What is Informational Text?
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) defines "informational text" as a broad category of nonfiction resources, including:
· biographies and autobiographies
· books about history
· social studies and science
· the arts
· technical texts (including how-to books and procedural books)
· literary nonfiction
· reading directions
· magazines
· newspapers
Why Is Increasing the Reading of Informational Text Important?
The CCSS stress the importance of focused instruction using informational text with students in the elementary grades.
The English Language Arts [ELA] Common Core State Standards recommend more reading of informational text with a ratio of literary to informational as follows:
How Can Parents Help?
Since parents need to read informational text frequently in everyday life, you can share how and why you are reading. It is important for parents to show their children that reading is essential and required for many things in life.
You can encourage your children to read directions with you to figure something out, or read recipes together while cooking. Share information you learned from reading the newspaper or on-line or in a magazine. Encourage your child to do the same. Parents are the first and most powerful role model children have.
Visit museums, zoos, theaters, historical sites, and other educational places to help build your child’s knowledge and increase your child’s vocabulary. Watch educational programs on television together and discuss the topics. Then find books on these topic and encourage your children to read books on these topics.