Informational Text Toolkit

The Informational Text Toolkit is an easy-to-use handbook filled with research-based strategies to build comprehension skills when teaching the Common Core Standards for Informational Text. The strategies can be applied to elementary through high school students. Students at the university-level can also benefit from using these strategies to comprehend undergraduate or graduate text. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts emphasize the importance of students reading informational text. They should be able to describe, analyze, compare, and evaluate various types of text. Informational text is found in content area subjects like science, health, and social studies; it is found on the cafeteria menu. Exposing students to this type of text should be a daily part of the natural routine of the school day.

The Informational Text Toolkit is an easy-to-use handbook filled with research-based strategies to build comprehension skills when teaching the Common Core Standards for Informational Text. The strategies can be applied to elementary through high school students. Students at the university-level can also benefit from using these strategies to comprehend undergraduate or graduate text. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts emphasize the importance of students reading informational text. They should be able to describe, analyze, compare, and evaluate various types of text. Informational text is found in content area subjects like science, health, and social studies; it is found on the cafeteria menu. Exposing students to this type of text should be a daily part of the natural routine of the school day. Informational text looks different than the fiction students might be used to reading. Text features for informational text include a table of contents, an index, bold or italicized text, headings and subheadings, glossaries for specialized vocabulary, specialized vocabulary, photos, captions, graphs, diagrams, tables, maps, and charts. Informational text also has text structures that might be unfamiliar to students. These include Cause and Effect, Sequence, Problem and Solution, Description, and Compare and Contrast.

Stephanie M. Hamilton has over 30 years experience in education. She has taught special and elementary education; and undergraduate and graduate level education coursework. Stephanie’s experience in ELA includes managing several federal reading grants including Reading First Ohio and Expanding the Reach. Since 2010, she has been writing ELA articles and web-based student lessons focused on the Common Core Standards. Stephanie has used the tools in the Toolkit while designing or delivering professional development to educators across the country. She supervised and coordinated the delivery of SBRR (scientifically based reading research) professional development and technical assistance to 42 Title I schools in six states. Stephanie has consulted to state and local agencies on education reform, teacher training, after school programming, parenting, and youth leadership training. She has presented nationally, state-wide, and locally on education-related topics. Stephanie has co-authored a series of social studies supplementary texts as well as contributed articles and lessons to several Web sites, primarily Learners Online. Stephanie was a member of the Praxis Reading Specialist National Advisory Committee and is a volunteer lesson reviewer for IRA’s ReadWriteThink.org website. She holds a B.S. in Special and Elementary Education from Bowling Green State University, and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration: Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development from Ashland University.