Let us help you make the most of your student’s Bookshare account by providing resources for implementing Bookshare.
K through 12 educators:
Bookshare and the UDL Framework:
Bookshare is aligned with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. Learn more about how Bookshare fits into the UDL Model (PDF).
Reading Strategies:
Literacy strategies are essential for educators to engage learners and can be broken into three categories; before reading, during reading, and after reading. Pre-reading, or before reading, strategies are a way to prepare students to engage with the text and provides a purpose for reading. These strategies activate students’ knowledge, stimulate interest, and establish a purpose to maintain engagement. During reading strategies guide students in their search for meaning as they make connections, ask questions, and allow teachers to monitor their comprehension. Finally, after reading strategies help deepen, reinforce, and extend students’ learning.
Below are examples strategies that will help engage students in Bookshare books, and can be used across all content areas.
Before Reading:
- Vocabulary Development: (i.e., Trading Cards, Flip Books, Quick Draw, Pictionary)
- Build background knowledge
- Book Walk
- Setting a reading purpose
- For additional information, access our Before Reading Strategies Guide
During Reading:
- Graphic organizers
- Thinking maps
- Questioning stems
- Note taking
- Think-Pair-Share activities
- For additional information, access our During Reading Strategies Guide
After Reading:
- Writing reflections
- Questioning
- Graffiti boards
- Exit tickets
- For additional information, access our After Reading Strategies Guide
Partner Reading Tools:
Bookshare books can be read in a variety of ways and on a variety of devices.
Check out our Partner Reading Tools!
Professional Development Resources for CE Credits for Educators:
Accessible Educational Materials and Bookshare through edWeb:
Bookshare teamed up with EALA to create a webinar about Making Accessible Educational Materials Available to Students Who Need Them. Join edWeb, it’s free, and you can earn CE certificates that are accepted for PD hours and teacher license renewal in 44 states
Bookshare: Providing Accessible Materials for Students with Print Disability through The IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University:
Bookshare teamed up with the IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University to create a PD module titled Bookshare: Providing Accessible Materials for Students with Print Disabilities. Create a free log-in and earn PD credits through the IRIS Center.
K through 12 Administrators:
Tips for successfully implementing Bookshare in your district
Bookshare conducted a trend analysis to learn how top Bookshare-using school districts implemented Bookshare to get more students reading Bookshare books. We identified some success factors that are detailed in this Blog Post: Get students with learning differences reading: district implementation best practices.
Want to implement these Best Practices in your district? Below are some tips and resources to help educators get set up for success:
- Identify a Bookshare champion for the district
- Provide customized support to educators with resources from our customer support and training teams
- Provide professional development for Bookshare with help from our training team.
- Create and maintain a district level Organization Account
- Foster parent engagement
- Use readily available reading tools such as the Bookshare Reader or Read and Write.
- Clearly explain the eligibility criteria
K through 12 families:
Check out this video for parents to get started with Bookshare:
Check out this short video with implementation strategies for you to use with your students at home.