Learning about genre
In this classroom clip, Albuquerque teacher Clara Gonzales-Espinoza discusses the hands-on way she tackles teaching the concept of genre with her students and how that plays a part in her lesson planning.
Teacher: Clara Gonzales-Espinoza
Grade: 5
School Name: Emerson Elementary School, Albuquerque, NM
Learning about genre
Clara discusses her lessons on learning about genre with her students.
Standards
Reading Standards for Literature (K-5)
- Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text and summarize the text. (RL 4.2)
- Read and comprehend grade-level literature with scaffolding as needed (RL 4.10)
- Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. (RL 5.2)
- Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics. (RL 5.9)
- By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grade 4-5 text complexity band independently and proficiently. (RL 5.10)
Discussion Questions
- What differences do you see in the standards from one grade to the next?
- How would you modify this Grade 4 lesson if you wanted to use it with Grade 5 students?
Lesson Summary
In this classroom clip, Albuquerque teacher Clara Gonzales-Espinoza discusses the hands-on way she tackles teaching the concept of genre with her students and how that plays a part in her lesson planning.
Things to watch for:
- Graphic organizers and charts to support student learning
- Hands-on opportunities to interact with a variety of books
- Building upon students' prior knowledge
More Watch & Learn video with Clara Gonzales-Espinoza
Alignment to Common Core Standards
Reading Standards for Literature (K-5)
- Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text and summarize the text. (RL 4.2)
- Read and comprehend grade-level literature with scaffolding as needed (RL 4.10)
- Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text. (RL 5.2)
- Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics. (RL 5.9)
- By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grade 4-5 text complexity band independently and proficiently. (RL 5.10)
Discussion Questions
- What differences do you see in the standards from one grade to the next?
- How would you modify this Grade 4 lesson if you wanted to use it with Grade 5 students?
Lesson Plan/Materials
Related ELL Strategies
- Bilingual Reading Tips for Secondary Educators
Reading strategies for educators in grades 4-12 about teaching background knowledge, vocabulary, and checking for comprehension.