When teaching writing, it’s easy to default to articles, essays, novels, and textbook examples. While these traditional mentor texts have their place, incorporating nontraditional mentor texts can breathe new life into your writing instruction and promote transfer. Let’s explore what nontraditional mentor texts are, why they’re effective, and how you can use them in your classroom.
Let’s get brewing.
Research:
- Students are more likely to engage with writing tasks when the material feels relevant to their lives and interests (Dabrowski & Reed, 2018).
- Nontraditional texts often reflect diverse voices and perspectives, helping students develop cultural awareness and empathy (Gay, 2018).
- It is important to teach students about texts they will encounter in their daily lives, such as digital communication and persuasive media (Hobbs et al., 2019).
I was teaching The Outsiders to my 8th grade students, and we spent several days analyzing the mentor text, “Nothing Gold Can Stay,” to prepare to write their poems. We discussed imagery, rhyme, theme, etc., and looked at examples repeatedly from the poem (honestly, to the point that even I could not stand the poem anymore). Yet, I did not understand the disconnect when I assessed their poems. Looking back now, I realize my mistake. But, at the time, I blamed “laziness” and “lack of care” for the poems that did not meet the standards I was assessing.
But what if my students just needed something different?
This is not to say that classic poetry and text do not have a place in the classroom. If I returned to that lesson today, I would still teach “Nothing Gold Can Stay” but utilize nontraditional mentor texts to enhance my instruction. As teachers, we are ready to provide a variety of text levels for students to succeed, but we also need to think about a variety of mentor texts to support our students. One student might be able to grasp the ideas in the poem and transfer this to their writing, while another student may need a different medium to build connection and transfer.
What Are Nontraditional Mentor Texts?
Mentor texts are used to teach an element of writing to students by using an example. We often use our textbooks, teacher-created models, books, etc. However, nontraditional mentor texts tend to incorporate diverse formats such as visuals and audio. They can include:
- Song Lyrics: Exploring storytelling, rhyme, and figurative language.
- Social Media Posts: Analyzing tone, brevity, and audience engagement.
- Graphic Novels or Comics: Highlighting dialogue, pacing, and visual storytelling.
- Scripts (Film, TV, or Theater): Examining character development and scene structure.
- Podcasts: Understanding voice and narrative techniques.
- Photos: Examine setting, perspective, and imagery techniques.
- Advertisements: Focusing on persuasive language and imagery.
- Infographics: Infographics: Teaching how to combine concise writing with visuals to convey information effectively.
- Instruction Manuals: Demonstrating clear, step-by-step writing for a specific audience and purpose.
These texts provide a wide range of entry points for students to connect with writing on a personal and cultural level. Our students benefit from connecting with mentor texts, which can lead to the transfer of skills to their writing beyond the lesson.
Why Use Nontraditional Mentor Texts in My Writing Instruction?
- Engagement and Relevance: By integrating mentor texts students recognize and enjoy, you can tap into their interests and make writing feel more accessible and exciting.
- Diverse Perspectives: Nontraditional texts often reflect a broader range of voices and experiences than classic literature. This diversity can help students see themselves and others in the texts (Bishop, 1990).
- Real-World Application: Many nontraditional texts mirror writing formats students encounter daily. Analyzing and creating these texts prepares students for real-world communication.
- Skill Building: Nontraditional texts require students to adapt and apply traditional writing skills in new contexts, deepening their understanding of audience, purpose, and style.
How do I incorporate Nontraditional Mentor Texts in My Instruction?
- Start Small: Introduce a short, nontraditional text alongside a traditional one. For example, pair a poem with song lyrics to compare themes and language use.
- Set Clear Goals: Align the text with specific writing objectives. Know why you are using the mentor text and focus. Use a social media post to teach concise language or a graphic novel panel to explore character dialogue.
- Encourage Analysis: Ask students to identify what makes the text effective. What strategies does the writer use? How does the medium influence the message?
- Provide Creative Opportunities: Challenge students to create their own versions of the text type. Have them write a persuasive advertisement, script a podcast intro, or craft a comic strip. You may even shift your writing assignments to nontraditional texts.
- Make Connections: Relate the mentor text to students’ personal experiences and knowledge. For instance, link an advertisement that students are familiar with to persuasive techniques discussed in class. Be sure to discuss the importance of this connection in their daily lives (i.e. How are influencers trying to persuade you, and what do you need to think about before buying a product being advertised?).
Final Thoughts
Incorporating nontraditional mentor texts can transform your writing instruction and foster a love of writing in your students. By meeting them where they are and showing them the value of varied writing styles (especially ones they value), you can empower them to find their unique voices. So, step outside the box and give nontraditional mentor texts a try—you might inspire the next great writer in your classroom!
Share Your Experience
What nontraditional texts are you using with success in your classrooms? What mentor text might you add to a current unit to enhance engagement and writing instruction? Grab a cup of coffee and let’s chat!