The document discusses the importance of using informational text in primary grades for several reasons: 1) It prepares students for future academic demands like standardized testing and technology; 2) It increases students' vocabulary and awareness of text structures; 3) It can motivate and engage students to learn, especially boys; and 4) It creates a bridge to the real world by answering students' questions. Young children benefit from explicit teaching of informational text structures, features, and using the texts for authentic learning purposes. Common instructional strategies include read-alouds and systematic programs focusing on nonfiction.

1. Top 4 Reasons to Use Informational text in Primary Grades Prepare students for future academic demands. Standardized testing Technology Increase interest in science and math

2. Increase Vocabulary Informational text exposes children to technical vocabulary as well as content vocabulary. Awareness of structure words: alike, different, similar, however, and contrast. Introduction of visual literacy- identifying graphics unique to nonfiction/informational text. Examples: photographs, maps, diagrams, graphs and tables

3. Motivate and Engage Informational text can motivate students to read to answer questions, clarify confusions and extend their learning. Research indicates that informational text may motivate boys to read more. Engage in natural and social world. Children are curious about their world and informational text can answer questions about

4. Informational Text creates a bridge to the real world.

5. Explicit Teaching Young children benefit from explicit teaching of informational text structures and features.

6. NonFiction Young children benefit from Explicit teaching of text structures and features. The compare/ contrast structure was the most common structure used in the research for using informational text with primary children. Teaching the features such as table of contents, photographs, labels and captions can help young students locate what is important in nonfiction text.

7. Authentic Setting Young children comprehend nonfiction text better when instruction is embedded in an authentic literacy event. Nonfiction text is used to locate information and learn facts on specific topics. When young children have an opportunity to use the information for a real purpose a deeper understanding can occur.

8. What are the lines on this leaf?

9. Nonfiction books have the answers.

10. Instructional Strategies Read – Alouds has been found to be the most common strategy to expose and teach informational text to young children.

11. Systematic Instructional Programincluding reading, writing, and clue words specifically using nonfiction text.

12. The 21st Century student must be prepared for an informational future.