Informational Text Improving Content-Area Comprehension Chapter 12 Cohen & Cowan

What is informational text? (expository text) Presents facts, concepts and information Newpaperslists Magazinesdirections How-to guidesreference books

Informational Text 85% of all material read 96% of all material on internet Menus, encyclopedias, computer software, advertisements, schedules……..everyday text

Research Young children are curious 4th grade: drop in test scores –Textbooks too difficult –Informational text should begin earlier

Research 1st Graders who read … –1/3 informational –1/3 narrative –1/3 poetry or other genres …write better and read for comprehension better

ELL and LD students Learn to read better when given a choice of informational texts to read. (also with a choice of writing expository)

Benefits Promotes student achievement in content areas Vocabulary enriched Builds prior knowledge Learn lifelong skills

Key Words Learn to use (usually highlighted in text) Ask them as informational content questions Use table of contents and index Write expository sentences Answer content questions

Text Features Table of contents Index Print features Graphic aids Organizational aids

Text structure Descriptive Listing Cause-effect Problem-solution Comparison

Reading Steps Step 1: Preview and prequestion Step 2: Skim and scan Step 3: Read for meaning

Key Words Teach students to locate them, to phrase them as informational content questions. Need to retell, summarize or in some way use the keywords to learn them.

Key Words Example: Where do penguins live? They live in the South Pole. They live in very cold climates. “Penguins live in cold climates in the South Pole.”

During-Reading Strategies Scaffolding Graphic organizers Thinkmarks (notes/reminders in text) Highlight key concepts Text-to-Text connections (self, world) Create captions Pause and Reflect Scavenger Hunt Monitor comprehension Click or clunk? (comprehension checks)

Postreading Generate own questions Graphic organizers Literature circles Discusson groups Role-playing Drama Creative Writing Projects

Helping ELL Learners Non-threatening Hands-on Small groups Direct vocabulary instruction Inquiry-based Clear examples/passages

Helping LA Students Hands-on Clear examples Direct instruction Frequent modeling Clear task sequence Frequent, extensive feedback Continuous practice Graphic organizers

Metacognitive Strategies Knowing how to learn about learning

Learning how to Learn Study Skills Time Management Organizing Retaining Info. Locating Info Test Taking Writing

Learning to Learn DRTA SQ3R PREP Guided Lecture 2-Column Notes Outlining Visual Tools

Internet and Informational Text Visual literacy skills Graphic Organizers Primary Sources EvaluateWebsites

What is an Investigation ? A child’s planned inquiry into a chosen topic … to learn about informational texts and the research process… Presented on poster or paper --visually

Key Terms Expository text Text features Cause/effect (causation structure) Problem/solution (response structure) Comparison text structure Scaffolding Skimming Scanning Thinkmarks Metacognitive strategies K-W-L PAR Trade books

Questions to recall 1.What is informational text and why use it? 2.Why is it important for children to understand text features? 3.What is an investigation?