Gen: Elem Reading Program

[Bonnie A Symansky <bsymansky@JUNO.COM>]

Hi Netters!   Several people have expressed interest in the Read Around
the World Reading Program so I thought I would share with the group.
K-5 Elem School (380 students), January-April
Key:  Involvement of PTA

        A manilla folder(passport)  was prepared by PTA for each student.
 The outside had a world map with Read Around the World type. Glued to
the inside, was a sheet containing passport information (same as you
would find on passport) including name, date of birth, etc.  There was a
spot for the photo.  On the other side of the manilla folder was a map
that students could color countries after they "traveled" there.  Each
folder included a loose "visa" containing five book forms. Additional
visa forms were kept in the unit.
        The folder was sent home for the child to fill out with the
parent.  They were instructed to return it to school the following day.
A letter explaining the program was enclosed for the parents.
        After students read a book they filedl out the visa info
including their name,  book title, author, country.  Each sheet hold five
books.  They do not cut up the sheet.  When they have completed five
books, they put the sheet  in a completed box in their unit.  PTA
volunteers count weekly and it's easy because five books are together.
Each visa gets stamped.
The passport  has several categories.  5 books= traveler, 10=travel
agent, etc.  50 = ambassador.  That is our top category.When a child
completes a category, we put a blue sticker on the category.
        We have a world map on the bulletin board and teachers put
favorite world books on an index card and PTA puts string from book title
to country.
        Library administrration included a print out of books from each
country which I used to put blue dots on easy and fiction country books.
No one else used this.  The dots made it easy for the younger kids to
find books.  I also put some blue dots on obscure titles in the Non fic
section like Hopscotch Around the World.
        Fairytales were fine, non-fiction, fine.  If a book included
several countries, the child was told to pick one. I was not rigid.
After all, the goal was to read.  And, that they did!  I have not done a
count yet.  We just had a storyteller from Japan as part of our wind up
activities.  The parents are having an international night next week.
That will be it.  Let me know if you have questions.  It was a fun,
successful  project.

Bonnie Symansky
Library Media Specialist
Rock Hill Elem School
Wallingford, CT
BSymansky@Juno.com