Nonfiction Matters: Reading, Writing, and Research in Grades 3-8

by Stephanie Harvey

Book Overview

When we open the gates to nonfiction inquiry, we open our thinking and expect the unexpected, making reading discoveries, research discoveries, and writing discoveries on our way. Nonfiction Matters offers teachers the tools to help students explore nonfiction and dig deep to reach more complete understanding of the real world and report these insights in a compelling manner. Stephanie Harvey shows how students can read expository text, engage...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571100725
• ISBN13: 9781571100726
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Stenhouse Publishers
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding

Every middle-grade teacher should own this book! It is such a relief to find a book by an author who clearly knows how to engage students in authentic, "real world" material. Not only is this book enjoyable to read, but it actually shows you how to jump in and make nonfiction reading work for your students--or your children--wherever they may be on the ability spectrum. I think it can be difficult to teach things which we intuitively do well, and many teachers are good readers. This book is marvelous, because it refuses to advocate a painful, repetitive break-down of dull practice skills. Instead, it shows teachers and parents how to explicitly address skills within a meaningful context. That is so critical! For example, the book talks about readers making connections, and recognizing types of connections, including text-to-self, text-to-text, and text-to-world. Making connections is not a new idea for reading teachers, but these categories are great for making non-fiction accessible. The ideas and strategies in the book are motivating and inspiring, if overwhelming. The author's journey is really that of a continuing learner, and it was so valuable to me to read about her overflowing ideas and philosophies and strategies, as well as the way she handled roadblocks with colleagues and students. I love that this author has the courage to present teaching as a "messy" art and science. It doesn't pretend there is one right answer or one right method or one right kind of student or teacher. It recognizes the complexity of so many variables coming together--ability, interest, personality--and acknowledges and addresses these variables, instead of pretending they don't exist. This is a book for thinking, reflective teachers, and it's good.

A ReflectiveTeacher's Guide

Nonfiction Matters by Stephanie Harvey is a great book that not only gives teachers great ideas on how to teach nonfiction writing, but also on how to learn along with the students by inquiring about real things in life anyone of them might have an interest in. I recommend this book to any teacher who is willing to take the challenge and transform her / his classroom into what every classroom in the world should be. Teachers will find new incentives to motivate their students along with simple economic ideas that will get their students writing passionate, interesting nonfiction papers everyone will want to read.

*How* to write papers

When I was in school, we were told to write papers, but were never really taught *how* to develop one. We were told *what* to do -- make an outline, write the paper, and revise it -- but that didn't help me figure out *how* to do any of these things.Now my daughter is in third grade and I'm trying to help her learn how to write. Our first use of the book helped us capture and explore what she learned on a museum trip. I was really impressed with the resulting report. It was focused, full of real content, and had a delightful narrative style. We even used wondering questions to help us focus further inquiry.This book is a must-have for anyone interested in life-long learning.

Allowing Non-Fiction back into the ELA Curriculum and Beyond

This book provides research and practice on using non-fiction sources for authentic literary products. The traditional research project is reshaped into a meaningful, student-centered outcome. I've also attended Harvey's conference in conjunction with the book and recommend her book, and any other works that she creates, as useful and invigorating for all subject/level teachers.

Nonfiction really Does Matter!

This book is a "must have" for all elementary, middle, and high school language arts teachers. It is an easy-to-read, practical guide for teaching expository writing. I continually use this as a resource in planning my writing instruction. Students are highly motivated by Harvey's approach. Be sure to add this to your professional library!