Genre Connections: Lessons to Launch Literary and Nonfiction Texts

by Tanny McGregor

Overview

“These lessons work. And not just for kids who read well. They also work for kids who struggle in reading, who don’t respond to abstract concepts.”
—Tanny McGregor

Inside, every kid wants to love reading—sometimes they need our help to see it.

That’s where Tanny McGregor’s memorable, sensory-driven lessons come in.

“The chapters in this book,” she writes, “are a collection of ideas about how to launch genres, how to introduce your students to the personalities of each, and how to build a curiosity and appreciation for what each genre has to offer. Use the seed ideas suggested in this volume with a genre of your choice and see how it grows!”

Genre Connections makes learning achievable, accessible, and incremental for all readers—including struggling readers. Tanny’s lessons use everyday objects, works of art, music, and her much-loved anchor charts to help readers get acquainted with seven commonly taught genres and to discover what makes them unique.

Her launching sequences gradually release responsibility for learning about text types, and they can be adapted for any genre. They help readers weave creative, sensory threads into a tapestry of understanding by taking them from a fun introductory object lesson to an immersive experience.

Looking for the perfect partner for Tanny’s Comprehension Connections? Or for a new way to bring the inner reader out in any student? Let the ideas in Genre Connections inspire you to help your students get to know genres quickly, confidently, and effectively.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780325033969
Publisher:	Heinemann
Publication date:	02/13/2013
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	5 - 11 Years

About the Author

Internationally-known teacher and conference speaker Tanny McGregor brings nearly 30 years of professional experience to her popular sessions. Her workshops are known for their creative and engaging style. Originally an elementary school teacher, Tanny has served as a literacy coach, gifted intervention specialist, and preK-12 staff developer.

She is the author of three books, Comprehension Connections (Heinemann, 2007), Genre Connections (Heinemann, 2013), and her newest release, Ink & Ideas (Heinemann, 2018). Tanny was also a contributor to the seminal work, Comprehension Going Forward (Heinemann, 2011). In addition to writing and consulting, Tanny serves as a teacher on special assignment for West Clermont Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. She and her husband Miles have four daughters and two grandsons.

Follow her on Twitter @TannyMcG!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Prologue My First Book xi

Chapter 1 A Very Good Place to Start 1

The Why 1

The How 3

The Concrete Experience: Make It Real 4

The Sensory Exercise: Come to Understand Through Art and Music 6

As You Begin 7

Chapter 2 Poetry: A Match Made in Heaven 9

Launching Sequence: Poetry 12

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own 16

Sensory Exercises: Poetry 17

Quotations About Poetry to Get Kids Talking 20

Time for Text: Poetry 22

Chapter 3 Adventure and Fantasy: Beyond Realistic Fiction 25

Launching Sequence: Adventure and Fantasy 26

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own 28

Sensory Exercises: Adventure and Fantasy 30

Quotations About Adventure and Fantasy to Get Kids Talking 34

Time for Text: Adventure and Fantasy 35

Chapter 4 Historical Fiction: The Best of Both Worlds 37

Launching Sequence: Historical Fiction 39

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own 41

Sensory Exercises: Historical Fiction 43

Quotations About Historical Fiction to Get Kids Talking 46

Time for Text: Realistic and Historical Fiction 48

Chapter 5 Drama: A Tough Act to Follow 51

Launching Sequence: Drama 53

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own: Playwright William Green 54

Sensory Exercises: Drama 57

Quotations About Drama to Get Kids Talking 61

Time for Text: Drama 62

Chapter 6 Image Reading: Stop, Look, and Learn 65

Launching Sequence: Image Reading 66

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own: Twenty-Four-Hour Image Collection 69

Sensory Exercises: image Reading 70

Quotations About Images to Get Kids Talking 75

Time for Text: More About Image Reading 77

Chapter 7 Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir: Such Is Life 79

Launching Sequence: Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir 81

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own 83

Sensory Exercises: Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir 84

Quotations About Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir to Get Kids Talking 89

Time for Text: More About Teaching Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir 91

Chapter 8 Informational Text: The Need to Know 93

Launching Sequence: Informational Text 95

Noticing and Naming the Genre on Their Own 97

Sensory Exercises: Informational Text 98

Quotations About Informational Text to Get Kids Talking 105

Time for Text: Informational Text 106

Epilogue Only One Bean 109

Works Cited 111

Index 117