Tech.Teach.Talk: Informational Text

Along with all of the other challenges we face in the classroom each day, we have the constant reminder of our state's adoption of the "Common Core" and the promise of standardized tests which are expected to reflect achievement of these standards each spring. Over the past three years, curriculum has been updated and modified accordingly and efforts have been made to assist in "unpacking" the standards to ensure educators understand specifically what the new standards mean, and what a student must know, understand and be able to do. This year, in the area of ELA, our teacher toolbox expanded to include more resources for informational text, defined by the CCSS as a broad category of nonfiction resources, including: biographies; autobiographies; books about history, social studies, science, and the arts; technical texts (including how-to books and procedural books); and literary nonfiction.

Today's post responds to requests from teachers on where to find online resources for informational text. While some of the resources are specific to subscriptions supported by our school district, most resources are free and can be accessed by all. (Resources are listed in alphabetical order)
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CNN Student News

CultureGrams (paid subscription - requires username & password)

DOGO News & CurrentEvents for Kids

EBSCO Resources (paid subscription - requires username & password)

EducationWorld: News for You - Current Events

KidsDiscover: Quick Reads

KYVL Research Rocket

Internet PublicLibrary

Library of Congress

MyON (paid subscription - requires username & password)

NationalGeographic Kids: News Bites