Writing Biographies
Each of my 3rd grade students selected an important figure in history or a famous person within popular culture. One of my male students chose to research the author Jeff Kinney, who writes the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. I was pleased that the student completed a biography on an author whose books had boosted his love of reading. In addition to having the students write a biography, I organized a biography day in which each student orally shared information about his or her famous person with the invited audience. Several students dressed up as their selected subjects. The students enjoyed biography day because it involved choice, visual and kinesthetic learning, and role-play.
—Todd Feltman, network literacy achievement coach, New York City Department of Education, New York