Laura Granger Blog # 2

In the article, " Using Textbooks and Trade Books for Content Area Instruction" by Alvermann et al, the topic of using trade books is brought up to the reader. Growing up we all were used to the idea that textbooks were the only way that we could learn information from a book. Many times we received the textbook in the beginning of the year put it in our desks or lockers and it was rarely to be seen throughout the year. There would be groans from the students as the teacher would have us take out the textbook to look at a paragraph or read a chapter for homework. So as a future teacher this article really stood out to me because it shows a different approach when it comes to finding information.

Trade books have a lot of strengths to them and are more interesting to a child because it doesn't give information that the child sees as useless. One of the key strengths that really stood out was that trade books are available to all reading levels. The article states, "Publishers such as Rigby, Sunshine, and Newbridge have whole catalogs listing and describing informational books for emergent, early, and transitional readers" (Alverman 45). Unlike a textbook where everyone has to read the same information the same way, a trade book can keep everyone on the same topic but provide the information in various ways. Also, trade books can be ordered for ELL students. Trade books include pictures and short sentences about different topics that make it easier for ELL students to understand instead of overwhelming them with a huge textbook full of words they don't understand.

Lastly, trade books can be used with textbooks as well. The students can look at textbooks for more information on a subject if they need to. The two go hand in hand which is great for teachers because this way more resources are available to them. I really think this article is useful and the strengths out number the limitations.