About the resource
Know Your Texts is a grade 6 classroom resource that focuses on developing students’ knowledge of text structures to improve their comprehension and writing skills.
Topics
Know Your Texts goes beyond investigating text structures to include:
- Morphology
- Vocabulary development
- Background knowledge
- Reading comprehension
- Spelling rules and generalizations
- Word study
- Fluency
- Language conventions
- Writing
Components
Student Book
The 88-page Student Book focuses on 4 text structures:
- Narrative
- Informational
- Persuasive
- Poetry
Each unit includes an overview to introduce students to the characteristics of the focus text structure, followed by selections that allow students to apply their learning while reading and writing.
This resource prioritizes the inclusion of Canadian content and selections created by diverse authors, Indigenous authors, and student voices to ensure students can see themselves in the pages of the Student Book.
Browse the Table of Contents
Download PDF
Teacher’s Guide
The Teacher’s Guide provides:
- Explicit instruction for each text structure
- Support to develop comprehension skills, vocabulary, and background knowledge
- Instructional support for fluency, spelling rules and generalizations, word study, language conventions, and writing
4-Part Lesson Plan
BEFORE READING
Overview of the lesson: word focus, spelling rules and generalizations, content words, printables, word lists, and mini-lessons. Explicit instruction is focused on text structure and their characteristics for each unit: narrative, informational, persuasive, and poetry.
FOCUS ON READING COMPREHENSION
Read the text to apply and practise using the text structure for the lesson and to apply comprehension strategies. Includes teacher background information, pronunciation guide, and Before, During, and After reading strategies.
FLUENCY AND WORD WORK
Apply word knowledge and skills with teaching and learning activities for fluency, Spelling Generalizations Notebook, guided spelling, and word study.
LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS AND WRITING
Develop writing skills with instructional support for language conventions, traits, writing processes, and text forms and structures.
Companion Website for Teachers
Website includes additional instructional tools for teachers:
- Projectable versions of each text for instruction and shared reading
- Second version of text highlights unit focus
- Printable activities
- Word lists
- Mini-lessons for oral language strategies, comprehension strategies, writing, syllable patterns, morphology, vocabulary and word study, literary devices, punctuation, and grammar
- Assessment tools
- Instructional Framework
Sample section
Explore the Know Your Texts resource
Student Book Narrative: Conflict
Conflict Lesson Plan and Activity Pages
Jennette MacKenzie, MEd
Jennette MacKenzie, MEd is an educator with experience as a classroom teacher, school librarian, district consultant, and principal of curriculum and professional development for elementary and secondary schools.
Jennette is the senior author of several leading series used by teachers and students across the country and frequently provides professional development for schools, school districts, and provinces.