Nonfiction Reading Enrichment
Support Materials and Resources
Consider Using the Depth and Complexity Icons to Challenge Thinking
Reading Response Extension Menus
Add depth and complexity when responding to nonfiction literature.
This PRIMARY NONFICTION QUESTION RESPONSE menu can be used to challenge young readers. Response sheets for each concept are included but directions can be adapted to your students' needs.
Investigations for Young Gifted Readers
Start With a Question
Here are some fun website to get kids thinking about questions and research topics.
Multimedia Text Sets
Multimedia text sets are sets of text that include different forms of text on a central theme, issue or idea. The forms of text can include, print, video, music, images, cartoons, webpages, podcasts, etc. Link belows are website with already created text sets.
Nonfiction Cafe'
Have you ever thought of setting up a Nonfiction Cafe in your room? It is easy with this Non-fiction Cafe' Menu. Simply pair this menu of nonfiction reading extensions with the featured stories from past issues of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears. Each story has been differentiated for K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 grade levels. The Cafe'Menu can also be used with any nonfiction reading selection.
Nonfiction and Text Structure Magazine Project
Extended Independent Projects of Choice
Primary Independent Study Packet
Intermediate Independent Study Guide
Gifted students need time to engage in inquiry based reading and authentic research. They can benefit from expanded time frames for topics of study and investigating interests in depth. These independent study guides can can be used to guide young students through long term, inquiry based independent study projects. They use the depth and complexity icons to guide the research.
Read the News
Headed to the computer lab? Are students finished with their work? They can use these websites to browse for research ideas or complete the news response sheets Reporting the News Intermediate, Reporting the News Primary. Each website contains engaging, current news articles written just for kids. Many of the sites provide articles written at multiple Lexile levels. Easy to use news sites:
Reading Images
Students need to be explicitly taught to read those images. Just like reading written words, they examine details, make inferences, ask questions, draw conclusions, and the like.
Give students an organizer/note-taking sheet on which they record the details from the picture, their initial impression, and finally any unanswered questions they have about the image(s). This helps them to deliberately make connections to nonfiction text.
Informational Text Response Cards
Thinking About Questions
Are black eyed peas really peas? What are the Northern Lights? What causes the sound of thunder?
Here are two fun websites to get kids thinking about and asking questions. Use these to spur independent research for students using the above independent study guides.
Show What You Know
Library Teacher Resources
Interactive Graphic Organizers
Each graphic organizer includes easy to follow teaching notes.
Getting Started with MAP Scores
- Kindergarteners - 9 RIT points
- 1st Graders -12 RIT points
- 2nd Graders - 9 RIT points
- 3rd Graders - 7 RIT points
- 4th Graders - 14 RIT points
- 5th Graders - 5 RIT points
To reach and maintain the 95th percentile, students must be proficient with concepts that may not be taught in an assigned grade but are at their RIT score level. The RIT TO CONCEPT CHART can be used to determine which concepts to introduce at specific RIT levels. Reading - page 9, Language Usage - page 14.
Nonfiction Reading Skills for MAP RIT Bands
Informational Text:
- Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details
- Informational Text: Craft and Structure
- Vocabulary and Signs & Symbols
Foundational Skills and Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: