Hybrid Text: An Engaging Genre to Teach Content Area Material Across the Curriculum

Abstract

The Common Core State Standards for English language arts expect that teachers will use narrative and informational texts to teach content area material across the curriculum. However, many teachers at all grade levels struggle to incorporate both kinds of text, especially given the vast amount of specialized content they are required to teach. The purpose of this article is to introduce hybrid text as an engaging genre that artfully integrates narrative and informational text and teaches content area material across the curriculum. It begins by situating hybrid text within the Common Core Anchor Standards for Reading. Next, it describes how hybrid texts can integrate narrative and informational text. Then, it identifies several design features and discusses potentials of hybrid text. It ends by sharing suggested hybrid texts that teachers can use to teach mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts.