the memphis book club project

The Memphis Book Club Project

The University of Memphis Dept. of Instruction and Curriculum LeadershipWith funding by the Assisi Foundation

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Write an Acrostic Poem List the letters in your first name

vertically down the page. Use the first letter in each line to

write adjectives that describe you, (i.e. your interests, hobbies, etc.)

Share your poem with the group.

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Goals for the Session Understand the components of a

Book Club Experience the first day of a Book

Club Getting started with your own Book

Club

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K-W-L K (What I Know)

W (What I want to Know)

L (What I Learned)

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What is Reading? Reading is making meaning from

print. It requires that we: Identify the words in print- a process

called word recognition; Construct an understanding from them-

a process called comprehension Coordinate identifying words and

making meaning so that reading is automatic and accurate- an achievement called fluency.

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Jabberwocky

Twas brillg, and theslithy tovesDid gyre and gimble in the wabe:All mimsy were the borogoves,And the mome raths outgrabe.

Sometimes you can identify words without being able to construct much meaning from them. Read the opening lines of Lewis Carroll’s poem, “Jabberwocky,” and you’ll see.

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Finally, sometimes you can identify words and comprehend them, but if the process doesn’t come together smoothly, reading will still be a labored process. For example, try reading the following sentence.

It isn’t as if the words are difficult to identify orunderstand, but the spaces make you pause between words, which means your reading is less

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Reading in its fullest sense involves weaving together word recognition and comprehension in a fluent manner.

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To develop word recognition, children need to learn: How to break apart and manipulate the sounds in words… this is

phonemic awareness example: feet has three sounds: /f/, /e/, and /t/ Certain letters are used to represent certain sounds…this is the

alphabetic principle example: s and h make the /sh/ sound How to apply their knowledge of letter-sound relationships to sound

out words that are new to them…this is decoding example: sssssspppooooon-spoon! How to analyze words and spelling patterns in order to become more

efficient at reading words…this is word study example: bookworm has two words I know: book and worm To expand the number of words they can identify automatically, called

the sight vocabularyexample: oh, I know that word—the!

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To develop comprehension, children need to develop: Background knowledge about many topics

example: this book is about zoos—that’s where lots of animals live Extensive oral and print vocabularies

example: Look at my trucks—I have a tractor, and a fire engine, and a bus

Understandings about how the English language worksexample: we say she went home, not she goed home

Understanding about how print worksexample: reading goes from left to right

Knowledge of various kinds of textsexample: I bet they live happily ever after

Various purposes for readingexample: I want to know what ladybugs eat

Strategies for constructing meaning from text, and for problem solving when meaning breaks downexample: this isn’t making sense—let me go back and reread it

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To develop fluency, children need to:

Develop a high level of accuracy in word recognition Maintain a rate of reading brisk enough to facilitate comprehension Use phrasing and expression so that oral reading sounds like

speech Transform deliberate strategies for word recognition and

comprehension into automatic skills Become comfortable with a variety of different written forms

and genres.

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But if reading isn’t pleasurable or fulfilling, children won’t choose to read and get the practice they need to become fluent readers.

Therefore, reading also means developing and maintaining the motivation. Reading is an active process of constructing meaning—the key word here!

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To develop and maintain the motivation to read, children need to:

Appreciate the pleasures of reading View reading as a social act, to be shared with others See reading as an opportunity to explore their interests Read widely for a variety of purposes, from enjoyment

to gathering information

So…what is reading?

Reading is the motivated and fluent coordination of word

recognition and comprehension.

Now that you have some background information on reading….what can you do to help motivate children to read?

You have already taken the first step by attending this session on the Memphis Book Club Project!

Now let’s find out the specifics of what a book club is and what you

are expected to do.

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What is a Book Club?

A group of students who decide to read or listen to the same book and then discuss it.

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Why do students need book clubs?

Creates opportunities for all students to engage with age-appropriate materials

Opportunity for higher level thinking

Provides support for struggling readers

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Volunteer Responsibilities Show up on time. Be there or contact the on-site coordinator. Be enthusiastic. Be respectful. Treat others like you want to be treated. Prepare and plan for your book club session.

Choose a book or books to use during the session. Read through the book and think about pre-reading

strategies, discussion questions, vocabulary and activities you can use during the session.

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Planning for the Ideal Book Club Session Choose your book or books in advance. Prepare your book sharing/activity. Rehearse; read aloud to yourself, a family member, or a

peer if you are conducting a “Read to” session. Choose your props, if any are needed. Brainstorm ideas to enhance the reading experience. Get your materials together, prepare. Go to the book club location; check in. Conduct the book club session by reading to or with the

children, discussing and completing any prepared activities.

Have students complete reading logs. Reflect and record. (Use a Volunteer Reflection Page)

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How to choose books for the book club session

Use children’s booklists on the internet

Public library booklists for children Children’s interests

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The Five Finger TestHave your child:1)Choose an interesting book.2) Read the first page. (approx. 100 words)3) Count the number of errors.

If they make more than five errors then choose an easier book. Students can count their errors by holding up a finger. If they have five fingers up, the book is too difficult.

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Sources for Books Public library School library Internet sites Bookstores Garage sales

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Managing Your Book Club Time Welcoming/Pre-Reading Activity Business Book Reading and/or Discussion Extension Activities Book Selection (See

handout package)

Baseball Saved Usby Ken Mochizuki

*An example of a book club session

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The Picture Walk

Can establish positive expectations about what is to come. Stimulates natural curiosity and interest in a story Reinforces the strategy of relying on visual cues while

reading Good strategy for all types of reading sessions- reading

aloud, shared reading, or independent reading. Encourages child’s participation in discussion Helps to improve comprehension of the story.

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Picture Walk ActivityShow the cover and read the title.Ask what they think the story will be about, based only on whatthey see.Flip through the book, page by page, without reading a single word.Ask questions about each picture.Use the five “W” and one “H” question words.

Examples: Let’s look at the front cover. What do you think this story is about?

What is going on here? Who is this? Why does the character look so excited? Where did the character just come from?

How do you think the story is going to end? What are you curious to know more about in the story?

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Vocabulary Activity

Read Aloud

Baseball Saved Us

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Discussion

(See handout package)

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Extension Activity

(See handout package for additional activities)

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Reading Response Log After each book club session have

students respond in response log.

Volunteer Reflection Page

*After each book club session, the volunteer will complete a reflection page, to help plan for the

next session.See handout package.

Book Club: A Literature-Based Curriculum

Book Club Lesson Plan:The Fighting Ground

Activate prior knowledge about the American Revolution.Introduce the next book club selection.

Session Wrap-Up

Questions??????EvaluationExit Slip