Genre with 4th Grade

The fourth grade teachers approached me about a reading challenge that they wanted to implement this year. Instead of just reading books, filling out a log, and taking A.R. tests, the teachers want the students to read different types of genres throughout the year. Before beginning the challenge, the teachers asked if I could help them review the genres.

Since our schedules are so tight, the teachers and I mostly communicated through email, with occasional, quick conversations in the library. I began a Google Slide presentation and shared it with the teachers to proof and add to. You can see my presentation below, I was inspired by Nancy Jo Lambert at Reedy H.S.  The posters in the presentation are courtesy of Beth Newingham, who created these for all teachers to use in their classrooms. Feel free to use this presentation if you need to review genres in your library. 

After the review came the fun part! At each table, we had placed books of different genres, and students were given a recording sheet. This recording sheet had the genre, the definition of each genre, and a place for students to write an example. These recording sheets will stay in the students' reading folders this year so they can refer to their notes. 

Students had 5 minutes to look through the books and discuss what genre each book fit in. After time was up, groups would scoot to the next table and do the same, but with a new set of books. Their goal was to find one example of each genre. 

The discussions were very interesting, and the students found that some books fit in more than one genre.