Informational Text
One of the most difficult things about teaching English is helping kids read and understand informational text. Fortunately, you can engage students with technology here, too!
Sometimes, finding good informational text, written at an appropriate level, can be difficult. This page will help with that challenge. On the Authentic Writing page, there are several suggestions for having students respond to informational text. Some of the resources shown below are cross-references on both this page and the Authentic Writing page.
Sometimes, finding good informational text, written at an appropriate level, can be difficult. This page will help with that challenge. On the Authentic Writing page, there are several suggestions for having students respond to informational text. Some of the resources shown below are cross-references on both this page and the Authentic Writing page.
Youngzine
Youngzine offers current event articles that are appropriate for upper elementary through middle school. This website offers several features to enhance understanding.
Youngzine offers current event articles that are appropriate for upper elementary through middle school. This website offers several features to enhance understanding.
While students read, a "Look Up" tab hovers on the left side of the page. To define unfamiliar words, students only have to highlight a word and click the "Look Up" tab. Students are also given the option to hear the word pronounced.
Most articles also have a short video located at the bottom of the page. These articles might reinforce content in the article or add to it. Most are hosted by YouTube, which means some schools may block them.
At the bottom of the page, near the video, students can leave comments (see the Authentic Writing page for more information), or they can rate the article by clicking on the number of stars (1 = poor, 5 = great). There's no login required to rate the article or view the video.
Most articles also have a short video located at the bottom of the page. These articles might reinforce content in the article or add to it. Most are hosted by YouTube, which means some schools may block them.
At the bottom of the page, near the video, students can leave comments (see the Authentic Writing page for more information), or they can rate the article by clicking on the number of stars (1 = poor, 5 = great). There's no login required to rate the article or view the video.
NewsELA
NewsELA is a new site, currently in beta testing. This site is designed for students in grades 3-12. Each day, the site posts at least three new current event articles. Many articles have short quizzes that accompany them. What makes NewsELA unique however, is the ability to change reading levels for the same article!
NewsELA is a new site, currently in beta testing. This site is designed for students in grades 3-12. Each day, the site posts at least three new current event articles. Many articles have short quizzes that accompany them. What makes NewsELA unique however, is the ability to change reading levels for the same article!
Teachers can create a free account on NewsELA. This allows teachers the ability to assign articles to students. At the top of the picture (left), you can see my classes listed. To assign the article, the teacher only has to click on the class name. That's it.
To adjust the reading level, use the blue box on the right. Each smaller box, 680L for example, contains a Lexile measure to indicates a reading level. Don't use Lexiles? No problem. Below the title, the site provides a grade level. Below are three examples using the same article with different reading levels.
To adjust the reading level, use the blue box on the right. Each smaller box, 680L for example, contains a Lexile measure to indicates a reading level. Don't use Lexiles? No problem. Below the title, the site provides a grade level. Below are three examples using the same article with different reading levels.
These articles, each about the same topic, are very similar and contain the same information. The only change made was in the reading level. The photo stayed the same, as did the caption. This makes it much easier to differentiate within the classroom for many different reading levels. When students are reading the article, they may see the Lexile level, but not the grade level. At a quick glance, it looks like everyone is reading the same article -- no one gets singled out. |
Students can also take quizzes with Newsela. Four question quizzes, aligned to Common Core, are available for many articles. With the recent addition (3/13/14) of Newsela PRO, however, teachers no longer have access to student scores without a hefty subscription fee. One way to work around it might be to have students show you their quiz results when they finish.
Update: I had recently reviewed the annotation features for each article, but have since removed it. With the addition of Newsela PRO, the annotation feature has been "upgraded" to PRO subscribers only.
Overall, the free version of Newsela is still worth the time. Access to articles at varying levels is rather unique and very useful!
Update: I had recently reviewed the annotation features for each article, but have since removed it. With the addition of Newsela PRO, the annotation feature has been "upgraded" to PRO subscribers only.
Overall, the free version of Newsela is still worth the time. Access to articles at varying levels is rather unique and very useful!
DOGO News
DOGO News is another site, similar to Youngzine, that offers students in grades 3-8 daily current events articles. Also like Youngzine, DOGO News users can leave comments. Added recently are vocabulary lists within each article. The vocabulary is written in blue, similar to a textbook, but students can click on them to see a definition. I wasn't able to find an audio version, which is available on other similar sites.
DOGO News is another site, similar to Youngzine, that offers students in grades 3-8 daily current events articles. Also like Youngzine, DOGO News users can leave comments. Added recently are vocabulary lists within each article. The vocabulary is written in blue, similar to a textbook, but students can click on them to see a definition. I wasn't able to find an audio version, which is available on other similar sites.
Also recently added to DOGO News are links to lesson plans and ideas for teachers. Directly beneath the title are blue and red boxes, which are links to lessons. The middle box, labeled NCSS-8 in the example at right, states the curriculum standard for social studies that the article may meet. The blue box, labeled Grades: 3-8 in the example, can be accessed to bring up more articles for students in that grade band. Finally, the first box, labeled CCSS, opens a new window with lesson ideas. The ideas, while decent, are very generic, like the list seen below.
Overall, I believe DOGO News would best be utilized by elementary students. There are other alternatives for middle and high school students.
Listen and Read
Scholastic's Listen and Read is a site designed for early readers. It provides 54 nonfiction read-along books in multiple categories (see image below). Since nonfiction (informational) text is more difficult for students to read and comprehend, it's important to get an early start. Read-along books are a great way to do this!
Scholastic's Listen and Read is a site designed for early readers. It provides 54 nonfiction read-along books in multiple categories (see image below). Since nonfiction (informational) text is more difficult for students to read and comprehend, it's important to get an early start. Read-along books are a great way to do this!
At the moment, there are over 20 books on animals, which are engaging to many new readers. Students can select their book, click "listen," and hear the story read aloud. The voice is a child's voice, which may appeal to young children more than listening to an adult read.
At the end of the book, a short list (2-5 words) of vocabulary appears. Students can listen to the word pronounced, which should help enhance comprehension and vocabulary skills. Like the text, the vocabulary is pronounced in a child's voice.
Listen and Read is a great source of nonfiction for early readers!
At the end of the book, a short list (2-5 words) of vocabulary appears. Students can listen to the word pronounced, which should help enhance comprehension and vocabulary skills. Like the text, the vocabulary is pronounced in a child's voice.
Listen and Read is a great source of nonfiction for early readers!
Our Little Earth
Our Little Earth is an international e-newspaper specifically designed for students. Every two weeks, a new issue is delivered via e-mail, providing current news for students. The articles are written for elementary and middle school students. While the news is delivered every two weeks, past issues are available on the Our Little Earth website.
Our Little Earth is an international e-newspaper specifically designed for students. Every two weeks, a new issue is delivered via e-mail, providing current news for students. The articles are written for elementary and middle school students. While the news is delivered every two weeks, past issues are available on the Our Little Earth website.
Students can also use the map (see image above) to work on geography skills as they read each article.
Our Little Earth also has an "extras" feature, which is available for a small fee. These extras consist of puzzles and questions to help students retain and remember what they read.
From their website: You decide the value of Our Little Earth’s Extras. Pay us what you want! Select the price from the drop down menu. Any amount will give you a one year subscription to the Extras.
The fee can be as small as $1.00 USD.
Overall, this looks like another good source for informational text, especially for elementary and middle school students.
Our Little Earth also has an "extras" feature, which is available for a small fee. These extras consist of puzzles and questions to help students retain and remember what they read.
From their website: You decide the value of Our Little Earth’s Extras. Pay us what you want! Select the price from the drop down menu. Any amount will give you a one year subscription to the Extras.
The fee can be as small as $1.00 USD.
Overall, this looks like another good source for informational text, especially for elementary and middle school students.