Intergrating Instructional-Level Social Studies Trade Books for Struggling Readers
As soon to be teachers, once we are in the classroom, we will have students at multiple reading levels. What do we do with those students who are below reading level with it comes to subject areas like Social Studies where most of the instruction comes straight out of a basil written at grade level?
There are two problems that arise with using basil only instruction with below grade level readers. First is that they will struggle with the way the text book is written. Most text books are written in an information style that does not use story style writing that most students are familiar with. Second is that when the information of the text is the focus, a lower level should not be penalized because some of the non-essential vocabulary is beyond their level.
What is the solution to basil only instruction? First we must offer alternatives to the basil like trade books. These books cover the same material that is covered by basil; the advantage is that these trade books can be tailored to the reading level of the student. This allows the student to have success in reading and understanding the Social Studies content. Second advantage to trade books is that they are written like stories that most students are familiar with. No longer is it just social studies facts, but facts encased in a story. After all shouldn’t history be history.
