I have my site started and will be upgrading as it gets ok'ed and opened to the campus.
My site is up check it out if you wish. It is: http://offtheshelflibrarian.wetpaint.com/
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Book Clubs, Reading Guides, and such
I am studying about book clubs, reading clubs, and literacy circles. I didn't know they had so many names. But I have found some valuable information. If you have any suggestions please let me know. I work with Pk4-5th grade and am looking into differences and similarities.
I started a Mentor Readers club (found out later it was something like a reading buddy) 2 years ago and due to some outside forces the students backed out one at a time. It went well for a time after the students got into it. But TAKS came into the equations and each student except one quit.They wanted to come, but they were told to be at tutoring.
The kids were excited about the book club. They loved coming in and reading or listening to the younger kids. They learned to ask questions and draw out the kids who came in. They even helped the younger kids learn about the Accelerated Reader (AR) program.
I have decided to start it again, So I have been reading and compiling information for next year. I talked with the principal at the end of the year and she said she wanted the reading club. So, I am going to work at it from different directions.
So far, I have found out many ideas of how to start a club. Ideas from Journals, information from research, and talking to different fellow educators. I want it to be a place where kids can enjoy books of their choosing and help them to consider going out of their comfort zone. I want to use the web 2.0 programs, like Twitter, a blog and/or a Wiki.
I realize boys and girls are different. So, I will name a series of books and let each choose the book/s, they want to read. If I name a series that is too girlie then I will name a series that will draw the boys in. Last year a boy came in and was talking to me about the babysitters club books. I started to say that he was reading a girls book, but I didn't say anything. So, even if I read about letting the boys read their choices I know their choices could be either kind. So, I don't push the books as boys or girls. I realize it might be different at the middle school level but for now it seems it still could go either way and I will treat it as such.
I am finding some great sites which have activities and more on them for the series I will be considering. I intend to have the students learn about the authors though the Internet and YouTube or similar sites or of course books if we have them in the biographies at their reading levels.
I want them to get to know their characters and compare them to people they know or themselves. I found they the students that joined the club before like to talk about themselves and they enjoyed helping others to read.
I started a Mentor Readers club (found out later it was something like a reading buddy) 2 years ago and due to some outside forces the students backed out one at a time. It went well for a time after the students got into it. But TAKS came into the equations and each student except one quit.They wanted to come, but they were told to be at tutoring.
The kids were excited about the book club. They loved coming in and reading or listening to the younger kids. They learned to ask questions and draw out the kids who came in. They even helped the younger kids learn about the Accelerated Reader (AR) program.
I have decided to start it again, So I have been reading and compiling information for next year. I talked with the principal at the end of the year and she said she wanted the reading club. So, I am going to work at it from different directions.
So far, I have found out many ideas of how to start a club. Ideas from Journals, information from research, and talking to different fellow educators. I want it to be a place where kids can enjoy books of their choosing and help them to consider going out of their comfort zone. I want to use the web 2.0 programs, like Twitter, a blog and/or a Wiki.
I realize boys and girls are different. So, I will name a series of books and let each choose the book/s, they want to read. If I name a series that is too girlie then I will name a series that will draw the boys in. Last year a boy came in and was talking to me about the babysitters club books. I started to say that he was reading a girls book, but I didn't say anything. So, even if I read about letting the boys read their choices I know their choices could be either kind. So, I don't push the books as boys or girls. I realize it might be different at the middle school level but for now it seems it still could go either way and I will treat it as such.
I am finding some great sites which have activities and more on them for the series I will be considering. I intend to have the students learn about the authors though the Internet and YouTube or similar sites or of course books if we have them in the biographies at their reading levels.
I want them to get to know their characters and compare them to people they know or themselves. I found they the students that joined the club before like to talk about themselves and they enjoyed helping others to read.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Websites for Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (music and lyrics by Angie Libadisos Baker)
If the school doesn't allow it opened it is the song from above
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