Textbooks in the Classroom
At the beginning of the school year, the administrators of my wonderful school district decided that no textbooks would be issued to students in Social Studies classrooms with the exception of tested courses. The district’s plan was to save money on the purchase of textbooks. Therefore, each classroom would be issued a classroom set. At first, I was a little worried about how this would work out. After little a thought, I decided to do the following:
- Homework for my class would be to study notes, handouts and materials from that day’s class.
- A daily quiz over the notes and materials to enforce studying
- Students would complete projects at home as there is NO daily homework to be completed from the textbook.
I’ve never really given much book work to begin with. . . except that we do bellwork vocabulary from the textbook and it flows better when they can use the glossary of the text rather than the dictionary. It takes my students FOREVER to look up words in the dictionary–although, sometimes we don’t have any other choice. So, when the mandate came down for a class set, I got excited. Why?
- In the past, students would not bring their textbooks to class. They whined about how heavy it was, not enough time to get to their locker, we don’t use it enough (blah, blah, blah). And I despise sharing of books because it encourages socializing rather than working and concentrating on the content. It was a battle that I was tired of fighting.
- The textbooks would always be available in the classroom, whenever I wanted to use them. They are a resource. It made giving work and using it as reference, so much easier. I would not have to determine who did not have a book for the activity.
- Book work is boring & feels like busy work. Sometimes, I feel like the kids get much out it. What is the point of giving a bunch of work and their not getting anything out of it? However, I do see book work, in limited quantities, as a valuable teaching & classroom management tool–it provides reinforcement and quiet time (so I can get district paperwork completed in a timely manner). Yes, my friends, guided readings are still on my GO TO list.
- Books are not the crux of teaching and learning in my classroom. If I give book work all of the time, I do not feel like I have adequately earned my paycheck. Seriously, what am I there for if the students are getting all of their instruction from a book? I just do not think it is right for students to come to school, socialize and complete book work.
So back to my dilemma, after complaining by parents (and realizing it was a dumb decision), the district office has now mandated that every student be given a World History textbook. So over the coming weeks, the textbook coordinator is going to take my classroom set and issue them out to students. When I think back over my past experiences and feelings about textbooks, I don’t know what I am going to to do!
- How do I encourage students to bring their texts to class, so that they are available as a resource?
- How do I make it worth the students’ time and effort to bring them to class? I surely don’t want to give a book work assignment every class period? Co-Teacher requires her students to bring the text everyday, therefore, she gives them an assignment from it everyday! She said she does not feel like she can require students to bring the book everyday, if she doesn’t make them use it everyday. *sigh*
- Do I really have to think about my lessons weeks in advance to structure them for certain days of book work? This would happen if I made a policy to only bring the text on Monday or Tuesday. Seriously, I plan in units, not days. And activities and bellwork, in my classroom, change with the wind.
I just do not know what kind of policy to implement. And I don’t like fighting the battle of the textbooks! What should I do?
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January 23, 2010 7:25 am
5 Comments
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By David Duez, January 23, 2010 @ 8:31 am
I’ve been down your exact road before. But, it was when I switched to our new high school. I went from having a classroom set AND each kid having a book to only each kid being issued one book.
My policy decision was pretty easy. I know there is not a thing I can do to ensure that all kids will bring their books to class. So, I compromised. I explain to the kids that they could either bring their book each day and do book work. Or we could keep them at home, do one homework assignment a week (and read the chapters), and it will be up to me to bring alive what is in the book at school.
I have never had a kid say, “Gee Mr. D. can we just do book work today?” I have moved on past having the book in the classroom for another reason. They will not “bring their book” to college classrooms or in AP. So I am trying to prepare them for what they will need to do at the next level.
I have not regretted the situation I am in … ever. But, I understand your confusion with the change.
David Duez´s last blog ..Roadtrip Nation Teacher of the Month
By Margaret, January 23, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
David has great ideas! I have classroom sets, but the whole book is on-line, so students can access it from home. (the best of both worlds, I know)
Margaret´s last blog ..Finally Friday
By David Duez, January 23, 2010 @ 4:25 pm
True Margaret, I forgot about that. A lot of my kids use the only book. They think it is more convenient. Especially for building vocabulary flash cards online.
David Duez´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Aunt Aimee
By Mrs. H, January 23, 2010 @ 7:20 pm
I keep meaning to tell you how much I love your new blog layout. Especially the new couch design.
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