AboutDr. Widad Ashurax Expertise I can answer questions pertaining to the following areas: Teaching methods, evaluation of teachers, teachers` moral, curriculum design and market research, students` attrition and completion rate, students` counseling and career planning in Post Secondary Education.
Experience I was a President of private two-year school of business for over ten years, Vice president for three years, and a director of education for two years for a two-year college. Additionally, I have over twenty years of teaching experience in high school and post secondary education combined.
Organizations retired
Education/Credentials Doctorate degree in Education from Nova University
Master degree in Early Childhood from Nova University
Awards and Honors School evaluator for the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges & schools in Washington DC.
I am descendent of Lahore, Pakistan and I do have Post graduation degree in Management. Recently, one of the publishers have contacted me and asked me to write a book on any of the topics like Science, Social Studies and English for class KG-1 to 5 (I also do have science background as I have done BS in Computer Science).
Now I want to have guidance about writing any kind of book that if I want to write book on any of these Subjects for any of the class level that what should I keep in my mind and what steps would be involved in this case because whatever I want to write, I want that to be standardized and on the basis of some reasons. Particularly,
I want to know following:
1-Things to be kept in mind while writing a book.
2-Steps involved in writing a book of any subject.
3-Standards of text and illustrations in book of a child.
4-Font standards or any font liked by a child.
5-Colors liked by child.
6-Size of the book standards for the child.
Please do reply as soon as possible as I shall be waiting anxiously for your reply,
Yours Sincerely,
Khalid Rasheed
Answer Dear Khalid:
Congratulations to you. Writing books to young people can be challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding.
I think one of the best logical thinking procedures that you should adopt is to know the following aspects mentioned below before writing any books on any subject ;and especially for the younger mind:
· One of the important areas that you must pay more attention to is knowing your customer ( age wise, culture, learning ability.)
· Understand what grade level your book is intended ( as you know Kg-1 is so much different from level one or two…etc.)
· Consider the attention span of a child and how you want to stimulate his/her mind.
· Let's take KG-1 for example: if the book is about teaching them vocabulary, then illustration is your best element to take into account. Remember a child uses his senses more effectively when all are displayed for him/her. A child likes to see, touch (feel), hear, smell, and taste to be able to register any new learning materials. (At least, consider most of the senses that are applicable to your topic to be effective learning tools.)
· Use colors that are vivid and natural. Use clear pictures that depict the words used.
· Use a topic that has harmonization and leads to an integral learning experience.
· Start by writing small books that have textbook approaches.
· A good textbook must help the student more than being just a manual for the instructor.
· Include exercises, questions, games, and projects that fit the customer's needs, ability, and school level.
· Increase the child's curiosity and stimulate his/her mind to be an effective reader.(Let the games and projects be simple but yet challenging.)
· Make the book cover appealing to the child's eye. Let it represent the idea of your textbook. The book size must not be too small to handle nor too big to carry.
· Use fonts that are clear, large enough, and easy to read (and not intimidating.) Normally, the publishers will help you decide on the fonts' style.
· Get acquainted with the children books that are in the market today and check those that have been rated to be on the best sellers' list (to get clearer ideas.)
· You need to be innovative and different from the ones that are useless.
· Write about the topics of which you are knowledgeable and do not consider otherwise.
Good luck to you. I would like to read your first creation and congratulations again.
