BIG, EXCITING, WONDERFUL NEWS! Today, I can officially reveal the cover for my first picture book, TOVA’S SWEET SOLUTION, written by me, Melissa Taylor, illustrated...| Imagination Soup
Mentor Text: Rod Serling’s closing narration from the Twilight Zone episode ‘The Monsters are Due on Maple Street’ Techniques: Conclusion Background – In my Grade 11 course, we focus on a theme of…| moving writers
Mentor Text: from The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig Techniques: Introduction Background – I’ve really gotten back into horror the last couple of years. I’ve reclaimed my status a Constant…| moving writers
Mentor Text: Prologue from Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin Techniques: Background – I cracked myself up recently. Because I obsessively open my Libby app to see what books are new at my libraries, I’m perpetually placing holds on titles that grab my interest in the slightest. And I don’t always read the […]| moving writers
Mentor Text: ‘Here’ from Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds Techniques: Setting Background – It’s April, so you know you’re only getting poetry inspired MTW posts. I’m writing this between …| moving writers
Mentor Text: ‘Younger Sister, Going Swimming’ by Margaret Atwood Techniques: Imagery Using Parentheses in Poetry Background – I’m writing this on the Monday of our Spring Break, which w…| moving writers
March 25, 2025 The college entrance essay: Should we teach it or shouldn’t we? This year, the guidance department of our high school, New Directions Secondary School in the Bronx, NY, asked me if I could teach a unit on the college entrance essay in our Juniors English class. In my career, the college entrance […]| moving writers
Mentor Text: from Indiana Jones and the White Witch by Martin Caidin Techniques: Background – If you’re a teacher and/or an avid reader, then we likely have some of the same habits. It’s likely that we haunt the same haunts – used bookstores and the book shelves of thrift shops. In my heart, I know that […]| moving writers
Mentor Text: excerpt from Headshot by Rita Bullwinkel Techniques: Imagery Building character Background – I’m noticing a trend. Pretty much every preface to Mentor Text Wednesday has me talki…| moving writers
If you’ve paid much attention to BookTok or even the shelves at your local bookstore, you’ve probably realized that romance is having a moment. And that moment extends far beyond the days of grocer…| moving writers
I heard Dance Monkey for the first time after watching the NYT analysis. My response was limited to “catchy and cool”. All my mentor texts are new to my ELLs and they read them for the …| moving writers
In search of standards-based Earth Day reading activities for grades 4 and 5? I've got you covered with passages, book recommendations, and more!| Alyssa Teaches