Text features are the elements that arrange written text to support meaning. These include page numbers and table of contents pictures, illustrations, chapter titles, headings and sub-headings as well as captions, labels and diagrams.
Teaching children about the text features is important for improving their comprehension of reading. This is especially important for children who are beginning to read non-fiction.
What is a text feature?Text Features: What Are They?
Text features are those parts of a nonfiction piece or book that are not included in the main body. These include the table of contents and index, headings, captions below pictures or diagrams and glossary terms.
They`re similar to story elements in fiction, however they offer additional aid to comprehension and offer an easy way for the reader. They assist students in finding information they might not have found in the main text or draw connections to previous knowledge.
Children often ask, “How would I read this if there were no text feature?”
To increase comprehension of nonfiction material, it is important to teach students how text elements are recognized and understood. This is especially important for science and social studies content.
One method to teach students is through a game called “Text Features Bingo.” You can play this game either in small groups or as a entire class. It`s an excellent way to engage your students in engaging learning! You`ll find more on -.
Beginning Techniques For Using Text Features
Text features offer additional clues to aid students in absorbing information from texts that are informative. Students are by themselves when they attempt to locate relevant information in a text that is not provided by them.
When teaching students about text features it is essential to make clear their importance and how they aid comprehension strategies. This can be accomplished by using specific features of text or teaching students the process of using them.
One way to introduce and practice the use of text features is through a scavenger hunt. This is a fantastic activity for younger kids because they will have fun searching and documenting the text features they find.
A think-aloud with small groups is another way to teach the features of text. This is most effective when groups are grouped so that there is diversity in backgrounds and strengths.
Once students have a solid understanding of text features they can then use them in their research and reading skills. Text features can be utilized for any type of text, such as articles, books and websites. They assist students in organizing information and make it easy to find it.
More Advanced Techniques For Teaching Text Features
If students have a clear understanding of what text features are and how they work and function, they can apply them to enhance their comprehension of text. They can also draw on previous knowledge, make connections and enhance their understanding of the text`s contents.
One method of doing this is by using a walk that features text. This enthralling activity for small groups is highly efficient and has been shown to increase the number of relevant predictions.
To accomplish this, have students walk through a page in a science or social studies book. Explain that all pages except the main body are text features.
For instance, headings, pictures and captions, labeled diagrams, glossaries, maps, and headings are all text features. Students will have to go through the page and talk about each text feature, its purpose and how it connects to their main concept.
Visual Text Features
Visual text features are graphic elements such as symbols, icons, and other elements that convey information. These may include cartoons, comic strips, maps or timelines, photos or signs of people.
They can help students connect concepts and provide a quick overview of the text. They can also be used to assess comprehension of more abstract concepts or vocabulary.
Visual text can be represented in a variety of ways in a classroom. It can be in the form of posters, photographs, posters or charts. These non-linguistic text features can be taught to children to ensure that they can understand more complex texts and enjoy a wider range of books.