Six Reasons to Implement Informational Text

In order to provide students with opportunities to strengthen their reading skills and comprehension levels, teachers need to offer both narrative and informational texts. Many teachers feel it is easier to work with narrative text because they can talk about characters, the setting, the conflict, the resolution, etc. Informational text can be a little more intimidating. However, getting a better understanding of how using informational text can help students puts it all in perspective and can give teachers the confidence they need.

Scholastic.com offers six reasons why teachers should use more informational text.

1. It provides students with the key to success in later schooling. Textbooks, college articles, and tests are all concerned with information and facts. Understanding the format of these texts helps them in middle school, high school, and even college.

2. It prepares students with handling real-life reading. As children grow up, they will read the newspaper, magazine articles, manuals, the internet, etc.

3. It appeals to readers' preferences. Many male students prefer informational text and facts versus "girly" fiction and "feeling" stories. Girls will also feel more comfortable with informational text as they gain more exposure to it.

4. It also address students' questions and interests. Students are always asking deeper thinking question that even stump teachers. Supplying students with the resources to find answers through informational text takes their learning even deeper and gives them responsibility.

5. It builds on their understanding of the natural and social world. We know that kids love animals and nature. Reading about these topics will help them understand their own culture and world.

6. It boosts their vocabulary. Informational texts use vocabulary that is different than that of narrative texts. Students will discover a wider variety of vocabulary they can use in their own language and writing.

Some Informational Text Lesson Plan Ideas

A Road Map to Reading presents a lesson plan in studying the structure of informational texts.

Reading Informational Texts Using the 3-2-1 Strategy asks questions students can use to collect their own informational texts on computers or look through teacher supplied texts as they answer 3 new things they discovered in their reading, 2 interesting things, and 1 question they still have about the topic.

Reciprocal Teaching offers a deeper explanation of the importance of having students summarize and clarify their understanding of informational text. Additional resources and ideas are also included.