Curious Parents Education Resources

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Why & How Your Child Should Take a Survey —Of Their New Textbook!
By Carol Josel

It’s the first day of school again, part angst, part relief. You purchased pens and notebooks that are now carefully tucked into the bookbag slung over your child’s back. He hops on the bus as you wave good-bye and think, “At least there won’t be any homework tonight.” You’re right—sort of. 

Covering newly-received textbooks in shiny paper purchased in a store or out of supermarket paper bags is a given. But there’s one more essential step that’s oft-ignored—    surveying the text book. Leafing through new books and surveying the material provides a framework onto which new information can be attached and absorbed. By revealing how the material is organized and presented, a mind-set is established as to the subject matter and how best to approach it. Francis Robinson, creator of the now-classic study method, SQ3R, made it the very first step—and wisely so.  

So on the first night of the new school year, both cover and explore the just-received textbooks. Thereafter, every newly assigned chapter should be surveyed before serious reading begins. Doing so can make the difference between understanding and confusion, between success and failure, so tell your child to look inside—they’ll be happy they did when they’re cramming for the big exam.

TEXTBOOK SURVEYING

1. Check out the title page for the following: author(s) and copyright date, so you know how up-to-date or outdated the text is.

2. The introduction or preface, found at the start, is a message from the author providing information about the book and how its design can foster better understanding of the subject. If provided, list two helpful pieces of information it offers:

a.

b.

3. The Table of contents offers a glimpse at how the information is arranged, along with any special features. It usually follows the title page, grouping chapters under major headings. List the major heading of the first four units:

a.                   c.

b.                   d.

4. The last pages of textbooks often include an appendix, filled with items of interest such as maps, diagrammed sentences, and the Periodic Table, depending on the course. What, if any, information is offered?

a.                   b.

5. Back there, you’ll also find a glossary of defined terms.  Take a look and estimate how many of the words are familiar: less than 25 percent? less than 50 percent? Less than 75 percent?

6. Nearby, the subject index alphabetically lists all the names, places, and topics discussed, together with their page numbers, thus simplifying the locating of information. For instance: Participle: defined, 66; introductory, 232.

How complete does this index appear to be?

CHAPTER SURVEYING

1. Chapter Title:

2. Estimate how long it will take to read this chapter:

3. What, if anything, do you already know about this topic?

4. What do you want to know about this topic?

5. List the first 4 major headings of this chapter:

a.                   c.  

b.                   d.

6. Are technical terms boldfaced? italicized?

7. Look over the chapter and circle any of these that are included: maps? photos? drawings? charts? graphs? diagrams? Anything else?

8. Are there periodic review questions? 

9. Skim the first and last sentence of each paragraph for main ideas.

10. When provided, summaries pull together the main ideas in each section or the entire chapter. Scan these before any in-depth reading. What are 3 main ideas noted?

a.

b.

c.

11. Now look over end-of-chapter questions and any review items. What kinds of review activities are provided?

There you have it: homework not just for the first night of school but for every time a new chapter is assigned. After surveying, your child is armed with the tools to master the reading, already well aware of the main ideas and concepts to be learned, and making full use of such aids as summaries, review activities, and the appendix. It’s the only way to go. Francis Robinson knew it—and now you do too.

Carol Josel is a freelance writer and teacher from Blue Bell, Pa.