Poetry

Criteria for Quality Selection
A poem uses shorts lines with words that either have rhyme or rhythm. Poems are generally about the writers past experiences or feelings. The most important criterion to consider when selecting a text is it uses appropriate language for students, some poems use language that would not be acceptable for students. The second criterion for selecting a text is appeal. The poem should have a picture that directly relates to what the poem is talking about. This way students can help make the connections between the pictures and the text.

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when teaching students about rhythm. Poems should be taught to younger students to teach them about rhyming.  Exposing students to this genre will teach them how to express their feelings. I will use poetry in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
https://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/american-poets-prizes
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/foundation/awards

Text and Author Links:
http://www.shelsilverstein.com
http://www.seussville.com/#/mcelligots
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/poetry

General Genre Links:
http://www.poetry.org/whatis.htm
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/about

Teaching Ideas for Students:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AbN9iwg_sb4I5aVnig77cy-rurpgJOdnOKl0YGUKuUgL_V9388Ldy5Q/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/244883298465749259/

Dr. Suess: Green Eggs and Ham

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN:0545002850

Complex Text Level:
1st & 2nd grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
Kindergraten & 1st grade

Major Themes:

• Eating anywhere
• Green eggs and ham
• Trying something new 

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Rhyming 
• Humor 

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues:

• Being scared to try something new 

Difficulties for Students:

• Understanding how different words rhymes

Support Needed:

• Pre-teaching of difficult words
• Teaching students to listen for the rhyming 

Where the Sidewalk Ends 
Silverstien, S. (1974). Where the sidewalk ends. New York: Harper Collins

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN: 9780140361223

Complex Text Level:
Kindergarten & 1st grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
1st & 2nd grade

Major Themes:

• Humorous 
• Wisdom of Experience 
• Character

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Rhyming 
• Life lessons
• Humor 

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues:

• Everyone should be treated the same 
• Everyone has a different view point on life 

Difficulties for Students:

• Understanding the importance of reading poems 
• Making connections to the poems and real life 

Support Needed:

• Have students being looking for something in particular while reading the poem
• If the students are having a hard time understanding the poem ask them prompting questions to help them understand it

Mystery

Criteria for Quality Selection
Mystery text is when the plot involves a crime or a similar event that is puzzling and leaves the reader thinking. The most important criterion to consider when selecting a text is organization of the text. The text needs to have an organization that students are able to follow. If the organization of the text is consuming for students they will have a hard time following the text. The second criterion I would consider when reading this genre is appeal. The mystery needs to be appealing to students. Students are more likely to read the text is they have interest in the mystery.

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom to encourage students to be reading in the classroom. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to texts that get them thinking and leaves readers wanting to read more. I will use mystery texts in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/
http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html

Text and Author Links:
http://www.camjansen.com
http://www.theodoreboone.com

General Genre Links:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/exploring-mystery-genre
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/hound/tg_mystery.html

Teaching Ideas for Students:
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson299.shtml
http://www.mysterynet.com/learn/

Cam Jansen and the Millionaire Mystery
Adler, D., & Allen, J. (2012). Cam Jansen and the millionaire mystery. New York: Viking.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN: 0142427470

Complex Text Level:
4th & 5th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
3rd & 4th grade

Major Themes:

• Mystery 
• Multi-generational 

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Use of descriptive details helps readers understand what the characters are thinking
• The use of words makes readers want to continue reading the text

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues:

• Helping out at charity events
• When something gets stolen

Difficulties for Students:

• Understanding why people steal from each other
• Understanding how you solve a mystery 

Support Needed:

• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words 
• Pre-teaching of what it means to have photographic memory

Theadore Boone: Kid lawyer 
Grisham, J. (2010). Theodore Boone, kid lawyer. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN:978- 0142417225

Complex Text Level:
4th & 5th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
3rd & 4th grade

Major Themes:

• Mystery 
• Lawyer
• Judicial process

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Intriguing plot that makes readers want to continue reading 
• Describing how the judicial process works

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues:

• Having to use a lawyer to deal with legal issues
• How the judge, policeman, and count clerk affect the law 

Difficulties for Students:

• Understanding the duties of a lawyer
• Understanding how the court system works 

Support Needed:

• Pre-teaching of what the job of a lawyer entails
• Pre-teaching of the judicial process
• Pre-teaching of the complex vocabulary used throughout the text 

Adventure

Criteria for Quality Selection
Adventure texts have an unusual or exciting event that occurs that leaves the reader wanting to read more. The characters in the text make risky decisions that make the reader want to continue reading. The most important criterion to consider when selecting a text is the organization of the text. Adventure texts need to be set up in a way that they are easy for students to read and understand. The second criterion I would consider appropriateness for students. Adventure texts can get graphic and sometimes may not be appropriate to be read in the classroom.

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when we are learning about high risk situations in the classroom. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to all the different kinds of unusual events that they would never think would occur. I will use adventure texts in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://stopyourekillingme.com/Awards/
http://www.theedgars.com

Text and Author Links:
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/23384/gary-paulsen
http://sidfleischman.com

General Genre Links:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0404/adventure_books.html
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/06/02/the-essential-man’s-library-adventure-edition-part-one-fiction/
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/booklists/51129882e4b09a551f374b88#cart/cleanup

Teaching Ideas for Students:
http://kaitlyngoralportfolio.weebly.com/adventure-genre.html
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/genre-study-collaborative-approach-270.html?tab=3

Hatchet 
Paulsen, G. (1987). Hatchet. New York: Bradbury Press.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN: 1416936475

Complex Text Level:
6th & 7th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
7th & 8th grade

Major Themes:

• Survival 
• Determination
• Courage

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Received the the Newberry Honor
• Teaches students the importance of never giving up
• Details make you want to continue reading 

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues:

• Trying to survive in life or death situations
• Learning to continue with life even when you lose a loved one

Difficulties for Students:

• Violence 
• Some of the vocabulary that is used 

Support Needed:

• Read ahead and tell students when violent scenes are coming so students are prepared
• Pre-teaching of what it is like to live in the wilderness and all the obstacles they may face

The Whipping Boy
Fleischman, S., & S, P. (1986). The whipping boy. New York: Greenwillow Books.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN: 0060521228

Complex Text Level:
4th & 5th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
3rd & 4th grade

Major Themes:

• Friendship
• Royalty 
• Power

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• The description gives students insight of how the whipping boy was feeling throughout the text
• The use of words makes the text easy to understand

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues:

• Poor being forced to do jobs they don't want to do
• People having power over the poor

Difficulties for Students:

• Understanding what it means to be the whipping boy
• The language may be hard for students to follow

Support Needed:

• Summarize or paraphrase the violent scenes for students who do not feel comfortable reading about them. 
• Pre-teaching of the time period in which this book was written

Illustrated Story & Picture Book

Criteria for Quality Selection
A illustrated story incorporates a vast amount of visuals to explain the story. Some illustrated stories contain no words and only visuals to tell the story. The most important criterion to consider when selecting an illustrated story book is appeal. Since the story is mostly told through images students need to find the book appealing. The book needs to have eye catching appeal that makes students want to read the text. The second criterion I would look for when selecting this genre is appropriateness. Is the text appropriate for the age group that will be reading this text?

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when we are are talking about inferences. The text does not directly tell students what is going on they have to try and figure out what is going in. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to all the different ways a story can be told. I will use illustrated story and picture books in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal
http://www.15degreelab.com/givernyawarddescription.html

Text and Author Links:
http://www.jacquelinebriggsmartin.com/books/snowflakebentley.html
http://www.marcuspfister.ch

General Genre Links:
http://www.underdown.org/childrens-book-awards.htm
http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/articles/sources-of-award-winning-childrens-books.htm

Teaching Ideas for Students:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/teach-award-winning-childrens-books
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/story-books-classroom

Snowflake Bentley
Martin, J., & Azarian, M. (1998). Snowflake Bentley. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN: 0547248296

Complex Text Level:
2nd & 3rd grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
1st & 2nd grade

Major Themes:

• Evolution of photography
• Snowflakes are each created differently

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• History sidebars throughout the text
• The book has received the Caldecott award

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• How photography evolved 

Difficulties for Students

• Students may have difficulty understanding why each snowflake is different
• Students may have difficulty understanding the evolution of cameras

Rainbow Fish
Pfister, M. (1992). The rainbow fish. New York: North-South Books

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN:1558580093

Complex Text Level:
2nd & 3rd grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
1st & 2nd grade

Major Themes:

• Values
• Friends 

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• The illustrations are eye-catching and grabs the attention of readers
• Easy to read to read text
• Great story line

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Sharing will help you make strong friendships

Difficulties for Students

• Misinterpreting the moral of the story

Support Needed

• Understanding of values and friendship
• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words

Science Fiction & Modern Fantasy

Criteria for Quality Selection
Science fiction text focus on using laws and theories of a scientific concept to look into the future. Modern fantasy looks into an imaginative world with unnatural characters or events. These text often occur in an alternative world. The most important criterion I would look for when selecting this text is appropriateness of the text. These texts can sometimes be very violent and it is important to make sure the text is appropriate for the audience that is reading it. The second criterion I would look for when selecting this text is organization. The text needs to be done in an organized matter so students understand what is going on and can accurately follow what is occurring in the text.

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when we are learning about science fiction and fantasy in the classroom. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to the an unnatural world and give them an idea of what an unnatural world would be like. I will use science fiction & fantasy  in my classroom for read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://www.thehugoawards.org
https://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/

Text and Author Links:
http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com
http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com

General Genre Links:
http://www.sfcenter.ku.edu/SF-Defined.htm
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/science-fiction

Teaching Ideas for Students:
http://www.scoop.it/t/teaching-science-fiction
http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/genres/science/sciencefiction.htm

Divergent 
Roth, V. (2013). Divergent. New York: Katherine Tegen Books

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN:9780062387240

Complex Text Level:
5th & 6th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:

4th & 5th grade

Major Themes:

• Values
• Virtues
• Family 
• Self-sacrifice 

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Vivid details used throughout the text to help readers visualize the text 
• Students can relate themselves to the different factions

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• The effects of having a war

Difficulties for Students

• Understanding the different factions

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of all the different factions
• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words
• Give students a warning about when the graphic scenes are coming. This way if students do not want to read that section they won't have to.

Hunger Games
Collins, S. (2010). The hunger games. London: Scholastic

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN:9780439023528

Complex Text Level:
5th & 6th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:

4th & 5th grade

Major Themes:

• Self-esteem & reliance 
• Self respect 
• Family 

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Understanding the different districts 
• Vivid details used to help students visualize what is happening in the text 
• Students can make connections to their own life

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• World Hunger 
• The effects of having a war

Difficulties for Students

• Understanding why Panem has power over everyone
• Understanding why they hold the hunger games

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of the different districts
• Pre-teaching of what Panem is
• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words
• Give students a warning of the graphic scenes. This way students can skip this part of the book. 

21st Century Genres

Criteria for Quality Selection
The 21st century genres uses visual storytelling to tell a story through images, symbols, and movies. This text use multiple resources to tell the story. The first criterion I would look for when selecting this text is appeal. Since these text mostly focus on visuals, it is important that the text is appealing to students. The second criterion I would look for when selecting a text is organization. The organization of the text needs to be clear so students can understand the purpose of the text.

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when we are learning about technology in the classroom. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to all the different types of texts. This texts are different then texts students generally get exposed to. I will use 21st century genre in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://www.thehugoawards.org
http://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-03/38th-annual-kodansha-manga-awards-nominees-announced

Text and Author Links:
http://www.wimpykid.com/about-the-author/
http://judyblundell.com

General Genre Links:
http://digitalis.nwp.org/resource/5056
http://brinksbooks.weebly.com/doodle-fiction.html

Teaching Ideas for Students:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/141441244522266091/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/287597126178940703/

39 Clues
Riordan, R. (2008). The maze of bones. New York: Scholastic.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN: 0545060397

Complex Text Level:
4th & 5th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
3rd & 4th grade

Major Themes:

• Talent
• Success
• History

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• The text has short easy chapters 
• The text uses vivid details to help students visualize what is happening

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Orphans trying to make a better life for themselves

Difficulties for Students

• Contains some violence 
• May have a hard time following all the characters

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of all the different characters
• Warning of when the graphic scenes are about to occur

The Diary of the Wimpy Kid
Kinney, J. (2007). Diary of a wimpy kid. (Ed. ed.). New York: Amulet Books.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:

ISBN: 978-0-8109-9313-6

Complex Text Level:
4th & 5th gradet

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
3rd & 4th grade

Major Themes:

• Struggles of being a middle schooler
• Friendship

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• The text has doodles on each page and looks like it was written in a notebook
• The text does not have a lot of writing on each page
• The drawings throughout the text directly correlate to what the text is talking about

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Bullying and peer pressure 

Difficulties for Students

• Students may have a hard time following the text because it uses a lot of images

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words in the text
• Pre-teaching of how to read a chapter book with lots of images

Historical Fiction

Criteria for Quality Selection
A literary genre in which the story takes place in a setting in the past. The most important criterion to consider when selecting a historical fiction text is the appropriateness of the text. The text should relate to concepts that are being discussed in the class. This way students can make connections between the text and what they are talking about in class. The second criterion to look for when selecting this text is organization. The text needs to be clearly organized so students understand the purpose of the text.

Use in the Classroom
I would incorporate this text into my classroom when we are learning about important historical events in the classroom. Exposing students to this genre will expose them to all the different historical events that have been passed from generation to generation. I will use historical fiction in my classroom for shared reading and read aloud. I will also have a wide variety of these text available in my classroom library for students to refer to on their own time.

Award Links:
http://www.langumtrust.org/histlit.html
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-historical-fiction-books-2014

Text and Author Links:
http://www.jessieburton.co.uk
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/markuszusak/

General Genre Links:
http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue34/historicalfic.htm
https://historicalnovelsociety.org/guides/defining-the-genre/defining-the-genre-what-are-the-rules-for-historical-fiction/

Teaching Ideas for Students:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/why-and-how-i-teach-historical-fiction
http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/genres/historical/historicalfiction.htm

Moses
Weatherford, C., & Nelson, K. (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN: 978-078685175

Complex Text Level:
3rd & 4th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
2nd & 3rd grade

Major Themes:

• Freedom
• Bravery

Worthy Qualities of Writing

• Illustrations directly correlate with the text
• Received the Caldecott award 
• Explains Harriet Tubman's journey to free the slaves

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Growing up in a difficult time

Difficulties for Students

• Students will need to understand the underground railroad movement
• Understanding Harriet Tubman 

Support Needed

• Understand the underground railroad movement
• Pre-teaching of Harriet Tubman
• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words 

The Book Thief
Zusak, M. (2006). The Book Thief: I Am The Messenger:. New York, New York: Random House Children's Books.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN: 978-0-375-84220-7


Complex Text Level
5th & 6th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud
4th & 5th grade

Major Themes

• World War II
• Concentration Camps

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• Chapters are not too long
• Vivid details to help students visualize what is happening in the text
• The connection to real life events

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Concentration Camps
• Growing up during a difficult time

Difficulties for Students

• The story line of the text can be hard to follow at first
• Takes place in a different country students may have a hard time understand the geographic locations

Support Needed

• Understanding of what the WWII was
• Understanding of complex vocabulary words