Inquiry is one of those things we know is good for students, but sometimes avoid because it seems like more work. I remember being very “pro inquiry” as a student teacher and slipping into more of the “demonstration” camp once I was an actual teacher. Inquiry brings to mind more materials, time and uncertainty than sit-and-get methods.
Once again, enter genre study. Before, I hadn’t thought much about inquiry in regard to reading (it was mostly a “science thing” in my mind). But Fountas and Pinnell taught us an inquiry approach to genre that was structured, engaging and low-prep. Here’s how it works:
- Genre Immersion: Students read examples of the genre throughout reading workshop.
- List Characteristics: A few weeks in, the class gathers to list characteristics of the genre.
- Define the Genre: The class uses the list to craft a definition of the genre.
Contrast this with the typical approach where the teacher defines all genres for students in one lesson. Here’s a closer look at each step:
Genre Immersion
First off, students need experience with the genre. Lots of experience. We provide this through genre immersion–weeks of exposure to the genre. After a period of genre immersion, students will have noticed and internalized some characteristics of the genre. Students read examples of the genre in each part of reading workshop:
- Read Alouds (grade-level picture books)
- Guided Reading (short, leveled texts)
- Independent Reading (chapter books for upper elementary)
- Novel Study (chapter books)
But Wait? How Can Students Choose the Right Books if We Haven’t Defined the Genre? They may not be able to at first. For the first week or so, ask them to choose books within the broad category (fiction or nonfiction), or finish a book they started in the last genre unit. After the first week or two, they should be able to choose books from within the genre.
List Characteristics & Define the Genre
When students have been immersed in the genre for a few weeks, they’re ready to define the genre. You can do this by making a genre anchor chart during a whole-group lesson. Divide your anchor chart into four sections, and go through the inquiry process as you complete each section together:
- Name the Genre (Realistic Fiction in the above example).
- “Usually” Column: Record characteristics that usually appear in this genre.
- “Always” Column: Record characteristics that have always appeared in this genre.
- Definition: Use the characteristics in the “Always column” to write a class definition of the genre.
There you go! I love this method because it’s open-ended enough for students to craft their own definition, but it’s structured enough to facilitate productive inquiry.
What do you think? Have you ever made one of these charts before? Are there other ways you’ve incorporated inquiry into reading workshop?
If you’re interested in genre study, follow this blog series, or check out my free genre study catalogue. It includes infographics and other resources for implementing genre study in your own classroom.
