Announcing BR_Match list - connecting k12 classrooms to read!

[WCU MicroNet general delivery <mngendel@MICRONET.WCU.EDU>]

My apologies if you receive more than one copy - the message
is being cross-posted to several lists.


Announcing a new list:  BR_Match!!  As you will note below,
BookRead and BR_Match have existed locally for several years.
We'd now like to welcome everybody interested to join us.
Find others (K-12 classrooms) who are reading the same works
as your classroom and then proceed, either on your own or through
MicroNet, to discuss them!  The concept is simple, the rewards
immeasurable.

Below is a description of the complete BookRead project (of
which BR_Match is only a small, beginning portion).

--------------------------

WCU BOOKREAD is a network of students and teachers of literature,
communicating by computer link-up with each other and with the
authors of books they are reading in the classroom.

      Western Carolina University MicroNet has been operating the
BookRead Project since the spring of 1990.  Our purpose was, and
continues to be, to:
      *  encourage reading for pleasure
      *  promote cross-cultural understanding
      *  improve reading, writing, and word-processing skills
      *  encourage use of telecommunications as a learning tool in
         the humanities
      *  provide in-service education for teachers of literature and
         reading.

      A traditional BOOKREAD project begins by choosing at least one
partner school and deciding together what book(s) to read and
discuss.  MicroNet staff assist BOOKREADers establish partnerships,
choose books, and link with authors who are available to talk about
their work on-line.

      One of the services BOOKREAD has provided to its participants
is a matchmaker function that helps schools connect with each
other.  As a spin-off of our BOOKREAD project, we are now offering
an Internet mailing list to make the matchmaker service more widely
available: BR_Match@wcu.edu



1.  The BR_Match mailing list will be for the purpose of identifying
    others who wish to exchange Internet e-mail between k-12 school
    classrooms about literature.

2.  The mailing list will be used primarily by K-12 teachers, media
    center/library personnel, and teacher educators.

3.  The mailing list will not be moderated.

4.  WCU MicroNet will send welcome letters and post periodic
    reminder notices to the list describing WCU MicroNet services
    supporting BookRead participants with WCU MicroNet accounts.

5.  Anybody may use the list to find one or more partner classes
    with whom to discuss literature.  After a partnership has been
    formed, teachers in that partnership may choose either to
    1)  use standard e-mail to discuss literature only with each
        other -or-
    2)  subscribe to WCU MicroNet to receive the following services:
        a.  benefit from traditional WCU MicroNet user support (800
            voice phone number and print materials)
        b.  use an online project Read! area for classroom discussion
            (resident on WCU MicroNet's server computer)
        c.  participate in the Teacher's Forum.
        d.  benefit from postings to the Teacher's Forum from the
            project director and others concerning Reader Response
            Techniques
        e.  correspond directly with the project director.
        f.  enroll for continuing education credit from WCU for
            participation in the BookRead project.



To find others with whom to begin a BookRead partnership, subscribe
to the BR_Match list:

Send a message to:       mailserv@wcu.edu
Subject:                 (blank)
In the body, type:       subscribe BR_Match


Welcome and enjoy!

Patti Johnson, system operator
WCU MicroNet
johnson@micronet.wcu.edu