I love teachers! They truly are unsung heroes. Education is so important. It is shaping our future. Whether you have children or not, you have to care about education. Because like it or not, it molds your future too, or at least those who will be in control of your future at some point. All of this leads me to study guides.I have noticed lately that some of the books I’ve been reading have study guides or discussion points in back. I think this is awesome! It’s a way for authors to reach out to teachers and try to bring current, relevant books into the classroom. Teachers, it’s a way to entice those kids to read. If it’s something that they can feel more connected to, they are more likely to want to read it. It helps to guide discussion in meaningful ways that can count for some educational requirements too.
Your remark about finding a study guide in the back of a book you had finished and wishing you had known about it at the start -- well it made me think.
ReplyDeleteDid some of your textbooks have the answers in the back of the book like some of mine did? It strikes me that life is like that. We live it through and find many of the answers at the end of life long after when they would have been really useful.
Just a thought. Come drop by my blog, WRITING IN THE CROSSHAIRS, if you're of a mind. Pull up a cyber-chair and have a look around. Thanks for putting such effort into your blog, Roland
I love it when authors do this! And I agree that it's a good selling point for students. Anything that can help with that book report!
ReplyDeleteWow Roland, very deep thoughts. And too true! Like the Eagles said, "So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains. And we never even know we have the key." Well kinda' along those lines. I'll definitely drop by your blog.
ReplyDeleteLisa & Laura, you girls are great. I absolutely coulda' used help on my book reports back in the day. Actually, I usually liked writing them but I'm kind of a freak of nature. :)
Roland, I love your analogy with the answers and life. I think there's a lesson there, because as kid, I knew the answers were in the back of my math book. Maybe we just have to experience the same faith and diligence with our lives to know that the answers are right before our eyes, unfolding each day as we go along--if only we know where to look.
ReplyDeleteLisa, wonderful, thought-provoking post. Ironically, I actually have a study guide written for one of my stories. It is part of my marketing plan to get kids involved in the reading experience rather than being mere participants.
Now I just need to sell the idea!
I love finding those study guides in the back! It's like hidden treasure. :-)
ReplyDeleteIs this like having the answers to the crossword puzzle on the adjoining page? No, not so much. . . more like a book club discussion in the back of a novel.
ReplyDeleteDid I tell you I like your blog colors, the purple and blue and black.
Yvonne, I think study guides help promote discussion within classrooms. Maybe teachers would be more likely to consider a book with a study guide in back. I think it could help them out as well. Thanks for the kind comment about my blog. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I think it is an awesome idea and can work wonders, but like you said we need to know it's there before we read the book. It's an excellent tool for teachers, parents, and students.
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