Collaborative Books
Definition and Purpose
Children will work together either in a large group or small groups to create collaborative books. Each child will contribute one page or work with a classmate to write a page or section of the book. Younger children may prepare their pages in a single draft, but older children can follow the writing process to fine-tune their pages. Teachers will often use collaborative books as a way to introduce the writing process.
Collaborative books can be used in multiple ways. They can be used to write a nonfiction book or biography, retell a favorite story or illustrate a poem. The purpose of collaborative books is to engage children in the writing process. Children also benefit from sharing the workload as the books can be completed much more quickly than individual books are. This strategy will also take less time for teachers to conference with children and assist them revising and editing.
Steps
1. The first step is for the teacher to choose a topic that is related to a piece of literature or a thematic unit. The children will then choose more specific topics that they will prepare.
2. Teachers will introduce the organization of collaborative books. They will explain how children are to organize their writing and where to place their drawings on the page or in the section. The teacher will often work through a page or section of the book together with the class prior to allowing the children to begin work on their own pages.
3. Children will create their pages according to the teacher’s instructions. Younger children will prepare their pages in a single draft, whereas older students will use the writing process by sharing their rough drafts with their classmates, and revising them based on the feedback they have received in order to create their final copy.
4. Children will then hand in their pages and arrange them with the teacher to create the collaborative book. They will then add a title page and a cover. Older children may decide to include a table of contents for nonfiction books.
Application and Examples
An example of a collaborative book could be to create “All About Me” book as a first week of school activity. Each student will write an autobiographical piece about himself/herself and draw a self-portrait. They tell things about themselves that they want their classmates to know. Each student will then give an oral report from his or her article. The teacher will then laminate each student’s page and bound the pages together to create a class book for the year. When a new student comes to class they can use the book as a way to learn about their classmates. The “All About Me” book can be placed on the bookshelf for students to read during free reading time.
Children will work together either in a large group or small groups to create collaborative books. Each child will contribute one page or work with a classmate to write a page or section of the book. Younger children may prepare their pages in a single draft, but older children can follow the writing process to fine-tune their pages. Teachers will often use collaborative books as a way to introduce the writing process.
Collaborative books can be used in multiple ways. They can be used to write a nonfiction book or biography, retell a favorite story or illustrate a poem. The purpose of collaborative books is to engage children in the writing process. Children also benefit from sharing the workload as the books can be completed much more quickly than individual books are. This strategy will also take less time for teachers to conference with children and assist them revising and editing.
Steps
1. The first step is for the teacher to choose a topic that is related to a piece of literature or a thematic unit. The children will then choose more specific topics that they will prepare.
2. Teachers will introduce the organization of collaborative books. They will explain how children are to organize their writing and where to place their drawings on the page or in the section. The teacher will often work through a page or section of the book together with the class prior to allowing the children to begin work on their own pages.
3. Children will create their pages according to the teacher’s instructions. Younger children will prepare their pages in a single draft, whereas older students will use the writing process by sharing their rough drafts with their classmates, and revising them based on the feedback they have received in order to create their final copy.
4. Children will then hand in their pages and arrange them with the teacher to create the collaborative book. They will then add a title page and a cover. Older children may decide to include a table of contents for nonfiction books.
Application and Examples
An example of a collaborative book could be to create “All About Me” book as a first week of school activity. Each student will write an autobiographical piece about himself/herself and draw a self-portrait. They tell things about themselves that they want their classmates to know. Each student will then give an oral report from his or her article. The teacher will then laminate each student’s page and bound the pages together to create a class book for the year. When a new student comes to class they can use the book as a way to learn about their classmates. The “All About Me” book can be placed on the bookshelf for students to read during free reading time.