Chapters 8-10: Teach-Okay

Write a short dialogue, like one of the samples in Chapters 8-10, demonstrating the use of Teach-Okay in one of your favorite lessons.

Teacher: Class, I can!

Class: Yes, I can!

Teacher: Today we are going to explore a major topic in 4th grade. Turn to your partner and tell them how excited you are to learn a serious 4th grade skill. (clap, clap) Teach!

Class: (clap, clap) Okay!

Teacher: Class, oh my!

Class: Yes, oh my!

Teacher: Today’s very important, advanced skill, is all about reading and the different types of books there are to read. (sound effects, Dun, dun, dun!) We are going to learn about the genres of reading. With a full body turn, tell your neighbor what we are going to learn. (clap, clap, snap, snap) Teach!

Class: (clap, clap, snap, snap) Okay!

Teacher: Class, class!

Class: Yes, yes!

Teacher: There are so many ways to classify reading but for our class we are going to sort our reading into 10 categories. Today we will learn the names of these genres and each week we will focus on a different category and the types of books in these categories. With a full body turn, teach your neighbor how many genre categories there are. (whistle twice) Teach!

Class: (whistle twice) Okay!

Teacher: First we will talk about fiction and non-fiction. Turn to your partner and discuss the difference with fiction and non-fiction. (long whistle) Teach.

Class: (long whistle) Okay.

Teacher: Class-a-doodle-do!

Class: Yes-a-doodle-do!

Teacher: Fiction stories are made-up stories and non-fiction stories are real stories. High-five your partner if you got this right! (Wait for high-fives) To help me remember, I say this little chant, “Fiction is fake, non is not!” Three-peat this with me, Fiction is fake, non is not! Fiction is fake, non is not! Fiction is fake, non is not! Now, with your partner, make up a gesture to help you remember the difference. (Clap, Clap) Teach!

Class: (Clap, Clap) Okay!

I allow students to show their gesture and then let students pick their personal favorite.

Teacher: Now for the good stuff! There are six fiction genres! Teach your partner how many fiction genres there are. (clap, clap, snap, snap) Teach!

Class: (clap, clap, snap, snap) Okay!

Teacher: (Loud booming voice) Class!

Class: (Loud booming voice) Yes!

Teacher: Mirror words, There are six fiction genres and three non-fiction genres (three-peat this using six fingers then 3 fingers).  Now my mathematicians know that 6+3=9, nine doesn’t equal 10 so something isn’t right… there is one that is called the odd-ball. Everyone salute the oddball since there is an oddball in everything… hahahaha.  Teach your partner how many fiction and non-fiction genres there are. Make sure to use your gestures. (stomp, stomp) Teach!

Class: (stomp, stomp) Okay!

Teacher: Class oh my!

Class: Yes oh my!

Teacher: The six fiction categories are (make fun gestures for each) Fantasy (fairy wings), Realistic Fiction (hands on hips), Mystery (pretend to look through a magnifying glass), Historical Fiction (point thumbs backwards), Traditional Fiction, and Science Fiction (pretend to be a robot). (This is where I unveil the bulletin board of genres and bring attention to the fiction categories.) You will be able to look up here at the various book covers and the names of the genres to help you throughout the year. Teach your partner the fiction genres. (pat legs) Teach!

Class: (pat legs) Okay!

Teacher: Class cadoo!

Class: Yes cadoo!

Teacher: (Mirror words) The three non-fiction categories are Autobiography (point to self), Biography (point to someone else), and Informational (point to head). (Three-peat) Teach your partner the three non-fiction genres. (Clap, clap) Teach!

Class: (Clap, clap) Okay!

Teacher: Class, kablewy!

Class: Yes, kablewy!

Teacher: Let’s review, there are six fiction and three nonfiction. Teach your partner the six fiction, then switch and the other partner will teach the non-fiction. Then complete this the opposite way. Each time you repeat this try not to use the board if you can! (Whistle) Teach!

Class: (Whistle) Okay!

Teacher: Class, Focus!

Class: Yes, Focus!

Teacher: We have discussed the six fiction genres and the three non-fiction genres, now we are going to look at the oddball. See, the oddball isn’t real or made-up. It can be for fun or it can be for feeling. The oddball is (drum roll) Poetry! Now teach all of the genres to your partner! (drum roll) Teach!

Class: (drum roll) Okay!

Teacher: Coo, coo, class!

Class: Coo, coo, yes!

Teacher: Now that you know the names of the genres we will develop our understanding of each category for the next 10 weeks. We will begin with realistic fiction in our first book club book Fourth Grade Rats. Rub your hands together and tell your partner how excited you are to start your first official 4th grade book study!