Meaux Books

Classroom Libraries Featuring Nonfiction/
Informational Text

Research Supports Classroom Libraries

• In a large-scale study (Neuman, 1999) involving 18,000 economically challenged children, classroom libraries increased reading time by 60%. The study also showed gains in: Literacy-related interactions more than doubled and Letter knowledge, phonemic awareness concepts of printing and writing, and narrative competence rose 20% more than the control group.

• 90% of what students read in school grades K-2 is fiction even though 85% of what students read throughout their lives will be nonfiction.

• Current Nonfiction studies have found that in the primary grades, story continues to be the genre of choice and little or no instances of teachers modeling expository text strategies (Fisher and Hiebert 1990). In the intermediate grades, students are not likely to even find nonfiction in their classroom libraries (Moss & Hendershoot, 2002).

• Duke’s 2000 study found students in a first grade classroom spent less than 4 minutes a day with informational text.

• · We assess and evaluate using Expository Text- 70 to 80% on content in standardized reading test is expository (Daniels, 2002).

• Informational text helps English Language Learners make connections between their first and second languages.
  

What is a Classroom Library and what should it look like?
A classroom library is a collection of books for students’ independent reading and reference. Teachers should also have access to the collection of books for reading and writing models.
The Classroom Library should be in a prominent place in the classroom with ample space, comfortable reading areas, and shelves for organizing and displaying materials.
Research shows that the “perfect” classroom library should have between 300-600 books that offer a variety of genre. It is very important that the classroom library offers a wide range of reading levels for each child.

Why are Classroom Libraries Important?

• Classroom Libraries
• Provide access to print
• Support literacy instruction
• Help students learn about books
• Provide an organized, central location for referencing
• Support independent reading and extending curriculum
• Supply space for students to discuss and interact with books

Excellent Classroom Libraries from the following Publishers featuring Excellent Literature including Fiction and Nonfiction!
· Mondo Publishers Grades K-6th
· Heinemann Classroom Publishers Grades K-12th
· Rourke Classroom Publishers Grades K-6th
· Rosen Classroom Publishers Grades K- 8th
· Developmental Studies- K-6th

Why Supplemental Text are Important in Content Literacy?

Content area reading is more difficult that reading fiction. Fiction depends on readers’ identifying, with plots, dynamic characters, exciting resolution and memorable descriptions to hold their interest. Textbooks rely on graphic, charts, pictures, historical events and scientific descriptions to sustain the readers’ attention. In fiction many of the same words are repeated: in textbooks, several specialized and technical words may be introduced in every chapter. Fiction is more likely to provide entertainment; nonfiction, information. Often fiction text revolves around a single theme whereas textbooks are dense requiring readers’ to hold a multiple concepts throughout the reading. These characteristics of textbooks lead us to see the importance of understanding why supplementing textbooks can help the struggling reader. Supplementing textbooks in content literacy can help the reader with understandable and interesting texts that build background knowledge and personal connections. Supplemental content text can also scaffold reading experiences to provide students with strategies for understanding text structures and managing the reading experience.

Check for Content texts that links with LA Comprehensive Curriculum for Rosen Classroom, Heinemann Classroom, Rourke Classroom in Science, Social Studies and Math.

Mondo- Safari

NEW Titles for Grades 4 and 5

Mondo Publishers have a unique program that is built around instruction in Science and Social Studies for grades K-5th. Safari consist of:

Magazine- Students will be intrigued by the high-interest topics found in Reading Safari. Each Safari Magazine consist of a fiction selection, nonfiction article, poetry selections, reader’s theater, word power to build vocabulary and a web site that provides teachers and students extension activities on the topics.

Encyclofact- Encyclofact books provide opportunities to introduce students to nonfiction text features. The Encyclofact topics are directly linked to the Safari Magazine topics. Encyclofacts introduce students to reference materials on their instructional level. Students can learn to read various visual literacy elements including graphs, maps, charts, tables, photos, and diagrams.

Leveled Fiction Book- Additional fiction reading is offered through the leveled fiction books that are directly linked to the Safari Magazine topics.

**This series offers the opportunity for students to engage in text through Reader’s Theater to help build Fluency.

Rosen Classroom-

Nonfiction Science and Social Studies

New! Real Life Readers: Nonfiction Guided Reading Instruction for levels A-T
· Comprehension Strategies
· Active Listening Skills- each level contains 6 Audio Books
· Academic Vocabulary Skills
· Text Features
· Written Response to Nonfiction
To view sample of lesson guide visit www.rosenclassrom.com or

Heinemann Classroom

*Pre-K through 1st offers 48 titles in our Read and Learn brand. Read and Learn uses questions to help children focus on topic and learn to form their own questions. Features include picture glossary, page for interaction with parents, large readable font, bold face words, strong text-to-picture match, and provide relevant information about the topic.

*Primary Levels- Wide range of enticing resources that are designed, developed, and tested for maximum readability and interest.

*Intermediate Levels- Students can take exciting and highly practical scientific excursions through lively text that are closely correlated to national standards.

*Middle School Level- Heinemann Classroom offers the opportunity to explore academic interests in greater depth. These books deliver rich resources well worth investigating in depth.

NEW!!! Heinemann Classroom Libraries for grades K-3
Science and Social Studies titles. Each grade level is $400.00
· Titles match Grade Level Expectations

EXPLORATIONS from Okapi: The Key to Unlocking Your Nonfiction Book Room
Explorations goes beyond other programs in developing functional literacy in everyday life by focusing of 5 types commonly encountered in student textbooks: Recount, Report, Explanation, Procedure and Expository.

• Explorations engage students in content area reading (science and social studies) and teaches students how to use nonfiction text features such as labeled illustrations, graphs, charts, diagrams, glossaries,etc.
• Unique Teacher Version for each title support teachers and students with appropriate small group discussion questions to help children develop their own critical literacy. The Teacher Version gives teachers support for what to do during reading, not just before and after reading.
• Explorations goes beyond other programs in providing meaningful reading/ writing connections.
  

Reading First Approved Supplemental List! SIPPS grades K-3
Making Meaning (Comprehension) K-3
Making Meaning K-8

The Making Meaning program uses Read-aloud books that have been carefully chosen to explicitly teach the comprehension strategies known to be used by good readers. The program is a yearlong, K-8 curriculum that teaches students to make sense of text and to be responsible partners who can support their own opinions and appreciate and respect the ideas of others.

New! Being a Writer
The program is a yearlong curriculum for grades K-5 that offers two goals for age-appropriate instruction at each grade level. Being a Writer uses Trade books for genre immersion and author studies, the writing process to empower student authorship, topic selection and peer conferring to develop writing.

• Goal 1: Writing Developing the creativity and skills of a writer
  To provide inspiration and motivation and a clear scope and sequence to develop the desire to write and to build a full understanding and appreciation of the craft and conventions of writing.
• Goal 2: Developing the social and ethical values of a responsible person.
  

Heinemann Professional Books

Stenhouse Professional Books

Please order from Meaux Books - we do not receive credit for books ordered on their websites.

Nonfiction Workshops:

Using nonfiction books, create lessons designed to meet the need of the students in your classroom. Designed for grades 3-5! Workshop goals: Learn how to incorporate LA Content standards in Language Arts, Science, Math, and Social Studies across the curriculum.

To schedule your date, time, and location.

Contact Elette Meaux

337 837 4192

emeaux@worldnet.att.net