BYL BOOK NOTES
We believe that teachers teach children based on the needs of the child. Our Book Notes help identify teaching points in each book and offer teachers suggestions, not a script for instruction.
Each Book Note examines one of the 174 BYL titles and offers a wealth of information on the distinctive features of that book. Each book has numerous possibilities for extending and enriching comprehension, vocabulary, decoding, listening, and fluency skills.
Sample questions and prompts help teachers introduce and support students through some of the content and some of the skills and understandings that they need when reading for meaning.
Links to the FREE BOOK NOTES can be found on the Books for Young Learners (BYL) detail book pages for Fountas and Pinnell Levels or you can access them from the alphabetical list link.
The BYL Book Notes are written by Margaret Mooney, esteemed and internationally recognized New Zealand author/educator, and a dedicated group of American classroom teachers.
We invite you to embrace and apply the wisdom of Margaret Mooney and use these Book Notes as a supportive reference as you bring your knowledge of students and their in-the-moment needs to the reading experience.
COMPREHENSION PROMPTS
We offer book-specific Comprehension Prompts developed by Dr. Connie Hebert, international literacy consultant/author.
This feature of the 174 Books for Young Learners Book Notes can enrich and extend a child’s experience with each book.
As an international literacy consultant, Connie uses many of our BYL books with children in small group model lessons to support professional development of teachers.
Using these title-specific prompts she is able to focus on key areas of literacy development such as decoding, comprehension, and vocabulary. So can you.
Download FREE PDF BOOK NOTES with Additional Comprehension Prompts:
BOOK NOTES
Book Notes on each title are provided separately. Sort them any way you wish to enhance their use.
Book Description
Each Book Note begins with the basics about the book including: title, Author/Illustrator/Photographer, F/P and RR levels, page and word counts for English and Spanish as applicable.
Synopsis
A book summary with an emphasis on instruction
What the Book Offers
Features of the text, illustrations, layout, writing style, and form
Possible Skills Emphasis
Teachers can select one or two skills for intentional teaching, revision, practice, or assessment
Introducing the Book
Several suggestions from which you can select and amend to offer manageable challenges for successful reading
Focus of Instruction
You should keep in mind the reading level and the intended purpose of the lesson
Following the Reading
These suggestions give merely a taste of instruction and provide prompts for support
Additional
Comprehension Prompts
Comprehension prompts are a new feature that enrich and extend a child’s experience with each book.
- Finish This Thought (Completion)
- Use Your Memory (Recall & Text Evidence)
- What’s Your Opinion? (Reflective Thinking)
- Be Creative (Imaginative Drawing & Writing)
- Vocabulary Agent (Word Exploration)
