Chapter 7: Give It Up For Text Sets by Jeanie Schneider

Texts sets are collections of resources from different genre, media, levels of reading difficulty that are designed to be supportive of the learning of readers with a range of experiences and interests. A text set collection focuses on one concept or topic and can include multiple supplemental items: songs, interviews, poetry, plays, videos, maps, articles, picture books, etc.

 

I am glad I was chosen to discuss this chapter because I have sent a lot of time deliberately collecting items for specific history topics. I know, you have done the same for your particular content area. I have typically found that narrowing down what to use becomes the greatest problem because there is so much information available today. For example, the shear magnitude of information on the Civil War would allow me to teach on the topic for months and never get it all covered. So how do we know what is the best information to include in a text set? Use your best judgment combined with state standards. Gather all the things that you would have been interested in when you were a kid. Remember to include materials that cover a range of reading levels. Now, take these items and display them throughout the classroom as you teach the topic. This helps to create interest in your students. Allow them to interact with the materials and include examples of work from former students.

 

After you finish a particular topic and are about to move on, save all your materials in a well labeled folder or clear container so that you may easily add items that you pick up throughout the school year.

 

Questions for thought:

 

Teachers know their content and want students to become passionate about the concepts that build and infuse their disciplines, but teachers become discouraged when they see the vast amount of content taunting them from the pages of their teacher's editions. Do you control your textbook or does your textbook control you? Do you use the textbook as a jumping off point or as a "must complete" single reference tool for instruction?

 

Using the websites on pages 154-155 or your own research this summer, share with us one or two new items you will be adding either to a current text set or one you are starting this school.