An Analysis of Children’s Literature featured in the “Books to Briefs” Column of Technology and Children, 1998-2008.

The design challenges can be useful after-reading activities. In the hands of an elementary-level teacher trained to teach reading, “Books to Briefs” columns offer relevant, low-cost, hands-on activities that could be important components of the reading process. While not every activity represents best reading practices, K-5 teachers with access to all 72 activities have between 19 and 40 design briefs designed for their grade level to choose from (depending on grade level). Many of these activities encourage, or can be adapted to encourage, collaboration among students. Although some activities are more closely related to the children’s book than are others (Table 2), “Books to Briefs” columns could profitably be used to bolster comprehension, and could have additional positive effects, such as on student attitudes toward reading.