Format
The format can be just like the recorded format or we can focus on specific Minutes and how to write a Nonfiction Minute.
In other words, the format is open-ended with lots of opportunities to get students excited about writing Minutes of their own.
Objectives
Many of our Minutes have T2Ts (transfer to teaching) pages to stregthen the learning experience of a Nonfiction Minute. The length of each Minute is 400 words, which is the same as the reading passages on the standardized tests. Many of those reading passages are excerpted from the books of Authors on Call and the Nonfiction Minute.
To discover some of the many voices of terrific authors who write on myriad topics.
To follow their own passions through our "professors-at-large" for kids. We know content and we speak child.
To practice reading for meaning from texts that model excellence in writing.
Test prep come from reading widely and deeply. The Nonfiction Minute is on many topics. Our authors explore these topics more deeply in their books.
Standards Alignment
National Standards
The Nonfiction Minutes are the gold standard for writing and for content. Everything has been vetted and professionally edited. The Nonfiction Minute is the same length as the reading passages on the standardized tests. Test prep involves reading both widely and deeply. The Nonfiction Minutes are excellent test prep for reading widely and the lead to books by the authors, which evokes reading deeply.
Our books are routinely excerpted for reading passages for the standardized tests. Becoming a reader involves lots of practice. Practice reaching a tipping point where a student is suddenly reading for pleasure and reading to learn, not necessarily mutually exclusive motivations.