“It makes them feel involved in their world…they learn about what’s going on in the world and they learn they can have a voice. What’s more important than that?”.
–Cristina L., 2nd grade teacher.
Abstract
This article highlights the literacy practices of two second grade teachers—one in an affluent suburb of a major metropolitan area and the other in a large urban school district. The article describes how these teachers use informational texts to engage their students, to provide children with opportunities to learn about the world around them, and to immerse them in literacy learning. The article also shares the teachers′ insights into the value of informational texts in primary classrooms.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Benson, V. (2003). Informing literacy: A new paradigm for assessing nonfiction. The New England Reading Association Journal, 39(1), 13–20.
Bridges, S. Y. (2002). Ruby’s wish. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books.
Brozo, W., & Calo, K. (2006). Teaching with informational text to engage young learners: Making our thinking explicit. Thinking Classroom, 7(2), 47–48.
Cassidy, J., Ortlieb, E., & Shettel, J. (December 2010/January 2011). What’s hot for 2011. Reading Today, 28(3), 1, 6, 7, 8.
Caswell, L. J., & Duke, N. K. (1998). Non-narrative as a catalyst for literacy development. Language Arts, 75(2), 108–117.
Duke, N. K. (2000). 3.6 minutes per day: The scarcity of informational text in first grade. Reading Research Quarterly, 35(2), 202–224.
Duke, N. K., & Pearson, P. D. (2002). Effective practices for developing reading comprehension. In S. J. Samuels & A. E. Farstrup (Eds.), What research has to say about reading instruction (pp. 205–242). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Gaffney, J. S., Ostrosky, M. M., & Hemmeter, M. L. (2008). Books as natural support for young children’s literacy learning. Young Children, 63(4), 87–93.
Graham, P. (2001a). Big red tomatoes. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society.
Graham, P. (2001b). Peanuts. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society.
Graves, M. F., Juel, C., & Graves, B. B. (2007). Teaching reading in the 21st century. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Harvey, S., & Goudvis, A. (2007). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension for understanding and engagement (2nd ed. ed.). Portland, ME: Stenhouse.
Hiebert, E. H. (1991). Research directions: Department editor’s note. Language Arts, 68, 482.
Inside Film Magazine (2003). Retrieved from http://www.if.com.au/Events/2003/05/21.html.
Kamil, M. L., & Lane, D. (1997). Using information text for first grade reading instruction: Theory and practice. Retrieved from http://www.standford.edu/~mkamil/nrc97b.htm.
Pappas, C. (1991). Fostering full access to literacy by including information books. Language Arts, 68, 449–462.
Pappas, C. C. (2006). The information book genre: Its role in integrated science literacy research and practice. Reading Research Quarterly, 41(2), 226–250. doi:10.1007/s10643-008-0273-0.
Paws for People. (2011). PAWS for reading. Retrieved from http://www.pawsforpeople.org/.
Read, S., Reutzel, D. R., & Fawson, P. C. (2008). Do you want to know what I learned? Using informational trade books as models to teach text structure. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(3), 213–219. doi:10.1007/s10643-008-0273-0.
Yopp, R. H., & Yopp, H. K. (2000). Sharing informational text with young children. The Reading Teacher, 53(5), 410–423.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Calo, K.M. Incorporating Informational Texts in the Primary Grades: A Research-Based Rationale, Practical Strategies, and Two Teachers’ Experiences. Early Childhood Educ J 39, 291–295 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0470-0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0470-0