Text Message? Nahhh more like Text Structure!

Effective teachers expose students to information that expands their knowledge-much of this knowledge can be passed on through text. Whether it be creating interactive lesson plans, group discussions, or assign particular readings, “effective teachers teach students to use their knowledge of genres, structural elements, and literary devices to increase their comprehension of complex text” (Tompkins, 2017). When students read a text and can take note of particular parts that make up that text, they are using text structure skills.

Text structure is important because when students are reading, they need to know the proper tools to comprehend what they are reading, but also what the text is trying to convey. Students need to take note of the importance of how text is written. Students can see how “stories have unique text factors such as narrative genres, story elements, and narrative devices. Nonfiction books have unique text factors such as nonfiction genres, expository text structures, and nonfiction features.” (Tompkins, 2017). Effective teachers make sure to provide tools and resources such as graphic organizers for students to use. Cause and effect maps, compare and contrast charts, sequence charts, description maps, and problem and solution charts are some examples. These types of resources give students support when they are reading a text and trying to break it down for comprehension. Comprehension is critically important because it provides students clarification on what they are learning, and they can understand what they read. This is especially crucial for younger grades because they are starting to learn about text structures. However, it is also essential for educators to continually be refreshing student's text skills as they get older, so they keep being aware of looking at the importance of text and its meaning.

Examples of Text Structure

“Researchers have documented that when teachers teach students about text factors, their comprehension increases (Fisher, Frey, & Lapp, 2008; Sweet & Snow, 2003). In addition, when students are familiar with the genres, organizational patterns, and literary devices in books they’re reading, they’re better able to create those text factors in their own writing” (Buss & Karnowski, 2000). This is crucial to note because when students know and understand how to decipher the text they are reading, they become better readers and writers. They know how to tackle a text and understand what is essential about it. When students have a reasoning behind the book they chose, they get motivated to invest more time into it, as well as fully comprehending it. As students become better text readers, they should be encouraged by educators to expand their reading to many types of book genres. 

As educators, it is essential that we reflect and think about how we want to expose students to text structure. Every grade learns differently and it is crucial for educators to know their students and how to successfully prepare them to learn. The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts have created specific tasks that students should be accomplishing that year, so educators can use that as a guidance. In the end, text structure refers to how the information within a written text is organized. This strategy helps students understand that a book presents a main idea and details. Teaching students to recognize common text structures can help students become better readers and writers in the end.

Thank you for reading!

See you next week!

-Melissa