The “Notice and Note” signposts for nonfiction, developed by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst, are a set of strategies designed to help students engage more deeply with the texts that they read. These signposts highlight key elements and moments in a text that can trigger deeper thinking and comprehension. By identifying and discussing these signposts, students can better understand the author’s message, purpose, and the structure of the text. The approach encourages active reading, critical thinking, and a more nuanced appreciation of literature.

A friend of mine introduced me to the signposts for non-fiction when I was worrying about having to start an informational text unit with my students. She and I were at our annual Winter Break Coffee Date. I knew I would have to start the unit when I got back from break but the data from our most recent diagnostic was so bad. Overall reading levels weren’t terrible, in the grand scheme of things. My 8th graders were generally reading around a 6th grade level. But the scary part of that was that 60% of them were scoring 4th grade or below when it came to reading informational texts.

She told me stories about her special education high school students, with reading levels in the elementary range, reading these super tough texts and being able to grasp the author’s message. She loaned me this book and I was sold.

I did a speed read and immediately started implementing the signposts when we came back to school in January. The first thing we looked at was how to read with a questioning stance. This is not a new concept but I really appreciated how Beers and Probst approached it with student friendly language and very simple and specific questions.
The questions that I taught my students to ask as they read are:
What surprised me?
This encourages students to note unexpected information or ideas and reflect on why these elements stand out.
What did the author think I already knew?
This helps students identify assumptions or background knowledge the author expects them to have, which is absolutely necessary to help them understand the text.
What challenged, changed, or confirmed what I already knew?
This prompts students to consider how the information in the text aligns with or contradicts their prior knowledge and beliefs.

From there, we looked at the signposts. We focused on these four:

1. Contrasts and Contradictions: Noticing when the author presents contrasting information or ideas, which can reveal differing perspectives or highlight complexities in the topic.
2. Extreme or Absolute Language: Paying attention to words or phrases that are extreme or overly certain, which may indicate strong opinions, bias, or significant points.
3. Numbers and Stats: Observing the use of data, statistics, or specific numbers, which can lend credibility to arguments or emphasize key points.
4. Quoted Words: Identifying quotations from experts, witnesses, or other sources, which can provide authority or diverse viewpoints.

First, we took notes on the signposts. I gave them all four at once and had them fill in the blanks using a slideshow and worksheet. Front-loading all of the information at once seems like a lot. I know that many teachers choose to teach and model one signpost at a time. I felt like I was on a time crunch so I went for it and it wasn’t a problem for my students.

After taking our initial notes, we watched a quick fifteen minute documentary excerpt from 60 minutes to identify the signposts within it. Then, I asked my students to work in groups to identify the signposts in commercials. It was so fun!

Finally, we started analyzing articles. The first article that we read together as a class, after learning the signposts, was HARD! It was about how schools should start later because the teenage brain needs more sleep. They were invested but it was tough so I modeled my own reading using the signposts. By the third article, they were able delineate the author’s argument simply by identifying the signposts.

This was my first encounter with the signposts and, you know what, my students knocked that unit out of the park! The level of awesomeness that they produced inspired me to continue using the signposts and learning even more about them.

Take a look at what else we do with non-fiction and the fiction signposts as well.

The signposts offer a valuable framework for engaging with complex texts. The strategies not only help readers identify key elements and deepen their understanding but also help to build critical thinking and active engagement with the material.

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