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A Guide to Selecting Instructional Materials for English Language Arts

Teacher Resource

A Guide to Selecting Instructional Materials for English Language Arts

Grade Levels

10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade

Course, Subject

English Language Arts
Related Academic Standards
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Description

How and where can teachers find information to help them select instructional materials that meet the learning needs of all their students? All teachers need to be familiar with lists of resources that:
  • are published by a recognized authority
  • are compiled according to established criteria
  • include materials in a variety of formats (print, nonprint, electronic media, etc.).

Many lists of print and nonprint resources are available, including some that can be accessed via the Internet. The most useful are annotated with information such as grade or reading level, recommended or not recommended for purchase, curriculum connections, specific audience needs, etc. The school library media specialist will have some of these selection tools
available in the library media center; others can be borrowed through interlibrary loan from the School Library System of which the school is a member.


Teachers will be seeking materials which are:

  • written/produced by people with in-depth knowledge of the subject
  • available in languages other than English, as needed
  • designed to help students create their own new information
  • designed to help students develop new learning strategies
  • relevant
  • current
  • age-appropriate
  • authentic.
Working with other teachers and collaborating with library media specialists who are skilled in locating and selecting resources will result in assembling a collection of classroom instructional materials that assures students access to the variety of resources necessary to meet their needs.

Resources

Suggested Resources for Selecting Instructional Materials

  • AAAS Science Books and Films, by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for PreK- Grade 6, by the National Council of Teachers of English
  • Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High Students, by the National Council of Teachers of English
  • Horn Book Guide to Children's and Young Adult Books, by Horn Books
  • Multi Media Schools: Technological Resources K-12, by Online, Inc.
  • Beyond Picture Books: A Guide to First Readers, by Bowker Publishing Company
  • Book Links, by the American Library Association
  • Children's Books: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, by the New York Public Library
  • Books for the Teenaged, by the New York Public Library
  • Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies, by the National Council for the Social Studies
  • Outstanding Science Trade Books, by the Children's Book Council
  • Teachers' Choices, by the International Reading Association
  • Outstanding Books for the College Bound, by the National Council of Teachers of English
  • Your Reading: An Annotated Booklist for Middle School and Junior High School, by the National Council of Teachers of English
  • Technology and Learning, by CD ROM Product Software
  • Best Videos for Children and Young Adults: A Core Collection for Libraries, by ABC-CLIO
  • Magazines for Young People: A Children's Magazine Guide Companion Volume. 2nd Ed., by Katz, Bill and Linda Sternberg
  • Multicultural Literature for Children and Young Adults, by the University of Wisconsin
  • Portraying Persons with Disabilities: An Annotated Bibliography of Fiction for Children and Teenagers, by Bowker Publishing Company

Journals

Journals that Review Instructional Materials

  • Arithmetic Teacher
  • Childhood Education
  • Children's Software Review
  • Educational Leadership
  • Instructor
  • Language Arts
  • Media and Methods
  • Parents' Choice
  • Phi Delta Kappa
  • Primary Voices
  • Reading Teacher
  • Science and Children
  • Social Studies and the Young Learner
  • Teaching Exceptional Children
  • Teaching K-8
  • Young Children

Source

English Language Arts Resource Guide. New York State Education Department, Albany, New York.
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