Exploring Nonfiction

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The book discusses how learners might be guided to interact with texts in a creative but critically engaged and sustainable manner..

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Program based on common standards for nonfiction reading with high-interest reading materials and lessons relating to social sciences. Teaches skills necessary to read nonfiction effectively. Content area literacy is defined as the level of reading and writing skill necessary to read, comprehend and react to appropriate instructional materials in a given subject, social sciences. Program integrates listening, speaking, reading, writing, visualizing, and thinking for students to learn using muliple modalities..

Exploring Nonfiction with Young Learners explores the four basic nonfiction structures that the youngest learners are most likely to encounter: descriptive, recount/collection, procedural, and explanatory texts. This book also includes information to help teach four, more complex structures that younger readers sometimes encounter during read-alouds: comparison, response, causation/cause and effect, and persuasive genres. This book is organized to help plan lessons using each type of nonfiction structure. Strategies and suggestions for activities to use before, during and after reading are included. Templates and graphic organizers are also provided in order to facilitate planning, and offer additional resources. Detailed information about each text structure as well as mentor texts to illustrate each type is included. Text structures, as well as text access features, are defined and located in easy reference charts. Whole class and small group planning ideas are included throughout the book in order to allow for differentiation. Additionally, assessment ideas, sample think-alouds, lesson planning templates, and sample lessons with completed graphic organizers are included for each text structure..

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In A Place for Wonder, Georgia Heard and Jennifer McDonough discuss how to create "a landscape of wonder," a primary classroom where curiosity, creativity, and exploration are encouraged. For it is these characteristics, the authors write, that develop intelligent, inquiring, life-long learners. A Place for Wonder will help teachers reclaim their classrooms as a place where true learning is the norm..