For the narrative unit, students examined many mentor texts to determine how the experts write a narrative. A favorite was Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe. They learned how to "show not tell", how to tell stories bit by bit, how to have characters engage in dialogue, and use figurative language. Students then created their own online books complete with illustrations, a dedication, and an "About the Author" page. To celebrate their success as writers, each class hosted a second grade class and read their stories to them. In addition, authors presented their books with the class.