1. Recognizing Craft as you Read

2. Reading Strategies vs. Reading Like a Writer A majority of the strategies that we have learned in class so far have been strategies to help your fluency and comprehension. HOWEVER, there is another type of reading that we need to learn in order to become better writers. Reading like a writer means NOT reading for comprehension BUT reading to recognize author’s craft that we like in order to emulate the same in our writing.

3. Reading Like a Writer Looks Like: As you read, ask yourself, what makes this writing interesting? What does the writer do that is engaging? What craft or decision does the writer use that you would like to use in your writing?

4. Things to Notice when Reading like a Writer: 1. Purpose: The Writer Speaks to the reader as if the reader is right in front of him/her Uses humor or honesty to engage the audience. Makes statements that indicate the author’s purpose. 2. Structure/Organization: The Writer Sequences the narratives using sequence words. Includes more than one “small moment-in-time.” Expands key actions with additional detail or craft to show it is important. 3. Craft: The Writer Uses details (specific nouns and action verbs) Shows actions with details that picture the event Uses dialogue that sounds like real talk and clarifies feelings. Use thoughts to show feelings or states feelings

5. Once you have indentified craft you admire: stop underline or highlight words, sentences, or passages that identify author’s craft that you think is well done and engaging make marginal notes about WHY you admire the use of the craft

6. Teacher Modeling Reading like a Writer

7. Student Practice: Continue to reading the story “The New Kid”, as you read continue to stop, make marginal notes, underline or highlight words, sentences, or passages that identify author’s craft that you think is well done and engaging. While you are identifying crafts that you like you MUST think about why you admire the writing and how the craft or structural decisions impacts the writing and meaning intended by the author.