Genre is a recognized category of works that share a common form, purpose or content. As a writer, it is important to understand what these commonly shared attributes are for each of the different genre.

Descriptive Genre- the goal of this genre is to describe a person, place or thing in vivid detail.

Expository Genre- the goal of this genre is to give information such as an explanation or directions

Narrative Genre -the goal of this genre is to tell a story of an experience, event, or sequence of events while holding the reader's interest.

Persuasive Genre -the goal of this genre is to give an opinion in an attempt to convince the reader that this point of view is valid or tries to persuade the reader to take a specific action.

Poetry Genre- the poetic writing is a written art form that helps the writer express an imaginative awareness and arranged to create a specific emotional response sometimes employing the use of repetition, meter, and rhyme.

Technical Genre-the goal of technical writing is to clearly communicate a select piece of information to a targeted reader or group of readers for a particular purpose in such a way that the subject can readily be understood. It is expository writing that requires a response from the reader.

Rubrics are a great way for students to self assess and for the teacher to formatively assess different writings projects.  Rubrics also provide clear criteria for evaluating writing on a continuum of quality.

Examples of Writing Rubrics:
Expository Rubric

Persuasive Rubric

Literary Response Rubric

Reflective Writing

What are strategies that I can use that improve reading and writing across the curriculum.

Anticipation Guides Improve Reading-Create a series of generalized statements related to a passage of text. Prior to reading, ask students to write down each generalization (see the download) and indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with the generalization. As students read the passage, they should take notes on the issues presented by the generalizations. After reading, students should evaluate their original marks to determine if their level of agreement or disagreement has changed. Follow the anticipation guide with an explanatory writing or discussion activity.

Postcard Geography- Have your students send and receive postcards to and from participating schools.Check out this site to register. The postcards can be posted on maps hung in the classroom for students to use while finding the locations of the other schools.

Veteran’s Day Letters to Vets- Students connect with today's veterans. Contact your local VFW or VA hospital and have them hand out letter and pictures your students have made for the local veterans.

Reader’s Theater - Fluency with struggling readers can improve with type of activity. Reader's theaters gives an occasion where students practice and reread rhymes, stories, poems, songs, monologues, dialogue or scripts throughout the week and then perform them at the end of the week.

Pumpkin Characters- Enjoy the fall with this wonderful literature project. Each student reads a book independently. The main character is recreated by using a pumpkin. Have the students select a pumpkin (one they can carry) and decorate it (not carve it) to resemble the main character in their book.

Poetry Calendar-  Research famous poets to create a school year calendar. Students will research five famous poets born in a particular month, read 1-2 poems by each poet while illustrating each poem.