LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thanks to everyone who answered my plea for reacing incentive ideas for
Grades 1-8.
Do you (or your public library) subscribe to Bookbag? It usually has good
ideas to motivate all kinds of readers.
--
We use Reading Counts in grades K-12. It is a wonderful reading TEACHING
program. We are careful not to use junk prizes, etc. Instead we use
recognition-names in the hall, pictures on the wall, certificates at
assemblies, names in announcements, special library privileges, etc-to AWARD
the readers. Keep the emphasis on the reading, not the incentives. Reading
Counts is like Accelerated Reader, but better. Our scores have gone up on
statewide tests for the last two years.
--
One very simple tool that I use is a mandatory sign up sheet, which I keep In
my desk drawer. They must speak with me before they can schedule their
classes into the library. At the time of signing up, I have the chance to
query them about their class research needs. 100% guaranteed way to get the
info from them. Also opens many opportunities to do further collaboration.
--
One of the best things I do that fosters collaboration is the construction of
Project Pathfinders. If the teachers will give me at least a day's notice, I
produce a one-page paper they can distribute to their students that outlines
the kinds of resources they should use for their research. It really takes
only about an hour to make a Project Pathfinder, once you've done two or
three. There is a lot of repetition. However, as you make them, you'll
discover all kinds of interesting things about your collection. Sometimes I
wonder if I don't get as much out of a Pathfinder than the kids do. The kids
love the Pathfinders. They carry it from computer to catalog to bookshelf
and back to computer. There is no way they can know the best websites, best
subscription services we have, which keywords to use in catalog searches.
However, I am supposed to know this stuff, and Pathfinders let me address all
the kids-not one at a time. Teachers take one look at a Pathfinder and are
wowed. They didn't know we had this stuff. They didn't know about these
websites. They are impressed with the books we have on the subjects that
they didn't know about. How does a Pathfinder foster collaboration? You
don't want to become just a research secretary for your teachers. You want
to be a partner with them. Well, in order to get a Project Pathfinder made,
a teacher has to come talk to you. She has to tell you what the assignment
is about, what the product will be, and what kind of resources she has in
mind. You listen; you tell her how wonderful this is; you wax enthusiastic
about your resources; and you might make one tiny suggestion. You are
collaborating!
Collaboration is hard for some teachers. They see it as a sign of weakness.
You make it a sign of strength. I have to resist the impulse to make things
all better for the teacher with big suggestions and plans. You just take
what you can get and build on it a little at a time. Hey, you're teaching
teachers-just don't let them know it.
One other nice thing is to casually mention to the administration that
so-and-so is collaborating with you (or you are collaborating with so-and-so)
on a great lesson about such-and-such. It surely would be nice if admin
would comment favorably on the collaboration, either privately or publicly.
It can happen every now and then.
A Pathfinder is usually just a plain sheet of paper in outline form divided
by kinds of resources. Nothing elaborate. But I have seen some doozies.
Tri-fold color paper with clip-art. Things in the shape of the subject. I
couldn't possibly turn out four or five of those works of art a week. So I
go for practical and plain.
The first Pathfinder you make may take several hours, but you'll be so proud
of it and the teachers and kids will learn so much, you'll be so glad you did
it. The next one will be much easier. Pretty soon you can whip them out.
Just don't let teachers know that, or they'll try to "collaborate" an hour
before their class is due to appear.
Oh, yes, for the technologically advanced: a Pathfinder can be constructed
as a web page. Now that is really slick!
Finally, you'll have to push the Pathfinder at first. Teachers will at first
think they are imposing on you, making you make a Pathfinder. I think
subconsciously they feel guilty that they aren't making the Pathfinder
themselves. When you ask if they would like one, the usual response is,
"Well, if you have time, but I'll understand if you don't."
Oh, I know one brave librarian who doesn't allow any class into her library
unless the teacher and she have already met and planned the Project
Pathfinder, which she puts on the school's webpage. No Pathfinder, and, in
her opinion, there is no point in the kids coming and rambling aimlessly
around the library. I haven't gotten that bold. But I've gotten to the
point where I can say, "Oh, if you'd only told me yesterday about this
project, I could have made a Pathfinder for your students, like I did for
Mrs. So-and-so."
--
It helps to have good readers, but to help them learn how to read for content
is a bit harder. How about starting a storytelling group for the 4th-5th
graders? This helps the kids focus on the kernel of the story, much like
they need to focus on the jest of a paragraph on the reading tests. They have
a lot of fun performing for the younger children and the little ones start
thinking about being a story teller when they get older.
--
One of our 5th grade teachers focused on the types of questions the kids
would find on the tests and had them find mag. articles to read and write
questions about. Once the questions were written, they were swapped about
and other kids had to identify the type of questions and answer them. Great
for English and reading cross content lessons.
--
Book discussion groups (book clubs) also help. Teach some of the third
graders how to do a simple book talk for their classes. A great way to help
with public speaking, reading and getting others enthused about books.
(Maybe by author, have small groups all read the same book and make up a book
talk kind of like a news item....this could also be done on the morning news
a couple of times a week...(Sorry, I get carried away sometimes.)
--
Pizza Hut has a reading incentive program too. If the kids read x no. of
books in x amount of time, they use to get a coupon for a free individual
pizza.
--
Some schools in the area also have goals set for so many minutes of reading,
a high goal is set for the entire school to reach by a certain date. If the
kids read the required minutes, then something is done, either the principal
does something goofy, (one principal and assistant principal had to spend an
entire day on the school roof one year) or there is a school wide special
event, prize, what ever. I personally like the idea of some kind of end of
year reward for the entire school. Maybe you could get the PTA behind you
and they could help with a Hawaiian day and luau, or a day of story telling
and a medieval fair....Nothing too expensive, more creative. Sorry, I'm
getting carried away again.
--
Something that is BIG with the kids, but is pretty manageable is a lunch with
the principal. You can usually get a restaurant to donate the meal for
newspaper publicity. Then you gather kids who meet the reward, and take them
to eat. Make it a 1.5-2 hour lunch. Be sure the principal asks every kid
what her favorite book was. In fact, have each kid bring something to the
luncheon in a paper sack that relates to his favorite book. Then during the
luncheon have each kid show the principal what is in her sack. With bus trip
there and back, sack showing, and pictures with the restaurant management and
a group shot with the principal, the actual eating time is very reasonable.
Our kids look forward to this every year.
--
I bought a cannister type glass jar, filled it with Jelly Bellies, and tied
the lid with a star design ribbon. Using Print shop, I designed a post card
sized sign to place beside the jar that says: "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor
Beans. A Risk With Every Mouthful!" As the kids come in at the first of the
year, I'll let them guess how many "Every Flavor Beans" are in the jar.
Whoever gets closest will win the jar. I'll announce the contest and winner
on morning announcements.
--
This is what I do in my school of 600 first, second and third graders. This
will be our third year and I have 90 students in the Hall of Fame so far. The
Library Hall of Fame is a club for kids who have read and listed 100 books. I
tell them to go thru their house and make a pile of all the books they have
read. "Then start a list. Write down the title and author of each book, and
number them as you go. When the pile is gone, see how many books you have. If
you have 100, you can stop. If not, keep writing. You can write library
books, books from your classroom, and anything else you read. "When the list
has 100 titles they bring it to me. I take their photo and mount it on a
sheet I print out using Print Shop. It has a nice border and their name in
big letters. I laminate this and hang it on my Wall of Fame. Also using Print
Shop, I personalize a certificate and give it out with a special Bent-cil
from Highsmith that says, I'm a Star Reader. Their name appears in our school
paper, and they get invited to my special breakfast on Day 100 (a big deal in
my school) because they read 100 books! I also give the teachers a list of
those children for the first day in September, because for the most part
those who have read 100 books either love to read or have wonderful parents.
The teachers really appreciate this list! I'm sorry I don't have any ideas
for you, but I was wondering if you could pass along any good information you
receive. I am currently studying to be a MS and in the fall (i guess I
should really say in 2 weeks) I will be starting a new job as a media
paraprofessional and any information you could pass along would greatly
appreciated and useful. I was also wondering if you could tell me a little
more about this Passport to Reading program, or if you can tell me where I
can go to find info. On it. Thank you so much/
--
Involve the classroom teachers in your plan. They can motivate the students
and will need to be an integral part for it to be successful. Since it is
initiated by the principal - he/she can help encourage their involvement
also. Also parents should be involved - look into Parents as Reading
Partners literature (ask NYSUT for info)
--Instead of a genre a month. Find out what type of stories are being
studied inthe classroom, then when students come to the library you can show
them other books on the same topic they are reading in class. This helps
integrate curriculum. Better yet, work with your classroom teachers to
coordinate lesson plans between the classroom and the library.--I do 2 major
reading incentive programs with my 4/5 graders each year.1-Battle of the
Books. I do 3 months full class vs full class competitions. Introduce the
list of 27 titles that I have multiple copies (enough copies that each
student can have a book with a few left over for trading for the next book,)
I choose the books from the Young Readers Choice Award Books (Pacfic NW
list), Newbery books, Classics, and Sasquatch list, and previous YRCA books.
The students have a short worksheet to fill out for each book read. (These
are their library grades for the quarter-I know, they can cheat, but I put
them on their honor, and haven't come up with a different method.)Beginning
in March, I start doing full class competitions. Each student gets 3 tags
and each time they answer a question they give up one tag. This way, all the
students have to answer a question. Peer pressure is on for even the low
readers to read at least one book (which we also have on tape for them.) The
week before Spring Break, the classes choose 4students to represent their
class and then, I do a school vs school competition. Grades: 4 books =
satisfactory (except the title 1 or ESL students 2books)10 books = good20+
books = excellence I can't keep the books on the shelves. The teachers can
use the books for a read aloud and the students can then fill out a sheet and
count it as one of theirs. (Most of the teachers read 3 or more of the
books.)
2. Ugly Book CoversI am in such an old library that I have books that are
OLD!!!! The covers have been taped over, etc. The students read a book of
their choice that is ugly. They then create a new cover for the book
illustrating it with their favorite part of the book. On the back of the
cover, they write a one paragraph booktalk on the book. Grade: 1 cover =
satisfactory (even title 1 or ESL-they can choose picture books)
2 covers= excellence (no good given) With my 2/3 graders: I do monthly genre
booktalks. I choose 30-40 books and spend the whole class period talking
about the books. They can check out any that I have talked about.
Whole school: Read Across America-March 4(?)I bring in the School Board
personnel, Mayor (when I can book him), previous teachers, parents,
grandparents, fire personnel, etc. to come and be Royal Readers. They put
on a cape and a crown and read a short picture book to students. Teachers
sign up to come. This goes on all day. At the same day, we do a short
end-of-the day Principal reads assembly (Oh the Thinks you Can Think). Hand
out photocopied bookmarks.
Author Visit: This year Deborah Hopkinson I read and discuss all of the
authors materials. Discuss picture art. Create our own work from
author's/illustrator's work. Then assemblies with author to discuss how a
book is created.--I use the Reading Patch Club materials from Highsmith
Upstart Library Promotionals has a program to promote various genres with
"patch" stickers kids collect and place on a "jeans jacket" for reading a
book from each genre. I can't remember the name of it ("The Reading Patch
Club"??), but it has an alligator as the mascot. I used this last year with
fifth graders and it was very successful. Several kids told me about genres
they had never read before, but discovered they liked-and they planned to
continue reading similar books!
Thanks again to everyone.
Elana Gensler
Library Media Specialist
Hebrew Academy of Long Beach
Long Beach, NY
EGensler@aol.com
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