Kelly Gallagher Write Like This lesson plans provide secondary English teachers ready made structures for teaching real world writing skills. These plans emphasize mentor texts, repeated practice, and clear expectations so students learn to write for authentic audiences.
Below is a detailed reference that maps core components, differentiation options, and assessment ideas into a concise, scannable format.
| Component | Description | Time Suggestion | Suggested Mentor Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Interest Prompts | Engaging topics drawn from Gallagher’s book that connect to students’ lives. | 5 10 minutes | Short articles, student friendly op eds, or personal narrative seeds. |
| Focused Mini Lesson | Explicit 10 15 minute instruction on one move, such as thesis crafting or detail selection. | 10 15 minutes | Gallagher’s modeled sentences and published essays. |
| Class Writing Time | Guided practice where students apply the skill with teacher feedback. | 20 30 minutes | Student drafts, quick writes, and collaborative paragraphs. |
| Peer Feedback & Revision | Structured protocols so students respond with specific, actionable comments. | 10 20 minutes | Peer reviews, checklists, and sentence level edits. |
| Assessment & Reflection | Use of clear rubrics, conferences, and reflection prompts to close the lesson cycle. | 5 10 minutes | Student self scores and brief teacher comments. |
Engaging Reluctant Writers With Real Tasks
Kelly Gallagher Write Like This lesson plans target reluctant writers by centering tasks that feel meaningful. Students respond to prompts that mirror civic, professional, and personal writing demands instead of only academic drills.
Each lesson moves from brief mentor text analysis to structured practice, helping students see the bridge between reading strong models and producing their own work. Teachers can adapt the intensity and supports without losing the core goal of purposeful writing.
Teaching Literary Analysis Through Short Mentor Texts
H3Breaking down literary analysis into small moves makes it accessible for students. Gallagher’s plans often begin with a focused observation about structure, tone, or evidence in a short published piece.
Students then rehearse these moves in low stakes situations before tackling full essays. The gradual release model, from teacher modeling to collaborative work to independent writing, supports skill transfer and deeper literary thinking.
Differentiation Strategies For Diverse Classrooms
H3Teachers adapt Kelly Gallagher Write Like This lesson plans for varied readiness levels without sacrificing rigor. Options include tiered prompts, sentence scaffolds, and choice in product format.
By grouping students strategically and offering targeted feedback, instructors keep momentum while meeting IEP and ELL needs. The key is to maintain high cognitive demand while adjusting the load and support.
Connecting Writing Instruction To Real World Audiences
H3Lessons push students to write for audiences beyond the teacher, such as peers, younger students, or community stakeholders. This audience awareness sharpens purpose, style, and evidence selection.
When students know someone outside the classroom will read their work, they attend more closely to clarity, organization, and voice. Teachers can leverage school wide partnerships to expand these authentic contexts.
Next Steps To Strengthen Your Writing Workshop
- Select one Write Like This lesson to pilot within a two week window.
- Collect a short mentor text bank aligned to your current units.
- Introduce a simple peer feedback protocol to streamline revision.
- Track student growth with pre and post writing samples.
- Share successful adaptations with colleagues to build a shared repertoire.
FAQ
Reader questions
How often should I run a full Write Like This lesson cycle?
Schedule one complete cycle every two to three weeks, using shorter mentor analysis and quick writes more frequently to build stamina without overloading the curriculum.
Can these plans work in a block schedule with 90 minute class periods?
Yes, you can extend each phase, add deeper research or multi draft revision, and maintain the same core structure of mentor text focus, practice, feedback, and reflection.
What if I lack time to create custom prompts for these lessons?
Start by adapting the prompts in Gallagher’s book, then build a bank of your own high interest prompts that connect current events or school wide themes to the writing skills you target.
How can I fairly assess writing when students have so many different topics and formats?
Use clear, skill focused rubrics that prioritize moves like thesis strength, use of evidence, and organization, and hold brief conferences to calibrate scores across diverse products.