Publications

Learning with Informational Text
The sketches found in the Biography for Beginners series are created to provide beginning and early readers (ages 6-10) with information about people who may be of interest to them. These books fall into the informational text genre in that they are meant to be “read to learn” and are different than the books we use to “learn to read.” Although historically the majority of books in primary classrooms have been narrative texts, researchers and leaders in the field of literacy are encouraging the use of informational texts for several reasons. The ability to understand non-fiction, or text that explains facts and concepts, is critical for success on standardized tests and all future schooling.

Reading materials of any sort requires knowledge of letter-sound relationships and decoding. Reading also requires visual skills. In order to read, children need to be able to see clearly (acuity), coordinate both eyes together (binocular coordination), and turn eyes inward so that they are aimed at the reading task (adequate convergence). When reading, the eyes make a series of fixations as they look from word to word. This makes it difficult to follow a line of print without losing place and focus (tracking).

Searching for information within text is a complex activity. For this reason the Biography for Beginners series uses certain text features within each sketch that make it easier for young readers to find the information they are seeking.

  • Text combined with pictures- Photographs and illustrations included within each entry give children contextual clues and a pictorial representation of the person or item being discussed in the text.
  • Consistency of structure-Each entry follows the same template for structural organization and allows children to navigate through all the entries with familiarity and ease.
  • Key section headings are typed in capital letters and bold font-This strategy allows children to find a particular fact or area of interest without having to read the entire entry.
  • World wide websites-As the internet is an ever-increasing source of information for even our youngest learners, web sites are listed at the end of each entry for those wishing to pursue the subject.
  • Predictability of organization-The text features used in each entry support instruction for developing strategies for reading for information.

The editors of the Biography for Beginners series strive to showcase people who are of interest to young children as they acknowledge and respect the abilities and skills that children of this age are likely to possess. The text features that are used in each volume attempt to recognize the developmental visual capabilities of young readers and take them into account as each entry is designed.

Claire Rewold, Ph.D.
Claire Rewold is an early childhood education professional and Contributing Editor to the Biography for Beginners series.