Close Reading: Using Text Features

This free focus on close reading resource helps you teach students about text features within information text and how to use them.

 

While most students are able to correctly identify nonfiction text features, it can be more difficult for children to use those text features to help them develop a deeper understanding of a text.  For this reason, it is important to spend time helping students learn how to get information out of nonfiction text features.

This collection of resources has been designed to help your students develop their understanding of informational text features.

These resources can be added to your mini-lesson plans or presented at a literacy center depending on the needs of your students.

Start With Noticings

This is a skill we would use noticings to introduce. If you aren’t familiar with noticings, here is how they work:

The teacher will gather a large stack of books that show the skill you will be teaching. In this case, you will be looking for informational text books that contain the features you are focusing on.

You will give students a quick overview of text features – this is short and not necessarily meant to teach. The idea is to help students know the focus.

You will put students in groups or allow them to find their own. Each group will have a couple of books from the stack.

Their job will be to look through the books and see what they “notice” about the nonfiction books. They are specifically looking for text features. It is ok if they are not always right during this time.
When the time is up, you will gather and allow students to share. If students share an idea that is not correct, you might put that book aside with a note so you can use it as a reference when you are talking about that specific skill during a future mini lesson.

What You Will Find

• Anchor Chart Posters These are designed as 8 1/2 x 11 pages. You could also choose to print on a poster maker if desired.
• Feature Sort Cards These colorful cards have six on a page.  Print in color and laminate.  They can then be placed at a center where students are asked to put together a feature, definition and example.
• Text Feature Notebook Cards Text These are presented in black and white.  You may choose to print at 50% sizing and have students glue into their interactive notebooks for reading.  Or, give full size sets to groups of students.  Have the students use the cards to create large display posters in the classroom.  These can then be used as a resource for students during reading workshop.  For a twist, do not give students the examples.  Have students find their own examples in magazines.
• Nonfiction Text Feature Hunt  Students simply check off when they find a given feature in their text.
• Nonfiction Text Feature:  How Did it Help Me?   Students identify which features were found in their text and then tell how each feature helped them understand the text.
• Nonfiction Text Feature:  How Did it Help Me? BLANKS  – the teacher or students may enter the desired text features, two different versions are provided
• Interactive Notebook Insert  This small chart is designed to have students record three text features they find in their reading.  They should then go in and tell how the text feature helps their understanding of their text.

You can download this free Text Features Set here (you will need to download both sets):

 Informational Text for Close Reading Graphic Organizers

Informational Text for Close Reading Resources

The nonfiction text features samples are courtesy of Poppydreamz Clip Art.

You will find additional Close Reading resources here:  Close Reading on The Curriculum Corner