Carrie On...Together!
Carrie Charley Brown, Children's Book Writer
  • Carrie On... Together!
    • Meet Carrie
    • Carrie On...Book Clubs! >
      • Contest Gallery
  • Carrie On...Writing!
    • Ongoing Resources
    • Read with Me & Review Policy
  • Carrie On...Services!
    • Picture Book Critique Service
    • Teacher's Guides
    • KidLit Video Production
    • KidLit Marketing
    • Literary Tutoring PK-4
  • ReFoReMo
    • What is ReFoReMo?
    • Schedule & Coordinators
    • Tools
    • ReFoReMo 2016
    • ReFoReMo 2015
    • Blog Submissions
  • Privacy Policy

ReFoReMo Sharing Contest Results + Preparing to Assess a Mentor Text

2/2/2016

12 Comments

 
Picture
Congratulations to Charlotte Dixon, Darlene Koppel, and Jackie Kruzie for winning the sharing contest and some beautiful mentor texts!

Just the act of reading mentor texts improves our instincts when writing, but how do you approach the research aspect? I like to read as many books as I can on the topic of the manuscript I'm writing.  I also look for books that mimic the structure that I'm going for.  Am I writing a metafiction story?  Then Do Not Open This Book!  is the perfect mentor text.  Is my story a fractured fairy tale?  The Three Ninja Pigs is right up my alley.  Am I writing a cumulative story?  Your Alien is a good place for me to start.  

As I read each book, I ask myself these questions:  
1.  What do I like about this book?  What works?
2.  What don't I like?  What doesn't work?
3.  Do I want to read this again?  Why?
4.  Would kids relate to this?
5.  Would this make kids laugh?

​Once I've read as much as I can about my topic or structure, then I have a better idea of what works, what I like, and what has already been done.  My built-in panel of five children reminds me what it's like to be a kid and when I write, I tackle my story with my newfound knowledge and a fresh perspective!  

As we continue to Reveal ReFoReMo to you, let's reflect upon Romelle Broas's experience as a ReFoReMo-er.  In this post,
 she not only shares her experience, but also an incredible tool she used for assessing mentor texts during ReFoReMo 2015.  Her assessment tool is also located at the bottom of the tools section on the ReFoReMo website, here. Take a look and give it a try! 


Timeline
February 15:            Registration opens
February 23:            Reading list goes live on
February 27-29:       PreReFoReMo: Starting off Strong

March 1-31:              ReFoReMo!



12 Comments
Carrie Charley Brown
2/2/2016 08:39:14 am

Excellent post, Kirsti! I love your questioning and utilize a similar process. :) Imagine that! :) A HUGE thanks to Romelle Broas for her post last year and her amazing assessment tool!

Reply
Kirsti Call
2/2/2016 11:04:04 am

Thanks Carrie! Odd that we would have a similar process :) LOVE your assessment tool, Romelle!!!

Reply
Juliana Lee link
2/2/2016 09:34:28 am

Minus the 5 built-in panel, I do very much the same thing. I also recommend keeping track of the books you've read through Goodreads. I keep my study notes separate, but I like to boost author's and illustrator's sales by posting positive notes on Goodreads.

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
2/2/2016 09:49:16 am

I do the same thing, Juliana! :) Goodreads is a great help!

Reply
Kirsti Call
2/2/2016 11:05:51 am

I read and review on goodreads too! It's a great resource and I love knowing what I've read and having a list of things to read right at my fingertips!

Reply
Carol Gordon Ekster link
2/2/2016 12:10:01 pm

I have never done a formal assessment, but looking at the questions on your assessment tool, I can see how helpful it would be. The next time I read a picture book I will look at that sheet and think about it, even if I don't take the time to fill out the paper. Thanks for all your help. ReFoReMo can only make us better writers which translates to better picture books for everyone!

Reply
Kirsti Call
2/2/2016 03:01:21 pm

Yay!

Reply
Jilanne Hoffmann
2/2/2016 01:44:03 pm

Getting geared up for ReFoReMo! Thanks for the reminder about how important it is to read many texts and to read them critically. Cheers!

Reply
Kirsti Call
2/2/2016 03:01:50 pm

Yipeeee!

Reply
Charlotte Dixon
2/2/2016 03:57:04 pm

Thank you for the prize Carrie and Kirsti! I look forward to some excellent reading. Thank you, Kirsti, for the questions to ask myself when researching my topic or structure. Thank you, Romelle, for the assessment tool! Can't wait for ReFoReMo to move into full swing :)

Reply
Kirsti Call
2/2/2016 05:13:14 pm

I'm really looking forward to ReFoReMo also, Charlotte!

Reply
Carrie Charley Brown
2/2/2016 11:32:08 pm

You are welcome, Charlotte! I am hoping to send it out within the next week.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Illustration by Lori Nawyn

    ReFoReMo

    March 1-31
    The ReFoReMo Challenge, or Reading for Research Month Challenge, was developed to help picture book writers reform writing by reading and researching picture books.  Challenge registration opens February 15.  To find out more or to subscribe to the Reading for Research Blog for weekly posts year round, visit our new exclusive site at www.reforemo.com.

    ALL DONATIONS FILTER BACK INTO THE ReFoReMo CHALLENGE & BLOG
    Picture
    Carrie Charley Brown, Founder & Coordinator
    Picture
    Kirsti Call, ReFoReMo Co-Coordinator

    Archives

    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All
    2016 Schedule
    Aaron Reynolds
    Alayne Kay Christian
    Ame Dyckman
    Amy Krouse Rosenthal
    Andrea Davis Pinkney
    Angie Karcher
    Ask Carrie Questions
    Assessing A Mentor Text
    Author Educators
    Author-Educators
    Author Interview
    Author Study
    Back Matter
    Ben Clanton
    Bold Beginnings
    Bonus Links
    Carol Gordon Ekster
    Carrie Charley Brown
    Carrie Gelson
    Character Driven Picture Books
    Corey Rosen Schwartz
    Correspondence Structure
    Current Picture Books
    CYBILS
    Debbie Ridpath Ohi
    Deborah Underwood
    Dialogue
    Diversity
    Editor Brett Duquette
    Elaine Kiely Kearns
    Emily Arrow
    Emma Walton Hamilton
    Fiction Books
    Fiction Picture Books
    Giveaway
    Historical Fiction
    Illustration
    Illustrator Perspective
    Interplay
    Janee Trasler
    Janie Reinart
    Jennifer Cole Judd
    Jennifer Swanson
    Jodi Moore
    Josh Funk
    Joyce Sweeney
    Julie Hedlund
    KidLit 411
    Kirsti Call
    Kristen Remenar
    Kristy Dempsey
    Language
    Laura Purdie Salas
    Layered Text
    Library
    Linda Ashman
    Liz Garton Scanlon
    Lori Degman
    Lori Nawyn
    Mac Barnett
    Marcie Colleen
    Marcie Flinchum Atkins
    Marcie Flinchum-Atkins
    Maria Gianferrari
    Matthew Winner
    Melissa Stewart
    Mentor Texts
    Minimal Word Count
    Miranda Paul
    Mira Reisberg
    Monthly Challenge
    Mo Willems
    Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books
    Non-fiction Picture Books
    Nonfiction Picture Books
    Pat Miller
    Pat Zietlow Miller
    Paul Czajak
    Penny Klostermann
    Peter Brown
    Picture Book Biographies
    Picture Book Structures
    Picture Book Summit
    Picture Books With Heart
    Prize Drawings 2016
    Read-Aloud-Ability
    Reading For Research
    Reading For Research Month
    Reading List
    Reflection Questions
    ReFoRe Author Educator
    ReFoRe Author-Educator
    ReFoReMo
    ReFoReMo 2016
    ReFoReMo Goals
    Registration
    Renee LaTulippe
    Research Tools
    Revealing ReFoReMo
    Rhyming Picture Books
    Russ Cox
    Shari Dash Greenspan
    Sharing Contest
    Strong Girl Characters
    Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
    Support For Writers
    Susanna Leonard Hill
    Suzy Leopold
    Sylvia Liu
    Tammi Sauer
    Tara Lazar
    The Brothers Hilts
    Tom Lichtenheld
    Top Picture Books
    Tracey M. Cox
    Travis Jonker
    Uncomfortable Subjects
    Voice
    Writing Tips
    Yvonne Mes

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.