Finding Informational Texts for the Classroom

Deirdre Costello &Christi Showman Farrar

EBSCO Information Services

October 9, 2015

Learning Objectives

Understand informational text and text complexity

Learn to find curriculum-supporting resources

Gather tips and tricks for searching

What is Informational Text?

4

Nonfiction vs. Informational Text

Nonfiction Expository

Narrative

Literary Nonfic.

Biography

Memoir Informa-tional

Concept

Reference

Also Included:

Images

Web resources

Primary source documents

Graphs, charts, maps

Instructions

The Informational Text Shift

Elementary Middle School High School

25% Info Text 50% Info Text 75% Info Text

What is Text Complexity?

7

Defining Text Complexity

Quantitative

Reader & Task

Text Complexity

Qualitative

Sentence length

Syllable count

Page length

Number of difficult words

Previous knowledge

Familiarity with subject

Overall reading strength

Goal of assignment

Levels of meaning

Language conventions

Structure

Visual support

The goal is to be complex

without being impossible.

Learner can do unaided

Zone of Proximal Development (Learner can do with assistance)

Learner cannot do

Measures

Grade

Lexile

Fog Index

ATOS

Measuring ComplexityTOOLS FOR QUANTITATIVE MEASURES

Databases (EBSCO, Gale, ProQuest)

Reading Level in Google

Juicy Studio:

http://juicystudio.com/services/readab

ility.php

Lexile Analyzer:

https://www.lexile.com/analyzer/

Edit Central:

http://www.editcentral.com/gwt1/Edit

Central.html

Finding Resources

11

The Information Path

Based on state/local

curricula, grade level,

course, and interests

IDEA

Make connections between

found resources and

learning objectives

CONNECT

Use technology resources to

find articles, books, images,

or videos

SEARCH

The end product!

TEACH

Today’s Source Types

ArticlesImages & Primary Sources

Books

Databases NewspapersMagazines

Databases

Open Web

Archives

Databases Book lists Other Professionals

Database Search Tips for Students1. Be specific (but not too specific)

2. Use Advanced Search to your advantage

3. Always check the “Full Text” box

4. Filters and sort options are your friends

5. Put subject terms to work

Be Specific

Use Advanced Search

Why limit yourself to a life with no limiters?

Always Check “Full Text”

There’s nothing worse than finding the perfect article, and then realizing it’s not available as full-text.

Filters and Sorting

Too many results? Filter and sort!

Subject Terms

If you find a useful resource, use the related subject terms to find similar items.

Images & Primary Sources

“…including directions, forms

and information displayed in

graphs, charts, or maps.”

History Reference

Center

Library of Congress

AP Images

Finding Images, Charts, & Graphs

Databases Use “source types” to limit to images, photographs, or primary sources

Examples: AP Images, History Reference Center, Fold3, Britannica, NYT, etc.

Library of Congress www.loc.gov/teachers

Printable Primary Source Analysis Tool for students and teachers

Smithsonian http://smithsonianeducation.org/educators/index.html

Search state standards and find Smithsonian resources that support

22

Skills & Drills

23

Source: “Teaching Students Better Online Research Skills.”

EdWeek. May 20, 2013.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/22/32el-

studentresearch.h32.html

Sample Database Searches

24

Books in the Classroom

Book Lists and Awards

Young Adult Library Services Assoc.

http://www.ala.org/yalsa/bookawards/booklists

/members

Booklist Online

http://booklistonline.com/commoncore

Publishers

Scholastic research on classroom

libraries:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/c

lassroombooks/research.htm

EarlyWord – What’s coming!

http://www.earlyword.com/category/chil

drens-and-ya/

NoveList & Core Collections Many ways to find the perfect book!

NoveList for Schools: Tutorialshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P

LmB3tN1AGPiiLbxd-6x4VJTyIPrLYgJb5

Core Collectionshttp://bit.ly/1uV9Q89

Google Tips & Tricks

27

Infographic from:

http://www.gradschoolhub.org

http://www.google.com/edu/programs/google-teacher-academy//

Power Google Try “Search Tools”

Refine by “Any time” for

news

Use quotation marks to

find exact phrases, or

“verbatim”

Search within sites using

“site:”

Power Google

Exclude words using -

Refine by content type or

date

Check out Advanced

Search

Google Images

“Search Tools” for Images

Limit by color

More Google Resources

Google Tips:https://get.google.com/tips/

http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//educators/downloads/Tips_Tric

ks_85x11.pdf

Google Scholar tips:http://scholar.google.com/intl/en-US/scholar/help.html

“Get More Out of Google” Infographic:http://www.hackcollege.com/blog/2011/11/23/infographic-get-more-out-of-google.html

An African or

a European

swallow?

Fun Stuff & Resources

34

Lesson Plans & More

ReadWriteThinkhttp://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/

© Getty, via Literary Reference Center Plus

Tip: Use online lesson plans for

ideas, then find resources in

subscription databases

Lesson Plans & More

Learn421 – Learning for the Digital Agehttp://learn421.net/

Tip: Borrow “search strategies” and

apply to whichever digital resources

you regularly use

InfographicsInfographics in education:http://www.schrockguide.net/infographics-as-an-

assessment.html

Create your own:http://piktochart.com/

http://www.easel.ly/

Finding infographics:http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/infographics/

Online Resources

“Best of the Best” – Top 100 Web Resources for Educators

Developed by Junior Library Guild staff for teachers and librarians

http://www.kn.att.com/wired/fil/pages/listteacherde1.html

Includes a link to the JLG Common Core Pinterest page:

http://www.pinterest.com/juniorlibraryg/common-core-resources/

Tip: Don’t recreate the wheel. Find

lists and recommendations created

by other educators.

D

C

Contact Us

dcostello@ebsco.com

Deirdre Costello

cfarrar@ebsco.com

Christi Showman Farrar