If you've ever been to my workshops you know I LOVE blank books and here's why!
1. They are open-ended and perfect for differentiated instruction.
2. Blank books are more engaging and creative than worksheets.
3. Blank books can be used across the curriculum.
4. These books can be adapted for any standards or content you want to reinforce.
5. There is "ownership" when children make books. It's empowers them to believe "I AM A WRITER AND A READER!"
6. Children can take these home and can talk to their parents about what they are learning. And for those children who don't have books in their home, this is a really good thing.
7. And last, but not least, with all the time spent on an electronic device, it is very satisfying for children to create something with their hands. Paper feels good!
Snip Snap Book
Directions: Fold two sheets of paper in half. Make tears (or snips) about a thumbnail apart down the fold. (If you want to cut little snips with scissors you can, but I like using small motor skills.) Bend one tab forward, then the next backward, and so on to bind the pages together.
Use for: retelling a story/story elements
letter book/vowel book
number book/shape book
coordinate with a unit or theme
environmental print/cut out words they can read
word families, opposites
write the room
writing original stories, journal
note taking
vocabulary/spelling words
Monday – write a word on each page
Tuesday – write the definition
Wednesday – illustrate or cut out a picture
Thursday – write a sentence
“The Book”/ “A Book”
Hint! Fold paper lengthwise to make a tall book.
Cut paper in half to make a little book.
Use a colored sheet of paper on the outside and a white sheet on the inside.
Note! We made this book one morning in a seminar and a teacher remarked, "O.K. I've learned enough. I can go home now!"
Little Books
Directions: Lay four to six pieces of paper on top of each other. Staple the four corners. Cut into fourths, and you’ll have four little books.
Use for: days of the week (seven sheets of paper)
seasons (four sheets of paper)
senses (five sheets of paper)
planets, continents, etc.
Skinny Books
Directions: Make long skinny books by stapling four times down the short side and cutting across horizontally.
Use for: writing names left to write
practice pre-writing strokes
repeating patterns
writing numerals
sight words or spelling words
writing sentences