Thanks to all of you for the suggetions about using picture books in
secondary schools.
I thought I'd pass along the suggestions I received. Some of you are very
creative, and I can adapt some of these ideas for my elementary school.
Wendy Paige
Media Specialist
Indianapolis, Indiana
I just moved up from elem to middle school and my new building has a
similar sized picturebook collection.
Our district uses the 6-trait writing
(http://www.nwrel.org/assessment/department.asp?d=1) paradigm. There are
lists showing picturebooks that are exemplary examples of one or more of
those traits (Picture Books: An Annotated Bibliography for Teaching
Writing (5th Edition, from same resource). Very good to use to focus a
lesson on since reading aloud is pretty quick and many of the kids are
previously familiar with them. I think the art teacher also utilizes
that collection since there is such a variety of medium and styles.
One of my 'little' cataloging jobs for next year is to add trait info to
those book records. And do some bibs, of course.
One of our HS also has a similar collection. Theirs is used in a
younger-older program with a kindergarten class on campus as well as for
some writing and art classes. We may do something this year with the
elem school next to us.
There may also be a bit of the 'comfort-food' aspect also. New school
environment for those 6th graders, 8's getting launched off to HS.
Yes, I have a large selection of picture books. We have a large population
of ELL (English Language Learner) students, which is the main reason we
have them. I also use them to read to classes (yes, even at this age), and
every year I purchase four copies each of the California Young Reader Medal
nominees (our state award). There are two awards for Picture Books--one is
for "regular" picture books, but the other is Picture Books for Older
Readers. This recognizes that some picture books contain material that is
not appropriate for younger children or is over their heads.
They can be used for illustrating literary concepts, e.g. similies and
metaphors, alitration, character, plot etc. My school has a special educ
population, for which these are useful. Picture books generally have a
higher reading level than beginning readers, yet are short enough that these
students can remember the plot sequence. I struggle to find AR Reading
levels in the 2.x's that I can use in middle school. Some picture books are
just plain fun and can be shared with all ages. Not in our school, but some
might use the art in the Caldecott's in a unit.
For examples of 6 trait writing.
We use them in my middle school for a couple of different things. They
are useful to illustrate different literary devices and the teachers use
them quite extensively with the different themes they use to teach with
(racism, family, bravery, courage, differences among people, etc.)
We use picture books as extension materials in almost all the subject areas
in my middle school:
--Foreign language classes *translate* their favorite picture books.
--Language Arts classes do an extensive 'medium is the message' unti.
--Art classes examine different forms of visual literacy through
illustrator studies.
--social studies classes use folklore, myth, and cross-cultural connections,
etc., etc.
We use them in many ways, as illus. material in an integrated arts focus, as
a result of my work with an art teacher. In using them in this way we
compiled a database of them by call#, title, author, illus. and art media
used, so when the teacher wants pastels, watercolors, wax resistent, etc.,
or even the style of an illustrator we know what to pull. By the way the
collection had never been added with this in mind, it was just one of the
ways I was able to extend its use.
When I realized the art teacher also was doing a unit on perspective this
past year I was able to add a few picture book titles that can quickly and
uniquely address different approaches to this topic.
Picture books are also used as reading models before our sixth grades
embark on an extended project to write and illustrate their own original
picture books which they then share in an end of the year activity with next
years incoming fifth graders.
Of course many of them have been purchased because they add support and
extend the focus of our content driven units.
We also have our speech teachers use them to try to develop fluency in
reading aloud by their students, and for this reason I am going to look for
titles even more simple and with fewer words to accommodate their success.
Our parapro teaching assistants heavily use them as the focus of alternative
approaches to classroom content and research with research and/or
differentiated instruction directed by the classroom teacher. We have both
fiction and nonfiction titles in our collection.
As we all know picture books often appeal to a more mature level than their
format suggests, and many I feel are perfect for our level and above. I
come from a strong K-8 library experience over the course of my career and I
am sure it is one of the reasons I naturally try to include them when
appropriate.
Although my present school shelves them in a special location together for
the convience of teachers, I loved the way my old district shelved the
fiction picture books right in with the fiction chapter books and novels at
the elementary and middle school levels.
Picture books can be used in High and Middle to introduce a topic.
Fairy tales can be used to compare contrast different versions, such
Egyptian Cinderella with Chinese Cinderella, etc..or by different
authors or the opposite point of view such as Three little Pigs and the
True Story by Wolf
There are all kind of ways to use them. There's even a list of picture
books for high and middle schools. I can't put my hands on it right
now.
I have picture books at the high school. We use them with our ESOL
students, foreign language translates them, art uses them for ideas, as do
the creative writing classes. I've had English teachers use them to point
out a specific theme, style, or device. We often take projects to the
elementary schools and we use some of our pictures books there. I've had
English teachers have their students compare and contrast two picture
books, using it as a review for the semester of all the terms that they
addresses. There are also some wonderful books to use in history and
science. BTW, we refer to them as Everybody books.
maybe you could have the kids write a
review of the book in terms of its appeal for younger children. Another
idea is to have them write a different ending to the story.
I had some of the more sophisticated picture books (there was even a list of
picture books for older kids in Booklist once) such as Van Albert, Macualy,
etc. However I did not shelve them in separate areas, they were cataloged
as fiction and were shelved with the other fiction books. I can't say that
they were heavily used unless I promoted them with the middle school kids.
Our school doesn't. have a lot of picture books, but I do know that we have
a lot of 6th and 7th graders that are still reading at 3-4th grade reading
level. Sometimes it is hard to find chapter books that are high interest and
low reading level, so I am planning to purchase a few picture books to
address the needs of those students. Award winning books could be used to
introduce students, in short lessons, to good literature and then guide them
towards award winning chapter books.
I'm in a PS-8 school, so I have picture books. I do a
unit with the 6 and 7 grade Language Arts on picture
books. I've also worked with the 7/8 Social Studies
teacher doing unit on Civl War and slavery using
picture books.
The high school library also has had a collection of
picture books for some time: used in art, speech,
literature, and child care classes.
I buy picture books but I concentrate on those which are connected to our
curriculum or which address social issues. Foreign language teachers use
picture books during foreign language week and next year I want to try using
Spanish language versions of popular picture books (Curious George,
etc.)with Spanish classes. Our 7th grade classes use a collection of
immigration theme picture books to do a lesson connected to their study of
immigration. I also have a number of social issue books which can be used as
discussion starters..titles include "Smoky Night" by Bunting or "Pink and
Say." I am always looking for picture books because I think they work as
great introduction pieces to new topics in social studies.
I went to a workshop on picture books for young people. The owner of Blue
Willow Books in Katy, Texas, did an excellent discussion on the mature
themes in many of the books and what a great introduction to many teaching
units the books are. Great read alouds for the young people to begin
thinking about the unit of study. I bought a large number of the books and
did something similar with the intermediate librarians in our district and
the loved it!! I gave the books as door prizes and the were like the kids.
They are just terrific for all ages.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml
See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=
LM_NET
Mailing List Home