Realistic Fiction

Criteria for Quality Selection:
One important criterion to consider when selecting a realistic fictional text is is the text relatable to real life. Are students able to compare this text to real life scenarios? In order for a text to fall under the category of realistic fiction it needs to have human behavior and realistic outcomes at the end of the text. When selecting to use this text in the classroom make sure the text is age appropriate for students and students are also able to make connections with the text.

Use in the Classroom:
I think it would be beneficial to incorporate this text into a classroom. Students are able to relate these texts to their own life. Exposing students to this will give them opportunities to make the connections between the text and their lives. I will use realistic 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.booknixie.com/best/childrens/realistic-fiction/books
http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/carnegiemedal

Text and Author Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/children-realistic-fiction
http://www.katedicamillo.com

General Genre Links:
http://www.homeofbob.com/literature/genre/fiction/realFictnElmnts.html
http://www.qacps.k12.md.us/ges/realisticfic.html

Teaching Ideas for Students:
http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/genres/realistic/realisticfiction.htm
http://teachabletexts.com/tag/realistic-fiction/

Pictures of Hollis Woods
Gliff, P. (2002). Pictures of Hollis Woods. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN:0440415780

Complex Text Level:
5th & 6th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
4th & 5th grade

Major Themes:

• Self- Perception
• Adoption Process

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• This book has won the Newbery Medal
• Keeps the chapters short
• Explains the importance of believing in yourself 

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Adoption

Difficulties for Students

• Understanding the adoption process
• Understanding the difference between her past family and the family she has now

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of the adoption process
• Pre-teaching of complex vocabulary words

Brown Girl Dreaming
Woodson, J. (n.d.). Brown girl dreaming.

Reference Information for Accessing the Text:
ISBN:0399252517

Complex Text Level:
10th & 11th grade

Grade Level Span Reading Aloud:
9th & 10th grade

Major Themes:

• Family
• Civil Rights
• Jim Crow laws

Worthy Qualities of Writing:

• The text is written in poems and each time it starts a new poem the text has a bold heading
• The text has won multiple awards: Coretta Scott King Honor Winner, National Book Award Finalist, and Newbery Honor Winner
• At the end of the book it has pictures of all of the characters to help students visualize the characters

Connections to Authentic Local, National, and Global Issues

• Difficulty of growing up as an African American
• Civil rights movement

Difficulties for Students

• Understanding the poems
• Understanding the civil rights

Support Needed

• Pre-teaching of how to understand poems
• Pre-teaching of all the characters in the book
• Pre-teaching of the Civil Rights movement