The 411 On Textmapping

If you haven’t already heard about it from your third grader, here’s the full rundown on our most recently employed teaching tool!

Textmapping is a hands-on technique used to examine various text features commonly found within given written works. Embedded features which may include any or all of the following: table of contents, glossary, index, headings, subheadings, captions, figures, graphs, tables, diagrams, maps, and timelines.

 Last week, as part of our nonfictional genre studies, students not only had the opportunity to learn what textmapping actually was, but also how to use it as an ongoing part of their own literary explorations. Once the concept itself had been discussed together as a group, each third grader was provided with a scroll of actual text—in our case, copied pages of a chosen book that had been previously taped together into one long strip of continuous written material from which they could work. Students were then encouraged to individually embark upon a spirited “treasure hunt” with color-coded instructions, locating and accurately identifying the various text features noted above.

Needless to say, with five different highlighters used in the marking process as well as the numerous different symbols designated for the individual identification process involved with each specific type of text feature, the students’ scrolls ultimately turned out to be truly outstanding works of art en route to acquiring an extremely valuable future resource and tool!

Students will continue to practice their textmapping skills over the next couple of weeks, honing and perfecting their individual skills.