#153 Activating Writers with Mentor Texts (Bonus Video)

#153 Activating Writers with Mentor Texts (Bonus Video)

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa August 6, 2023 Duration: 0:00

Check out the full video here, at our PatreonPLUS tier of support. 

Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. 

In this episode, Pam shares a presentation from her past, “Activating Writers with Mentor Texts.” Pam explains how she uses mentor texts to activate her students so they can get their story on the page. She works through a variety of strategies that will help her students learn to better different aspects of their writing process.

Jacob asks questions and offers his insight on how he would use the strategies or change some of them. 

Join Jacob and Pam as they discuss a presentation from Pam’s past.  Maybe it will help you activate your students, too!

The post #153 Activating Writers with Mentor Texts (Bonus Video) appeared first on Craft & Draft.


Jacob Chastain, from Teach Me, Teacher, and Pam Ochoa, an Abydos trainer, bring their combined classroom and coaching experience to every conversation on Craft & Draft. This isn't a theoretical lecture; it's a practical dialogue built on their specific Craft & Draft approach, designed to make the reading-writing workshop model work in real secondary classrooms. You'll hear them unpack the nuances of workshop teaching, from structuring effective mini-lessons to facilitating meaningful student conferences. They delve into the intentional separation of craft study and drafting time, offering actionable strategies for fostering independent, engaged writers and readers. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in the teachers' lounge with two insightful colleagues who aren't afraid to discuss the challenges and celebrate the breakthroughs. The podcast serves as a steady resource for educators looking to move beyond theory and into the day-to-day reality of building a dynamic literacy workshop. Tune in for honest reflections, concrete examples, and the collective wisdom of two practitioners dedicated to refining their craft alongside their listeners.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Craft & Draft
Podcast Episodes
#173 From Ancient Discoveries to Keeping Kids Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this episode, Jacob and Pam think about…
#172 The Importance of a Personal Story (pt.2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this episode, Jacob and Pam talk about…
#171 The Importance of a Personal Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this episode, Jacob and Pam talk about…
#170 A Journal System that WORKS (Tutorial) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Several of the Craft and Draft listeners have requested more information regarding how to set-up the Craft and Draft Notebook System They begin with the first page of the Craft Book. Jacob shares how he has his students…
#169 Capturing Where We’ve Been LIVE (pt.2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. As school moves into the holiday season, m…
#168 Capturing Where We’ve Been LIVE (pt.1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. As school moves into the holiday season, m…
Join Craft & Draft LIVE All Week to Rejuvenate Your Workshop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. In this episode, Jacob and Pam share how t…
#167 Nuances, Complexities, Science of Reading, and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Support the show on Patreon to get access to bonus episodes, training videos, and so much more. Click here to join our community. Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love…
#166 Building Reading Culture in your Classroom (pt.2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Support the show on Patreon to get access to bonus episodes, training videos, and so much more. Click here to join our community. Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love…
#165 Building Writing Culture in your Classroom (pt.1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Support the show on Patreon to get access to bonus episodes, training videos, and so much more. Click here to join our community. Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love…