Table of Contents

Section One: An Inquiry Approach to Genre Study

Chapter 1: An Inquiry Approach to Genre Study:  Learning from Mentor Texts

• What is Genre?
• Purpose, Genre, and Audience
• The Role of Genre in Understanding Reading and Writing
• A Workshop Approach to Genre Study
• An Inquiry Approach to Learning About Genre
• Understanding Mentor Texts
• Goals and Purposes of This Book
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 2: What is Genre Study?

• Genre Study and Comprehension
• The Genre Study Process in Action
• Suggestions for Professional Development

 

Chapter 3: What Students Need to Know About the Genres of Texts

• Genres and Forms of Literature
• Prose
• Fiction Texts
• Nonfiction Texts
• Hybrid Texts
• Text Structures
• Forms of Prose and Poetry
• Plays
• Literacy and New Media
• The Expanding World of Literature
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 4: A Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop Approach to Genre Study

• Interactive Read-Aloud
• Books in Relation to Readers
• Assessment
• Curriculum for Teaching and Learning
• Suggestions for Professional Development

 

Chapter 5: Learning to Process Fiction and Nonfiction Texts

• Ways of Thinking About Texts
• Systems of Strategic Actions for Comprehending Texts
• Strategies as an Integrated System
• Learning to Read by Reading Texts
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Section Two: Understanding Genres

Chapter 6: Understanding Fiction Texts

• A Comparison of Fiction and Nonfiction Texts
• Fiction Genres
• Elements of Fiction
• Classic Fiction
• Suggestions for Professional Development

 

Chapter 7: Realism in Fiction Texts: Contemporary Realistic and Historical Fiction

• The Value of Realistic Fiction
• Contemporary Realistic Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Types of Realistic Fiction
• Realism: Learning About Ourselves and Others
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 8: Fantasy in Fiction Texts: Traditional Literature and Modern Fantasy

• Motifs in Traditional Literature and Modern Fantasy
• Traditional Literature
• Modern Fantasy
• Traditional Literature and Modern Fantasy in the Classroom
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 9: Understanding Biography

• Full Biographies
• Partial Biographies
• Distinguishing Between Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir
• Biography
• Autobiography
• Memoir
• Elements of Biographies
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 10: Nonfiction Texts: Understanding Purpose, Organization, and Audience

• Value of Nonfiction Texts
• Narrative Nonfiction
• Categories of Nonfiction Texts
• Underlying Structural Patterns in Nonfiction Texts
• The Importance of Text Structure
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 11: Nonfiction Texts: Analysis of Design

• Design Features of Nonfiction Texts
• Analysis of a Text
• Special Groups of Nonfiction Texts
• Demands of Nonfiction Texts on Readers
• Evaluating Nonfiction Texts
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 12: Reading Across Genres: A Close Study of Hybrid Texts, Graphica, and Multigenre Text Sets

• The Benefits of Reading and Thinking Across Genres
• Hybrid Texts
• Graphica
• Using Multigenre Text Sets
• Exploring New Genres and Forms
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 13: The Genres of Poetry

• Poetry Workshop
• Learning About Poetry from Poetry
• The Elements of Poetry
• Variety in Poetry
• An Environment to Foster Poetry
• Collecting Poems
• Poetry Books to Look For
• Finding Joy in the Teaching of Poetry
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Section Three: Expanding Reading Power Through Understanding Genres

Chapter 14: Thinking and Talking about Genre:  Interactive Read-Aloud and Literature Discussion

• Selecting Texts
• Developing a Shared Language for Talking about Texts
• Using Interactive Read-Aloud to Study Literary Genres
• Using Book Clubs (Literature Discussion) to Study Literary Genres
• Learning Over Time
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 15: Learning about Fiction Genres through Minilessons and Group Share

• The Structure of Genre Study
• The Structure of Readers’ Workshop
• Genre Study in the Readers’ Workshop
• Using Minilessons and Group Share to Support Genre Study
• Mapping a Sequence of Minilessons
• Using Inquiry and Readers’ Workshop to Study Historical Fiction
• Using Inquiry and Readers’ Workshop to Study Traditional Literature
• Moving From Fiction to Nonfiction
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 16: Learning about Nonfiction Texts through Minilessons and Share

• Interactive Read-Aloud and Readers’ Workshop
• Genre Study for Nonfiction Texts
• Minilessons to Learn about Expository Nonfiction Texts
• Learning About Narrative Nonfiction
• Differentiating the Types of Nonfiction Texts
• Using Minilessons and Group Share to Learn about Biography
• Constructing the Curriculum
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 17: Developing Understandings about Genre through Reading Conferences and Independent Reading

• Independent Reading
• An Environment for Reading
• Readers’ Workshop as a Setting for Individual Conferring
• Intentional Teaching in the Reading Conference
• The Role of Facilitative Talk in Helping Students Learn about Genre
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 18: Writing about Reading in a Reader’s Notebook

• Use of the Reader’s Notebook
• Parts and Tools of the Reader’s Notebook
• Studying Genre through Writing about Reading
• Functional Writing About Reading
• Narrative Writing About Reading
• Nonfiction Writing About Reading
• Poetic Writing About Reading
• Supporting Writing in Response to Reading
• Teacher Reflection on Writing about Reading
• Self As Reader and Writer
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 19: Using Guided Reading to Develop Understandings about Genre

• A Gradient of Text
• Begin with Assessment
• Using the Structure of Guided Reading to Support Genre Study
• Teaching for Strategic Actions
• Connecting Guided Reading to Genre Study
• Using Specific Language to Support Strategic Actions
• Suggestions for Professional Development

Chapter 20: The Reading/Writing Connection

• A Seamless Approach to Reading and Writing Genres
• The Writing Process
• The Structure of Writers’ Workshop
• Purpose and Genres of Writing
• Narrative Genres
• Non-Narrative Genres
• Poetic Genres
• Functional Genres
• Writing and Its Connection to Reading
• Suggestions for Professional Development