Background
I’ve written about the 5 kinds of nonfiction on my blog:
I’ve
discussed the 5 kinds of nonfiction in this video created for Colby Sharp’s vlog:
Narrative vs.
Expository Sample Texts
Red-Eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley and
Nic Bishop (Scholastic, 1999)
Frog or Toad? How Do
You Know?
by Melissa Stewart (Enslow, 2011)
Citations for
Articles about Student Preference for Expository Nonfiction
Caswell,
Linda J. and Nell K. Duke. “Non-Narrative as a Catalyst for Literacy
Development.” Language Arts, 1998, p. 108-117.
Doiron,
Ray. “Boy Books, Girl Books: Should We Re-Organize Our School Library
Collections?” Teacher Librarian. 2003, p. 14-16.
Hynes,
Myrna. “‘I Read for Facts’: Reading Nonfiction in a Fictional World.” Language
Arts, 2000, p. 485-495.
Mohr,
Kathleen A. J. “Children’s Choices for Recreational Reading: A Three-Part
Investigation of Selection Preferences, Rationales, and Processes.” Journal
of Literacy Research. 2006, p. 81–104.
Repanskey,
Lisa L., Jeanne Schumm, and Jacqueline Johnson. “First and Fourth Grade Boys’
and Girls’ Preferences for and Perceptions about Narrative and Expository
Text.” Reading Psychology (2017. P. 1–40.
Characteristics of
the 5 Categories and Activity for Students
Using Expository
Literature as Mentor Texts
http://www.melissa-stewart.com/pdf/Text_Structure_Swap_1.pdf
http://www.melissa-stewart.com/pdf/Text_Structure_Swap_2.pdf
http://www.melissa-stewart.com/pdf/Text_Structure_Swap_2.pdf
Nonfiction Continuum
http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2018/05/in-classroom-gateway-nonfiction-and.html
http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2018/05/in-classroom-gateway-nonfiction-and.html
READING
Nonfiction Smackdown!
Upper elementary students read two nonfiction books on the same topic. Then they evaluate and compare the two titles, recording their thinking on a worksheet that other students can use to help them make book choices.
Nonfiction Smackdown!
Upper elementary students read two nonfiction books on the same topic. Then they evaluate and compare the two titles, recording their thinking on a worksheet that other students can use to help them make book choices.
Sibert Smackdown!
Similar to Nonfiction Smackdown!, but books are selected from a list of picture books contenders that I compile on my website. The worksheet uses a kid-friendly version of the criteria considered by the real Sibert committee. Several librarians have also used their own creative ideas to record students’ thinking, such as Padlet, Flipgrid, posters, and voting forms where students write the rationale for their choice.
Similar to Nonfiction Smackdown!, but books are selected from a list of picture books contenders that I compile on my website. The worksheet uses a kid-friendly version of the criteria considered by the real Sibert committee. Several librarians have also used their own creative ideas to record students’ thinking, such as Padlet, Flipgrid, posters, and voting forms where students write the rationale for their choice.
March Madness Nonfiction
Inspired by the annual March Madness basketball tournament,
students participate in a month-long, whole-school activity to select their
favorite nonfiction title. Can be combined with the Nonfiction Smackdown!
“March
Madness has not only created an energy and excitement for read aloud; it has
also exposed students to more nonfiction. [It has been] a springboard for
discussions of text features and structures, vocabulary and author's purpose.”
–Instructional Coach
“I
like that these nonfiction books really make you think about things for a while
and then sometimes your thinking changes.” –Fifth-grade student
WRITING
Same
Structure, New Topic
Students read a selection of my books and chose one to use as a mentor text. They created a book that emulated the structure and style of my book but presented information about a different topic.
Students read a selection of my books and chose one to use as a mentor text. They created a book that emulated the structure and style of my book but presented information about a different topic.
http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/2017/09/in-classroom-what-great-idea.html
Choosing
Presentation Style
Students read mentor texts with a range of presentation styles, including narrative nonfiction, expository articles, infographics with expository text. Then they choose one style and use it to present information on a topic of their choice.
Students read mentor texts with a range of presentation styles, including narrative nonfiction, expository articles, infographics with expository text. Then they choose one style and use it to present information on a topic of their choice.