I talk to lots of educators who are
interested in sharing more nonfiction read alouds with their students, but they
have some concerns. Here are the three main questions they ask:
1.
How do I locate appropriate nonfiction titles?
How do I locate appropriate nonfiction titles?
2.
How do I read nonfiction aloud in a way that engages
students?
How do I read nonfiction aloud in a way that engages
students?
3.
How do I encourage and facilitate student responses to a
nonfiction read aloud?
How do I encourage and facilitate student responses to a
nonfiction read aloud?
Last week, I addressed question number 1. You can scroll down
to read my suggestions. Today, I’m going to take a look at question number
2.
to read my suggestions. Today, I’m going to take a look at question number
2.
Reading
nonfiction picture books aloud can be a challenge because they often contain
significantly more words than fiction picture books. And even if the art is
enticing and the writing is engaging and the information is fascinating, a
picture book read aloud shouldn’t last too long.
nonfiction picture books aloud can be a challenge because they often contain
significantly more words than fiction picture books. And even if the art is
enticing and the writing is engaging and the information is fascinating, a
picture book read aloud shouldn’t last too long.
When I plan a nonfiction read aloud, I ask myself lots of questions.
·
What parts of the book
should I highlight?
What parts of the book
should I highlight?
·
Should I skip over
anything?
Should I skip over
anything?
·
Would additional visuals
or props improve the audience’s experience?
Would additional visuals
or props improve the audience’s experience?
·
Would
using a document camera help?
Would
using a document camera help?
Sometimes I make the right decisions on the first try. But
other times, the kids surprise me, and I make adjustments as I go along.
other times, the kids surprise me, and I make adjustments as I go along.
In a book like Flying
Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads,
Jet-Propelled Jellyfish,
and More Surprising Ways that Animals Move by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, some double-page spreads have six animal
examples. Depending on the age of your audience, that may be too much. But it’s
fine to let a student volunteer choose just one example for you to share with
the class. Then, if children want to know more, they can read the rest of the
examples themselves later.
Frogs and Walking Fish: Leaping Lemurs, Tumbling Toads,
Jet-Propelled Jellyfish,
and More Surprising Ways that Animals Move by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, some double-page spreads have six animal
examples. Depending on the age of your audience, that may be too much. But it’s
fine to let a student volunteer choose just one example for you to share with
the class. Then, if children want to know more, they can read the rest of the
examples themselves later.
In
a book like Cute as an Axolotl: Discovering the
World’s Most Adorable Animals by Jess Keating, which has a lot of information on each
page, you can share just a couple of spreads as a read aloud. As with Flying Frogs and Walking Fish, you can encourage interested students to read the rest of
the book on their own.
a book like Cute as an Axolotl: Discovering the
World’s Most Adorable Animals by Jess Keating, which has a lot of information on each
page, you can share just a couple of spreads as a read aloud. As with Flying Frogs and Walking Fish, you can encourage interested students to read the rest of
the book on their own.
Books
like Warbler Wave by April Pulley
Sayre have a short, poetic main text with lots of interesting extra information
in the backmatter. Feel free to take your time savoring the gorgeous language
and stunning photographs with students. Then, as time permits, share just a few
sections of the backmatter. When it comes to nonfiction read alouds, there’s no
rule that says you have to read every single word!
like Warbler Wave by April Pulley
Sayre have a short, poetic main text with lots of interesting extra information
in the backmatter. Feel free to take your time savoring the gorgeous language
and stunning photographs with students. Then, as time permits, share just a few
sections of the backmatter. When it comes to nonfiction read alouds, there’s no
rule that says you have to read every single word!
During
the read aloud, be sure to put expression into your reading. Be animated. Be
dramatic. Show that you’re eager to discover whatever fascinating facts and
amazing ideas the author will reveal. Remind students that professional
nonfiction writers spend years researching, writing, and revising each book. Here’s
how long it took me to write some of my most popular picture books—from
inspiration to publication:
the read aloud, be sure to put expression into your reading. Be animated. Be
dramatic. Show that you’re eager to discover whatever fascinating facts and
amazing ideas the author will reveal. Remind students that professional
nonfiction writers spend years researching, writing, and revising each book. Here’s
how long it took me to write some of my most popular picture books—from
inspiration to publication:
6
years
Can an Aardvark
Bark?
8 years
Feathers: Not Just for Flying
years
Can an Aardvark
Bark?
8 years
Feathers: Not Just for Flying
10 years No
Monkeys, No Chocolate
5 years A Place for Butterflies
6 years Seashells: More than a Home
Monkeys, No Chocolate
5 years A Place for Butterflies
6 years Seashells: More than a Home
5
years Under the Snow
years Under the Snow
Encourage students to think about how passionate professional
nonfiction writers must be about their topic and how motivated they must be to
share information with other people to keep working on a book for so long.
I hope these ideas help you with the second question above. Next Wednesday,
I’ll address the third question.
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2 Responses
I think I'm at about the 10 year timeframe on this chestnut book, as it keeps changing. Thank you for your encouragement.
Love this, Melissa! I need to share it with teachers who feel intimidated reading aloud nonfiction or who worry that it won't be engaging.