A few months ago, I connected with Colleen Cruz, a Lead
Senior Staff Developer for the Columbia University Teacher’s College Reading
& Writing Project, on Twitter. Colleen is one of the authors of the popular
Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing: A Common Core
Workshop Curriculum. Working with Lucy Calkins, Colleen wrote the third grade
module entitled The Art of Information
Writing, which uses my book Deadliest
Animals as a mentor text.
I’m honored that Colleen selected my book, Deadliest Animals, and was
delighted that she invited me to participate in a Twitterchat with teachers
using the Units of Study program. As I read The
Art of Information Writing, I was thrilled to discover that one of its main
focuses is structure in nonfiction writing. As far as I’m concerned, structure
is the most critical element of nonfiction writing, and the one I struggle with
most.
stay in touch with the #TCRWP and #UofS communities via Twitter. I love seeing
the student work teachers post and hearing their stories of success with the
program. It’s exciting to be involved.
process behind Deadliest Animals and
some of my other books on Twitter or at conferences, such as NCTE, so I thought
I’d blog about it here for the rest of the school year.
the first place. I began writing for the National Geographic Readers series in
2008 after being contacted by editor Amy Shields. I had known Amy since the
late 1990s when she acquired a book I wrote for Millbrook Press, which is now
part of the Lerner Publishing Group.
and I was one of the prototype authors. My first book for the series was a
Level 2 reader entitled Snakes!. Over
the next couple of years, I wrote Ants (Level 1)
and Dolphins (Level 2). Then in 2010, the series’s new editor, Laura
Marsh, asked me to write my first Level 3 reader, Deadliest Animals. I
thought it was a great topic, and said yes immediately.
the book next week.
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3 Responses
My eyes always seek out titles like Deadliest Animals. Kids love to learn about extreme animals. That's why cobras are more popular with kids than grass snakes. Wonderful job on this post. I always enjoy reading everything you write.
@JuleeMurphy
Thanks, Julee. I had a blast writing Deadliest Animals.
This will be a fun journey through the book-writing process! So glad you're sharing it.