Getting Engrossed in Non-Fiction Reading
We know integrating reading into science is important in our classrooms. But reading a science text is a whole different ball game compared to getting lost in a good fiction story! 🤓
If you're struggling to get your students excited about reading those non-fiction science passages, here are some strategies I've tried before:
📖 Start with Really Good Questions:
If you can get your students totally baffled, you're on the right track! 😂Ask them questions that will leave them wanting to know more. "What happens to bugs in winter?" "Do frogs breathe underwater?"
You can ask questions about their own experiences, too. "Have you ever seen..." is a solid start, or "What does it feel like when... " Anything that helps them feel connected to the article they're about to read will help.
📖 Take Sneak Peeks Ahead:
Have students scan through the text looking for phrases, places, visuals, or bold words that jump out at them. You can almost make it a scavenger hunt - "How many animal names can we find?"
Turn these into questions by listing them on a board or chart paper under the heading, "What will we learn about...?" As you go through the text, notice when you hit those topics and get excited about having the answer now.
📖 May the Best Summary Win:
Elementary students sometime sprint through text, ticking off pages like they're in a race!🏃They're not great at recalling or reflecting on what they've just read, though.
You can change the game by looking for the "best" summary of each section. This can be collaborative - students can talk about the section in pairs and share their best take, and you keep refining the summary with more input from other students until - eureka! - the class has made the most AMAZING summary of that section. Now on to the next section and summary!
Once your students catch the vibe that non-fiction can be just as exciting as fiction, they'll be hooked! I hope you'll enjoy trying out these strategies with your class this week.
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