I remember when paired texts made their way onto the reading stage. Students would read one fiction text and one nonfiction text. They would answer questions about both texts individually and then move toward answering questions that connected the two texts. It was genius. I loved giving my students equal exposure of the two genres while using engaging content."Paired texts" was a phrase oftentimes used with the primary grades. Once students entered the upper elementary level, it shifted to "paired passages". It was a similar concept but there was a shift to using a greater variety of texts. The second passage would includes things such as recipes, interviews, directions, etc... If you have seen or worked with state assessments you know this formula well.
The last few years I have been using picture books more often. I have found ways to incorporate them into my units of instruction and have witnessed my students' levels of engagement and interest increase. Some of the most effective picture books for upper elementary students include one of the following: a person in history, a specific event, or stunning illustrations.
With Katherine Johnson paired texts, I like to start with the picture book. It is visually appealing and offers better opportunities for discussions and connections for the students. It is easier for students to move to the less visually engaging nonfiction text when they have a vested interest in the subject matter. So, in this case, I like to hook them in with Johnson's story told through text and illustrations and then move them toward the other nonfiction text that is more fact-driven and offers different opportunities for using text features, understanding vocabulary, interpreting quotes, and working with timelines.
You can see the money-saving bundle of these resources here.
Picture Book: Counting on Katherine
There are so many choices when deciding on which picture book to use. For me, I love the illustrations and the flow of the story in Counting on Katherine. Helaine Becker gives readers a concise and accurate look into the challenges and triumphs Katherine Johnson experienced in her life. Dow Phumiruk's illustrations helps readers to connect to the events in Johnsons's life through beautiful art work that contains a perfect blend of visual appeal and information. The overall messaging of the book constantly circles back to the character strengths of perseverance and teamwork.
You can see the full resource of Counting on Katherine here.
Vocabulary Development
Counting on Katherine allows teachers an opportunity to work on vocabulary words such as: catapulted, segregated, and precise. I ask students to rate themselves using a knowledge rating at the start of the book. Once the students have had an opportunity to work with the vocabulary and digest the information, students will take another knowledge rating to see if their overall understanding of the words increased. It's a great way for students to see their own individual growth in a short amount of time.
Literary Devices
Literary devices seem to be one of those concepts that teachers need to constantly reintroduce and reinforce. No matter how many times I teach similes and metaphors, it always feels like the first time! Counting on Katherine has a few literary devices teachers can focus on to help students master simile and metaphor. It also contains some examples of personification and idioms.
This is one activity where I would break students up into four different teams. Assign one literary device to each team. Challenge them to find the device within the text and report back to the whole class what they found. Teams can also be tasked with creating class anchor charts to display the devices and use them as reference tools beyond the lesson.
Comprehension
Comprehension can be approached in so many ways. I have a few go-to strategies I like to use with my students. Evidence charts rank high. They are one of my first choices when helping students develop their comprehension skills. Even though some might view a picture book as "easier reading", that doesn't mean the rigor in the comprehension is less.
When students are asked to find evidence that supports or refutes a statement, the rigor automatically goes up. Some of the deepest and broadest thinking happens. It invites students to "think outside the box" when considering response and demonstrates that there can indeed be more than one correct answer.
Statements I use for Counting on Katherine:
- Katherine enjoyed math.
- Numbers were important to Katherine.
- Computers are machines.
- Space travel is dangerous.
Short Written Response
Oftentimes educators can become so focused on vocabulary and comprehension that written response becomes secondary. Yes, students need to be able to understand what they are reading in order to write about the topic. However, teachers can tackle these equally important standards with a bit of forethought. I like to task students with written responses that directly connect to a comprehension activity completed earlier in the unit/study.
One example from Counting on Katherine is students fill in a Character Traits Mat that examines the traits demonstrated by Johnson and the text evidence that supports the trait. Once students have sucessfully filled in the mat, they will have several examples to choose from when drafting a short response later on.
My students have learned over time that it is smart practice to completely and thoroughly fill in their notes and activity sheets. They never know when they will need to refer back to them for tasks assigned later in the unit!
Extended Written Response - Opinion Writing
I am always looking for ways to integrate standards and increase rigor. Sometimes it's an easy adjustment, other times it takes careful thought and consideration. Aside from the short responses, I like to assign students an extended response that connects to previous lessons and discussions.
There are many topics to discuss and explore when reading Counting on Katherine. There are themes and issues that extend beyond Johnson's achievements such as: segregation, gender roles, personality traits. For an extended response, I ask students to reflect back on an earlier discussion point using a quote from the text: "All the computers were women. They were given the tasks that men thought were boring and unimportant".
I like using this quote because it touches on two aspects of Johnson's story: gender roles/expectations and teamwork mentality. This writing prompt reflects back to the discussion card questions shared before reading the book. Students have had a bit of time to digest and think about tasks they may think of as boring or unimportant and see the approach Johnson took when working through tasks at NASA.
Opinion writing can be a challenge when students haven't had time to think and digest a topic. By the time students are presented with this question, they have had several opportunities to hear, speak, read and reflect on the phrasing "boring and unimportant". They will have a better base to build an argument, the drafting won't be as laborious, and the details will be stronger.
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Katherine Johnson Nonfiction Reading
Once students have had some time to go through the different activities and discussions using Counting on Katherine, I start using the other nonfiction text. This second text is more fact-driven and is less dependent on visual appeal. It is structured more like an article in an encyclopedia or a magazine.
You can see the full resource of Katherine Johnson Nonfiction Reading here.
The structure lends itself to working with students on text features, breaking down vocabulary, and tiered comprehension. There are posters included to give teachers bulletin board focal points and/or visuals to use during instruction. Students also have an opportunity to think about quotes from Katherine Johnson and interpret one of them.
Listed below are some additional links teachers can use to deliver an even more comprehensive unit about Katherine Johnson. As a supplement for student response, teachers can subscribe to my list and receive 5 Google Slides for Reading Response for FREE! Read about them here.
Additional Links:
The world lost a special woman when Katherine Johnson died in 2020. I am grateful to have plenty of ways to remember and celebrate her accomplishments. Whether your planning involves a few lessons or an entire unit, there are ample choices when using these paired texts. With many ways to offer flexibility and differentiation, teachers can craft a series of lesson their students will never forget!