Tips for Reading

Informational Texts

Do you like learning about the world around you? One way to do that is to read informational texts! Informational texts tell facts about real people, animals, places, and events.

These tips can help you read informational texts:

• Before you read, think about what you already know about the topic.
• As you read, think about the author’s purpose, or what the author wants you to learn. What are the author’s main ideas? How does the author use facts and details to support the main ideas?
• From time to time, stop and ask yourself if what you are reading makes sense. Reread any parts that are difficult to understand.
• Text features, such as labels, headings, and captions, can give you important information that will help you understand the main ideas. Be sure to read them carefully.
• Visuals, such as photographs, maps, and diagrams, can give you information about the topic that is not in the text.
• If you come to a word that you don’t know, look at the words around it for clues that help you understand its meaning. You can also use a dictionary to find the word’s meaning.
• Ask questions! Find the answers by looking for evidence in the text. You can also discuss questions with friends, classmates, or your teacher.
• Last but not least, be curious! Reading informational texts can take you places you’ve never been, introduce you to people who inspire you, and show you things you’ve never imagined. See what amazing discoveries await you!