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WritingFix: Tools for a Writing Classroom...Author Studies
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Tools for the Writing Classroom: WritingFix's Author Studies
because some authors' craft needs to be studied

Hello, my name is Corbett Harrison, and since 2001 I have been working with Nevada teachers to create and post the free resources you find here on WritingFix.

As a writing teacher, I love to do author studies with my students. I'm one of those teachers who never can teach the same lesson the same way twice. Each year, I found myself looking for new units to plan, even though I had more than enough "stuff" in my filing cabinet to take on a new year of lessons. I needed things to be different for my own sanity, and author studies became a great way for me to remain interested in my own teaching.

With author studies, I could teach all of my best writing mini-lessons, but we could apply the lessons to the works of different authors. That way, I kept my best writing lessons, and I got to explore new authors with my students.

On this page at WritingFix, I am collecting and sharing two types of author studies. The column on the left contains author studies to share with your students; two or more writing lessons are linked to different books by the same author. The right-hand column contains author studies for groups of teachers; if you are working with other teachers (or on your own) to become even better writing teachers, you will find links to my three favorite books by authors who smartly and competently address skills and strategies for the classroom.

Picture Book Author Studies
for Student Writers:

Author Studies for
Teacher Study Groups:

A WritingFix Author Study: Dav Pilkey

Lesson #1: Silly Animal Problems, inspired by Pilkey's picture book Dog Breath. Students create an original and organized tale about an animal with an unusual problem. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Ruth Culham

Just beginning with 6 traits? Ruth's materials are perfect for building a strong foundation. Our favorite books/resources by Ruth (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Visit Ruth's website by clicking here.

Lesson #2: A Scientific Mishap, inspired by Pilkey's picture book Dogzilla. Students create an original and organized tale about the creation of a "monster" in a scientific lab accident. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Margie Palatini

Lesson #1: Just the Facts, Ma'am, inspired by Palatini's picture book The Web Files. Students create a mystery scene with a no nonsense-sounding detective as narrator. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Barry Lane

Interested in the writing process or to the idea of making writing instruction more fun for you and your students? Barry is your guy! Our favorite books/resources by Barry (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Visit Barry's website by clicking here.

Lesson #2: The Sibling Report, inspired by Palatini's picture book Tub-boo-boo. Students create an original story about a sibling and a funny household accident, narrating the tale with the voice of a news-reporter. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Mem Fox

Lesson #1: Perspective Paragraphs, inspired by Fox's Tough Boris. Students create descriptive paragraph about Tough Boris from the perspective of the book's stow-away; then, they create an original perspective paragraph about a character they think up themselves.

A WritingFix Author Study: Vicki Spandel

Already have a solid foundation with the 6 traits? Vick'i's wonderful work takes you to a smarter place. Our favorite books by Vicki (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Lesson #2: Four Metaphor Poems, inspired by Fox's Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge. Students choose a self-important topic (friendship, family, dreams, etc.), then create four metaphors for that topic. Brainstorming details and explanations about each metaphor will help students create a four-part poem that explores their topic poetically.

A WritingFix Author Study: Doreen Cronin

Lesson #1: Unusual Diary Keepers, inspired by Cronin's picture book Diary of a Worm. Students create an imaginary (and unlikely) diary for an animal or for an abstract idea they are studying in class. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Ralph Fletcher

Ralph writes books that inspire both teachers and their students. Our favorite books/resources by Ralph (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Visit Ralph's website by clicking here.

Lesson #2: Creative Convincing, inspired by Cronin's picture book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type. Students review the format of the friendly letter format while trying out new persuasive techniques as they assume the role of something (like a cow) that wants something from a human being. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: David Shannon

Lesson #1: A Pet's Adventure Story, inspired by Shannon's picture book Good Boy, Fergus! Students create an original adventure story involving a pet and that uses emotion and interjections, just as Shannon does in Fergus' story. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Katie Wood Ray

Katie is the best resource for teachers building skill-based lessons for a writers workshop type of environment. Our favorite books/resources by Katie (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Visit Katie's website by clicking here.

Lesson #2: Interjected Emotions!, inspired by Shannon's picture book No, David! Students create a story about an exciting happening at recess or at a sporting event, interjecting emotions into the story and using direct addresses correctly. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

Chapter Book Author Studies
for Student Writers:

A WritingFix Author Study: Jerry Spinelli

Lesson #1: Counting Up/Down Stories, inspired by Spinelli's Wringer. Students create a "slow-motion story" based on a situation where people are counting up or down out loud. In between the counted numbers, students share interesting details for the reader. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: Laura Robb

Linking reading and writing instruction? Laura Robb is our favorite expert! Our favorite books/resources by Laura (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Visit Laura's website by clicking here.

Lesson #2: Memories that Inspire a Memory Like This, inspired by Spinelli's Milkweed. Students create a memoir about their immediate or distant pasts, using word choice techniques they've discussed in Spinelli's amazing first chapter of this book. Click on the title or the book cover to access the lesson and all its resources.

A WritingFix Author Study: John Steinbeck

Lesson #1: Painting Pictures with Words, inspired by the opening paragraph of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Students imitate Steinbeck's sentence fluency techniques as they craft a setting description. This lesson is based on an excerpt from the mentor text, and it is not necessary for students to read the entire novel in order to benefit from it.

A WritingFix Author Study: Linda Rief

Looking for ways to inspire heart-felt writing, especially from upper elementary and middle school students? Go no further than Linda Rief. Our favorite books/resources by Linda (hover over each title to find out how to order these excellent teacher resources):

Lesson #2: A Monster of a Metaphor, inspired by chapter 5 of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath. Students craft a metaphor, then extend upon it, using craft techniques they will discuss from Steinbeck's powerful fifth chapter. This lesson is based on excerpts from the mentor text, and it is not necessary for students to read the entire novel in order to benefit from it.

   

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