Kick Start Nonfiction Tips!

For Social Studies, Science and Math
Getting your students to construct meaning

also on Schoology Group "Teacher's Tools" 

Code 8M5SS-DVGCZIdeas for Classroom Use

Teach students to deconstruct the text.
• Read the title, sections and any bold print.
• Closely read the graphics, pictures, maps and captions or special text features.
• Discuss what you predict this will be about.
• Write down predictions (sticky notes, KWL chart or Cornell notes).
Teach students to skim or scan the text.
• Look for general or main ideas.
• Depending on the type of text, read only the first few paragraphs, look for topic sentences, often the first sentence in the paragraph.
• Look for a conclusion or summary.
Teach students to connect to the text.
• Three types of connection are text to text, text to self and text to world. Define each and give examples.
• Use Cornell notes, connections posters/organizers and group discussion (aka Lit Circles) to broaden and enhance ideas.
• Discuss when it’s not necessary to read every single word, thus giving them discernment and refinement of practice.

Beers, G. Kylene, and Robert E. Probst. Reading nonfiction: notice & note stances, signposts, and strategies. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2016. Print.