What is Mentor Texts

This chapter explores writing and writing instruction as essential components of an equitable education. The authors argue that teachers must see themselves as writers to effectively teach writing in their own classrooms. The authors describe their work with teachers in educator preparation courses and in a grant-funded project with teachers and published authors. In both situations, the authors frame their work around motivation theory and the belief that students should do the kinds of writing that real writers do, such as generating and developing ideas, rather than only writing in broad genres or in response to texts. The authors posit that students should believe their voices matter; it is through agency in writing that students will see themselves as writers. This chapter recommends that teacher education programs include writing instruction for its licensure candidates, and that classroom teachers create space for writing based on students' choice of topic and format.