Reading Informational Texts
All you need is a text and a reading purpose to start. We do the rest.
LiteracyTA's 5 Step Reading Process is outlined on the left. We provide activities to help teach each step in the process on the right. Select the drop down menu above the activities for more reading purposes/lessons. We make delivering explicit, skill-based instruction easy for you and engaging for your students.
5 Steps to Confident Reading
Listen carefully to your task
Listen to your teacher when he or she tells you what to do with your reading.
Listen to your teacher when he or she tells you what to do with your reading.
Look at your text
Get to know your text. What do you see? Are there pictures? Are there titles?
Get to know your text. What do you see? Are there pictures? Are there titles?
Read to understand the topic
Read your text to learn what it is about. What does it say? What is the topic?
Read your text to learn what it is about. What does it say? What is the topic?
Read for main ideas and details
Read the text, again. What are the main ideas? What are the details? Find the beginning, middle, and end.
Read the text, again. What are the main ideas? What are the details? Find the beginning, middle, and end.
Write down the main ideas and details
Write down the main ideas and details in your graphic organizer.
Write down the main ideas and details in your graphic organizer.
Marking a Task
Identify and mark verbs and important information in a prompt and/or task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Six Organizers at a Glance
Select a graphic organizer to categorize main ideas in a text.
W7
W8
W9
Marking a Task
Identify and mark verbs and important information in a prompt and/or task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Stopping and Predicting
Stop reading to make predictions about what will be said or done.
R1
Making Inferences
Draw conclusions about ideas in a text that are not directly stated.
R1
Beginning, Middle, End
Track how events, individuals, or ideas develop over time.
R3
R5
W8
W9
Marking a Task
Identify and mark verbs and important information in a prompt and/or task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Retelling Main Ideas
Retell the main ideas with pictures and words.
R1
R2
R7
Marking a Task
Identify and mark verbs and important information in a prompt and/or task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Discovering a Text
Discover text features and how they work in a text.
R3
R5
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Beginning, Middle, End
Track how events, individuals, or ideas develop over time.
R3
R5
W8
W9
5 Steps to Confident Reading
Understand your reading task
Listen to your teacher when he/she tells you what to do with your reading. What are you being asked to read? What skills will you need to use while reading.
Listen to your teacher when he/she tells you what to do with your reading. What are you being asked to read? What skills will you need to use while reading.
Look over your text
Get to know your text. What features do you see? Are there pictures, titles, and/or key words? What do you already know about the topic? What predictions can you make?
Get to know your text. What features do you see? Are there pictures, titles, and/or key words? What do you already know about the topic? What predictions can you make?
Read to understand the topic
Read your text to learn what it is about. What does it say? What is the topic or central message? Reread words or ideas you don’t understand.
Read your text to learn what it is about. What does it say? What is the topic or central message? Reread words or ideas you don’t understand.
Read for main ideas and details
Reread the text. What are the main ideas and supporting details? How are the ideas organized? Why do you think the author wrote this text?
Reread the text. What are the main ideas and supporting details? How are the ideas organized? Why do you think the author wrote this text?
Retell the main ideas and details
Retell the main ideas and supporting details in pictures or words in your graphic organizer.
Retell the main ideas and supporting details in pictures or words in your graphic organizer.
Analyzing Prompts and Tasks
Follow a step-by-step process for identifying important information in a prompt and task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Six Organizers at a Glance
Select a graphic organizer to categorize main ideas in a text.
W7
W8
W9
Analyzing Prompts and Tasks
Follow a step-by-step process for identifying important information in a prompt and task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Identifying Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and retell the main textual details.
R1
R2
W7
Analyzing Prompts and Tasks
Follow a step-by-step process for identifying important information in a prompt and task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Pausing and Predicting
Pause frequently to make predictions about what will be said or done.
R1
Making Inferences
Draw conclusions about ideas in a text that are not directly stated.
R1
Sequence/Process Organizer
Track how events, individuals, or ideas develop over time.
R3
R5
W8
W9
Analyzing Prompts and Tasks
Follow a step-by-step process for identifying important information in a prompt and task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Visual Summary
Draw illustrations that represent the main ideas in a text.
R1
R2
Analyzing Prompts and Tasks
Follow a step-by-step process for identifying important information in a prompt and task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Analyzing Text Features
Analyze how text features communicate important information.
R3
R5
Asking Questions: 5Ws and 1H
Ask and answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions while reading.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Sequence/Process Organizer
Track how events, individuals, or ideas develop over time.
R3
R5
W8
W9
Analyzing Prompts and Tasks
Follow a step-by-step process for identifying important information in a prompt and task.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Read 1, Speak 2, Write 3
Read a paragraph or two, discuss the text, and write down main ideas.
R1
R2
R8
SL1
SL6
L1
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Six Organizers at a Glance
Select a graphic organizer to categorize main ideas in a text.
W7
W8
W9
5 Steps to Confident Reading
Understand your reading task
Read and listen to your reading task. What are you being asked to read? What reading skills can help you read this text? What will you need to do with the information after you have read it?
Read and listen to your reading task. What are you being asked to read? What reading skills can help you read this text? What will you need to do with the information after you have read it?
Preview your text
Get to know your text. What features do you see? Are there visuals, titles, subtitles, and/or key words? What do you already know about the topic? What predictions can you make?
Get to know your text. What features do you see? Are there visuals, titles, subtitles, and/or key words? What do you already know about the topic? What predictions can you make?
Read for comprehension
Read your text to learn what it is about. What does it say? What is the topic or central message? What words or ideas are important to the overall meaning of the text?
Read your text to learn what it is about. What does it say? What is the topic or central message? What words or ideas are important to the overall meaning of the text?
Read for deeper meaning
Look at your reading task, again. Use your reading task to reread for deeper meaning. What are the main ideas and supporting details? How is the text organized from beginning to end? What is the author's purpose?
Look at your reading task, again. Use your reading task to reread for deeper meaning. What are the main ideas and supporting details? How is the text organized from beginning to end? What is the author's purpose?
Organize and record important information
Retell the main ideas and supporting details in your graphic organizer. How will you organize the important information? How will you use this information to complete your task?
Retell the main ideas and supporting details in your graphic organizer. How will you organize the important information? How will you use this information to complete your task?
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Writing in the Margins
Think about the text and write ideas in the margin.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R1
R2
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Writing in the Margins
Think about the text and write ideas in the margin.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R1
R2
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Pausing and Predicting
Pause frequently to make predictions about what will be said or done.
R1
Making Inferences
Draw conclusions about ideas in a text that are not directly stated.
R1
Sequence/Process Organizer
Track how events, individuals, or ideas develop over time.
R3
R5
W8
W9
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Analyzing Text Structure
Analyze how sentences and paragraphs are structured to communicate an idea.
R3
R5
Six Organizers at a Glance
Select a graphic organizer to categorize main ideas in a text.
W7
W8
W9
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Identifying Evidence
Locate evidence or supporting details in a text that support authors' claims.
R1
R8
L3
Argument Map
Engage in rhetorical analysis in order to identify various elements of an argument.
R1
R2
R8
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
I Know/You Know
Share what you know about a concept or idea with others in class.
SL1
SL6
L1
Read 1, Speak 2, Write 3
Read a paragraph or two, discuss the text, and write down main ideas.
R1
R2
R8
SL1
SL6
L1
Investigative Reading
Pause while reading to explore and examine ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R3
SL1
SL6
Expanding Summary
Write about the main ideas in a text, adding more information with each new summary.
R1
R2
W2
L1
L2
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Evaluating Sources
Use this handout to evaluate the reliability of print and online sources.
R7
W7
W8
SL2
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R1
R2
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Taking Research Notes
Research and take notes on multiple sources.
W1
W2
W7
W8
Analyzing Prompts
Follow a step-by-step process for breaking down reading and writing tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
W9
Predicting the Main Idea
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
R2
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R2
R8
Analyzing Text Structure
Analyze how sentences and paragraphs are structured to communicate an idea.
R3
R5
Sequence/Process Organizer
Track how events, individuals, or ideas develop over time.
R3
R5
W8
W9
5 Steps to Confident Reading
Understand your reading/performance task
Analyze your reading or performance task so you have a purpose for reading. What are you being asked to read? What will you need to know? How are you expected to read your text? What reading skills can help you read this text? What will you have to do with the information once you have read it?
Analyze your reading or performance task so you have a purpose for reading. What are you being asked to read? What will you need to know? How are you expected to read your text? What reading skills can help you read this text? What will you have to do with the information once you have read it?
Preview your text
Get to know your text. Scan the text features, headings, and vocabulary. How long is the reading? Are there text features like pictures, graphics, diagrams, and footnotes? Are there unfamiliar words you need to know? What is the text most likely about? What do you know about the topic?
Get to know your text. Scan the text features, headings, and vocabulary. How long is the reading? Are there text features like pictures, graphics, diagrams, and footnotes? Are there unfamiliar words you need to know? What is the text most likely about? What do you know about the topic?
Read for comprehension
Read to understand the topic and genre. What type of text are you reading? What is the text about? What does it say? What words are essential to the meaning or message of the text?
Read to understand the topic and genre. What type of text are you reading? What is the text about? What does it say? What words are essential to the meaning or message of the text?
Read for deeper meaning
Use your reading or performance task to guide how you reread your text. Reading for deeper meaning means you analyze and evaluate how ideas are organized and supported. How is the text organized or how do the ideas unfold from beginning to end? What is the speaker/writer’s point of view or purpose for writing the text? Is the information credible and reliable?
Use your reading or performance task to guide how you reread your text. Reading for deeper meaning means you analyze and evaluate how ideas are organized and supported. How is the text organized or how do the ideas unfold from beginning to end? What is the speaker/writer’s point of view or purpose for writing the text? Is the information credible and reliable?
Organize and cite important information
Reread your prompt or performance task to learn what information you need to draw from your text. How will you organize the essential ideas? What will you directly quote or paraphrase? How will you cite the source material and integrate it into your writing?
Reread your prompt or performance task to learn what information you need to draw from your text. How will you organize the essential ideas? What will you directly quote or paraphrase? How will you cite the source material and integrate it into your writing?
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Previewing and Predicting
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
Read 1, Speak 2, Write 3
Read a paragraph or two, discuss the text, and write down main ideas.
R2
SL1
SL4
L1
L6
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Six Organizers at a Glance
Select a graphic organizer to categorize main ideas in a text.
W7
W8
W9
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Previewing and Predicting
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
Writing in the Margins
Think about the text and write ideas in the margin.
R1
R2
R4
L5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R2
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Analyzing an Author
Analyze the author and the context in which he/she writes.
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Analyzing Evidence
Identify evidence in a text and analyze how it is used.
R8
SL3
Argument Map
Engage in rhetorical analysis in order to identify various elements of an argument.
R6
R8
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Scan for Vocabulary
Identify unknown words in a text and create a personal glossary.
L4
L6
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R2
Investigative Reading
Pause while reading to explore and examine ideas in a text.
R2
R3
R5
SL1
SL6
L4
Expanding Summary
Write about the main ideas in a text, adding more information with each new summary.
R2
W2
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
I Know/You Know
Share what you know about a concept or idea with others in class.
SL1
SL6
L1
L6
Read 1, Speak 2, Write 3
Read a paragraph or two, discuss the text, and write down main ideas.
R2
SL1
SL4
L1
L6
Investigative Reading
Pause while reading to explore and examine ideas in a text.
R2
R3
R5
SL1
SL6
L4
Argument Poster
Visually represent the main ideas or central argument in a text.
R8
W9
SL2
L1
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Previewing and Predicting
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
Visual Summary
Draw illustrations that represent the main ideas in a text.
R2
R3
R5
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Argument Poster
Visually represent the main ideas or central argument in a text.
R8
W9
SL2
L1
Analyzing Research Prompts
Identify and isolate directive verbs, tasks, and sources in a research prompt.
W1
W2
W3
Evaluating Sources
Use this handout to evaluate the credibility of print and online sources.
R7
W7
W8
SL2
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R2
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Taking Research Notes
Take research notes on various topics and record source information.
W1
W2
W7
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Analyzing an Author
Analyze the author and the context in which he/she writes.
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Analyzing Diction and Tone
Examine the words an author uses in a text to identify his/her tone.
R4
R6
SL3
L3
Argument Map
Engage in rhetorical analysis in order to identify various elements of an argument.
R6
R8
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Analyzing Visuals
Analyze visuals in a text to better understand content and author's purpose.
R7
SL2
Summarizing Main Ideas
Identify the main ideas in a paragraph(s) and synthesize them into a few concise sentences.
R2
Analyzing Text Structure
Analyze how sentences and paragraphs are structured to communicate an idea.
R3
R5
Six Organizers at a Glance
Select a graphic organizer to categorize main ideas in a text.
W7
W8
W9
Analyzing Text-Dependent Prompts
Break down writing prompts and tasks.
W1
W2
W3
W4
Previewing and Predicting
Scan the text and make predictions about subject, content, and structure.
Read 1, Speak 2, Write 3
Read a paragraph or two, discuss the text, and write down main ideas.
R2
SL1
SL4
L1
L6
Marking a Text
Identify and isolate essential ideas in a text.
R1
R8
SL3
Synthesizing Sources
Analyze and synthesize two or more sources in order to create new knowledge.
R9
W7
W8
W9
SL2
Additionally, we have organized our reading and evidence-based writing skills by...
Building DOK
We have organized our non-fiction reading, writing, and speaking skills into three cognitive categories: comprehension, analysis, and synthesis.
College and Career Reading Standards
The Common Core Reading Standards for Literacy require the explicit instruction in reading strategies across the content areas.
C
Next Steps: Get them writing
When students are ready, use our Three Steps to Writing process to teach planning, revising, editing, and rewriting.
