Text features, what are they and why must we teach them? Text features are visuals or print that are included within text to help a reader better understand the information within the text. Headings, captions, maps, photographs….the list goes on and on. With half of our literacy instruction being non-fiction, it is essential that our students first understand the difference between nonfiction and fiction text but also understand and know how to use text features. As adults, we not only know the importance of text features but we can utilize them.
To no surprise, many students skip right past text features and focus only on text. We want our students to notice them, understand what it is teaching them, and then eventually have them use text features within their writing. Whether you are just starting with text feature instruction or you are trying to master your students’ comprehension, these tips can help your students identify and understand the purpose behind using text features.
Modeling Text Features
When I begin talking about text features with my students I have found it very helpful to only introduce a few at a time. Otherwise, it might be a bit much all at once for our kiddos! Then I practice, practice, practice- my favorite motto for all aspects of teaching. But, seriously take time to begin immersing your students in nonfiction text and point out the different types of text features that are being utilized. Make it a point to talk about the various text features and their benefits of finding out more details within the text. Providing your students with modeling is a great way for them to better grasp the importance of using text features.
During a whole group instruction, try using a children’s magazine and cut out examples of text features- ask for your student’s help in pointing out a few that they see. You can also grab a few different types of nonfiction text that your students will be interested in and practice identifying the various types.
Engaging Activities Teaching nonfiction text features can really be fun and there are so many ways to implement this in your classroom in an engaging hands-on way. This resource includes some of my favorite ways to begin teaching text features. Again, I would recommend teaching one or two text features per day. As I teach these text features I use the text feature notebook, I also have text feature posters displayed throughout the classroom which can all be found within this bundle. It is important to use as many hands-on examples as you can with your students, and use anchor charts.
Keep in mind as you teach each text feature, it is crucial that you show examples and ask your students to try and find them but also talk about why this feature is helpful to their learning. I use real examples from various books, and magazines so my students can see real-life examples in all different forms of nonfiction text. This is the perfect opportunity to use your doc cam to display examples. Text features are used to help readers navigate and locate specific information in easier and more efficient ways but they also include information that may not be included in the text so it’s very important our students know how to use them effectively.
Once my students understand the concept we really dive into doing some hands-on practice and let me tell you they love it. They are like little detectives! Again, practice, practice, practice. I love using a match the definition to the feature worksheet as a form of assessment. Using activities like draw and define are great ways for students to actively apply their knowledge. I use match the feature cards which are also included in this bundle and have my students find various text features with a partner or small group. Again, hands-on practice is going to be your best friend when it comes to teaching text features.
The best advice I can provide is to make it fun and what is more fun than incorporating props and performing text feature surgery. Seriously this is an opportunity to make this unit extremely hands-on by turning your classroom into an operating room. Use gloves, masks- thanks Covid, we got this covered, and surgical caps. Using this resource, you can get your kids super engaged, and hands-on with dissecting text features. I love love watching how much fun they have during this activity.
My main goal from explicitly teaching my students about text features is that they know and use the various text features to locate facts and information within a text. When you are diving into nonfiction text be sure to take time to focus on teaching your students about text features with explicit instruction. I hope these tips and strategies have helped you to better implement text feature instruction within your classrooms. Let me know in the comments below some of your favorite ways you teach text features.
