The research/report genre is a very underrepresented genre,
in terms of physical books. With
resources fluctuating to digital collections; there is less need for physical
books. Physical books are expensive and
out date very quickly, so using online sources gets you up to date information
and it is free. Although, there are not
many “new” (copyright after 2000) texts; this is still an important genre. As educators, we will always be teaching
about doing research and reporting our findings, so it is vital that we have
ample resources available.
Research/Reports are important for two reasons, first they add knowledge
to our own personal schema. Second, it
adds to the knowledge of others by clearly and thoughtfully communicating the
results of our research. When searching
for research/report texts for your classroom keep in mind the accuracy of the
text; to ensure the information is up to date and also the accessibility of the
text.
My Favorite Picks:
Sebranek, P., & Kemper, D. (2006). Writers INC: A student handbook for writing and learning.
Wilmington, Mass.: Write Source, Great Source Education Group.
Lexile: Not found, estimated 950L
Complexity Band: 6-8
Lexile: Not found, estimated 950L
Complexity Band: 6-8
This text has been a personal favorite of mine since my freshman year of high school. This text was introduced to us back in the day when there were not online sources to reference. The day our English teacher introduced this text to us, the very next day our whole class purchased their own personal copy. This book is a great tool to have in your classroom. There is always going to be that time when the Internet is not working or students will not have access to technology. Text features include and index and glossary for quick reference. This text covers multiple topics including: a listing of presidents and vice presidents, world maps, amendments, math formulas, the periodic table, weights and measures, traffic signs, language rules and everything you need to know about choosing a research topic to your final draft. This text, honestly, covers everything! It is a great reference and easy to use. However, it is quite detailed so is suited for middle school through adult learners. Specific portions of this book or samples could be sectioned out for 4th and 5th graders but better suited for more advanced students. This text is a phonominal reference for all content areas!
With more digital sources available my next pick is an online website created by Purdue University. It is referred to as Purdue Owl, which stands for "online writing lab." This is a great resource to have listed for students to access as needed. Not only is it a great online source that is free and available around the clock but it offers writing resources for all areas as well as instructional materials for educators to use. This source may be complicating for lower elementary students to use but it is ideal for 4th grade and above. It also has many sources that are available to print out for students. A great site to add to your media list.
No comments:
Post a Comment