Nonfiction Resources for the Common Core Teacher

A good deal of the literature associated with Common Core explicitly states that the emphasis on nonfiction reading is NOT a departure from reading literature in language arts or English classes. Depending on what grade you currently teach, the percentage of nonfiction that each student is expected to read increases by intervals of five percent from elementary through high school. The general expectation, for argument's sake, is over fifty percent. This means that in a given school day, the majority of what a learner reads is nonfiction. Fortunately, their science, math, and history textbooks all count toward this designated percentage. However, while it is still encouraged for English courses to foster an appreciation for literature, nonfiction reading and writing will play an integral part of the language arts classroom.  

The Benefits of Nonfiction in the Language Arts Classroom

The study of literacy is meant to foster a collection of skills. These skills include, but are not limited to:

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Written and verbal expression
• Reasoning skills
• Research

These skills have the potential to be taught through the use of both fiction and nonfiction texts. However, with the dedication of the Common Core to have students college and career ready, it makes a good deal of sense to teach these skills through nonfiction texts that might better empower them to deal with real-world situations.  

Resources to Assist the Use of Nonfiction in the Classroom

1. Newsela. Newsela is a website that offers free nonfiction newspaper articles ready to be utilized in the classroom. They have a search engine, but the main categories are War & Peace, Money, Science, Kids, Law, Health, and Arts. Not only can the simple search engine turn up several reputable topics, but this website allows you to adjust the reading difficulty of the article based on your pupils' needs. This allows you to modify instruction for all types of learners.

In addition, you are able to input your class information onto the website so that you can assign your class reading through the website. A number of the articles even have quizzes based on the information that the article covers.

2. ProQuest. ProQuest is a website that allows easy access for students to find appropriate research that can be utilized in the classroom. Teach them the importance of fact-based arguments by having them find topics and arguments to support them. This website has an easy-to-use search engine that will have them conducting academic research in no time at all. This is a history teacher’s best friend.

3. Google Scholar. Google Scholar is an off-shoot of Google. However, in the Google Scholar search engine, pupils will receive information on scholarly literature and peer-reviewed academic journals. This is a great way to engage your class in research using a format that they are extremely familiar with.

How to Utilize This Information

The attraction of pulling more nonfiction resources into the classroom should not be based solely on Common Core ideology. Teaching our young scholars where to find accurate information, how to analyze it, and how to approach material in an educated and thoughtful manner, is a skill that will benefit them in all aspects of their lives.

What are some ways that you incorporate nonfiction into your classroom? Share your ideas and practices with the Lesson Planet Community.

Related Resources:

Nonfiction Lessons with Magazines, Multi-Media Approach to Nonfiction and Satire, Understanding the Differences in Fiction and Nonfiction Lesson, Utilize Text Based Nonfiction Questions