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Monday, April 30, 2012

Nonfiction Matters!

I'll let you in on a little secret about me. I absolutely love teaching nonfiction. I'll let you in on a second secret about me, I didn't really have any feelings towards nonfiction until last year. My action research project for my Masters program revolved solely around the importance of nonfiction in the elementary classroom. After reading gobs and gobs (gobs x 100) of research on nonficion, I quickly grew to love it.

After our Jaguar unit, I wanted to dip into nonfiction a bit. So, guess what? We did. Have you heard of Stephanie Harvey? Most of you probably have, you may even own this book --


Well, I used Harvey's book Nonfiction Matters to develop a little quick review on nonfiction for my kids. Here's an overview of what we did.

Day one: Anchor Chart! Woot woot. I love anchor charts too. We answered the age old question, "Why do we read nonfiction?"According to Harvey, here are some stellar reasons WHY we actually read nonfiction:

Yes, I spelled acquire wrong. Whoops!
Day Two: We tackled those pesky expository text structures. Harvey suggested using an example of "goosebumps" for each text structure. As a class, we created a foldable and labeled each type of text structure. Then, inside the flap, students wrote down and illustrated an example of the text structure with goosebumps. Make sense? Not quite? Okay, let me back up.


For example, one expository text structure is cause and effect. We wrote the follow example:
"The temperature dropped to 45 degrees. I got goosebumps." This is an example of cause and effect. Harvey lists an example of each structure relating it back to goosebumps. It was an excellent illustration of the different ways nonfiction can be written.

NEXT time, I would like to start the year off with this activity. First, we can identify WHY we read nonfiction and the various text structures. Then, the next day, compare reading nonfiction to fiction! We can answer the question of why we read fiction and compare how fiction stories are set up much differently. I'm getting all tingly on the inside just thinking about it. Stop me before I get too nerdy.

Sounds like I've got a week planned for the fall!

What exciting nonfiction lessons do you do with your kiddos?

20 comments:

  1. I am seriously obsessed with Stephanie Harvey. I have read and LOVE everything she has done. One of my favorite quick activities from this book is the non-fiction postcard. ~Amanda The Teaching Thief

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  2. Hi Jordon:

    This post inspired me to completely change the beginning of my first literacy unit!

    And then I re-read the Jaguar stuff and got even more motivated!

    I love the possibilities of "do-overs" in teaching... that's why September has always been my favorite month.

    Thanks for the insight!

    Kim
    Finding JOY in 6th Grade

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  3. Your foldable is a clever idea! My students are never excited about expository text lectures. I'm certain THIS project would engage them. Thanks for sharing!

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  4. I love the foldable too :) What was your example (with goosebumps) for question & answer and compare & contrast?

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  5. Marshal "Wait for it" EricksonSeptember 20, 2012 at 2:36 PM

    you know where I can find a good book on bass or trouts? in Fishin or Non-Fishin

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  6. I just received a free copy of that book last week. I don't really have a lot of extra time to dive into a book right now, but your post makes me want to crack it open right away. Thanks for sharing this activity. My students always struggle with nonfiction text so I know I need to do a better job ay teaching it. I will definitely be using a similar activity. Thanks for sharing.

    Katrina
    Teacherofscholars.blogspot.com

    P.S. I'm a new follower.

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  7. I love the foldable idea. That format could literally be used for anything! I have been focusing on narrative non-fiction and having students provide evidence for their claims for common core.

    Andrea Burgwin
    classroomconfessional.blogspot.com

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  8. Here is the goosebumps information that I typed up.


    Cause/Effect: Goose bumps make me shiver. When the temperature drops below 45 degrees, my skin crinkles into goose bumps.

    Problem/Solution: Goose bumps make me shiver, but they disappear as soon as I cover up with a jacket.

    Question/Answer: What happens to people when they shiver? They get goose bumps.

    Compare/Contrast: Some people get goose bumps from fear. Others get goose bumps when they are touched emotionally.

    Description: Goose bumps make me shiver. I get little bumps on my skin. They look like sesame seeds.

    Sequence: Goose bumps make me shiver. First I get cold. Then I shake all over.

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  9. Do you teach writing as well?

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  10. This is such a great idea, I'm going to do this as part of Test Prep. Thanks for sharing!!!

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  13. Martin shows his disappointment towards Adams

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  18. OMG,, you are simply the BEST!!! I'm obsessed with your blogs!!!!

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  19. Hello!

    I was scouring for an idea to re-teach and strengthen my kids understanding of Expository examples and this is it! THANK YOU!

    Amber
    PeppyZestyTeacherista

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