Create a flyer for "Mentor Texts That Multitask [Grades K-8]"

As teachers plan for the post pandemic school year, a must-have professional resource that will guide their instruction is Mentor Texts That Multitask by Pam Koutrakos!  Multi-tasking mentor texts are beloved favorites and exciting new titles that can help students learn about reading and writing! Multi-tasking texts are worthy of revisiting. They are learning tools in a student-centered classroom that invite teachers to model and students to practice then reflect on their learning experiences.  Pam’s voice is powerful, and she quickly draws you into her book.

While reading Mentor Texts that Multitask, I found myself agreeing over and over again with Koutrakos and thinking about all the ways we can become more efficient through the use of smaller, strategically chosen collections of texts. The day in and day out work we do as educators is complex and multi-faceted. In this beautiful book, Koutrakos offers us ways to maximize time and find quality resources that enhance instruction with a less is more approach. This book will be a staple on my bookshelf and as I work alongside teachers.  

Mentor Texts That Multitask gives educators access to one of the most authentic voices and thought leaders in literacy practices.  With all angles and lenses considered, and the face of every potential student honored, Pam Koutrakos gives teachers the tools to be intentional about their use of  powerful mentor texts.  This gift for teachers offers a strong and manageable platform on which to build community and enhance literacy instruction in their classrooms utilizing some of the most meaningful mentor texts. 

Mentors that Multitask?! This is what all educators need. Thrilled this playful and thoughtful book exists in the world as a practical yet inspirational springboard for using books teachers love over and over again for a variety of instructional, holistic instructional purposes! Pam shares tons of ideas for integrated literacy lessons and shows us why it all matters. From the text pairings to the inquiry ideas to the high-quality (and cross-genre!) text titles, I know educators with this book in their hands will feel more confident and excited about the possibilities. It is invaluable.

The moment you open Mentor Texts That Multitask it’s clear that you are in the company of a passionate professional who loves books, respects learners, and delights in bringing the two together. In this dynamic resource, you’ll benefit from Pam’s asset-based approach as she charts a path for redefining the role of mentor texts in your learning space. The flexible lesson sets offer infinite learning possibilities to illuminate and integrate the essential aspects of literacy. Pam will cheer you on as you make multitasking mentor texts work for the children in your care.

When I am thinking through a classroom challenge or looking for insight, Pam is one of the people that I turn to. Mentor Texts that Multitask resonates with Pam's characteristic wisdom, and it is imbued with her unshakable belief in children. This is not just a professional text, this is a transformative conversation with a powerfully capable friend.

Mentor Texts That Multitask helps teachers connect different parts of the curriculum to create a more cohesive and connected set of learning experiences. Koutrakos' model has the benefit of saving teachers time as well as supporting depth of thinking for students. It is grounded in research and classroom practice and is the type of book that teachers can return to again and again for ideas to try right away.

With an emphasis and deep commitment toward asset-based instruction that is unwaveringly responsive to students, Pam Koutrakos invites readers into the endless possibilities for learning that exist within the pages of books. While Koutrakos provides replicable lessons and resources based on specific texts, she also empowers readers to be able to select their own mentor texts and develop their own lessons.

Classroom teachers at the elementary level, middle school teachers, and literacy coaches (especially literacy coaches!) will feel equipped to teach in a meaningful and comprehensive way with Mentor Texts That Multitask.  Gone are the totes loaded with books when traveling from classroom to classroom.  Pam invites teachers to open a book, any book, and list the learning possibilities that can be pulled out of it.  

This book is not a collection of texts or an anthology of stand-alone activities.  Instead, it meets students and teachers where they are and helps them grow.  Pam Koutrakos shows how simple, well-chosen texts can serve in so many ways, but she also fills the air with rich teaching practice, modeling how to embed humanity, compassion and understanding into the standards.  It’s a book that should go into every teacher’s tool belt.

Mentor Texts that Multitask is a must-read for every educator, instructional coach, and literacy leader! Pam Koutrakos’ latest book shares limitless possibilities on simplifying instruction into smaller collections of strategies that are layered with multidimensional texts! Her work is both student-centered and teacher-supportive. She eliminates the myth of “more books” by outlining a framework where books can be used in a variety of ways through flexible design and multifaceted learning. This book is an educator’s dream!

One thing I often hear from educators is they wish they had more time--more time to plan, more time to play and practice, more time to READ! Pam Koutrakos’ Mentor Texts that Multitask tackles this challenge of time with thoughtfulness, innovation, and clarity. This text not only provides teachers with a rich list of student-centered learning experiences, but also shares a roadmap of how to implement these experiences in conjunction with authentic, engaging texts.

Nothing (not even the greatest of books) can replace the human genius of a teacher; a teacher with a great multitasking mentor text and a practical set of tools in their hands is a force to reckon with. Pam sets us up for success by reminding us of the importance of seeing the brilliance of students through an asset-based lens and the way she guides us through our decision making process by setting up frameworks for us to think about the student process as emerging, developing, and extending is not only a refreshing way of thinking, but a necessary one.

This book deserves a space on every educator's bookshelf. In Mentor Texts that Multitask, Pamela Koutrakos understands that the never-ending search for "perfect" mentor texts can eat up time that educators could use to prepare for student-centered responsive literacy instruction. Her carefully chosen texts and thoughtfully crafted lesson sets leave the reader inspired to try them out with learners.

Mentor texts have been a favorite for teachers and students as a touchstone for deep learning. A big thank you to Pam Koutrakos for revealing to us an even more expansive potential of what a few carefully selected mentor texts can hold across learning contexts. What this book teaches us is a paramount implementation of responsive teaching, in a streamlined, learner-centered way.