Why Picture Books?
Picture books deserve a place in the upper elementary and middle school grades for a number of reasons. Through this site, I hope to make you a true believer!
For those wondering, "Are picture books for me?" I've provided thirteen reasons why you should be using picture books almost daily. In fact, you'll discover that the same picture book can be revisited many times for many purposes.
If you are an upper primary or middle school teacher seeking research to support the use of picture books belong in your classroom, I would encourage you to read "A Middle School Teacher's Guide for Selecting Picture Books" from the Middle School Journal (Google it!). The research sources cited support many of my personal findings from classroom experience. A second resource titled "Children's Literature in the Middle and Secondary Classroom" can provide additional citations for your reference.
I highly recommend that you visit (and bookmark) my new Teach with Picture Books blog. That site provides a regular dose of picture books complete with a summary, guiding questions, related themes, and cross-curricular extensions. I welcome your recommendations for books to feature! You'll also find frequent picture book giveaways, so if you're trying to build your library, it's a great place to bookmark!
If you're a middle grades teacher (3-8) interested in teaching novels, be sure to visit my How to Teach a Novel blog for insights, resources, and hot new links.
In no particular order, here are thirteen reasons why upper grade teachers should be incorporating picture books into their daily curriculum. I invite you to email me your ideas! If you're always on the lookout for great resources and sites, be sure to follow me on Twitter .
Table of Contents
- 1. Picture Books are Non-Threatening
- 2. Picture Books are Focused
- 3. Picture Books Set a Purpose for Learning
- 4. Picture Books Provide a Common Knowledge Background
- 5. Picture Books Activate Visual Thinking
- 6. Picture Books Build Reading Comprehension
- 7. Picture Books Provide Exemplars of Figurative Language
- 8. Picture Book Serve as Writing Models
- 9. Picture Books Can Breathe Life Into Dry Facts and Figures
- 10. Picture Books Can Teach to Literary Targets
- 11. Picture Books Make Abstract Concepts Concrete
- 12. Picture Books Develop Themes for Learning
- 13. Picture Books are Fun!
- Where Can I Find Picture Books?
- More Great Picture Books on Amazon
- Help From Your Online Colleagues
- Some Other Terrific Resources
- How have you used picture books?
- About the Author
- Essential Resources for Teaching Writing
1. Picture Books are Non-Threatening
And actually, a little comforting!
For some reluctant readers, the thought of slogging through a 200-page chapter book (with absolutely no pictures!) is daunting. Shorter, simpler picture books offer a pleasurable reading experience in more easily digestible portions. For that reason, content-rich picture books should be offered at all grade levels.A student seeking background on the Sioux tribe, for example, could attempt to wade through a difficult nonfiction text, encyclopedia entry, or web site intended for more mature readers. Or, this same student could access similar information through three or four picture books whose illustrations would aid in deciphering and extending difficult terms and concepts. (For example, click here for a lesson plan that uses We Are the Ship and other baseball-related books).
The very fact that nonfiction picture books are written on multiple levels makes them the perfect tool for differentiating reading levels. Each student in the class will be able to access to new information at his/her individual level of readiness. A topic such as Colonial Life could be explored in as little or as great detail as any student wished, based upon the diverse selection of picture books the teacher provides.
2. Picture Books are Focused
And so is good teaching!
Some novice readers are put off by multiple plots, or lose the focus of a book if it is overly long. By its very design, however, a picture book must cut to the chase immediately. Picture books can also help you, as the teacher, to spotlight a particular reading or thinking skill. While that same skill could be practiced in a novel, the shorter picture book provides a more controlled arena for examination and discussion.One awesome site which will help you search for picture books by a number of descriptors is the Database of Award Winning Children's Literature . This database allows you to focus a search for both picture and chapter books as narrowly or as broadly as you choose by selecting such variables as genre, historical period, grade level, and genre of protagonist.
3. Picture Books Set a Purpose for Learning
or, What's the Point?
From our Madeline Hunter days, we all know that our first step in the teaching process is to activate prior knowledge. Picture books allow you to activate not only prior knowledge but also attitudes, beliefs, and misconceptions. Picture books then create a bridge between the student's schema (internal organization of concepts) and the newly introduced learning.Picture a Social Studies classroom. As students settle down, the teacher begins to read aloud the picture book The Honest-to-Goodness Truth
by Patricia McKissack.After reading, the teacher says, "I thought we all agreed yesterday in our discussion about elections that honesty is the best policy? This book seems to say almost the exact opposite! So who's right? Is there actually a time or a situation where deceit is not only allowed, but necessary?" And this discussion, in turn, leads to a lesson on leaders who knowingly misled their people for what they thought were the right reasons, under the given circumstances. (Click here for a lesson plan that uses The Honest to Goodness Truth).
Teaching Resources
The Power of Picture Books in Teaching Math and Science
Full of practical how-tos, this book will help convince the "higher-ups" that picture books are a worthwhile part of the math and science disciplines.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/12/2009) 
Teaching With Picture Books in the Middle School
Nitty gritty details on how to use picture books not as an ad-on, but as an integral curriculum piece.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/12/2009)
Teaching Literary Elements With Picture Books: Engaging, Standards-Based Lessons and Strategies
Great specific examples using easily located picture books.
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 12/12/2009)
Teaching About Nonfiction With Picture Books: Engaging Lessons, Activities, and Reproducibles that Introduce Key Nonfiction Features and Build Comprehension
With a focus on nonfiction, for those who want more picture books in the content areas.
Amazon Price: $8.56 (as of 12/12/2009)
Craft Lessons 2nd Edition
Straightforward strategies bring the confusing world of teaching student writing into order. One of my all-time favorites, frequently stolen by my colleagues.
Amazon Price: $17.00 (as of 12/12/2009)
4. Picture Books Provide a Common Knowledge Background
How to create a common culture...instantly.
Teaching a historical fiction novel is doubly difficult if students have no existing schema of the time period in which the novel is set. Teaching a scientific principle is exponentially difficult if students fail to understand the foundational knowledge and theories upon which a newly introduced principle is based. Picture books help to create a shared schema for the classroom community.Before reading a novel set in the Depression, for example, the teacher might provide several picture books which deal with that topic. One might be illustrated with photographs and eyewitness reports, one with captioned period murals sponsored by the WPA, and one with illustrations and a narrative (such as Rent Party Jazz
) by a contemporary author/artist. Thus armed with texts of differing artistic styles, students would attempt to answer the same set of guiding questions. Differences in answers would, of course, result through the divergent source materials.Another teacher wishing to introduce a fairy tale genre study might share a picture book which exemplifies six traits of that genre. Upon completion of the reading, the teacher asks her students to list the traits they noticed. How best to confirm or disqualify these traits? Have the students, in small groups, read additional fairy tales.
A third teacher attempting to explain the concept of theme will find that easier to do when two picture books with vastly differing plots, settings, and genres (but the same underlying theme) are shared aloud. Picture books provide an instant and complete shared experience which can then be referenced by all students with equal understanding.
5. Picture Books Activate Visual Thinking
...worth a thousand words.
Since illustrations are so often tied into the meaning of a picture book, students are required to shift their comprehension from text to picture. The cleverest picture books will often provide illustrations that alter the meaning of the literal text.The illustrations can also provide vast contextual data about a specific time or place in history through setting, dress, and artistic style. The story The Empty Pot
, for example, owes much of its relevance and charm to the accompanying rich illustrations of ancient China. (Click here for a lesson plan that uses The Empty Pot).Many wordless picture books are available, which encourage reluctant writers to "tell the story" that the pictures present. An excellent open-ended activity to promote critical thinking skills!
Like This Site? Check out "How to Teach a Novel"
Teaching By the Book
How can a teacher best approach the teaching of a novel? How to Teach a Novel here at Squidoo breaks it down step by step, from the abstract notion of "What's worth teaching in this novel?" to the concrete concerns of "How will students be held accountable for their understanding of this book? In what ways will I assess progress? How will students demonstrate their understandings of story theme, character development, plot, vocabulary, and other story elements?" This lens will provide sample materials, Internet resources, and ideas which have proven successful in many classrooms.But what's up with title? Isn't "How to Teach a Novel" an incredibly presumptive claim? Absolutely! Is the method described here the only way to properly teach a novel? Absolutely not! But what I found is that "How to Teach a Novel" is what people were searching when they wanted to find the types of resources I was offering. So excuse the smug, elitist tone of my title!
If you're truly seeking some diverse ideas and applications for teaching with novels, you may also want to check out my Teaching that Sticks blog, my Teach with Picture Books blog. Both offer ideas and insights which are applicable to the teaching of novels. And of course, if you're a middle grades teacher (3-8) interested in teaching novels, be sure to visit my How to Teach a Novel blog for insights, resources, and hot new links.
6. Picture Books Build Reading Comprehension
Painlessly!
Since fiction picture books so successfully employ story elements (plot, character, setting, conflict), a steady diet of picture books will increase a child's reading comprehension, no matter what their present stage.Nonfiction picture books, such as They Called Her Molly Pitcher
, tie complex ideas and vocabulary to illustrations. Defining unknown words through context clues becomes much easier when a picture provides the reader with clues. And consider this: are the reading passages on standardized tests in chapter form, or are they shorter passages? (From an insider: many selections on standardized tests are actually picture books with the illustrations removed). Want a lesson plan for They Called Her Molly Pitcher? Click here.One excellent site on Picture Books and Reading Comprehension is the Teacher Book Wizard . At this site, Scholastic provides a valuable tool called BookALike. This allows you to enter a book title, find the exact grade-equivalent level of that book, and then browse books of similar reading difficulty. What's even more useful is that you can use a "slider" to choose books of slightly greater or lesser difficulty.
Great Picture Book Stuff on Amazon
Teammates (A Voyager/Hbj Book)
A fantastic book which provides background on the Negro Leagues and segregated baseball, while making a point about standing together in the face of adversity.
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 12/12/2009)
Fanny's Dream (Picture Puffins)
A fab twist on all those Cinderella books. The pictures are as fun as the story itself.
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/12/2009)
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup (Joanna Cotler Books)
Fine example of parallel tales, and an excellent addition to a themes on relationships, generations, or personal stories.
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 12/12/2009)
The Empty Pot
This book, like no other, teaches students what true integrity means.
Amazon Price: $16.31 (as of 12/12/2009)
7. Picture Books Provide Exemplars of Figurative Language
In fact, millions of examplars! (and that's not hyperbole)
Picture books are full of alliteration (Chicken Little
by Steven Kellog), flashback (The House on Maple Street
by Bonnie Pryor), metaphor (The Stranger
by Chris Van Allsburg, foreshadowing (Encounter
by Jane Yolen), irony (The Frog Prince, Continued (Picture Puffin)
by Jon Scieszka), personification (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig), satire (The Happy Hocky Family (Viking Kestrel Picture Books)
by Lane Smith), and symbolism (Tar Beach
by Faith Ringold).(Need a ready reference of Literary Devices for your students or yourself? Email me and I'll send you a great Literary Device Glossary in Word format).
8. Picture Book Serve as Writing Models
When we ask our students to "write a story," we rarely mean a story with chapters. Why, then, should we have students read only those types of books? Picture books provide succinct models for student writing. Nonfiction picture books also exemplify brevity versus exposition in presenting the facts that the reader needs.Picture books waste little time and space, and even fewer words. Individual sentences and paragraphs can be pulled from context in order to examine the author's craft, without losing an overall sense of the text's content. Fanny's Dream
, for example, contains beautifully crafted, concise prose which can be examined line by line for students to discuss and imitate.Ranging from the simple to complex, writing skills which can be examined through picture books include:
* writing cohesive sentences (using correct punctuation, capitalization, and mechanics);
* combining shorter sentences in order to eliminate redundancy and increase interest;
* parsing longer sentences in order to increase pattern, suspense, or interest;
* creating sentence variety through varied length and word order;
* using quotation marks to create dialogue;
* writing paragraphs containing a topic sentence, supporting details, and a closing sentence;
* using transition words and phrases;
* writing for a purpose;
* writing for an audience;
* writing according to a given genre;
* responding to literature through a personal response;
* responding to a prompt;
* describing using figurative language;
* creating pieces of work which are focused, organized, and elaborated;
* refining narrative writing skills;
* developing expository writing skills; and
* revising and editing pieces of writing.
What's New at Teach with Picture Books
Keith's Blog for Teachers Who Dig Picture Books
If you're looking for picture book recommendations and teaching suggestions, you're looking for this site! Teach with Picture Books is a frequently updated site featuring picture books summaries, guiding questions, and cross-curricular extension activities. You'll also find reviews of picture book sites which offer additional instructional resources, including student activity sheets, which can be downloaded and used in your classroom tomorrow. Be sure to stop in frequently, since FREE book giveaways are happening every two to three weeks! Book suggestions and guest reviews are always welcome.
See the picture and title below for the latest post.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand by9. Picture Books Can Breathe Life Into Dry Facts and Figures
No longer "Just the facts, Ma'am."
When children know the "story" behind that Math concept, or that date in History, or that random Science principle, they're more likely to retain it. Plus, with a clear objective for learning, students are more likely to attend to the lesson throughout.Mathwire.com , for example, is an awesome alphabetically organized site of Math activities. The link here for One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale
provides a nice sample of how Mathwire incorporates picture books into mathematics. (For a lesson plan using One Grain Of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale, click here).Any nonfiction call number in any library has a corresponding "little brother picture book" in the children's section with the same call number. That's a real easy way to hunt down picture books that go beyond "Curious George" and "Go, Dog, Go" (although those are two of my personal favorites).
10. Picture Books Can Teach to Literary Targets
Bullseye! Every time...
Literacy targets include concepts, skills, strategies, and dispositions. Just as some discrete mathematics practice is required before students can perform advanced problem solving, so some focus on specific literacy targets may be required within an isolated, controlled context before students approach them in the more complex context of the novel.Beware the urge, however, to "pound every nail." Some authors employ so many literary devices, conventions, and motifs (such as Davide Wiesner in The Three Pigs
) that you could find yourself bogged down in the author's craft at the expense of the story itself. Similarly, excessive emphasis upon vocabulary or literal comprehension will strangle the life out of the plot! For this reason, teachers must be clear in their intention for any given picture book they choose to use.Some reading skills and strategies you may wish to target:
* previewing
* predicting
* establishing a purpose for reading
* skimming
* scanning
* sequencing
* reading for details
* establishing and adjusting purposes for reading
* posing personally relevant questions about text before and during the process
* organizing thinking using a graphic organizer
* determining vocabulary meaning using context clues
* determining vocabulary meaning using prefixes and suffixes
* determining vocabulary meaning using Latin and Greek roots
* determining vocabulary meaning using reference sources
* recognizing parts of speech
* identifying sentence types
* drawing conclusions
* comparing and contrasting
* making inferences
* adjusting reading rate according to purpose for reading
* summarizing
* choosing an appropriate organizer for a given reading task
* analyzing the author's voice
* distinguishing between fact and fantasy
* distinguishing between fact and opinion
* determining cause and effect
* determining character motive
* identifying, describing, and applying literary devices
* recognizing structure of different texts as an aid in comprehension
* identifying literary motifs
* identifying the critical attributes of a given genre in the novel being read
* demonstrating oral presentation skills
* demonstrating critical listening and viewing skills
* extending and reflecting upon reading.
Great Picture Books on Amazon
Tar Beach
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/12/2009)
Enemy Pie (Reading Rainbow book)
Amazon Price: $10.87 (as of 12/12/2009)
Ruby the Copycat
Amazon Price: (as of 12/12/2009)
The Rag Coat
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/12/2009)
11. Picture Books Make Abstract Concepts Concrete
Nothing speaks louder than a good example.
A beetle is incredibly strong for its size. But how strong is it really? A book like Ben Hillman's How Strong Is It?
puts that into perspective through its awesome illustrations and fun, informative text. (For some cool teaching ideas using Ben Hillman's books, click here).But as teachers we are not limited to teaching academic content. It is also expected (in one of our many roles) that we teach "fuzzier" character concepts such as cooperation, responsibility, and integrity. Where are those in our textbooks?
Here is where picture books can play a large role. To dignify picture books when they serve in this capacity, I prefer that we call them "Wisdom Books." Wisdom Books are picture books whose themes and narratives illustrate the life skills, character traits, and attitudes which we want our own children to embrace. Universal themes such as patience, empathy, teamwork, cooperation, forgiveness, fairness, and responsibility are often praised, but how often are they modeled for students? Certain picture books capture one or more of these (and other) ideal traits in just sixteen or twenty-four pages, creating a memorable model for children who still think and generalize in very concrete terms.
Keith's Other Great Sites
Something for everyone!
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Interactive Writing Tools
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How often have you heard students say, "I can't think of anything to write"? The fact is, we can assign incredibly specific, prescriptive prompts, but what does that teach students about creativity? This is where Interactive Writing Tool...
-
How to Teach a Novel
-
How can a teacher best approach the teaching of a novel? This lens will break it down step by step, from the abstract notion of “What’s worth teaching in this novel?” to the concrete concerns of “How will students be held...
-
Around the World in 80 Books
-
This site is designed as the online companion piece to "Around the World in 80 Books," presented by Keith Schoch at the 2009 NJEA Teachers' Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Here you'll find dozens of helpful links along...
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Interactive Resources for Reading Comprehension
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We all know that reading comprehension is a valuable, life-long skill, but how does one actually teach it? How can we help reluctant readers develop the self-confidence needed to tackle tough reading passages? What can we do to make the reading proce...
-
Interactive Math Sites
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Some kids love math! They're good at it, and they enjoy a challenge. Other kids hate math! For them it's hard, or worse, boring! This lens was created with both groups in mind! Whether you're a teacher, parent, or tutor, you'll find thes...
12. Picture Books Develop Themes for Learning
Tying it all together...
In order to make learning meaningful, teachers must find a way to help students connect it to their own lives. Universal themes and their accompanying guiding questions are one way of doing this. Regardless of the subject you teach and its innate merits, you must continually ask yourself, "What makes this learning accessible to everyone? Why should my students care about this? What's the bigger picture?"Imagine a teacher who is considering Charlotte's Web
as a class novel. She might say to herself, "For the student who couldn't care less about spiders and pigs, what does this story convey about experiences which we all share in common?" That's getting to the theme, or the universality, of the learning. Is the book Teammates
about baseball (a simple topic), or is it about friendship, determination, adversity, and equality? (See Going Extra Innings with Picture Books for some ideas about using this picture book as well as other baseball-related books).Another consideration is how far a theme will extend into other curriculum areas. This is where universal themes (Balance, Change, Patterns) prove to be somewhat more authentic than " tall="tall" themes="themes" more="more" naturally="naturally" tie="tie" disciplines="disciplines">
13. Picture Books are Fun!
Can't We Just Enjoy Books for What They Are?
Along with all that stuff above, which is absolutely, educationally sound, we should always remember the most important reason for choosing to use picture books: they are fun! Fun to read, fun to share!Grab a book such as Daniel Kirk's Dogs Rule!
and I dare you to share it with a class of second graders and not have a blast! Then share it with fifth graders and stand back as great debates erupt about "Which dog is best?" or "Which is better: cats or dogs?" (For more info and lesson plans on Daniel Kirk's awesome picture books, click here).If you, or your students, forget Reason #13 at the expense of all the others, then I haven't done my job.
So grab some good picture books, open them up in your classroom tomorrow, and let's give our kids the "good stuff."
Where Can I Find Picture Books?
Do you envision yourself sitting cross-legged on the floor of the public library, amidst a horde of unsupervised, runny-nosed preschoolers, trying to pore over hundreds of picture books in order to find those that are "just right" for you? There is a better way.
The picture book section of the children's department is a logical place to begin. Spending an hour just to browse will help you to appreciate the diversity of topics and styles. Depending upon your needs, however, the stacks may yield better results. This is especially true if you are seeking picture books to support nonfiction topics.
There are several Internet sites which offer themed lists (several are listed below). Then, from the comfort of your own home, you can investigate the titles online. But you may also want to speak with your reference desk librarian about the Advanced Search options of your library's electronic catalogue. If your library site is anything like mine, you'll find it simple to narrow searches to picture books. You'll also discover that there are many more books available through your library's county and state system than you could ever hope to find at your local branch.
I've also discovered that if I locate one book which is on topic, I can enter that title in my library's site and be given a number of related titles, or related search terms. Often I don't know the proper search phrase I'm seeking until I stumble upon it in this way.
In the case of nonfiction titles, keep in mind that the Dewey Decimal System works the same way in the children's department as in the adult stacks. So if you find a Geometry reference in the adult nonfiction stacks at 516, then you can bet that there are just as many picture books about Geometry at 516 in the children's department (my library had fifty-six titles under Juvenile Geometry).
At the Children's Picture Book Database
you can search by topic or theme for specific books or lesson plans.
Picturing Books: A Website About Picture Books
has just come back online, and is much improved.
Book Info Search via the Doucette Index
allows you to type in a book by title or author to bring up related websites and activities.
The picture book section of the children's department is a logical place to begin. Spending an hour just to browse will help you to appreciate the diversity of topics and styles. Depending upon your needs, however, the stacks may yield better results. This is especially true if you are seeking picture books to support nonfiction topics.
There are several Internet sites which offer themed lists (several are listed below). Then, from the comfort of your own home, you can investigate the titles online. But you may also want to speak with your reference desk librarian about the Advanced Search options of your library's electronic catalogue. If your library site is anything like mine, you'll find it simple to narrow searches to picture books. You'll also discover that there are many more books available through your library's county and state system than you could ever hope to find at your local branch.
I've also discovered that if I locate one book which is on topic, I can enter that title in my library's site and be given a number of related titles, or related search terms. Often I don't know the proper search phrase I'm seeking until I stumble upon it in this way.
In the case of nonfiction titles, keep in mind that the Dewey Decimal System works the same way in the children's department as in the adult stacks. So if you find a Geometry reference in the adult nonfiction stacks at 516, then you can bet that there are just as many picture books about Geometry at 516 in the children's department (my library had fifty-six titles under Juvenile Geometry).
At the Children's Picture Book Database
you can search by topic or theme for specific books or lesson plans.
Picturing Books: A Website About Picture Books
has just come back online, and is much improved.
Book Info Search via the Doucette Index
allows you to type in a book by title or author to bring up related websites and activities.
More Great Picture Books on Amazon
The Empty Pot
Amazon Price: $16.31 (as of 12/12/2009)
Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever
Amazon Price: $8.64 (as of 12/12/2009)
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (Public Television Storytime Books)
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/12/2009)
The Honest-to-Goodness Truth
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/12/2009)
Help From Your Online Colleagues
One terrific resource I've found for book titles and related lesson plans is Proteacher.net, an online forum of teachers who share resources, ideas, and lots of gripes. The site is categorized into grade-level forums (Grade 4), subject-area forums (Math), interest forums (Tech), and a forum for teaching with picture books. Once you've registered (for free) you can read past posts, search the archives, or send out a post asking for teaching suggestions about a certain book.
Some Other Terrific Resources
If you're seeking a good general list of picture books sorted by topics and themes, check out the 39 page pdf document titled PICTURE THIS! Using Picture Books To Introduce or Teach Skills.Or check out this shorter pdf list from The Reading Lady aimed at intermediate grades.
Another great list, nicely categorized, comes from Linda Hoyt, who publishes many materials with Heinemann publishing. Check out her additional samples and her resources for purchase.
Simple Plot Structures is a terrific resource from Shutta Crum that graphically illustrates basic story structures. Related to this is her Story Skeletons article, with lots of picture book examples. Be sure to check out her site!
You can also check out my Teaching that Sticks blog, my Teach with Picture Books blog, and my How to Teach a Novel blog for frequently updated resources, insights, and relevant links.
How have you used picture books?
submit
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Reply
- kschoch kschoch Oct 31, 2009 @ 10:19 am
- Thanks for the blessing! Working hard to provide some lenses of real value![in reply to stargazer00]
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Reply
- stargazer00 stargazer00 Oct 25, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
- Enjoyed this lens on picture books. Blessed!
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Reply
- RuntFarmSeries RuntFarmSeries Oct 19, 2009 @ 9:48 pm
- Great lens! This is a wonderful collection of books to check out. I'd love for you to drop by my children's books lens and say hello.
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Reply
- PirateMummy PirateMummy Jul 9, 2009 @ 5:32 am
- This is an excellent lens! Well done :)
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Reply
- WhitePineLane WhitePineLane Jun 29, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
- This is a wonderful lens! Picture books can be appropriate for any age - it's nice to see it so positively laid out here! Thank you for this!
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About the Author
Some shameless self-promotion...
Keith Schoch is a 6th grade Reading and Language Arts teacher in Bedminster, New Jersey. During his 20+ years in teaching he earned a Masters in Instruction and Curriculum, served on the New Jersey Department of Education ESPA Mathematics Item Review Committee, piloted tests for Educational Testing Service, assessed candidates for The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and was named a Governor's Teacher of the Year.In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Keith specializes in professional development for organizations such as the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the New Jersey Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (NJASCD), the New York State Reading Association (NYSRA), The New England League of Middle Schools (NELMS), and the American Camping Association (ACA). He also shares his expertise with colleagues through three highly acclaimed blogs: Teaching that Sticks, Teach with Picture Books, and How to Teach a Novel.
During the summer, Keith serves on the leadership staff of LakeView Day Camp in East Brunswick, NJ.
Disclosure Statement:
In creating this site I did not receive products, services, or compensation of any kind from any publisher, PR agency, or web site. I have included only those resources which I feel will assist teachers, tutors, and parents in meeting instructional objectives. I absolutely welcome suggestions for additional books and sites from readers and publishers alike, but will not accept incentives to promote either.
My site is linked through an affiliate account to Amazon books. When blog readers originate a purchase via one of my links, I receive a small commission of the sale (at no additional cost to the purchaser). This financial support allows me to cover costs associated with maintaining this site.
I appreciate your support!
Essential Resources for Teaching Writing
In addition to picture books, some expert advice will fast track you to becoming a confident, effective writing teacher. The following books are the latest from proven authors in the field.
The CAFE Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literary Assessment and Instruction
Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 12/12/2009)
Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer's Notebook
Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 12/12/2009)
Nonfiction Mentor Texts: Teaching Informational Writing Through Children's Literature, K-8
Amazon Price: $21.60 (as of 12/12/2009)
Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K-6
Amazon Price: $19.13 (as of 12/12/2009)
Using Picture Books To Teach Writing With The Traits
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/12/2009)
by kschoch
Keith Schoch is a New Jersey teacher and consultant active in the fields of education and summer camping. He can be contacted at KLSchoch@aol.com.
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