Paired Text Fiction and Nonfiction Mary Wheatley CLIP February 11, 2010

The Facts about Reading Aloud …The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success is reading aloud to children. -Anderson, R.C., Hiebert, E.H., Scott, J.A., & Wilkinson, I.A.G. (1985). Becoming a nation of readers: The report of the Commission on Reading. Washington, DC: National Academy of Education, Commission on Education and Public Policy.

Choosing What to Read Aloud Most choose fiction books Favorite classic fiction picture books are plentiful in classroom libraries and school library

Nonfiction Overlooked Studies have revealed the scarcity of nonfiction reading and writing in primary schools Children engaged in informational text on average of 3.6 minutes per day -Reading Research Quarterly Nell Duke, Michigan State

Increase Exposure to NF Text Reading both fiction and non fiction texts is especially important in primary classrooms. Best practice research in reading instruction has shown that primary students, while learning to read, should also be reading to learn.

Many researchers now believe that exposure to non fiction texts in the primary grades helps students to prepare for the increased amount of informational texts that they are exposed to beginning in fourth grade. Additionally, it is believed that non fiction exposure in the primary grades increases information literacy skills, thus creating more skilled readers and researchers in the upper grades.

It Takes Two Connects the curriculum to books by pairing fiction and nonfiction books Provides an authentic way of introducing content material Boosts students’ understanding and enjoyment of reading

Applying the Strategies Reading aloud Fiction and Nonfiction: Ricky’s Birdhouse What Bluebirds Do

Build Background It Takes Two: Teaching with Twin Texts of Fact and Fiction Break into 5 Strategy Groups Venn Diagram K-W-L DR-TA/DL-TA Webbing Activating Prior Knowledge

Strategy Group Response: Strategy Chart In your strategy group summarize the following: Definition of strategy General Procedures for Implementation Additional Comments How could you apply your strategy?

Strategy Group But will it work? How could you apply your strategy? Riki’s Birdhouse by Monica Wellington What Bluebirds Do by Pamela Kirby

Wiki of Ideas Read aloud tips and resources Pairs of titles (grouped by subject) Nonfiction text instructional resources Teaching strategies for paired text Paired Fiction and Nonfiction Texts Wiki

It Takes Two Classroom Teacher & Librarian Read twin texts in the classroom Read twin texts in the library Read twin texts in the classroom & library