A text set is a collection of two or more books that can be connected because they have common features. They connect books in a way that helps students build specific understandings from book to book. Here are five effective practices for teaching with text sets:
- Texts are versatile. A single text can be part of many different sets. A text set need not be a static collection.
- After students experience a text set, encourage them to suggest other titles that are connected.
- Keep lists of potential text sets rather than assembling them physically to allow more flexibility in how you use individual books. If you have a list, and a system for storing books for quick retrieval, text sets can easily be assembled when needed.
- Keep an eye out for new titles to add to your text sets.
- Pull from text sets clear examples of particular characteristics for reading and writing minilessons.
From The Literacy Quick Guide: A Reference Tool for Responsive Literacy Teaching by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Copyright (C) 2018 by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell. Published by Heinemann.