Making Nonfiction and Other Informational Texts Come Alive: A Practical Approach to Reading, Writing, and Using Nonfiction and Other Informational Texts Across the Curriculum

Short but yet informative, this practical book has many ideas and suggestions for the teaching and learning of nonfiction the classroom. KEY TOPICS: Offering a fresh approach, this much-needed book mirrors the features that are traditionally found in nonfiction book-illustrations, diagrams, insets, boxed materials-to help clarify and explain the concepts being presented. Making Non-Fiction and Other Informational Texts Come Alive includes a wealth of nonfiction titles that teachers can readily use effectively in a balanced literacy program.

Table of Contents:
Each chapter concludes with “Book Talks,” “Book Talks and Beyond” and “Instructional Activities for the Classroom.” 1. A Journey into the World of Nonfiction and Other Informational Texts Nonfiction Book Extension ( Imagine, by A. Lester). Nonfiction and Other Informational Texts. Role of Nonfiction. Using Nonfiction in the Classroom. Class Environment. Read-Alouds. Whole Class Reading Instruction. Models for Expository Writing. Across the Curriculum. Thematic Study. Independent Reading. Nonfiction: The Challenges. 2. The Textbook and Beyond: Nonfiction Materials. Nonfiction Book Extension ( And in That Universe, by Anno). Types of Non-Fiction Materials. Textbooks. Trade books. Periodical. Primary Source Documents. Technology. Newspapers and News Magazines. Evaluating Nonfiction Materials. Text Structure of Nonfiction Writing. 3. Reading Non-Fiction. Nonfiction Book Extension ( Harriet Tubman, by Dana Rau). Reading Nonfiction Aloud. Suggestions for Effective Nonfiction Read-Alouds. Guiding Readers through Nonfiction Text: Previewing and Overviewing. Literature Circles/Book Clubs and Nonfiction Text. Key Features for Effective Literature Circles and Book Clubs. Quality Literature/Reading Materials. Explicit Instruction. Establishing Literature Circles. Introducing Literature Circles. Written Responses to Text. Literature Discussions. Extension to Literature Circles. Assessment of Literature Circles. Strategy at a Glance. 4. Strategies for Success. Nonfiction Book Extension ( Life's Little Instruction Book, by H. Jackson Brown). Strategies for Success: An Overview. A Model for Strategic Instruction. Strategies for Success. Vocabulary Development. 5. Writing Nonfiction. Chapter Beginning—Nonfiction Book Extension ( Somewhere Today, by Bert Kitchen). The Craft of Writing Nonfiction. A Framework for Teaching Nonfiction Writing—Persuasion. Patterned Writing. Writing to Learn. Quick Writes. Possible Sentences. Two-Columned Notes. Inquiry Charts or I-Charts. Technology in a Writing Classroom. The A-B-C's of Effective Nonfiction Writing. 6. Graphic Organizers: Tools for Reading and Writing Nonfiction. Chapter Beginning—Nonfiction Book Extension ( Martin Luther King, by Rosemary Bray). Description of Graphic Organizers. Rationale for Using Graphic Organizers. Uses of Graphic Organizers with Nonfiction. Types of Graphic Organizers. A Final Word…Effective Use of Graphic Organizers. 7. Showcasing Student Learning of Nonfiction Using Creative Projects and Bookmaking. Nonfiction Book Extension ( The Story of the Star- Spangled Banner, by Steven Kroll). Literature Response Activities. Sharing Literature Through Writing. Sharing Nonfiction Through Art. Sharing Nonfiction Through Drama. Sharing Nonfiction Through Bookmaking. Assessment of Bookmaking and Other Creative Projects. Conclusion. 8. Putting It Together: Integrating the Curriculum. Nonfiction Book Extension ( The Night Has Ears: African Proverbs, by Ashley Bryan and A Word to the Wise and Other Proverbs, by Johanna Hurwitz). Integrating the Curriculum/Thematic Units. Rationale for Integrating the Curriculum. Developing Thematic Units and Curricular Integration. Planning the Theme. Implementing the Unit. Culminating the Unit and Assessing Student Learning. Children Around the World: A Multi-Cultural Study. 9. Assessment of Nonfiction. Nonfiction Book Extension ( When I Was Little, by Jamie Lee Curtis). Purposes for Assessment. Measures of Assessment. A Final Not. Appendices. Professional Bibliography. Nonfiction Books: A Recommended Listing. Nonfiction Magazines and Newspapers. Web Sites of Interest.