When students are looking for a new book to read, I go to the shelves and pick out a stack of books for them to peruse. I will start the process by asking them what they have read lately and what they liked about those books. This strategy works because it is based on choice and trust. I am enthusiastic about books and never force a book on a child. they can choose what to read.
It’s also a solid strategy because it gets my students reading the “right” book faster. Full disclosure, I first learned it from the The Book Whisperer
and then made it my own with some tweaking. Donalyn Miller has some great strategies to get kids reading. You can check her out here. Having explained that part of my strategy, you’ll understand how easy it is to slip a really great biography, autobiography or memoir into that stack of books. It is exciting to me when I see a kid venture out of their “preferred” genre and introduce them to the often mind blowing experience of reading the true stories of some pretty amazing people.
You are reading: 5th grade biography books
And when that happens, the conversation I have with one of my loves goes something like this: “mrs. K. did this really happen? this story is like, really?
me, “yes”.
this is the truth: no matter who we are or how old we are, we are always looking for someone to light the way forward on this dark path called life.
See Also: Jessica N. Watkins – Book Series In Order
Even the most jaded students tend to be inspired by the stories of people who have survived and thrived.
And that’s why it’s so important to give our students the gift of great nonfiction and allow them to peek into other people’s worlds. when we see how other people navigate the not insignificant potholes in their personal paths, it gives us hope.
so here you will find a well-balanced list of great non-fiction books that are tried-and-true winners for upper elementary students. there is a lot of variety in this role call. I’ve included books written about or by creatives, pioneers, and some so-called “ordinary” people, who when fate called them, didn’t back down. they met the challenges they faced head-on and triumphed.
These people found themselves in extraordinarily difficult and, in some cases, harrowing life situations. the stories are unique, multifaceted, and…well…true!
As a bonus, you can trust these nonfiction books to be incredibly well written.
See Also: The Best Audiobooks for Kids | Audible.com
Sometimes, just to hook some of my more reluctant student readers, I take a minute of our precious instructional time. I’m not doing anything too fancy, I’m just introducing a new book and reading the first page or two with relish.
If I’m in a particularly apathetic class, I’ve been known to climb on a chair and use a lot of exaggerated hand gestures. hears! whatever it takes, right?
Anyway, I never regret taking the time because there’s absolutely nothing more exciting than hearing lots of excited kids yelling, “I want to read that one!”
what just happened here? a waiting list? great.
These are good books. many of these books show the wear and tear of being loved in my fifth grade class. others have gotten extensive research before making this list and are now on an amazon wish list until i get two cents to rub together. you and your students will find them to be deeply satisfying reads. Get ready for a cupcake shop moment, because you won’t know which one to pick!
See Also: The Funniest Picture Books for Kids – Imagination Soup