Here's a little something that I've learned over the course of time. Whenever we start a new trade book, I make up bound workbooks ahead of time. My pages come from the Portals series by Perfection Learning and Literature Units by Teacher Created Resources. This is a lot of up front busy work and preparation, but here's the advantages:
1. I get a chance to review the entire unit and see where I can integrate other subjects
2. I don't have to hand out and collect a bazillion papers.
3. Parents can use it at home with their child.
I am fortunate to have a parent volunteer that does my copying and a Teacher Assistant that binds the books for me so I know this is easier said than done, but let me tell you, I did my first 5th grade trade book this year (Number the Stars-Lois Lowery) without a workbook and I just about went nuts with all the paper. Then I did the second trade book (Bridge to Terabithia-Katherine Paterson) with a workbook and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
The one thing I forgot to do was cross out the old page numbers and page number the new workbook! Oops, it was a mess!
Now I am working with Walk Two Moons (Sharon Creech) and the pages are numbered it's slicker than ever!
1. I get a chance to review the entire unit and see where I can integrate other subjects
2. I don't have to hand out and collect a bazillion papers.
3. Parents can use it at home with their child.
I am fortunate to have a parent volunteer that does my copying and a Teacher Assistant that binds the books for me so I know this is easier said than done, but let me tell you, I did my first 5th grade trade book this year (Number the Stars-Lois Lowery) without a workbook and I just about went nuts with all the paper. Then I did the second trade book (Bridge to Terabithia-Katherine Paterson) with a workbook and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
The one thing I forgot to do was cross out the old page numbers and page number the new workbook! Oops, it was a mess!
Now I am working with Walk Two Moons (Sharon Creech) and the pages are numbered it's slicker than ever!
1 comment:
We also use the Portals series and other sources and create booklets like yours. They are a great time-saver. It is a lot of "up front" work, but once created can be used with modifications for years! I like the Portals series because it is a way to integrate phonics, language arts, vocabulary skills, as well as comprehension into a trade book study.
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