| Looking for a way to encourage your students' | | | | be interested, from reading the book. Most schools |
| interest in a topic? Trade books can provide the | | | | grant credit to students who read books beyond |
| needed spark. Trade books, which are primarily | | | | assigned reading as a method of encouraging reading |
| designed to entertain and inform outside the | | | | practice. The Accelerated Reader Program is used by |
| classroom, can be used successfully in the classroom | | | | over 73,000 schools nationwide. The database for |
| to heighten motivation in your students. Trade books | | | | this service includes more than 120,000 books, but is |
| cover just about every topic under the sun, so you | | | | limited when you consider that according to Publishers |
| can probably find a book that will align with your | | | | Weekly around 30,000 new children's books are |
| curriculum objectives in such a way as to help your | | | | published each year. You may wish to allow a wider |
| students see the applicability of the topic. Students | | | | choice in books than those currently in the |
| may show a keener interest in the lively way a trade | | | | Accelerated Reader Program database. Have |
| book presents material over the stilted writings in a | | | | students write a few paragraphs summarizing the |
| textbook. While textbooks cover a topic in a | | | | story to prove they have read the book. A child may |
| prescribed way, a trade book may introduce or | | | | be really interested in cars and willing to spend time |
| expand upon a topic by including it in a fictional | | | | reading about vintage models or auto repair but not |
| setting, or alternatively, a non-fiction account from | | | | be particularly interested in Tom Sawyer. |
| real life. | | | | Search for resources. Search the internet for |
| Classroom activities can be built around the book's | | | | teaching resources designed for the book you have |
| topic, so in addition to the reading practice and | | | | selected. Some publishers provide lesson plans, |
| vocabulary development, all types of offshoot | | | | worksheets, discussion questions, and other teaching |
| activities can be developed. Depending on the book, | | | | material to complement their books. Visit the |
| there may be several ways to explore the concepts | | | | publisher's website or the author's website to see |
| presented in the story or account. Possibilities for | | | | what might be offered. You can also do this in |
| math, science, social studies, geography, history, | | | | reverse to find a book to use. Search the internet |
| economics, and more may exist using the book as a | | | | using keywords like "teaching materials", "teaching |
| jumping off point. Here are some ideas on how to | | | | aids", "lesson plans", "lesson plan", "teaching ideas", |
| use a trade book in the classroom. | | | | "teaching resources", or "teaching activities". You can |
| Interest is fundamental. Since the primary reason for | | | | also search for particular lesson plan topics and you |
| introducing a trade book into the classroom is to | | | | may find a publisher who has developed material for |
| create interest in a topic, look for books which tell a | | | | a related book. |
| story which is engaging. Humor helps since many | | | | Read, discuss, then act. Start the new lesson by |
| children enjoy humor and they may read with more | | | | having students read the book you have selected. |
| attention if it is presented in a funny way. The book | | | | This can be done as homework or an in-class activity |
| can still present serious topics and ideas. Another tip | | | | depending on your objectives and available time. |
| is to select books which address the interests of | | | | Then begin a discussion of the book bringing out the |
| your students' age group. Elementary students tend | | | | aspect related to your teaching objective. Follow the |
| to like stories about animals, children their own age, | | | | discussion by actively using the material related to |
| and fairy tales. Middle school students are often like | | | | your teaching objective. For instance, if your |
| adventures, science fiction, and mysteries. High school | | | | objective is for students to understand a historical |
| students enjoy books written for grown-ups - | | | | event, have your students:a. construct time lines,b. |
| biographies, general fiction, adventures, mysteries, | | | | create dioramas,c. assemble costumes,d. reenact the |
| historical novels, and science fiction. | | | | event,e. participate in a mock game show where the |
| Check for special features. Books with special | | | | students are divided into teams and answer |
| features add more educational value. For instance, | | | | questions related to the event,f. create poster board |
| books with glossaries can aid vocabulary | | | | displays,g. draw pictures depicting the event,h. or |
| development. Books with research notes, | | | | write their own story incorporating the historical |
| bibliographies listing more potential material for | | | | event. |
| exploration, and website listings related to the topic | | | | Any or all of these activities will make the lesson |
| can assist you in developing teaching materials or | | | | more interesting to your students. |
| assist students in writing reports. Recipes can make | | | | You might also consider inviting the author to your |
| for fun learning experiences. Maps provide visual | | | | classroom or the author may offer an e-mail |
| orientation for written descriptions. Drawings and | | | | exchange service where your students can interact |
| photographs can provide precise information on the | | | | with the author directly to ask questions about the |
| physical aspects of an object. All of these features | | | | book. The author's enthusiasm for the topic is often |
| can be used to enhance your students' understanding | | | | infectious and students can connect to the material |
| of the teaching objective. | | | | through the author. |
| Reinforce literacy skills. Almost any trade book can | | | | Engage your students' imagination and curiosity. Use |
| be used to support literacy skill development and | | | | trade books to bring fresh excitement to your |
| reinforcement. Besides providing reading practice, | | | | classroom. You can develop teaching materials to fit |
| trade books can be used to support vocabulary | | | | your teaching objectives or you may be able to find |
| development, story telling skills, writing skills, and | | | | teaching resources ready for use on the internet. In |
| even editing skills. Some publishers provide reading | | | | either case, you can enliven a potentially dull topic and |
| grade-level score information for their books. Many | | | | captivate your class by taking advantage of a trade |
| do not, as there is the perception that doing so | | | | book. |
| many prevent some readers who would otherwise | | | | |