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