Professional Ponderings

Tom Romano’s Blending Genre, Alternating Style was a wonderful day-brightener. He gives teachers suggestions on how to use these ideas, as well as examples of multigenre work, and contact information of teachers who are using this style in their teaching. Romano also acknowledges that this is not a one-size-fits-all-every-teacher-do-this -my-way type of teaching/writing. Which was truly refreshing (especially after reading Williams-see earlier post)

I was tentative at first wondering; how on earth can I integrate this idea? (Which is the usual question when I come across something I really like but have no idea what to do with it.) I have to teach some type of research report this spring to my 7^th graders, dealing with a novel that they are reading. It has already been decided that they get to choose their specific topic, however the thought of assigning (and reading) the five paragraph research essays makes me nod instantly to sleep.

Romano’s text gave me a wonderful idea: have the traditional research write up be one part of a multigenre text. Like the example of “The Allosaurs in Phoenix” my students can write an encyclopedia type article. In this section I can look at the topic sentence, supporting points etc. that they are required to write in 7^th grade with the additional freedom of having my students write a few other styles on their topic as well.

My favorite phrase from this text is “Narrative Knowing.” This is a way of “rendering experience or phenomenon(22).” Another great thing to think about is Narrative Summary V. Dramatic Scene. Yes it is another way of saying “Show don’t tell” but with an additional emphasis of the reader really experiencing what they are reading.

Since different genres are used for different purposes, and we can’t always remember all of the genres off the tops of our heads, here is a link that I found helpful. The main site is Learnquebec.ca The site is an English education resource for teachers, administrators, students and parents in Quebec, Canada. It is full of a lot of different resources depending on who you are and what you are looking for. I found a few on multigenre writing, including a list of different genres. This part of the site is designed to help us get our students to go beyond the five paragraph essay, and into multigenre writing.