Nonfiction and informational text are the most difficult text types for students to comprehend. Students often complain that "it's boring!" Even as beginning readers, students prefer narratives and stories. It's often hard to get young students engaged with nonfiction text.
That's where Scholastic's Listen and Read can help. This site offers 54 read-aloud nonfiction texts for young readers, organized into eight different categories (see subjects below).
That's where Scholastic's Listen and Read can help. This site offers 54 read-aloud nonfiction texts for young readers, organized into eight different categories (see subjects below).
Students can choose a text, see the words and photos/illustrations, and listen to the text read aloud. The voice is that of a child, which may be more appealing to young readers.
At the end of the text, a short list of vocabulary words appears. Students can listen to those words again, which should enhance vocabulary and comprehension. Like the main text, the voice for the vocabulary is a child's voice.
At the end of the text, a short list of vocabulary words appears. Students can listen to those words again, which should enhance vocabulary and comprehension. Like the main text, the voice for the vocabulary is a child's voice.
Nonfiction texts on Listen and Read are also categorized into A and B levels. Some texts are listed in both categories. The text is slightly more advanced at the B level, even if the basic information is the same. (See example below.) This would make differentiating for beginning reading levels easier!
Listen and Read is a great way to start getting early readers accustomed to nonfiction/informational text. It's engaging and fun. If young students can learn to enjoy nonfiction, perhaps they won't have as much trouble "down the road" as older students!
If you use this site with your students, I'd love to hear how it went!
For more informational text sources, try this page.
If you use this site with your students, I'd love to hear how it went!
For more informational text sources, try this page.