You’ll find some of the most popular books in your classroom will be those that students collaborate to make. What a perfect way to motivate your students to write and read as you reinforce standards.
Consider these components when making collaborative books with your class:
Dedication – Encourage children to “dedicate” books.
Copyright Date – The date you make your book.
Publisher – Your school, city, and state.
Authors and Illustrators – Have children sign a group page as authors and illustrators of the book.
ISBN – Include an ISBN number and bar code on the back.
The End – Everybody can read this page!
Comments and Compliments – Let children have turns taking the book home for one night. Their parents can then write their “comments or compliments” about the book on that page. (You could also pass the book around to different classes in your school and they could write remarks on this page.)
*Older students could do a “Table of Contents,” “Index,” or “Glossary.”
Publisher – Your school, city, and state.
Authors and Illustrators – Have children sign a group page as authors and illustrators of the book.
ISBN – Include an ISBN number and bar code on the back.
The End – Everybody can read this page!
Comments and Compliments – Let children have turns taking the book home for one night. Their parents can then write their “comments or compliments” about the book on that page. (You could also pass the book around to different classes in your school and they could write remarks on this page.)
*Older students could do a “Table of Contents,” “Index,” or “Glossary.”
*Place class books in your school library, public library, a hospital, etc.
*Have a “drawing” at the end of the year so each child gets to keep one of the books.
Concept Books
Reinforce concepts you are working on, such as letters, shapes, science themes, friendship, etc. to make class books.
Song Books
I also love to take songs and use them to make books with children. You can ask the children to close their eyes as they listen to the song and then make pictures in their brain. Invite them to draw their picture and then cut out words to the song and match them up with the pictures. Don't worry! It always turns out beautifully!
Here are some other interesting topics for making books with your students:
THE BEST THING ABOUT ME
HEROES
OUR WISH BOOK
CELEBRATIONS
WHEN I GROW UP
JOKE BOOK
HOW TO BE A FRIEND
WHAT I DIDN’T DO OVER THE SUMMER
WHAT I DIDN’T GET FOR CHRISTMAS
A MAGIC CARPET RIDE
DREAMS
THINGS THAT BUG US/SCARE US
KNOCK! KNOCK!
MY NIGHTMARE LOOKS LIKE
I AM…
I LIKE…
I CAN….
I SEE….
MY WORST/BEST DAY EVER
IF I WERE THE TEACHER I WOULD…
IF SHOES COULD TALK
THE DAY ANIMALS TALKED
WHAT TO DO WHEN A BABY CRIES
IF I WON THE LOTTERY
HAPPINESS IS…
LOVE IS…
I’M WORKING ON…
IF I WERE IN CHARGE OF THE WORLD
I WISH I WERE…
IT’S NOT FAIR
WHAT DOES THE PRINCIPAL DO ALL DAY?
WE WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE PRESIDENT…IF