November Theme: Cynthia Rylant picture books
Six Traits: Organization (Varied Endings)
A moving story about an old woman who has outlived all her friends. In order to keep from getting lonely, she names things that she knows she will never outlive (like her house, her car, or her bed). One day, a shy brown puppy appears at her front gate. She knows if the puppy stays around, she will have to name it. She can’t risk that, so she sends him on his way. What happens after will surprise you. . .
A touchstone text in my classroom was The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant. I used this book to teach active comprehension by explicitly stating how students could set a purpose for reading. I also used it to teach moving/surprise endings.
Lesson idea: Gather 5-10 books that are models of different endings and have students analyze the endings.
Have students analyze several books that have surprise or moving endings. Have them practice writing surprise or moving endings in their own writing.
What books do you use to teach writers’ craft? Do you have any touchstone texts or touchstone authors?
Coming next month: Incorporating nonfiction in the classroom
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