Every year we create a hardbound class book using a company called Student Treasures. We've used this company for about 6 years, and they are really wonderful. The kids love the idea of creating a real, bound book. The books are about the size of an elementary yearbook, about 8.5 x 11". It does take some class time, but well worth it! We don't make money on the books, it just makes a nice memory for the kids and an awesome memento for parents. Each student gets a full page for writing and a full illustration page. We've used different ideas in the past for writing inspiration, but we've decided poetry is our favorite genre. For inspiration in the past few years, we've used the book called Someday by Eileen Spinelli. It is a collection of verses about what a little girl plans to do, someday. The kids tap into the idea really well. I make them include at least six details to support their "someday" idea as we edit in small groups during writing time. Here are the photos of our actual pages in the book. You'll want to do a rough draft, and then a full practice page where you can help them edit and revise. We also do a full page practice illustration. I have those who finish first submit their ideas for cover art, and I choose several letting them all draw a small part of the cover. Since parents are paying for it, (around $20.00 per book, and the teacher gets a free copy) you want it to be really well edited and illustrated. Their ideas are usually really darling.
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| Finished book cover |
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| We have a gymnast, |
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| a famous artist, |
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| a karate master, |
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| and a doctor, complete with a "Hot-Shot-Doc-Mobile!" |
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| The book we used for inspiration, Someday, by Eileen Spinelli (we bought ours from Amazon!) |
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