This document provides several writing prompts and templates for responding to and analyzing texts, including: 1. Post-it notes for recording initial reactions that can then be expanded upon in a written entry and lead to a new idea. 2. Additional prompts include sketchbook pages, archetype jots, magic triangles, post-it trails, connecting post-its to theory charts, literary letters, and analyzing an author's goals and techniques. 3. Examples are given for each prompt type using different texts, such as a post-it trail response to Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key and a literary letter about freedom summer.

1. Writing about Reading:
Silver and Gold
@sfrazintcrwp
shana@readingandwritingproject.com

2. Ways to Write about Reading
Post-it  Entry New Idea
Keep It Short: Text It!
Sketchbook pages
Archetype Jots
Magic Triangle
Post-it Trail
Post-it to Theory Chart
Literary Letter
Author’s Goals and Techniques
Written Conversation

3. Post-it  Entry New Idea
 Jot: Ms. Albert treats Maya differently than Chloe.
 Entry: This post-it is upsetting. It’s upsetting because
teachers are supposed to be fair and to treat their students
fairly. It’s unfair when on Maya’s first day of school Ms. Albert
does nothing when most of the class is silent after she says,
“Say good morning to our new student.” You could argue that
maybe Ms. Albert is an uncaring teacher, but she notices
right away when Chloe can’t think of anything kind she’s
does during the kindness lessons. She notices and says
gently, “Even small things count.”
 New Idea: Ms. Albert thinks some children, like Chloe, matter
more than other children, like Maya.

4. Keep It Short: Text It!

5. Sketchbook Pages

6. Archetype Jot

7. Magic Triangle

8. Post-It Trail
Jose, 5th grader at PS 51M
Post-it trail: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
The text says there’s something
wrong with Joey. This makes me feel
bad for Joey because this makes him
feel like he’s dumb.
p. 119
I think it was mean for the grandma to
make Joey act like a dog.
p. 128
I know there are many different dogs
for Joey to choose from. Dogs have
fur and some are bald.
p. 129
I think a bad dog would be good for
Joey because it’ll remind him of
himself.
p. 129
I think Joey is a good person but he
doesn’t know right from wrong.
p. 133
I think that Joey won’t like his father if
he meets him because his mom said
that he was in jail and a drunk. His
dad might be really mean.
p. 137

9. Post-It to Theory Chart

10. Literary Letter
Dear Cia,
I just reread freedom summer by Deborah Wiles. It’s the kind of book that I can return to and read time and time again.
This time I am thinking about Joe’s parents. Specifically, that scene in the dining room where:
Daddy stirs his ice tea and says, “The town pool opens tomorrow to everybody under the sun, no matter what color.”
“That’s the new law,” Mama tells me.
Then Joe runs into the kitchen to tell John Henry.
Readers, I have to tell you that as many times as I’ve read this book, the actions of the adults do not make sense to
me. I cannot believe that Joe’s parents and Annie Mae did not know that the town would somehow find a way to keep
“everybody under the sun” from swimming together in the town pool. And, I cannot believe that adults would let their
kids witness such a painful, harsh lesson as the lesson John Henry and Joe learn the next day when they are the only
ones to arrive to swim at the pool.
As a reader and a writer, I know that everything that happens in a book is there for a reason. Still. My heart breaks
when I think of John Henry sitting on the diving board of the now-paved-over pool and saying in a shake-y voice,
“White folks don’t want colored folks in their pool.” I suppose the adults in the story are trying to be parents and teach
their kids a hard lesson about a friendship that cannot survive in this place and time.
Oh how I wish the adults made a different decision and tried to help the boys maintain their friendship. But I guess that
wouldn’t have been true to the place and time of the story.
Your heartbroken reading partner,
Shana

11. Author’s Goals and Techniques

12. Written Conversation
 This slide is under construction.

13. Slides and Corresponding Texts
Slide Text
3 Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
4 (no text)
5 No Monkey, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart
6 Operation Yes by Sarah Lewis Holmes
7 The Harmonica by Tony Johnston
8 Joey Pigsa Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
9 Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
10 freedom summer by Deborah Wiles
11 No Monkey, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart