Teaching Students About MARVEL

Silly as it is, I always tell students that MARVEL is marvelous. I give them background information on how access to all of these databases helps even the playing field among schools in Maine.
I am the district librarian for 5 schools; two K-5, one middle school and two high schools, so I am spread pretty thin. After reaching out to the middle and high school teachers, offering to help students with research, I have worked with 6th and 9th graders so far and will do many more lessons at point of need.

I have students work on their keyword list, prior to starting research. I make sure they understand that their keyword list is not static and will change as they proceed with their work. Also, that they will add new words they discover in their reading and eliminate words that lead them in the wrong direction.

When doing research on a variety of topics, I direct all students to Britannica Online first. This is to help them get good basic information on their topic that should help with the rest of their research.

I encouraged the 6th graders to go to "MARVEL Kids" "Elementary K-5." I explain that many of the articles found there are very appropriate for middle and even high school students. I give them the average Lexile range for their grade level and show them that the results are not necessarily "too easy." After this explanation, they use the "Elementary K-5" section without hesitation. However, I really wish that the name of this group of databases could be changed to "Grades K-8" and overlap with "Grades 6 and up." 

For 9th grade I ask them to go to "Grades 6 and up." I encourage them to use Student Research Center because of its user friendly interface, ability to select the type of material you want to search and choose the Lexile level. If students have very specific needs, I point them to the "Select a Subject" list of databases on the left side of the homepage. Depending on the topic, I counsel them to use "consumer edition" or those most accessible to them.

With all students I show them how to create a search and how to read the results. I stress the importance of requesting "full text" and encourage them to email the article to themselves, so they don't lose it. I show them how to sort their results and how to narrow the "publication date." At this point, they are in danger of becoming glazed over, so I have them research their topic and trouble shoot on a case by case basis, unless a common problem arises when I address the whole class again.