It's a Big World! Using Nonfiction Information Books in Preschool and Kindergarten

Do you have any children in your class who are curious about sharks? Castles? Volcanoes? Or any other thing on earth or in space? Or have you ever tried to explain something in a story book that children might not know about, like reading a story that’s set in the desert and kids don’t understand about cactus? Then you need information books! Information books are a common type of non-fiction that inquires about some aspect of the natural or social world. Bears! Rain! Shoes! Many children find these books very engaging – sometimes the same children who have a hard time sitting for a story. And they can liven up the knowledge in our classroom. Could I really fit a newborn bear in my cereal bowl? Information texts are fun and they build background knowledge. Knowing how to make sense of them is also a critical component of school success, as nonfiction constitutes about half of the books that children will encounter in elementary classrooms. How we read these books to children is different from reading stories though. We will look together at strategies for using these delightful and powerful books that can be successful with preschool and Kindergarten learners. This session utilizes Tier 1 evidence-based instructional strategies for the Components of Comprehension and Vocabulary as described in the 2024 Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan. 

Gateways Topics: Early Literacy
Gateways Content Areas: (D) Curriculum or Program Design
Gateways CDC Content Areas: (8) Child Development