Searching For and Using Information Students in all

Searching For and Using Information: Students in all academic arenas are required to find answers to various problems, big and small. The most effective way to accomplish these problem solving dilemmas are to search for and use information gather from various sources to make logical conclusion or presentations. Site Map Skip Intro

Searching For and Using Information: Skip Intro Students learn to interact with the texts they read for various reasons. These reason include: gathering information about an unknown topic (research), learn about a character in a selection (plot, character analysis), and to gain clarity which works to increase their comprehension (understand steps or processes). Site Map Main Menu

Searching For and Using Information: “It is important that beginning readers learn… how to search for and use different kinds of information with the goal of using all sources of information together. ” -Gay Su Pinnell and Irene C. Fountas Site Map Main Menu

Main Menu Increasing Comprehension Text Clues Reference sources Research Method Site Map

Increasing Comprehension “Readers search for the information they need to gather from a text. They know they must have enough information to expend their knowledge of the content. ” This can be achieved by having the readers focus on word meanings, visual information which includes the sequence words, and using multiple sources to locate information to aide in increasing student comprehension. Site Map Main Menu

Meaning Because each language has a collection of words specific to its culture, readers must be able to interpret the vocabulary used. Words can have several meaning making it difficult to comprehend the text. Teaching word origins and how to use context clues provides the reader with a starting point for decoding unfamiliar words Site Map Main Menu

Visual Information Early readers interact with text through words that are part of the selection. This ability to gather information or create a story line can be achieved by looking for letter sequence, parts of a particular word, recognizing text features, accessing background knowledge or through the emotions and responses that make the characters meaningful. Site Map Main Menu

Use Multiple Sources Searching for and using the kind of information that is needed to solve problems in the most effective ways to come up with a solution. This can be done by checking references and sources for accuracy, and by thinking simultaneously about how all sources fit together. Site Map Main Menu

Text Features Textbooks and nonfiction books often contain special features which can be used to help the reading understand organize the information being presented. Text featured makes it easier for the reader to locate needed information with ease. Headings Bold wording Graphics (pictures, graphs, charts) Site Map Index Glossary Main Menu

Heading, subheading and Bold Text Heading: Subheading: Bold Text: Used to help readers find A small division of a These large dark print out what the selection is chapter, essay, or article words leads the reader to going to be about. The that provided more important or new heading can also help the specific information vocabulary words to aide reader figure out the main about a topic. in understanding the information being idea of a selection. presented. Site Map Main Menu

Graphics These graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, photographs or tables are used to further explain the information that has be presented. This information provided a visual representation of the text included in the selection. Site Map Main Menu

Index and Glossary The index of a nonfiction book is used to guide the reader to specific information by looking up keywords. The index is found in the back of the book. The glossary is also found in the back or at the end of a nonfiction text. The glossary is specific to the text being read. It provides the reader with the definitions of words important in comprehension of the text. Site Map Main Menu

Reference Source Print and Online Reference sources are the print and electronic source used to gather information about a variety of topics in one location. Encyclopedia, dictionary, almanac, atlas, thesaurus are examples of reference sources commonly used to answer questions or learn more about a concept. Site Map Main Menu

Encyclopedia A collection of articles or entries that summarize a larger body of information. These articles often include illustrations, diagrams, or photographs on the topic or person being discussed. This information can be general or specific based on the topic or content area. Site Map Main Menu

Dictionary This word book is an alphabetical collection of words, their pronunciations, origin, and part of speech. The words may be specific to a particular populations’ language or a translation of languages. Site Map Main Menu

Almanac This collection of list, forecast, moon phases , planting recommendation, and yearly highlights provided the reader with a wide variety of information based on their occurrence during the year. Site Map Main Menu

Internet Based Resources Increase Comprehension Text Features Activities to increase reading comprehension Teaching comprehension Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension Informational Text Choice Literacy Text Feature Power. Point Reference Sources Research Models Online Encyclopedia Big 6 Online Dictionary Research Model Online Almanac Site Map Main Menu

Site Map Searching for and Using Information Main Menu Introduction Reference Sources Increasing Comprehension Introduction 2 Word Meanings Visual Information Multiple Sources Encyclopedia Text Features Heading bold text Graphics Main Menu Dictionary Almanac Research Models Index/Glossary