Notice and Note Nonfiction

Questioning Stance Poster 1
Questioning Stance Poster 2
Questioning Stance Poster 3

When reading nonfiction, students should keep these questions in mind. This helps to keep them engaged in reading and enhance their understanding.

  • What surprised me?

  • What did the author think that I already knew?

  • What challenged, changed, or confirmed my thinking?


In addition to thinking about these questions, students may also look for the signposts below.

Copy of Nonfiction Signposts to Hang

Click and Open the slideshow above in order to see all of the signposts.


There are signposts to help students while reading nonfiction as well. These signposts may help the reader to find the main idea, draw conclusions, or determine the author's point of view. Just as in fiction, students should stop when they see a signpost and ask themselves one of the following:

  • the listed anchor question for the signpost

  • Why is this important?

  • Why did the author do this?



Copy of Nonfiction bookmark

This is a copy of our bookmark for nonfiction.