When
I was in school (okay, many years ago), we did a research report nearly every
year. Teachers were pretty explicit about their process (which wasn’t always
the same), and we just had to learn to follow the rules to get a good
grade. It was a simple, albeit
time-consuming, game.
I was in school (okay, many years ago), we did a research report nearly every
year. Teachers were pretty explicit about their process (which wasn’t always
the same), and we just had to learn to follow the rules to get a good
grade. It was a simple, albeit
time-consuming, game.
Across
years of teaching, I have learned to look at informational writing through a
different lens. As a matter of fact, I don’t know if lens is the right word
since it seems there are so many possible ways to write an expository piece. Thanks
to today’s children’s authors, there is a much greater breadth of possibility
out there for young readers and writers.
years of teaching, I have learned to look at informational writing through a
different lens. As a matter of fact, I don’t know if lens is the right word
since it seems there are so many possible ways to write an expository piece. Thanks
to today’s children’s authors, there is a much greater breadth of possibility
out there for young readers and writers.
Interestingly,
you will still find standards that ask students to participate in a “research
process.” I like to think the outcome of these projects is very different from
the research reports of long ago. How do we help young writers to find innovative
ways to share their research with others? It seems that today’s expository
texts can help children imagine new possibilities.
you will still find standards that ask students to participate in a “research
process.” I like to think the outcome of these projects is very different from
the research reports of long ago. How do we help young writers to find innovative
ways to share their research with others? It seems that today’s expository
texts can help children imagine new possibilities.
In
expository texts we read, a writer’s purpose often drives their decision
making. We can help students to envision different types of expository writing
by creating opportunities to read like a writer while asking these questions:
expository texts we read, a writer’s purpose often drives their decision
making. We can help students to envision different types of expository writing
by creating opportunities to read like a writer while asking these questions:
1. What
did the author want us to know?
did the author want us to know?
2. What
did the author do in the text to help us understand the message? (craft)
did the author do in the text to help us understand the message? (craft)
3. What
can we learn as writers from the moves the author made?
can we learn as writers from the moves the author made?
A Closer Look at
Craft
Craft
One
way to help younger writers see this is by comparing different writing across a
similar topic. By keeping the topic
similar, students can begin to understand the decision making they have to
consider as a writer when sharing their learning with others. To show one way we might look across texts,
I’ve selected the topic of frogs. Let’s look at the decision making of authors
across these five books.
way to help younger writers see this is by comparing different writing across a
similar topic. By keeping the topic
similar, students can begin to understand the decision making they have to
consider as a writer when sharing their learning with others. To show one way we might look across texts,
I’ve selected the topic of frogs. Let’s look at the decision making of authors
across these five books.
Frogs Sing Songs by Yvonne Winer (Charlesbridge,
2003)
2003)
The
illustrations in this book are sure to take any reader’s breath away. Each frog
is presented with a rhyme and an illustration. For most of the book, the pages
move back and forth between rhyme and illustration. The expository text is
actually placed in the back of this book. With some careful study, you can find
the information that helped the writer shape each short poem. Yes, the author
wants us to know that frogs sing songs, but more importantly, we learn that a
variety of frogs sing songs from different places around the world.
illustrations in this book are sure to take any reader’s breath away. Each frog
is presented with a rhyme and an illustration. For most of the book, the pages
move back and forth between rhyme and illustration. The expository text is
actually placed in the back of this book. With some careful study, you can find
the information that helped the writer shape each short poem. Yes, the author
wants us to know that frogs sing songs, but more importantly, we learn that a
variety of frogs sing songs from different places around the world.
Fabulous Frogs by Martin Jenkins (Candlewick
Press, 2015)
Press, 2015)
This
book is also beautifully illustrated with art that support the text. Across the pages, the author shares many
general facts that help us get to know about the life of a frog. He also
highlights some of the different frogs around the world. The text in this book
seesaws back and forth between general information about frogs with more in
depth captions alongside to tell the reader more. The reader could just read
the general frog text, or could learn more from the small captions along the
way. The last two pages give more information about all the animals featured in
the book. Though the animals are sorted by the way they move, the author shares
much more information about each one.
book is also beautifully illustrated with art that support the text. Across the pages, the author shares many
general facts that help us get to know about the life of a frog. He also
highlights some of the different frogs around the world. The text in this book
seesaws back and forth between general information about frogs with more in
depth captions alongside to tell the reader more. The reader could just read
the general frog text, or could learn more from the small captions along the
way. The last two pages give more information about all the animals featured in
the book. Though the animals are sorted by the way they move, the author shares
much more information about each one.
Flying Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads,
Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin
Hartcourt, 2016)
Jet-Propelled Jellyfish, and More Surprising Ways That Animals Move by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin
Hartcourt, 2016)
I
would absolutely save this book for the middle of the collection because titles
can be deceiving. This book isn’t just
about frogs or fish. Instead, the author shares the myriad of ways animals move
about in the world. Frogs are just one example. The way the author looks at
similarities across animals could lead to some interesting discussion. Would
students have titled this book something else?
would absolutely save this book for the middle of the collection because titles
can be deceiving. This book isn’t just
about frogs or fish. Instead, the author shares the myriad of ways animals move
about in the world. Frogs are just one example. The way the author looks at
similarities across animals could lead to some interesting discussion. Would
students have titled this book something else?
Frogs by Nic Bishop
(Scholastic, 2015)
(Scholastic, 2015)
In
this book, Nic Bishop uses photographs and text to share facts about the more
than 5,000 different frogs around the world. His careful arrangement of text
alongside photographs gives the book a clean organization and structure that is
easy to discuss with young writers. He
uses a photo index which would be an interesting topic of discussion with
students.
this book, Nic Bishop uses photographs and text to share facts about the more
than 5,000 different frogs around the world. His careful arrangement of text
alongside photographs gives the book a clean organization and structure that is
easy to discuss with young writers. He
uses a photo index which would be an interesting topic of discussion with
students.
National Geographic Kids: Frogs! by
Elizabeth Carney (National Geographic, 2009)
Elizabeth Carney (National Geographic, 2009)
This
book doesn’t stray much from the norms of photo-illustrated expository writing,
especially the types of text we have grown accustomed to seeing for students. To
engage readers, the author uses interesting headings, jokes, fun facts in captions,
labeled photos, and diagrams. Young
writers can see a variety of possibilities for helping to clarify their message
and delight their readers.
book doesn’t stray much from the norms of photo-illustrated expository writing,
especially the types of text we have grown accustomed to seeing for students. To
engage readers, the author uses interesting headings, jokes, fun facts in captions,
labeled photos, and diagrams. Young
writers can see a variety of possibilities for helping to clarify their message
and delight their readers.
Interestingly,
many of these books share identical facts arranged in different ways. In the
first titles, the author has a more tailored message about frogs. Sharing a collection with a similar topic
allows us to discuss the author’s message, crafting techniques, and
effectiveness of these decisions in supporting the message for readers. Additionally,
students can start to notice the types of writing that they find most
interesting and share those techniques that catch their attention.
many of these books share identical facts arranged in different ways. In the
first titles, the author has a more tailored message about frogs. Sharing a collection with a similar topic
allows us to discuss the author’s message, crafting techniques, and
effectiveness of these decisions in supporting the message for readers. Additionally,
students can start to notice the types of writing that they find most
interesting and share those techniques that catch their attention.
After
sharing a same-topic text set, you could try grouping books by author or text structure
and encourage students to notice patterns and differences that might help
support their informational writing. Thanks to the authors that surround us
each day, we have more ways to grow in our writing of expository text.
sharing a same-topic text set, you could try grouping books by author or text structure
and encourage students to notice patterns and differences that might help
support their informational writing. Thanks to the authors that surround us
each day, we have more ways to grow in our writing of expository text.
A Side Note
There
are, of course, many other titles that would work to deepen this study. When planning this type of work, I also like
to consider the digital possibilities. Here are some examples:
are, of course, many other titles that would work to deepen this study. When planning this type of work, I also like
to consider the digital possibilities. Here are some examples:
Infographics: Superfrog or Frogs at PBS
Informational
Blog Post: Can Frogs Freeze or How Deadly Are Poison Dart Frogs? at
Wonderopolis
Blog Post: Can Frogs Freeze or How Deadly Are Poison Dart Frogs? at
Wonderopolis
Video: Watch a Real-Live Ninja Frog Kick Away Predators
at National Geographic
at National Geographic
Cathy Mere is the elementary literacy instructional leader at
Hilliard City Schools in Ohio. Cathy is the co-conspirator of #cyberPD, #pb10for10 (in August), and #nf10for10 (in February). She is the author of More Than Guided Reading: Finding the Right
Instructional Mix K-3 and a contributor to Choice Literacy. She believes in the power of children to shape, not just our
future but, our today. She blogs at Reflect
and Refine: Building a Learning Community.
Hilliard City Schools in Ohio. Cathy is the co-conspirator of #cyberPD, #pb10for10 (in August), and #nf10for10 (in February). She is the author of More Than Guided Reading: Finding the Right
Instructional Mix K-3 and a contributor to Choice Literacy. She believes in the power of children to shape, not just our
future but, our today. She blogs at Reflect
and Refine: Building a Learning Community.
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
Topics
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
One Response
These are great resources and ideas for reading like a writer. Thanks so much!