• Includes 20 mini-lessons plus over 100 " Your Turn" passages to choose from to make those lessons your own
• Mini-lessons follow a well-structured sequence, from noticing a craft move to modeling it and then practicing it
• Kittle's expert tips take the fear out of teaching writing
• Using short mentor texts helps teachers engage kids with the words of writers they love
• Teaches kids to read like writers, strengthening students' reading, writing, and self-confidence at the same time

At a time when students' attention is being pulled in many directions, writing expert Penny Kittle shows us the power of helping them to focus in and communicate clearly. She does that through the study of "micro mentor texts," excerpts from acclaimed books, and the decisions authors make to craft those texts so they deeply engage readers. Her book includes dozens of short texts and mini-lessons based on them—as well as many practice opportunities for students and demonstration videos for you.