Teach Content-Rich Nonfiction and Informational Texts

Make research-based decisions about how to accomplish key instructional shifts as called for across the English language arts standards with the following resources:

Books and Journals 

• Supporting Students in Time of Core Standards – 4 books across grades PreK-12
• Reading for Learning: Using Discipline-Based Texts to Build Content Knowledge 
  by Heather Lattimer (5-10)
• Power of Picture Books, The: Using Content Area Literature in Middle School
  by Mary Jo Fresch and Peggy Harkins (5-8)
• This Time It's Personal: Teaching Academic Writing through Creative Nonfiction 
  by John S. O'Connor (9-16)
• Voices from the Middle (VM) – Explore the Web-only content of recent VM issues for the "Common Core Connections" section
• English Education (EE) – The January 2013 issue is themed 'The Common Core and Effective Literacy Education.' Learn more in the editors message and view the Table of Contents. 

Selected Lesson Plans from ReadWriteThink

• Adventures in Nonfiction: A Guided Inquiry Journey (K-2)
  Students are guided through an informal exploration of nonfiction texts and child-oriented Websites, learning browsing and skimming techniques for the purpose of gathering interesting information.
• Looking for the History in Historical Fiction: An Epidemic for Reading (3-5)
  This lesson pairs the reading of historical fiction with nonfiction to introduce students to the large themes of history.
• Not Your Usual History Lesson: Writing Historical Markers (6-8)
  Students will develop their summarizing skills while learning about local history. They will learn to consider audience while selecting topics, conducting research and interviews, and writing historical markers for their town.
• Analyzing Famous Speeches as Arguments (9-12)
  Students are often asked to perform speeches, but rarely do we require students to analyze speeches as carefully as we study works of literature. In this unit, students are required to identify the rhetorical strategies in a famous speech and the specific purpose for each chosen device. They will write an essay about its effectiveness and why it is still famous after all these years.
• Want more? View all lesson plans tagged as nonfiction. 
  
  
  

Online Learning

On Demand Web Seminars

• Using Informational Texts with English Language Learners
  featuring Mary Cappellini (K-5)
• To Kill a Mockingbird-Teaching the Film: Helping Students Appreciate the Language of the Moving Image 
  featuring Frank Baker (6-12)

Virtual Conference Recordings

Four grade-level recordings across PreK-12

Consultants

If you are looking for on-site, customized support from an expert consultant who can help you better understand the Core Standards and develop an implementation plan, consider working with an NCTE consultant who specializes in CCSS implementation.