Informational TextImproving

Content-Area Comprehension

Chapter 12

Cohen & Cowan

What is informational text?

(expository text)

Presents facts, concepts and information

Newpapers lists

Magazines directions

How-to guides reference 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?