text. This is best done in pairs to allow students to discuss their observations. As students read the text (or as the teacher reads the text aloud), students stop and jot their thinking.

I chose four features with this lesson-descriptive text (record figurative language and sentences that describe well), imagery (what students imagine as they read), mood/tone (how the text makes them feel), and author’s viewpoint (how the author feels about this time of year). Student responses will vary somewhat, and I would recommend group discussion after the children have had an opportunity to record their thinking with their partner.

Modeling the Lesson

After this post was shared, I did a Facebook Live session explaining the lesson. You can check that out below.

Freebie Download

The freebie below includes teaching ideas. I suggest printing the anchor charts linked above too.

Studying author’s craft is best done across multiple texts, and Cynthia Rylant has several books in particular that I’d recommend. Not all of her books include the deep description you find in In November.  I would use Scarecrow, Silver Packages, long night moon, The Bird House, The Dreamer,  All I See, Snow, When I was Young in the Mountains, The Relatives Came, and although simple, All in a Day. Teachers might pull these books, have groups of students work as a team to analyze them, and record thinking on chart paper to share with the others.  Assigning each student a “look for” ensures accountability with the group’s work.

Purchase the Author Study:

Pinterest Board for Cynthia Rylant Activities

Related Posts:

For other teaching ideas to go with Cynthia Rylant’s books, check out other posts on my site.

• Teaching with Cynthia Rylant’s Books as Mentor Texts
• Scarecrow Resources That Will Simplify Your Teaching Life
• Using the Six Traits for Writing Instruction: Mentor Texts for Teaching Voice

Teaching author’s craft isn’t easy, but I hope these ideas provide you with an easy to use resource for your lesson.