Train with NoveListThis newsletter is all about learning about better ways to serve readers. In each issue, we choose a topic and then provide training tips that you can do alone or in a group. Our goal is to inspire you (and your staff). Let us know how we're doing.
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For many, September means back-to-school. What better time for you to learn strategies for matching kids to the books that are just right for them? The very best thing you can do to get kids reading is to help them choose books that match their interests. Kwame Alexander said it like this: “You want kids to get excited and engage with books? Give them a book that they want to read. Give them a book that they think is
The good news: appeal terms in NoveList are a great tool for finding those awesome books. Read on to learn how.
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Did you know? Appeals terms describe the mood or feel of books (think: funny, sad, inspiring), and they are a great tool for talking about books. Kids instinctively understand the terms and they provide a common framework for talking about what each reader enjoys. Learn more about appeal.
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5-minute learning activityHelp that teen who enjoyed the movie Wonder Woman find books with strong female characters. Type AP strong female characters into the NoveList search bar, then limit your results by audience to teens. This search strategy has step-by-step instructions for finding books in other ways, too.
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Power playCombine the search for AP strong female characters with Lexile levels and/or Accelerated Reader Interest Levels to get books at just the right reading level. In NoveList, this is possible by using the limiters found on the left side of the page. Watch this 2-minute tutorial on searching by reading levels.
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If you have more timeHere's a fun activity to do with a group. First, hand out copies of The Secret Language of Books. Then, use the appeal mixer in NoveList to build a reading list for each of these fictional readers: - A third-grader who loves thrilling, true-life adventure stories
- A teen who prefers stories a little on the snarky side
- A listener who loves audiobooks with different voices and/or accents
- A kid looking for books with characters from multiple racial and cultural backgrounds
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