Bridging the Gap

Reading Critically and Writing Meaningfully to Get to the Core

The Common Core State Standards encourage teachers to introduce more nonfiction reading and informative writing; therefore, there needs to be a bridge between the two “worlds,” especially as student reading comprehension and writing is declining as teens read and write more complex texts.
Memoir, which is essentially creative or narrative nonfiction, is that perfect bridge between the two modes. Students read information and facts about others through narrative structure as they write information and facts about themselves through narrative structure, meeting both Common Core State Standards in Literature and in Informational Texts and in Narrative Writing and in Informative/Explanatory Writing. Teaching memoir reading and writing can be based on, and meet, the majority of Common Core State Standards in reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as the language standards.