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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
Deirdre Costello
Christi Showman Farrar