Document Type

Graduate Project

Date of Degree Completion

2006

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Education

Committee Chair

Gail Goss

Second Committee Member

Carol Butterfield

Third Committee Member

Nancy Jurenka

Abstract

The majority of reading done outside the school setting is primarily nonfiction in nature; however primary teachers continue to emphasize fictional texts in the classroom. Therefore, many students are unprepared for the increase in the use of nonfiction text which begins in the intermediate grades and continues on up through the college years. Students as young as kindergarten benefit from the early exposure to nonfiction in numerous ways including increased background knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension. A handbook was created to assist teachers (K-2) in incorporating nonfiction into the primary grades. Eight strategies effective in improving students' comprehension of nonfiction as well as suggestions for selecting and locating quality nonfiction are included.

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