Melinda Clark




Melinda Clark, coauthor of Patterns of Power for Adolescent Writers, knew she wanted to be a teacher at an early age. Gathering her sister and neighbors around the picnic table, she read stories and taught her young students the alphabet. She loved everything about school and learning but especially loved reading and writing. 

Melinda realized early in her teaching career that reading and writing didn’t come as easily for her students. It wasn’t until she began to research the writing process that she realized correcting mistakes and filling in grammar worksheets wouldn’t advance her student’s writing skills. Students needed to be surrounded by good writing in order to improve their own writing. After attending a workshop taught by Jeff Anderson, she transformed her writing instruction and in turn, watched her student’s writing improve. 

A graduate of Angelo State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Melinda also holds a Masters in Educational Leadership with Principals’ Certification from Lamar University. Currently the Academic Program Coordinator at a Title 1 high school in San Antonio, she has 31 years experience in education, including teaching middle school and high school English Language Arts,  instructional coaching, independent consulting, and presenting at the district, regional and state levels.  

In her free time, Melinda enjoys professional learning opportunities found on social media, snuggling on the couch with a good book and her dog, Nestle, and motorcycle rides in the Texas Hill Country with her husband, Asa. 

 Melinda Clark

Twitter: @texasteacher68

Titles by Author (shown below):
1 product
Patterns of Power, Grades 6–8
Patterns of Power, Grades 6–8
Jeff Anderson, Travis Leech, and Melinda Clark
Paperback
$77.33 $58.00 Save $19.33
Jeff Anderson, Travis Leech, and Melinda Clark:::100065

Patterns of Power, Grades 6–8

9781625315151

$77.33 $58.00 Save $19.33
Authors Jeff Anderson, Travis Leech, and Melinda Clark lead a vibrant approach to grammar instruction in Patterns of Power, Grades 6-8: Inviting Adolescent Writers into the Conventions of Language. Here, young, emergent writers are invited to notice the conventions of the English language and build off them in this inquiry-based approach to instructional grammar.

The book comes with standards-aligned lessons that can be incorporated in just 10 minutes a day. Patterns of Power’s responsive, invitational approach puts students in an involved role and has them explore and discuss the purpose and meaning of what they read. Students study short, authentic texts and are asked to share their findings out loud, engaging in rich conversations to make meaning.
 
Inside you’ll find:
  • Ready-to-use lesson plan sets that include excerpts from authentic and diverse mentor texts curated for grades 6-8
  • Real-life classroom examples, tips, and Power Notes gleaned from the authors’ experiences that can be applied to any level of writer
  • Resources, including a Patterns of Power Planning Guide and musical soundtracks, to use in classroom instruction or as handouts for student literacy notebooks
 
Patterns of Power, Grades 6-8 provides a simple classroom routine that is structured in length and approach, but provides teachers flexibility in choosing the texts, allowing for numerous, diverse voices in the classroom. The practice helps students build cognitive recognition and provides a formative assessment for teachers on student progress. With these short lessons, students will gain confidence and move beyond limitation to produce effortless writing in your class and beyond.

The Patterns of Power series also includes Patterns of Power, Grades 1-5: Inviting Young Writers into the Conventions of Language; Patterns of Power en Español, Grades 1-5: Inviting Bilingual Writers into the Conventions of Spanish; Patterns of Power, Grades 9-12: Teaching Grammar Through Reading and Writing; and Patterns of Wonder, Grades PreK-1: Inviting Emergent Writers to Play with the Conventions of Language.

 
Patterns of Power, Grades 6–8