Question 3: Continued again...

So, Nadean and I just had an email exchange that was kind of interesting. Nadean sent an attachment with a list of books, and this led me to recognize a deficit in my own understanding: how to recommend books. Look at the exchange below...reading from the bottom, of course...

From: Nadean
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 4:29 PM
To: Gina
Subject: RE: book suggestions for Great Northern question

Great thought—I could/should make a module ( short video and screenshot) for our education students in selection…. Let me get back to you

I use a combination of general student likes, my knowledge of the books, and help such as Children’s Literature Review Databases and novelist that often prompts me on ones I’ve forgotten or give me a starting place if I think of one that is a good choice.

In this case, I thought about it and the requirements, used CLCD for limits, used Novelist for similar, and searched the databases to see if someone had made a article with a bibliography that suggested books for what you were hoping to accomplish—like make a stew of a variety of ingredients. What I miss is the making the choice for a particular child/student and I feel those skills are fading.

Have a good weekend

Nadean

From: Gina
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 4:22 PM
To: Nadean
Subject: RE: book suggestions for Great Northern question

Nadean,

I think I am coming to terms with the fact that I don’t have any kind of conceptual framework for choosing/suggesting books… I know of incidents of success (middle school students drawn in by American-Born Chinese… Young children drawn into How my Mother and Father Learned to Eat…) but I don’t know how one goes about rec. texts in general. Can you help me with this? How did you choose the texts you chose? What guided you? Thanks for starting from scratch with me. It’s time that I develop in this way!

Best wishes,

Gina

From: Nadean
Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 2:19 PM
To: Gina
Subject: book suggestions for Great Northern question

Gina,

See if I am close to what they are thinking—we have a new book of ideas, I put in details about some non-fiction picture books and one humorous series with gr. 3 reading level Clementine.  There are several other angles to go if this is not suitable.

Nadean