Nonfiction

The first chapter in my “Fab 4” that I chose was chapter 10 on nonfiction.  The reason I did this particular chapter for my fab 4 is because this was the chapter my group was assigned in class.  However, I have never been a big fan of nonfiction throughout my school years so I was excited to read more about nonfiction and the benefits are it.  Throughout the chapter I became aware of a few critical issues when it comes to nonfiction. Some of the benefits of assigning nonfiction in the classroom is that good for later schooling, it is important in larger society, some children would rather read nonfiction, which I found very interesting because I know when I was in lower grades, I did not know anyone who enjoyed reading it.  Lastly, nonfiction books answers question that children have, builds knowledge of natural and social worlds, and also contains important text features.  Some considerations to keep in mind when assigning nonfiction books in the classroom includes, children’s preferences, text accuracy, multicultural understanding in the selection and use of children’s literature.  While reading this particular chapter I made a few teacher connections.  The textbooks in the classroom are actually considered nonfiction so even though some kids may not enjoy nonfiction, they can always rely on their textbook to get facts and information.  Another connection between nonfiction and in the classroom is that nonfiction books increases access and time to read informational texts.  The next connection goes along with reading informational texts.  Nonfiction books help foster interest in subject areas.  In addition, nonfiction books help accurate comprehension.  It helps the student by retelling, synthesizing, visualizing, summarizing, recognizing the main idea and locating details, understanding text structure, and figuring out new vocabulary.

Some examples of nonfiction:

How Many Baby Pandas? By Sandra Markle (Grades 1-2)

Basic counting skills combine with panda facts to introduce readers to numbers and these cuddly cubs, from the moment they were born to the time they started climbing trees.

Letters to a Soldier by David Falvey (Grades 3-4)

A collection of a fourth grade classrooms letters to a U.S soldier. 

Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (Grades 5-6)

A diary of a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl, named Anne Frank. Along with her family, they fled their home in Amsterdam and went into hiding. For the next two years, until their whereabouts were betrayed to the Gestapo, they and another family lived cloistered in the "Secret Annex" of an old office building. Cut off from the outside world, they faced hunger, boredom, the constant cruelties of living in confined quarters, and the ever-present threat of discovery and death.