Study Guides are Here to Stay so Use Them
Here is my new product at Teacherspayteachers.com
I decided I need a study guide for my middle grade book, Bumbling Bea. If I want teachers to use the book in their classroom a study guide would be useful.
In this product, I’ve included the first chapter of Bumbling Bea and questions. Here is the link:
Students will retain more of the story if they can discuss it with their classmates and their own reflection.
Here’s why study guides are useful:
From the Language Arts Journal of Michigan,
” Study guides, which enable students to draw upon their existing
knowledge to assist them in formulating meaning from the text, are constructive, dynamic (affective and cognitive), and interactive tools. Study guides are designed to increase student involvement, highlight key information, and provide students with a preview of expectations (Anderson & Pearson, 1984; Blake &
Young, 1995; Ciborowski, 1995; Davey, 1986; Peters & Wixson, 1984). Study guides, as the name implies, help students maneuver their way through text, and, in the meantime, allow students an easier time comprehending content and performing activities that are related to the information being taught. Used correctly, study guides can be coupled with the text to provide a framework of support for conceptual understanding greatly needed by the students (Vacca & Vacca, 2003).”
Study guides are here to stay, use them.
I love pedagagy, I really do.
I have included interlocking and non-interlocking questions in the study guide. Both are useful to a teacher and of course the reader.
The plan is to compose a study guide for the entire book which will be available for teachers and readers by October 2018.
What’s next for Beatrice?
I hadn’t planned to write other stories about Beatrice. She got the answers she needed and resolved her issues with her parents although it isn’t stated in the book. I like for my readers to have an opportunity to think.
Beatrice’s aha moment occurred when she met Michiko.
I may try my hand at writing more of her story. I haven’t made any decisions yet.
I do have a short story planned for Peter one of her best friends, but as of this writing other writing pursuits have been on my mind.
Which do you think would be most interesting? My readers get to have an opinion. In fact, readers’ opinions are vital to an author.
Another story I have rolling around in my mind from time to time is one about four friends who grow up together. I’m considering a Christian romance series for this story idea, because I think it lends itself to one. That’s todays idea….
I have friends waiting with bated breath for another book from me. I can see it in their eyes when I begin to talk about my writing and that’s flattering. However, I bet most authors would share with you that writing is arduous and somewhat illusive.
I require uninterrupted thought process which for most folks is difficult to attain. Also, it takes discipline and courage.
Although since our move, my writing space is on the main floor of our house just down the hall from the kitchen and our bedroom, it is very easy to slide by it ignoring its beckoning me.
Isn’t there something else I could do instead?
Self doubt creeps in easily. It took me twenty-five years to get up the courage to write Bumbling Bea and although I haven’t embarassed myself too much through writing and publishing it, I still have anxiety-ridden moments of worry over writing another book.
TeacherpayTeacher Products
Presently, I am creating teaching products for Teacherspayteachers.com because they are fairly simple to do (haha) and have a quick turn around for me. I laugh, because they are challenging in their own right and completely different from writing a book! Usually, I can complete them in under a week and I know where I am going with them.
I have twelve products created so far with many more to come. (I need to put up fifty. Oh gosh…) Here are links to some of them:
Announcing: My Teacherspayteachers Product Sedna, an Inuit Folk Tale
What are Super Hero Postcard Stories
The Drama Exercise to Jazz Up Your Class and Impress Your Parents
When I’m not making products, I can be found here blogging about them or other subjects I focus on.
Perhaps you are needing some teaching advice:
Tips for Teaching Middle School
Teachers: How to Jump Start Your School Year
Yup, study guides are here to stay, use them. They will help you and your students in many ways.
I’m here to help you, teachers. I’m also here to listen to my readers. Please feel free to email me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net
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