Chapter 1
Phonological and Phonemic Awareness and Emergent Literacy
Course: Elementary Education Multiple Subjects 7001
Subject: Elementary Education Teaching Reading Subtest 7002
Chapter: Comprehension Of Literary And Informational Text
Informational texts are non-fiction texts written to convey factual information, explain processes, describe phenomena, or present arguments. Teaching students how to navigate and comprehend these texts is crucial for academic success across content areas. Unlike narrative texts, informational texts require readers to engage with varied structures and text features that support meaning-making and retention.
Instruction in informational text literacy begins with developing students' awareness of different types of informational texts, understanding how the content is organized (structure), and recognizing the features authors use to support reader understanding.
1. Types of Informational Texts
There are several major categories of informational texts, each serving a distinct purpose. Teaching students to identify and understand the purpose of these text types helps them set an appropriate reading strategy.