What Is a Mentor Text?
Taught in US schools
Key Takeaways
- A mentor text is a model piece of writing students study and imitate to learn specific craft moves.
- Almost any text can be a mentor text - picture books, articles, poems, student writing.
- Students study mentor texts as readers first, then return to them as writers to notice techniques.
- Mentor texts make craft explicit - they show students what good writing looks like, not just tells them.
What Is a Mentor Text?
A mentor text is any piece of writing that serves as a model and teacher for student writers. It is a text students study not just to understand its meaning, but to analyze how it was written - so they can try those same techniques in their own work.
The word "mentor" is intentional: a mentor is someone whose expertise you study and learn from. A mentor text does that work in print.
Mentor texts can be picture books, poems, short stories, newspaper articles, essays, student writing samples, or any piece of quality writing that demonstrates what you're trying to teach.
Reading a Mentor Text in Two Ways
The most important thing about mentor texts is that students encounter them twice - first as readers, then as writers:
First read: for enjoyment, response, and meaning. What happens? What does this make you feel or think?
Second read (writer's lens): "Now let's look at this again as writers. What did the author do? How did they accomplish that effect? What would you call that technique?"
This shift from reading for meaning to reading for craft is what makes mentor texts powerful. Students see that writing is made up of deliberate choices - choices they can make themselves.
What to Look for in a Mentor Text
When studying a mentor text, teachers and students look for:
-
Leads and openings - how does the author begin? Does it start with action? A question? A surprising detail?
-
Word choice - what specific, precise, or surprising words does the author use?
-
Sentence variety - does the author mix short and long sentences? How does rhythm affect the reader?
-
Sensory details - which senses does the author appeal to?
-
Dialogue - how does the author write conversation? What punctuation is used?
-
Transitions - how does the author move from one idea to another?
-
Endings - how does the author close? Does it circle back to the beginning? End with a question? A final image?
Favorite Mentor Texts by Genre
Personal narrative: Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Informational/expository: What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada (for problem-solution), any National Geographic Kids article
Poetry: Shel Silverstein poems, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech, A Writing Kind of Day by Ralph Fletcher
Opinion/persuasive: I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff, Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems (K-2)
Practice Activities
- After studying a mentor text's strong lead, have students write three different versions of their own opening and choose the strongest.
- "Swipe the technique" - students identify one specific craft move from the mentor text and use it in their own writing.
- Create an anchor chart with the class after reading a mentor text: "What did the author do that we could try?"
- Student mentor texts: as the year progresses, use strong student writing as mentor texts alongside published pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mentor text in writing?
A mentor text is a piece of writing that serves as a model and guide for student writers. Teachers select mentor texts because they demonstrate specific craft moves - a strong lead, vivid sensory details, effective use of dialogue, a surprising ending, clear organization, or any other technique the teacher wants to teach. Students study the text first as readers, then return to it as writers asking, 'How did the author do this? Can I try it?'
What makes a good mentor text?
A good mentor text: (1) is a high-quality piece of writing students genuinely enjoy; (2) demonstrates the specific craft move or structure being taught; (3) is at an accessible reading level (read-alouds work for all grade levels); (4) is short enough to read and re-read within a lesson; and (5) sparks enough interest that students want to write something similar. Picture books are often ideal mentor texts because they are complete, beautifully crafted, and work at any grade level.
How do you use a mentor text in a writing lesson?
The typical sequence: (1) Read the text for enjoyment and initial response; (2) Re-read as a writer, noticing what the author does - how do they begin? What language choices do they make? How do they end?; (3) Name the craft move explicitly: 'The author uses specific sensory details here to make us feel like we're there'; (4) Students try the craft move in their own writing; (5) Share and discuss attempts.
Free Mentor Text Worksheets
Curriculum-aligned printable worksheets for Kindergarten – 5th Grade. Download free.
Common Core Standards