First Steps to Matching Standards with High Quality Books
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI): You can start here to match standards and high quality books for children.
- Select a standard and read through the language to understand the learning competencies
- Select one or two words or phrases from the language to be used as search terms
- Type in the search terms in the library's search tool to find books you can use in the classroom
Example: Environmental Literacy & Sustainability
1: Read and understand the standard
Wisconsin Standard for Environmental Literacy & Sustainability
2: Choose 1-2 search terms to find appropriate books for use in the classroom
- Environment
- Nature
- Ecology
- Science (biology, chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, etc)
- Animals
- Water cycles
- Earth science
- Climate
- Recycling
3. Type in one or two search terms in the Murphy Library search tool and choose "Curriculum Center" in the drop down menu before clicking search.
4. Look through the results and identify two important things:
- Availability
- Location in the Curriculum Center will tell you whether a book is a picture book (imagined story) or nonfiction (information based)
- Picture book call #s all start with a capital E followed by three letters (the author's last name):
- E Seu (a picture book by Dr. Seuss)
- Nonfiction information based books start with three numbers (based on the Dewey Decimal System) followed by three letters (the author's last name):
- 510 Smi (a nonfiction book for kids about math by an author whose last name is Smith)
- Picture book call #s all start with a capital E followed by three letters (the author's last name):
Examples:
An example of an available nonfiction book on the theme of environmentalism:
An example of an available picture book (imagined story) on the theme of environmentalism:
An example of a nonfiction book that is NOT available because it's been checked out by someone else:
5. Use TeachingBooks.net to find other information about your book title.
If you want to check any book out, take it downstairs to the circulation desk at the entrance of the library. Don't forget to bring your student ID card!
Example: Nutrition
1: Read and understand the standards
Wisconsin Department of Instruction Standard on Nutrition
2: Choose 1-2 search terms to find appropriate books for use in the classroom
- Nutrition
- Bodies
- Digestion
- Health
- Food
- Biology
- Wellness
3. Type in one or two search terms in the Murphy Library search tool and choose "Curriculum Center" in the drop down menu before clicking search.
4. Look through the results and identify two important things:
- Availability
- Location in the Curriculum Center will tell you whether a book is a picture book (imagined story) or nonfiction (information based)
- Picture book call #s all start with a capital E followed by three letters (the author's last name):
- E Seu (a picture book by Dr. Seuss)
- Nonfiction information based books start with three numbers (based on the Dewey Decimal System) followed by three letters (the author's last name):
- 510 Smi (a nonfiction book for kids about math by an author whose last name is Smith)
- Picture book call #s all start with a capital E followed by three letters (the author's last name):
Examples:
Two examples of available nonfiction books on the theme of nutrition and food:
Example of available picture books (imagined story) on the theme of nutrition and food:
5. Use TeachingBooks.net to find other information about your book title.
If you want to check any book out, take it downstairs to the circulation desk at the entrance of the library. Don't forget to bring your student ID card!
Example: Social Studies
1: Read and understand the standards
Wisconsin Department of Instruction Social Studies Standards
2: Choose 1-2 search terms to find appropriate books for use in the classroom
3. Type in one or two search terms in the Murphy Library search tool and choose "Curriculum Center" in the drop down menu before clicking search.
4. Look through the results and identify two important things:
- Availability
- Location in the Curriculum Center will tell you whether a book is a picture book (imagined story) or nonfiction (information based)
- Picture book call #s all start with a capital E followed by three letters (the author's last name):
- E Seu (a picture book by Dr. Seuss)
- Nonfiction information based books start with three numbers (based on the Dewey Decimal System) followed by three letters (the author's last name):
- 510 Smi (a nonfiction book for kids about math by an author whose last name is Smith
- Picture book call #s all start with a capital E followed by three letters (the author's last name):
5. Use TeachingBooks.net to find other information about your book title.