WASHINGTON—The National Geographic Society’s School Publishing Division is launching two major classroom reading programs this year to improve elementary school students’ nonfiction literacy skills.

The programs are “Windows on Literacy,” for kindergarten through grade two, and “Reading Expeditions,” for grades three through six. Written in a lively style by experienced education writers, the readers cover a wide range of high-interest topics and combine literacy development with science and social science content correlated to national curriculum standards.

“Research has shown that as the world becomes more information based, more than 80 percent of our reading is nonfiction, yet many millions of American adults are unable to read effectively for information,” said Ericka Markman, Senior Vice President, School Publishing. “The aim of our nonfiction literacy initiative is to help children develop the skills necessary to read and understand nonfiction materials and become informed citizens of the world.

“As a visual storyteller, National Geographic is uniquely positioned to provide children with high-quality reading materials about the world around them, to expose them to different nonfiction genres and help them develop nonfiction literacy skills,” she said.

“Windows on Literacy,” for the K-2 set, launches with 120 leveled books for emergent, early and fluent readers (40 titles per level). The books feature physical, earth and life sciences, science inquiry, geography, technology, history and economics, and cover topics ranging from dolphins, insects, magnets, river life, deserts, fossils and the seasons to cooking dinner and shopping with Dad.

“Reading Expeditions,” for grades three through six, debuts with 30 social science titles—six series of books with five books in each series. The series includes AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS TIME, CIVILIZATIONS PAST TO PRESENT, TRAVELS ACROSS AMERICA, KIDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE, VOICES FROM AMERICA’S PAST and SEEDS OF CHANGE IN AMERICAN HISTORY. The books provide authentic reading experiences and contain vivid photographs and graphics that engage students and convey core knowledge on topics such as a whaling community of the 1840s, colonial life, the Civil War, the Great Migration, Egypt, China, caring for the Earth and managing money. Thirty science titles will be published next year.

The “Reading Expeditions” books are written at various reading levels and in a variety of nonfiction genres, including first-person narrative, informational and procedural text. They are designed to develop students’ proficiency in reading and understanding nonfiction texts and features, such as tables of contents, glossaries, indexes, diagrams, charts, maps, tables, bulleted lists, sidebars, captions, labels and heads.

Both reading programs include teacher support materials: easy-to-use teacher guides, which provide support for teaching nonfiction reading skills and core social studies objectives, and informal assessment materials, which include assessment suggestions, record-keeping options and a multiple-choice test.

Stephen Mico, Editorial Director, School Publishing, said the books wed nonfiction reading skills with content that children want to read about in the world of science and social studies.

“Text and supporting visuals work hand-in-hand to enhance understanding in both programs. The readers provide tremendously strong supplemental material for core science, social science, reading and writing curricula. The program has received a very positive reception from schools and educators, who recognize the need for such informational texts and the accuracy and quality of National Geographic products.”

The book program is part of a multifaceted nonfiction literacy campaign the National Geographic Society is launching this year. A classroom-based magazine, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FOR KIDS, published six times a year, will premiere in schools in September.

The nonfiction literacy campaign will have an interactive focus, with a Web presence on the nationalgeographic.com/education site. Teachers can download lesson notes, and there are plans for an online children’s book club where students can do research, write reviews and chat with other club members.

Educators and school officials can order the reading program materials through the National Geographic toll-free number (800) 368-2728.

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