• An NAEP study (National Assessment of Educational Progress) demonstrated that 4th graders who read storybooks, magazines, and informational books have the highest proficiency in reading performance.  Top achieving schools reported students reading more information books than students in the bottom third of schools in the study.  49% ( and up to 75%) of all test items on standardized tests are based on nonfiction text.  Provide varied nonfiction reading materials:
• Magazine articles:  ZooNooz, Zillions, Ranger Rick, Time Magazine for Kids, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Wild Outdoor World
• Include Biographies in guided and independent reading e.g. Kathleen Krull's 'lives of' series e.g. Lives of Extraordinary Women, Lives of Presidents, etc ( www.kathleenkrull.com for 38 ways to use biographies)
• Download and print nonfiction articles from the internet:  Downloadable articles at: www.tcmpub.com; Time for Kids website

Magazines and Graphic Novels

• ZooNooz, Zillions, Ranger Rick, Time Magazine for Kids, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Wild Outdoor World
• Websites:  akc.com (dogs);  cricketmag.com;  nationalgeographic.com;  odysseymagazine.com (science for 4th +);  sikids.com (sports illustrated for kids)
• Graphic Novels (illustrated in comic book style) 
  • Graphic Library of Biographies and History topics by Capstone Press (capstonepress.com)
  • Saddleback Graphic Novels (sdlback.com)
  • Rosen Graphic Nonfiction (rosenclassroom.com)
• Comics
  • Website references:  comics.com;  comicpage.com (read comics online);  http://sidekicks.noflyingnotights.com (core list of best comics, Q & A for teachers);  www.nyccomicbookmuseum.org/education/education/education.htm (go to 'Back to the Drawing Board:  Once-Banned Comics Now a Teaching Tool for ideas on incorporating writing and art activities with comic books.

For Boys:

Boyz Rule! by Mondo Publishing (written in script format as a dialogue between two boys for buddy reading)  www.guysread.com (Jon Scieszka site to encourage boys to read)   www.dirtrider.com  (online magazine for boys)

For Girls:

Girlz Rock! (soon to be published by Mondo)

gurl.com;  www.newmoon.com (magazine for girls)

Technology:

Websites:

Read Alouds:  BookPALS:  www.storylineonline.net (actors read aloud)

Read Along:  www.tumblebooks.com (interactive read aloud- text changes color, word helper, Spanish, Chinese)

Read Digital Text:  www.icdlbooks.org  (820 books in 9 languages);  billnye.com (PBS science);  brainpop.com (reading and writing);  mrsaylorsclass.com;  pilkey.com (Captain Underpants); rif.com (reading is fun site);  storiesfromtheweb.com (write and read others); www.starfall.com (reading and phonics games and stories)