An Intro to Biography Week

This week I'm gearing up to talk about some of my favorite biographies!!

To name a few..........

But, first I wanted to make a very simple break down of what the Texas TEKS are asking students to do with biographies.

TEKS:

Grade 3: 

Students need to know the difference in biography and autobiography.

Students make inferences and draw conclusions about the varied structural patterns and features.

Students respond by providing evidence.

(9)  Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Literary Nonfiction. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the varied structural patterns and features of literary nonfiction and respond by providing evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to explain the difference in point of view between a biography and autobiography

Grade 4: 

Students need to know the difference in biography and autobiography.

Students make inferences and draw conclusions about the varied structural patterns and features.

Students respond by providing evidence.

Students identify similarities and differences between the events and characters' experiences in fictional work and the actual events.

(7)  Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Literary Nonfiction. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the varied structural patterns and features of literary nonfiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to identify similarities and differences between the events and characters' experiences in a fictional work and the actual events and experiences described in an author's biography or autobiography.

Grade 5: 

All of the above and...

Students identify the literary language and devices used in biographies and autobiographies.

Students identify how authors present major events in a person's life.

(7)  Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Literary Nonfiction. Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the varied structural patterns and features of literary nonfiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to identify the literary language and devices used in biographies and autobiographies, including how authors present major events in a person's life.

Yikes y'all, that is technical and doesn't sound very fun!!!! Have no fear, the literature we will look at this week is so fun that these TEKS will be incorporated organically.

The library has different types of biographies. There will be the run-of-the-mill series of biographies that will have every president, or 30 famous people, etc etc. 

Some of these are great. If you want basic facts, pictures, etc. you'll find them.

But literary language...

The beautiful storytelling language is not going to be found in those. The author's purpose just isn't as rich with those series biographies. So, I'm excited to spend some time reviewing some rich biography literature with you this week. Stay tuned!