Exploring the Literature of Fact: Children's Nonfiction Trade Books in the Elementary Classroom » (1st Edition)

Barbara Moss, PhD, is a professor at San Diego State University in the area of literacy education. A former classroom teacher and reading supervisor, Dr. Moss has presented and trained widely on using nonfiction literature in elementary and middle grade classrooms. She is the author of a number of journal articles and coeditor of several International Reading Association publications. In 1997 she received an Elva Knight Grant from the International Reading Association, which helped to support portions of the research described in this book.

Filling a crucial need for K-6 teachers, this book provides practical strategies for using nonfiction trade books in language arts and content area instruction. Research-based, classroom-tested ideas are spelled out to help teachers:

*Select from among the many wonderful nonfiction trade books available
*Incorporate nonfiction into the classroom
*Work with students to develop comprehension strategies for informational texts
*Elicit responses to nonfiction through drama, writing, and discussion
*Use nonfiction to promote content area learning and research skills

Unique features of the book include teacher-created lesson plans, extensive lists of recommended books (including choices for reluctant readers), illustrative examples of student work, and suggestions for linking nonfiction reading to the use of the World Wide Web.

Introduction Chapter 1. Exploring the Nonfiction Genre Chapter 2. Choosing Nonfiction Trade Books Chapter 3. Bringing Nonfiction into the Classroom Chapter 4. Helping Students Read Nonfiction Strategically Chapter 5. Guiding Student Response to Nonfiction Chapter 6. Content Area Learning through Nonfiction Appendix: Orbis Pictus Award-Winning Books Index