Informative/Explanatory Writing for Grades K-3

Pearce Peacock, Literacy Specialist, ADE - pearce.peacock@arkansas.gov

Cheryl Gall, Literacy Specialist, NWAESC - gall.cheryl@gmail.com

Deb Boerner, Reading Recovery Teacher Leader NWAESC - dboerner@starfishnw.org

Jennifer Hampton, Literacy Specialist, WAESC - jennifer.hampton@wscstarfish.com

Agenda

K-3 teachers will: • learn about the reciprocity of reading and writing • examine three different types of informative/explanatory writing • study the purpose, form, and structure of writing to describe, instruct and explain • utilize rubrics related to the three types of informative/explanatory writing

Teaching for Comprehending and Fluency:

Thinking, Talking, and Writing About Reading,K-8.

Fountas and Pinnell

While reading and writing are

different processes, they are

complementary. Readers and

writers use the same sources

of information and integrate

them.

Reciprocity of Reading and Writing

6 Reasons to Use Informational Text in the Primary Grades

1. Provides the key to success in later schooling. 2. Prepares students to handle real-life reading. 3. Appeals to readers' preferences. 4. Addresses' questions and interests. 5. Building knowledge of the natural and social world. 6. Boosts vocabulary and other kinds of literacy knowledge.

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/6-reasons-use-informational-text-primary-grades

The Balance of Informational and Literary Texts in Kindergarten Through 5th Grade

Shift the balance to 50 percent informational text and

50 percent literature in elementary grades.

Definitions of the Common Core State Standards Three Text Types

•Argument (Opinion) • Informational/Explanatory •Narrative

http://www.corestandards.org/assets/Appendix_A.pdf

CCSS Appendix A, p. 23

Graphic Organizer for the Types of Writing

Writing to Describe

DESCRIPTIVE REPORTS

Descriptive reports are texts that classify and describe the way things are in our world. They

give details, often physical, about such things as animals, plants, weather, medicine, machines,

and countries. Their purpose is to describe a thing rather than to retell a

series of events.

Descriptive Reports • Purpose • Form • Structure

Descriptive Reports - Purpose

Descriptive texts are described as:

“Texts that classify and describe the way things are in our world, in which the writer gives details, often physical,

about things such as animals, plants, weather, medicine, machines, and country.”

Is That a Fact? Tony Stead

Descriptive Reports - Form

There are two major types of descriptive reports: •General Descriptions •Specific Descriptions

In descriptive reports you will usually see the following features:

•Title

•Opening statement

•Facts on the subject

Descriptive Reports - Structure

Assessment Rubric for Descriptive Reports

• HO p. 4 • Text p. 114

Descriptive Reports - Assessment

Writing to Instruct

Writing to Instruct

•Purpose

•Form

•Structure

Instructional Texts - Purpose

The purpose of instructional texts is to tell the reader how to achieve a particular goal or how

to follow a set of procedures.

Is That a Fact?, Stead

Instructional Texts - Forms

Recipes Rules Directions Experiments Games

Lists Maps Letters Illustrations Captions Labels

Instructional Texts - Structure

Instructional texts will usually contain the following features:

1. What is to be achieved (title, goal, purpose, or aim) 2. Materials, ingredients, or equipment needed 3. Procedure or steps the reader needs to follow to achieve the designated goal or aim

Instructional Texts - Assessment Assessment Rubric for Informational Writing to Instruct K-

3

• HO p. 5 • Text p. 91

Writing To Explain

Scientific Explanations

•Purpose

•Form

•Structure

SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION - PURPOSE

Tony Stead begins the description of Purpose by the following non-examples:

1) A recipe for chocolate cake

Instructional Text

2) A student explaining why he is late for school

Non-fiction Personal Narrative

SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION – FORMS

There are two major types of scientific explanations:

1. Those that describe why something happens

2. Those that describe how something works or was formed

SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION - STRUCTURE

A typical structure for Scientific Explanation includes the following:

1. Heading

2. Explanation of "how" and "why" and could include Cause & Effect

3. Summary

Scientific Explanation- Assessment Assessment Rubric for Scientific Explanations

in Writing K-3

• HO p. 6 • Text p. 143

Text Features

Quiz, Quiz Trade, Trade

Write one question about what you have learned so far on one side

of your index card.

Write the answer to your question on the other side of the card.

When the music begins find a partner and ask each other your

questions.

Switch cards and hold up your card until you find another partner to

repeat the process with.

When the music stops return to your seat.

Wrapping Up

Today we have:

• Learned about the reciprocity of reading and writing • Examined three different types of informative/explanatory writing • Studied the purpose, form, and structure of writing to describe, instruct and explain • Learned how to utilize rubrics related to the three types of informative/explanatory writing

Resources

Explorations in Nonfiction Writing -Stead and Hoyt

Crafting Nonfiction-Hoyt

Reading and Writing Informational Texts in the Primary Grades- Duke

Common Core Standards and Appendices

Arkansas Ideas