Using Multiple Text in the Classroom

            In any classroom, at any grade level, it is essential for educators to be aware of the different text types that support student learning. We need to use more than just fiction and nonfiction books to teach our students the concepts within the disciplines. We need to be teaching our students through videos, newspaper articles, recipes, poetry, websites, etc. Printed text cannot be the end all and be all.  As Dr. Manderino stated in his video from the summer reading conference, literacy is essential in all disciplines.  Whether the students are in a history, math, or science class they are expected to read, write, think, listen, and speak. I enjoyed how Dr. Manderino shared that teachers need to pull a variety of text types into the classroom setting and that we as teachers are just one of many resources students should be learning from.

            I found Megan Shedd’s article entitled, Using Multiple Texts to Guide Children’s Learning very insightful. Shedd stated, “When helping children look for information in a nonfiction book, the teachers model how to flip through the pages, looking for photos and captions, text boxes, and diagrams. This lets the children learn about, use, and enjoy each type of text.” (Article found at http://www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/multiple-texts)

            With the Common Core State Standards now in play in all school districts students are now being held to a higher standard. Students need to be able to justify their answers to show their comprehension of the text. It is stated within the State Standards that students need to be exposed to different media formats. We need to move our students away from answering basic leveled questions and more to the inquiry and argumentative approach. Providing students with resources and opportunities to showcase their knowledge with this approach to higher level thinking will create students that can look at any text and be able to critically think about the information presented.

            In my classroom I try to incorporate as many text types that I can in conjunction to the concepts that are being taught. I often use short educational videos and clips that support the concept we are learning in social studies, science, and math. I also do a pair share using a fiction book with our nonfiction books, so the students can relate the concepts in an easier and more interesting format. Each week in computer lab we play educational games, centered around the topics we are learning.

            Currently, in my first grade class we have begun to learn about life in the desert. For the past week we have read a variety of fiction and nonfiction books about plants, animals, and the climate and completed activities based around the books. The next part of the unit will be devoted to having the students research one desert plant or animal. The students will be provided with books, videos, and website articles to find their information. They will need to find information about what their animal eats, looks like, where is lives, and an interesting fact they learn. They will be working on these projects with a partner to read and find the needed information. This will give the students an opportunity to collaborate with their peers.