This document outlines Michigan's grade level expectations for genres in reading and writing from kindergarten through 8th grade. It shows that in the early grades, reading focuses on stories, nursery rhymes, and simple informational texts, while writing involves brief personal narratives and informational pieces. As grades increase, both reading and writing genres become more complex, expanding to include genres such as fiction, non-fiction, research reports, essays, and technical writing. By middle school, students are expected to conduct research, formulate questions, and present research reports across various genres in both reading and writing.

1. Michigan Grade Level Expectations: Genre Chart (draft)
READING WRITING
GRADE
N: stories, nursery rhymes, poetry, songs N: brief personal narratives (using pictures
K I: environmental text, concept books, and words), approximate poetry
picture books. I: brief informational piece (pictures and
words)
N: realistic fiction, fantasy, folktales N: narrative (realistic fiction, poetry)
1st I: simple how-to, science and social studies I: informational piece addressing a focus
magazines question; answer one research question
N: poetry, fantasy, legends, drama N: narrative (realistic fiction, fantasy),
2nd I: simple how-to, personal correspondence, personal narrative, experiment with poetry
science and social studies magazines I: magazine feature article; answer two
research questions
N: folktales, fables, realistic fiction N: fable, folktale, realistic fiction, poetry
3rd I: informational genres: textbooks, I: report; write and present research
encyclopedia, magazines project (see GLCE’s for details)
N: poetry, myths/legends, fantasy, adventure N: myth/legend, adventure, fantasy, poetry
4th I: autobiography/biography, personal essay, I: comparative essay; write and present
almanac, newspaper research project (see GLCE’s for details)
N: historical fiction, tall tales, science N: mystery, tall tale, historical fiction,
5th fiction, fantasy, mystery poetry
I: informational genre: advertising, I: persuasive essay (position/evidence);
experiments, editorials, atlases write and present research project (see
GLCE’s for details)
N: folktales, fantasy, adventure, action N: personal narrative, adventure, tall tale,
6th I: research report, how-to articles, essays folktale, fantasy
I: personal, persuasive or comparative
essays; formulate research questions,
compose and present a research report
(see GLCE’s for details)
N: mystery, poetry, memoir, drama, myths, N: memoir, drama, legend, mystery,
7th legends poetry, myth
I: persuasive essay, research report, I: research report (I-search, website,
brochure, personal correspondence, traditional); formulate research
autobiography/biography questions, compose and present a
research report (see GLCE’s for details)
N: historical fiction, science fiction, realistic N: historical fiction, science fiction, and
8th fiction realistic fiction
I: comparative essays, newspaper writing, I: historical expository piece (eg. journal,
technical writing, persuasive writing biography, simulated memoir);
formulate research questions, compose
and present a research report (see
GLCE’s for details)
Formatted from MI GLCE’s by Barbara Reed Nelson, banhen@aol.com 7/’04