Congratulations to Monica Escobar and the 7th Grade for publishing "Write What's Missing". We have now published our second book through Amazon KDP and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results. If you click on the images below, you can see these books on Amazon.
My favorite projects are ones where you take a straightforward activity like learning about birds or writing a short story and transform it using small tweaks into a project that is much richer and meaningful. Publishing a book on Amazon did just that. In this blog post I would like to explain what I mean.
Authentic Audience
When students think they have an authentic audience, the quality of their work goes up. When they think others might read it, they are more apt to take suggestions seriously and check their own work more carefully. Having a book published on Amazon is truly an authentic audience.
When students think they have an authentic audience, the quality of their work goes up. When they think others might read it, they are more apt to take suggestions seriously and check their own work more carefully. Having a book published on Amazon is truly an authentic audience.
Inspire Effective Communicators
Publishing books supports Alexandria Country Day School's objective to Inspiring Effective Communicators. Well written communications is important. Through this project, students also learn that publishing books to a worldwide audience is available to everyone and they get to participate in the process.
Publishing books supports Alexandria Country Day School's objective to Inspiring Effective Communicators. Well written communications is important. Through this project, students also learn that publishing books to a worldwide audience is available to everyone and they get to participate in the process.
True Collaboration
Students learn that you don't have to do everything in order to write a book. Each student does a small piece and the results are impressive. They also see that teachers collaborate as well, each doing what they do best. In these two books we had lots of teachers working on it: classroom teachers, art teacher, librarian/media specialist and service learning coordinator, development, technology, and subject matter advisors from outside the school.
Students learn that you don't have to do everything in order to write a book. Each student does a small piece and the results are impressive. They also see that teachers collaborate as well, each doing what they do best. In these two books we had lots of teachers working on it: classroom teachers, art teacher, librarian/media specialist and service learning coordinator, development, technology, and subject matter advisors from outside the school.
Cross Curricular
Cross curricular is collaboration around student learning. It's when two or more classes support one learning objective. For example to create "A Bird Walk in Monticello Park" students:
Cross curricular is collaboration around student learning. It's when two or more classes support one learning objective. For example to create "A Bird Walk in Monticello Park" students:
- learned about birds in Science
- did research in Library
- learned about non-fiction writing in Writing
- learned how to draw birds in Art
- learned how to identify birds using Merlin app in Technology
Meaningful Service Learning
Students learn that books published on Amazon through the KDP program generates revenue. They select a local organization to donate the proceeds of the books. The 2nd grade book has generated over $330 for Monticello Park. The 7th grade book was recently published and has already generated $250 for the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.
Students learn that books published on Amazon through the KDP program generates revenue. They select a local organization to donate the proceeds of the books. The 2nd grade book has generated over $330 for Monticello Park. The 7th grade book was recently published and has already generated $250 for the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington.
Excitement
It's always nice to create genuine enthusiasm around a project. Publishing a book does that over and over again. You celebrate when:
It's always nice to create genuine enthusiasm around a project. Publishing a book does that over and over again. You celebrate when:
- you first upload the finished book
- when you get the proof in the mail and share it with the students
- when you make edits and order the published book
- when you share the published book with the students
- celebrate if you have a book publishing party
- when it goes live on Amazon and you see ratings & comments, look inside, and see your name as an author
- when parents purchase copies for family and friends
- when donations are made
Related Notes
KDP Publishing
I just want to add some other thoughts that are not directly related to this blog post. I can't say enough good things about KDP Publishing and highly recommend it. It is free and easy to use - especially if you are publishing a book like "Write What's Missing". You simply upload a Microsoft Word document. They have online tools to help you review your book and give you tips on how to fix any issues. You can use other applications, but Microsoft Word is the one they recommend.
If you have problems, the KDP tech support team is attentive, knowledgable and friendly. From their support page, you enter your phone number and they call you in minutes. I called at night on a weekend and got a call back immediately from Africa. They stayed on the line until my problem was fixed.
You can use KDP Publishing even if you're not interested in selling your book on Amazon. For example, maybe you just want professionally printed copies of your students' work. You can upload the book and purchase "authors" copies. You pay the printed price plus shipping. The printed price of "Write What's Missing" was only $2.15! The books is 6"x9", black & white, 106 pages long, with a color cover.
I just want to add some other thoughts that are not directly related to this blog post. I can't say enough good things about KDP Publishing and highly recommend it. It is free and easy to use - especially if you are publishing a book like "Write What's Missing". You simply upload a Microsoft Word document. They have online tools to help you review your book and give you tips on how to fix any issues. You can use other applications, but Microsoft Word is the one they recommend.
If you have problems, the KDP tech support team is attentive, knowledgable and friendly. From their support page, you enter your phone number and they call you in minutes. I called at night on a weekend and got a call back immediately from Africa. They stayed on the line until my problem was fixed.
You can use KDP Publishing even if you're not interested in selling your book on Amazon. For example, maybe you just want professionally printed copies of your students' work. You can upload the book and purchase "authors" copies. You pay the printed price plus shipping. The printed price of "Write What's Missing" was only $2.15! The books is 6"x9", black & white, 106 pages long, with a color cover.
A Bird Walk in Monticello Park Lesson Plan
Here is a link to "A Bird Walk in Monticello Park" Lesson Plan.
Here is a link to "A Bird Walk in Monticello Park" Lesson Plan.