Proposal Title
Portraits of Perseverance: Examining Identity While Crafting Picture Book Biographies with Third Graders
Abstract
This research explores the role of picture book biographies as mentor texts in the elementary classroom. Research questions included: How can the child reader’s glimpse into the research and artistic processes within the back matter of a picture book biography deepen their own understanding of the art and craft of biography? This qualitative case study was conducted in a third grade classroom within a suburban Title 1 school for a six-week period from October through early November. Over the course of the unit, students read and reread four picture book biographies created by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. Students heard a read aloud of Some Writer! (2016) Melissa Sweet’s chapter-length biography of E.B. White. Students explored a range of Orbis Pictus and Sibert Medal-winning biographies of diverse contemporary and historical subjects. Students also interviewed community members and wrote and illustrated original picture book biographies. An analysis of the literary devices, and visual and written motifs within the students’ writing suggests that focused attention to a small group of mentor texts and intentional exploration of the author’s and illustrator’s process of creating picture book biographies can lead to deeper reader/writer engagement with and understanding of the genre.
Start Date
28-3-2018 6:40 PM
End Date
28-3-2018 7:30 PM
Presentation Type
Panel
Disciplines
Curriculum and Instruction | Education | Elementary Education | Language and Literacy Education
Portraits of Perseverance: Examining Identity While Crafting Picture Book Biographies with Third Graders
U-Hall 3-101
This research explores the role of picture book biographies as mentor texts in the elementary classroom. Research questions included: How can the child reader’s glimpse into the research and artistic processes within the back matter of a picture book biography deepen their own understanding of the art and craft of biography? This qualitative case study was conducted in a third grade classroom within a suburban Title 1 school for a six-week period from October through early November. Over the course of the unit, students read and reread four picture book biographies created by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. Students heard a read aloud of Some Writer! (2016) Melissa Sweet’s chapter-length biography of E.B. White. Students explored a range of Orbis Pictus and Sibert Medal-winning biographies of diverse contemporary and historical subjects. Students also interviewed community members and wrote and illustrated original picture book biographies. An analysis of the literary devices, and visual and written motifs within the students’ writing suggests that focused attention to a small group of mentor texts and intentional exploration of the author’s and illustrator’s process of creating picture book biographies can lead to deeper reader/writer engagement with and understanding of the genre.
