The Memphis Book Club Project

1. The Memphis Book Club Project The University of Memphis Dept. of Instruction and Curriculum Leadership With funding by the Assisi Foundation

2. 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. The Memphis Book CLub

3. 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 The Memphis Book CLub

4. K-W-L The Memphis Book CLub

5. 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. The Memphis Book CLub

6. 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. Jabberwocky Twas brillg, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. The Memphis Book CLub

7. 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 or understand, but the spaces make you pause between words, which means your reading is less The Memphis Book CLub

8. Reading in its fullest sense involves weaving together word recognition and comprehension in a fluent manner. The Memphis Book CLub

9. 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 vocabulary example: oh, I know that word—the! The Memphis Book CLub

10. 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 works example: we say she went home, not she goed home • Understanding about how print works example: reading goes from left to right • Knowledge of various kinds of texts example: I bet they live happily ever after • Various purposes for reading example: I want to know what ladybugs eat • Strategies for constructing meaning from text, and for problem solving when meaning breaks down example: this isn’t making sense—let me go back and reread it The Memphis Book CLub

11. 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. The Memphis Book CLub

12. 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! The Memphis Book CLub

13. 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 The Memphis Book CLub

14. So…what is reading? Reading is the motivated and fluent coordination of word recognition and comprehension.

15. 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.

16. What is a Book Club? • A group of students who decide to read or listen to the same book and then discuss it. The Memphis Book CLub

17. 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 The Memphis Book CLub

18. 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. The Memphis Book CLub

19. 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) The Memphis Book CLub

20. How to choose books for the book club session • Use children’s booklists on the internet • Public library booklists for children • Children’s interests The Memphis Book CLub

21. The Five Finger Test Have 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. The Memphis Book CLub

22. Sources for Books • Public library • School library • Internet sites • Bookstores • Garage sales The Memphis Book CLub

23. Managing Your Book Club Time • Welcoming/Pre-Reading Activity • Business • Book Reading and/or Discussion • Extension Activities • Book Selection (See handout package) The Memphis Book CLub

24. Baseball Saved Usby Ken Mochizuki *An example of a book club session

25. 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. The Memphis Book CLub

26. Picture Walk Activity Show the cover and read the title. Ask what they think the story will be about, based only on what they 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? The Memphis Book CLub

27. Vocabulary Activity The Memphis Book CLub

28. Read Aloud Baseball Saved Us

29. Discussion (See handout package) The Memphis Book CLub

30. Extension Activity (See handout package for additional activities) The Memphis Book CLub

31. Reading Response Log • After each book club session have students respond in response log. The Memphis Book CLub

32. 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.

33. 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.

34. Session Wrap-Up Questions?????? Evaluation Exit Slip