The Many Types of Bookmarks

I had never thought of using a bookmark as a learning tool, until I read chapter 7 in Kylene Beers’ book “When Kids Can’t Read.” In this chapter Beers explains how she and a few middle school teachers turned the everyday bookmark into a learning tool for struggling readers. As Beers points out “everyone knows what a bookmark is—even dependent readers.” (130). So why not use something so familiar as a reading comprehension tool?

Beers created quite a few different types of bookmarks. The first is called a “Mark My Words” bookmark, and it focuses on building vocabulary (131).  This bookmark offers a place for students to write unfamiliar words, directly on the bookmark as they read (131). I think this is a great way to make a note of unfamiliar words because it doesn’t require the student to exert a lot of effort or break from reading the text. You don’t have to go and turn to a dictionary, or ask for help; just jot down the word. A lot of times, even proficient readers will skip over an unfamiliar word without looking it up or even making a note of it because that takes too much effort. But, if a student has a bookmark right there in their hand, it doesn’t take much effort to quickly make note of the unfamiliar word.

The second bookmark Beers created is the “Marking Time” bookmark (132). Students “use these bookmarks to mark how the setting changes as the book or short story progresses.” The template she has designed for this bookmark asks for a page number and gives a small box for students to write a short sentence (311). I think that having just a small space to write how the setting changes would be great for struggling readers. It’s not a daunting task, the teacher is just asking them to jot down a sentence when they notice something. 

Similar skills are reinforced through Beers’ “Question Mark” bookmark, in which students write down any questions that come up as they read, and the “Mark who?” bookmark, in which students make quick notes about characters (132). 

Using these bookmarks seems like an excellent way to begin to teach students how to annotate and notice their thinking, without overwhelming or boring them. Writing on a bookmark is a little more fun and creative than writing in a notebook. And because students have such a small space to write notes, they are less likely to be overwhelmed, and can practice making quick comments.