Inside: Teach your students to enjoy nonfiction NOW before it’s too late. These nonfiction reading strategies will excite readers and teachers!
Teaching reading is hard. Teaching all of the genres is even harder. It probably sounds a little like this:
- You have students who raise their hands to go to the bathroom or any other avoidance task when it’s time for the Reading Block. It’s OK because you trudge on.
- You’ve made amazing Anchor Charts that probably took you an hour to create. You know, with all of the pretty traced fonts, graphics, and cute designs? You’re ready to teach.
- You begin handing out the reading passage and see a few hands go up immediately. You’re so excited to see your students taking an interest. Then you hear the following: “Why is this so long?” and “Why are we reading about this?” No worries, you got this!
As you probably know by now, learning to read and reading to learn are two different things. And guess what happens when reading nonfiction texts? Both. How are our little darlings supposed to juggle learning to read new vocabulary and multisyllabic words, comprehend the text, read text features, and answer questions? Not to mention all of the nonfiction reading strategies involved! It’s impossible! Or is it?
Here’s the good news: After researching and going through numerous curriculum programs over the years, I found that it boils down to three things. I believe that these nonfiction reading strategies are the secret sauce.
Here’s How It Went
One day at the beginning of our nonfiction unit, I told my students a story about how I hated reading in 4th grade. But that’s a story for another time (I promise)! I reassured them that their 4th-grade year would be the exact opposite of mine. I could see their shoulders relax, and the smiles return to their faces. For that brief moment in time, they thought I would be just like my 4th-grade teacher. As much as it pains me to relive that story, the silver lining is in there somewhere after all.
That’s when I realized something powerful. I had the power to shift opinions about reading. If I am enthusiastic and energetic about reading then it would rub off onto my students. It was worth a try. I began telling them about the time I had breakfast with giraffes!
“Tell us more,” said one student.
“Yes, I don’t care if we’re late to recess,” said another.
I blinked hard and made sure I heard what the last student just said. Yes, I heard it correctly. They weren’t half-out of their seats ready to bolt out of the classroom.
Maybe my positive energy towards nonfiction storytelling was going somewhere after all. While my students weren’t reading a passage, I was essentially reading them a story of my trip. I felt like an audiobook with a few pictures thrown in for good measure.
Victory #1!
A Turning Point with Nonfiction Reading Strategies
When they returned from recess, I could hear them murmuring about my trip and wondering if I was going to keep talking.
“Let’s go sit down quietly and maybe she’ll keep telling us her story,” said a student.
“Guys, hurry up, she’s coming,” said another.
I knew I had them in the palm of my hands!
Victory #2!
I continued to tell them about my trip and made sure to include “robust vocabulary” as we like to call it. They got to experience the spirit of Africa through my words and emotions! I truly brought them along on my Giraffe Manor journey.
When it was time to read our passage of the day, I realized that this just might work! I handed out our nonfiction reading passage and saw a few students quickly scanning it. I heard a few of them have the “ah-ha” moment that I was hoping for.
“This was your trip!” said a student on the side of the room.
“Waaait a second, you wrote about your trip?” asked another student.
Teacher win of the year! I was hoping someone would make the reading + writing connection. I had hit the jackpot now!
We discussed the passage just like we did numerous times before, although this time was different! Students were actively reading and participating. They read one page without complaints. Perhaps authentic stories were another secret ingredient.
The Impact Was Immediate
As we were working through the questions and practicing our annotating strategies, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. A student who is usually reluctant to work was flipping his page back and forth. I could see the determination in his eyes as he was answering questions. I went over to him and whispered “Thank you, I admire your hard effort!” He briefly looked up and said, “Giraffes are my favorite animal and I want to go to Africa someday like you!”
My heart melted. I had achieved the pinnacle of teaching nonfiction reading. This must be the third secret ingredient that was often missed.
True happiness in teaching something hard comes from a special effort by you to establish an enriching environment. Forget the time-consuming anchor charts!
These secret ingredients mixed together created a delicious secret sauce! I’m never looking back!
When we think of innovative ways to share our personal experiences with our students, we’re inviting them into our lives, just as much as they’re inviting us into theirs.
Breaking Down Nonfiction Reading Strategies:
The next time you’re struggling to make things click with your students, try one or all of these nonfiction reading strategies:
- Shift their opinions about reading (your energy = their energy)
- Authentic stories (be real, let them hear about your life and experiences)
- Thank students for their effort (be specific and sincere…your compliment might be the only one they hear all day)
Helpful Resources:
✹ If you’d like to have ideas ready to go to share with your students, download these FREEBIES to get started. ✩ Click here to grab these today!
Here’s a sneak peek of the cheat sheets:
✹ If you’re stuck and trying to find something to excite your readers, use these passages BELOW to help! You’ll find that students perk up and begin enjoying reading time! Plus, you can easily extend these passages into writing and research activities! I’ve even provided you with a “How to Use” guide to get you started! It’s a no-brainer!
✩ Special note to 3rd-grade teachers:
Depending on the level of your students, you might want to check out the Nonfiction Reading Practice Units that are geared for 3rd-5th.
Much love and sealed with a giraffe kiss!
Explore. Travel. Read. Repeat.
