In rebuttal to the June 2008 review of our book A Is for Almanac: Complete Lessons to Teach the Use of Reference Sources in Grades K-6, we take issue with several of the reviewer's points. Firstly, formal assessments, in the form of rubrics, are included in all of the curricular units. Worksheets used for reference book lessons can be collected and scored if formal assessments are desired on individual lessons.
As to the issue of the supposed lack of independent practice in some lessons, most library schedules do not allow enough time for independent practice. Independent practice is provided in the use of the reference games and in all of the curricular units.
Differentiation of instruction is a matter between the classroom teacher and the local school librarian, depends on the needs of the individual students, and cannot be addressed in a general book. Accommodations for English Language Learners are included in the lessons by using many visual aids.
The requirement to have 15 paperback copies of dictionaries, thesauri, almanacs, atlases, and two sets of encyclopedias is realistic for most school libraries. Using copied pages of reference books instead of the actual book severely compromises the learning experience. Reference materials are legitimate purchases under Title I programs.
Keeping in mind that the intended students are K-6, we decided to limit Internet searches due to firewalls, filters, and time problems.
As to the use of Wikipedia, we suggested it for schools that do not have subscriptions to online encyclopedias. We referred to James Giles's study that concluded that Wikipedia was accurate enough to be worth using.
The June 2008 review of our book in the University of Iowa's College of Education's publication Remarkable Education states, "This truly useful resource will be a welcome addition to professional collections for elementary schools."
