Why do we read Nonfiction?

• To learn
• To build a better home/school connection ~ nonfiction resembles parent interests and will spark a conversation between parent and child
• A great way to learn about the reading strategies

When do we read Nonfiction?

• To get information
• When we have questions about the world
• Start reading nonfiction at a young age!

Examples of Predictable Features of Nonfiction ~ each child should create a journal giving examples of each.  Spend one day on each convention:

• Table of contents helps reader to find key topics in the text in order
• Types of print helps reader by signaling what is important
• Headings/subtitles helps reader determine what is important
• Maps help reader understand where things are in the world
• Cutaways help reader understand something by looking at it from the inside
• Comparisons help reader understand the size of one thing by comparing it to the size of something familiar
• Captions help the reader understand a picture or photograph
• Photographs help reader understand exactly what something looks like
• Labels help reader identify a picture or photograph and its parts
• Tables help reader understand important information by seeing it listed in a table or chart form
• Glossary helps reader understand key words in text
• Index helps reader by showing an alphabetical listing with page numbers to find information
• Close-ups help reader see details

How do we read Nonfiction? 

• First, build and activate prior knowledge to get ready to learn/make predictions
• Learn the new vocabulary in context ~ engage learner through photographs or artifacts and student questions, explore through graphic organizers, develop through dramatization and analogies, and apply through a project
• KWL charts:  what do I know, what questions do I want answered, what have I learned ~ synthesize the information for yourself and others
• Make connections
• Recognize text structure:  problem/.solution. descriptive, compare/contrast, sequential, main idea/detail, cause/effect
• You don’t need to read nonfiction in order
• Reread and paraphrase
• Skim (very rapid reading of whole text in order to grasp sense of main idea and some supporting details ~ goal is to get a quick sense of the entire piece, as the reading progresses concentrate only on key sentences and phases, concentrate on last paragraph which is a summary)
• Scan (quick location of material, forms a mental image of key words and phrases)
• Highlight important information to remember/use sticky notes
• Start by reading biographies
• Take notes of main ideas and details
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