Find the Perfect Resource to Capture Interest and Promote Discussion

Before the Lesson

Kick off your lesson with resources that build reading confidence and background knowledge while encouraging interaction with the text.

• Spark curiosity and promote inquiry with Meet-the-Author movies like this one with Sy Montgomery as she recounts her science adventures. (4-8)

• Offer opportunities to scaffold instruction with this reader’s theater script for The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers. (PK-2)

• Use book trailers to establish background knowledge and historical context. Try this one for The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. (7-12) 

During the Lesson

Create deeper connections to stories and empower readers to share opinions and reflect.

• Find book guides & lesson ideas to focus discussion for your group. Resources for Ghost by Jason Reynolds include five lesson plans that allow differentiation and options for multiple learning styles. (4-8)

• Listen to Jasmine Warga’s Meet-the-Author Recording for Other Words for Home to spark conversation on topics such as the idea that home might be more of a feeling than a place. (7-12) 

• Practice different writing models—have students choose an example from these options and then write their own: Blog, Annotation, Interview.

After the Lesson

Adapt a resource that models and supports collaboration and instruction.

• Explore over 3,000 Meet-the-Author Recordings and learn about the inspiration and behind-the-scenes creation of the book. Have students plan, write, and create their own recording for a book they’ve read to demonstrate understanding and entice peers to read the title.

• Access kits like this one from Dreamers by Yuyi Morales for lesson extension activity ideas in the classroom or at home. (PK-2)

• View Gareth Hinds’ Guest Blog Post and consider his reflection that drawing a graphic novel is like creating a film. Have students create a spread of a significant moment from a book they are reading. (7-12)

What’s working for you?

We’d love to hear how you’re using TeachingBooks resources in your classrooms and libraries! Leave your ideas in a comment below.