HIP BOOKS AND YOUR LITERACY PROGRAM

HIP Books are first and foremost about exciting stories, written by accomplished authors of Young Adult fiction. The characters are interesting and realistic; the plot lines are action-oriented and the vocabulary is carefully chosen to support readers of all abilities. Read more about WHAT MAKES HIP BOOKS THE VERY BEST BOOKS FOR STRUGGLING AND RELUCTANT READERS.

Although HIP Novels are designed for students to read on their own, these books can support every aspect of your literacy program.

HIP Novels are ideal for independent reading!  Independent reading practice is a time for easy reading (even the Common Core Standards say so!), and HIP’s careful editorial process ensures that students who can read the first chapter or two should be able to read the rest of the book on their own. Capable readers are drawn to the exciting stories, realistic characters and teen/preteen issues and problems; struggling readers appreciate the supports in vocabulary, sentence structure, layouts and illustrations.

Read more about MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR INDEPENDENT READING PROGRAM.

“Essentially, close reading means reading to uncover layers of meaning that lead to deep comprehension.” – Nancy Boyles.

Close reading involves reading and rereading a complex text carefully to determine what it says and how the author has said it. Readers are encouraged to take note of key ideas and supporting details, to interpret words and phrases, to draw logical inferences, and to identify author’s purpose and craft.

Use chapters or excerpts of HIP novels to teach students to annotate as they read. They can read with a pencil or sticky notes in hand to track ideas in the text.  Read more about 20 ways to use sticky notes during reading.

Book Clubs and Literature Circles are types of book conversations in which groups of students have the opportunity to read and discuss the same book. The students track their own reading and direct their own discussions. In some classrooms, students take on different “roles” to focus the discussion. In others, students track their thinking with sticky notes, to share ideas and questions freely with their peers. HIP Novels, with their short length, great stories and manageable prose, support all readers in completing their assigned readings and bringing their ideas to the group.  The discussion points and prompts in HIP TEACHER’S GUIDES may be used to get students started on their conversations.

Read more about BETTER BOOK CLUBS AND LIVELIER LIT CIRCLES.

Yes!  Excerpts from HIP Books can be used as models of literary devices and other elements of the Writer’s Craft. Writer’s craft has been variously defined as style, polish, and eloquence. It involves the words the writer chooses, as well as the way those words are put together in phrases and sentences. Read more about the Writer’s Craft.  Some examples include:

• The Very Short Sentence lesson from Curse of the Skull
• The Magic of Three lesson from Death on the Sidewalk
• Point of View from Street Racer
• Figurative Language and Word Pictures from Survival
• Cliffhanger Endings from Hostage

Writing has been shown to be the single most effective tool for comprehension and retention of information. HIP books are accessible novels that facilitate teaching students to write summaries, personal responses, graphic organizers and other written tasks. Read more about Writing About Reading.

HIP TEACHERS GUIDES break the novels down into three or four sections, with discussion points before, during and after reading, as well as graphic organizers and other after-reading tasks.  At HIP, we recommend reading the first chapter or two along with the students, then having the students read each section independently, followed by group discussion and extension, revisiting sections as needed.

Alternatively, teachers can select excerpts or chapters to read intensively more than once to gather nuances or built strategic independence.  You can find teaching tips, book excerpts and complete lesson plans here.

• Jingle Bats
• Snake in My Toilet
• Choose Your Bully
• Ghost House

Texts don’t have to be difficult to support higher level thinking!  HIP novels are full of rich characterizations, interesting plots and issues of concerns to teens and preteens. Build critical reading strategies and support creative thinking with HIP NOVELS.  HIP TEACHERS GUIDES offer HOT discussion points for before, during and after reading.