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With Our Compliments:
Making Textbooks Work for You
UNDERSTAND THE TEXTBOOK BEFORE BEGINNING CLASS
As the teacher, you need to understand the textbook-its contents, its structure, and the reasons for its
use--in advance
- Answer the following questions, either by examining the book or by asking your educational
director:
- What are the school's expectations for finishing the book? Is the book to be fully completed? If so, by
when? If not, how much of the book should be completed?
- Is the text to be used at each class session, or alternately with other material, such as handouts, films,
etc.?
- Why was this specific textbook chosen?
- Will students be keeping the book after the class is over, in which case they can take notes and
otherwise write in it, or is it part of a classroom set?
- In addition, familiarize yourself with the content and structure of the book:
- Is there a table of contents? How is the book organized? (Later in this booklet you will encounter
several activities that make use of the table of contents.)
- Are the chapters designed to be read sequentially, or can you read them in an order that you
determine?
- Is there an index?
- How is the book organized? By chapter? Section? Subsection? Does it use headings within the text to
separate sections? Are there sidebars? Photo captions?
- Is there a Teacher's Guide? Which different sections are in the Teacher's Guide? Is the
textbook accompanied by flashcards, audiovisual materials, or other supplementary aids?
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