Welcome #G2Great friends. We are so incredibly proud to have Tammy & Clare back in the guest host seat with us again. Their beautiful book ABOUT BOOKS is a blessing to all of us. So amazing! Welcome to all!
For first time in months my chemo brain is out of a fog enough to join in on a twitter chat. And what a powerful one to join. Looking forward to the thinking I know will happen here! #g2great
Hello everyone! I’m Stephanie, a literacy teacher educator at @ualbany in NY. I’m incredibly excited for this chat and have just adopted this text for my graduate classes in the Fall! #G2Great
Welcome #G2Great friends. We are so incredibly proud to have Tammy & Clare back in the guest host seat with us again. Their beautiful book ABOUT BOOKS is a blessing to all of us. So amazing! Welcome to all!
For first time in months my chemo brain is out of a fog enough to join in on a twitter chat. And what a powerful one to join. Looking forward to the thinking I know will happen here! #g2great
Welcome #G2Great friends. We are so incredibly proud to have Tammy & Clare back in the guest host seat with us again. Their beautiful book ABOUT BOOKS is a blessing to all of us. So amazing! Welcome to all!
Susan from Cincinnati. I no longer have a classroom library so I'm just here to learn from all of YOU! I teach children's lit to preservice teachers so I'm anxious to relay your brilliance to my students! #g2great
Hi from Jill in Fredericton, NB. I'm a Grade 6-12 Literacy Coordinator. Excited to be chatting with @ClareandTammy tonight. I got my copy of It's All About the Books at #WriteNow18 on the weekend. #G2Great
OMG -- @kylenebeers Dream come true!!! Thank you for joining - you inspire us personally and professionally. We love you are joining in this conversation that needs to be had! #G2great
For first time in months my chemo brain is out of a fog enough to join in on a twitter chat. And what a powerful one to join. Looking forward to the thinking I know will happen here! #g2great
A1: Inventory all school books. Decide on BEST purpose for use.
Whole class instruct, SG, Partner, Ind. Reading
Then redistribute.
Look for gaps - Purchase to fill gaps
#G2Great
A1: Ask my students. Request suggestions from my PLN. Consult the @nerdybookclub and their guest bloggers. Look for award winners through @ALANorg. I am fortunate to receive many grants from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Look for "fill-a-bag for $5" from my library. #G2Great
A1: I encourage my graduate students to start their collection immediately: book sales, Scholastic book clubs and warehouses, and more. If they buy a book a month over the course of their teacher education programs, they would have a good start! #g2great
A1: Decide on HOW to use books for instruction: Content, Mentor Texts, Read Alouds, Interactive Read Alouds. Let purpose determine how to match T with S needs & curriculum.
#G2Great
A1 My secret book radar is honed into Twitter connections & it’s on call 24/7 (as well as my SLOW TWITTER FB page). The best book ideas rise from professional friends. #G2Great
A1: I ask all three of my kids (ages 8,9, and 11) what is flying off the shelves in their classrooms, and I spend WAY too much time wandering around libraries and bookstores. Also love booklist #g2great
A1: I pay attention to blogs, twitter and student suggestions. My librarian is also a great resource. The kids will go through scholastic orders for me to buy. #g2great
A1: Cherish those friends who love books and whose youngest child is a little older than your students. Let them know you'll take any books that are ready to retire in the house. #G2Great
A1 I purchase a lot of books, but shhhh! Don’t tell my husband! Also, I don’t feel guilty b/c the books are shared between home readers and School readers! #g2great
A1 Having ongoing conversations with @teachermantrav to discover books he loves! Conversations with People passionate about books and reading opens doors to new resources! #g2great
A1: We can reorganize bkrooms so that books support all parts of reading https://t.co/XrAqpHC2In is a section of the bkroom for series. Tchers take the entire basket back to their classroom #G2Great
#g2great A1: I follow lots of readers I trust on Twitter and Facebook, so I get title reccs there. I also make use of the @Scholastic book club flyers to get books with bonus points. This was huge when I moved from teaching middle school to 3rd.
A1 As I think about resources I think Who What Why: Who are the people I know know books? What are the digital/print resources about books I trust? Why would that book be important in the classroom? #G2Great
A1. We would challenge two middle schools to have book drives for our at-risk elem. school. MS students had LOTS of books they no longer wanted. We got thousands of books!! #G2Great
A1 I'm a member of 3 really great facebook groups where I've gotten lists of amazing books, and when I need a recommendation those awesome educators have given me great titles. I now also have a digital library and use bookbub to get great titles at affordable prices #g2great
A1: I engage in conversations with colleagues and hear what they are reading. What books are reaching their students? Also, I keep in mind the interests of my kids I teach. What do they enjoy? What will captivate them? What will nudge them as thinkers? #G2Great
A1: Ss do a reading interest inventory in the beginnings the year. I check used book stores, library sales and look for new titles that might match those interests. #g2great
A1 I spend ungodly amounts of money at Amazon (my recommendations get better and better). I follow pages on Facebook and on Twitter to get recommendations. I follow people on Goodreads that I know have good ideas, and I ask my kids what they want. #g2great
#G2Great A1 It’s takes prioritizing, some creativity, and some humility... you save up, make room, borrow, & beg 😆 but it’s worth it to get more books in the hands of our students
A1: Divide and conquer sometimes helps. I have a teacher in my hall who is equally passionate about books @StewieLouWho We help students find books and use each other to push each other's kids or help them find the right next read. #G2Great
A1-scholastic book club points are completely funding my library. I have some super amazing parents that are very supportive! My kids also have a “book requests” form and submit book titles and authors they want more from. #G2Great
A1: Twitter PLN! Blogs, Amazon & B&N recommendations, and of course student recommendations! Personally purchase most of my classroom library: thrift stores, B&N coupons. #G2Great
A1: We don’t have to put all of our books out at once. We save some to introduce as the year progresses – Readers skills and interests grow so our classroom library should grow with them #G2Great
A1 I purchase a lot of books, but shhhh! Don’t tell my husband! Also, I don’t feel guilty b/c the books are shared between home readers and School readers! #g2great
A1: Our staff brings books to lunch, to staff meetings, walking down the halls- we're always keen to share b/c we all gravitate towards different genres #G2Great
A1 I take it upon myself to do what I can to fill it or go to the library with kids. Not being able to get a book is not acceptable. When I couldn't afford it, I went to business to donate money for books. I look for advice, talk to kids, do what I can to have all books. #G2Great
I would bring in my daughter's books (because we had so many at home). Then when she would visit my classroom she would say, "hey that's where all my books went." #g2great
In reply to
@MrsPalmer23, @franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
A1: Teachers sometimes rotate author and genre baskets in and out of the classroom library. This section of the bookroom houses author and genre baskets – They are ready for teachers to grab and go. #G2Great
A1 It’’s always easier to know what books to share with kids if we - as teachers - are readers ourselves. So while I always look to others, I make sure I’m keeping up with reading as much as I can. #G2great
BUT it does show that you were a reader from the beginning and so maybe it’s not about whether they read them but that they see your badge of childhood book honor! #G2Great
They are still in my collection - somehow, the yellowed pages don't seem to have the same appeal as the brand new ones coming in from a recent Donor's Choose Project!
A1 It’s so important we never see our classroom library as complete. It’s a work in progress that has to change with the children who live within our four walls at that time. #G2Great
I would bring in my daughter's books (because we had so many at home). Then when she would visit my classroom she would say, "hey that's where all my books went." #g2great
In reply to
@MrsPalmer23, @franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
A1 If reading is a priority, then getting books in kids hyphen allocation of of resources must reflect that. Right now our search is for culturally relevant texts so every kid can identify with a strong protagonist they identify with. #G2Great
A1 Thanks to twitter chats and book bloggers I share what I learn with our school librarian. In my own classroom I used gift cards to buy books I really NEDED to have at my fingertips. #G2Great
A1 As I think about resources I think Who What Why: Who are the people I know know books? What are the digital/print resources about books I trust? Why would that book be important in the classroom? #G2Great
Working together when using grants also helps! When we work together we get more bang for our buck! We share many examples of how grade level teams and vertical teams do this #G2great
In reply to
@MrsSokolowski, @franmcveigh, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3, @alizateach, @Kpteach5, @literacydocent, @JoEllenMcCarthy
A1:Taking time to browse in bookstores, looking up recommendations on Twitter, look at what kids are rdg.+ taking the books my own kid finishes with to bring to school. #G2Great
#G2Great A1 local libraries, family donations, fundraising, scholastic book clubs, half price books, teachers retiring, Amazon prime, school donation box give one take one
A1: The students share wonderful suggestions, too. They love using features on Amazon to learn suggested and related titles to books they have read and loved. I also look to @scholastic, @bookriot, and other Facebook/Twitter pages to generate ideas for my library. #G2Great
A1: I've been blessed (and do not take it for granted) that I get to see some ARCs (not as many as some, but some). I can share these, float them on. Get them to students. But, I get to stay a bit ahead on what's coming. What I might "ladder" to existing books in room. #g2great
A1 Our school was lucky enough to receive a large donation earmarked for classroom books from a local charity (about $1000 for each classroom) Huge boost! We had to be creative to get more quality high interest books in kids hands. #G2Great
A1: Look at the books across a school, inventory, organize and share. As admin we need to support classroom libraries so Ss bring books home to read & read in school. Each year set priorities and also provide for replenishment. The books are for the kids! Invest in them #G2Great
A1: We don’t have to put all of our books out at once. We save some to introduce as the year progresses – Readers skills and interests grow so our classroom library should grow with them #G2Great
A1 I shop used book sales. Scholastics always has bargains. I am spending my own money buying books at Target, Home Depot, and of course, Barnes and Nobles for my classroom library. #g2great
A1 I'll admit I bought (and still buy) most of the books in my collection. Over the years I've spent a lot of $$ through Scholastic book orders, second hand stores, Ts retiring, purchasing online and from independent book sellers. I follow a LOT of bloggers and get recs #G2Great
A1: The students share wonderful suggestions, too. They love using features on Amazon to learn suggested and related titles to books they have read and loved. I also look to @scholastic, @bookriot, and other Facebook/Twitter pages to generate ideas for my library. #G2Great
A1 I don't have a classroom anymore but I visit classes often to do book talks. I love getting recommendations from students. I am always snapping pics of the books they are reading! #G2Great
A1 We MUST invite kids to be our book choosing partners. The library isn’t about OUR desires but what books will truly beckon the children in front of us into readerly lives. #G2Great
A1. We had so many books from the book drives we gave them away each and every day. Teachers could go through them first for their own classroom libraries. #G2Great
#G2Great I neglected to mention how critical Scholastic book orders have been to building our CR library. Such generous offers and easy to earn points to get more books! The referral program is pretty awesome, too!
Where there’s a will there definitely a way. I’ve never seen a teacher unable to find books when passion for bringing kids and books together is the driving force Joe #G2Great
A1 If reading is a priority, then getting books in kids hyphen allocation of of resources must reflect that. Right now our search is for culturally relevant texts so every kid can identify with a strong protagonist they identify with. #G2Great
A1:after I have a pulse on my Ss through interest inventories and kidwatching, I stock my library thru scholastic points, amazon gift card donations, garage sales and library sales. I also make a weekly trip to the library, too. #g2great
#G2Great A1 the epic app has hundreds of free ebooks and audio books. I use it on chrome books and laptops as a station during guided reading and show the Ss how to find books and topics they’re interested in and it’s free for teachers.
A1b: Very lucky to be in a division that values classroom libraries K-12 by the end of this year they will have funded to a degree classroom libraries. TO make sure it is relevant I want my kids helping me purchase. #g2great
Yes, instead of monies for workbooks we allocate monies for classroom libraries and find ways to send books home for children to read and enjoy. #G2Great
A1: Look at the books across a school, inventory, organize and share. As admin we need to support classroom libraries so Ss bring books home to read & read in school. Each year set priorities and also provide for replenishment. The books are for the kids! Invest in them #G2Great
Yes! I don’t have room@to have all my books out at once, so I rotate each month. Keeps things fresh and kids are always finding something “new”! #G2Great
A1: We don’t have to put all of our books out at once. We save some to introduce as the year progresses – Readers skills and interests grow so our classroom library should grow with them #G2Great
A1 If reading is a priority, then getting books in kids hyphen allocation of of resources must reflect that. Right now our search is for culturally relevant texts so every kid can identify with a strong protagonist they identify with. #G2Great
Agreed! I have an extensive classroom library and I've read 90% of them and know the summary of the others. It helps the kids trust me that I know and love books. #booklove#g2great
A1 Many of our books were theme/unit based. In those bins awaiting to uncover and then stayed in class library. Some came out just because I couldn’t wait. #G2Great
7:42 A1 My good friends Travis Crowder & Todd Nesloney have a great podcast called Sparks in the dark (soon to follow book). They share favorite books OFTEN @TechNinjaTodd@teachermantrav#G2Great
A1: When I was a literacy coach I set up book collections and book swaps, advocated to my Principal and Asst Sup for large amounts of money to support short & long term strategic plan to build classroom libraries. #G2Great
A1: When the book fair comes, I send a few students down to pick out 10-12 titles they think the classroom must have. It's helpful to me. #G2great I can't get them all but I can try!
I get that it can be hard to read at certain times in life, but I don’t understand how a teacher of literacy doesn’t read at all. And I know some teachers who will say “Oh… I don’t like to read kids’ books” or “I don’t read.” #g2great.
A1 It’’s always easier to know what books to share with kids if we - as teachers - are readers ourselves. So while I always look to others, I make sure I’m keeping up with reading as much as I can. #G2great
A1 Build a great relationship w/ librarians everywhere! Let parents & kids know that real books are 1 of the most important things in your clsrm. Invite families to give bks in honor of birthdays, grandparent day & other special occasions. Share bk titles often on blog. #G2Great
#G2Great A1 we have also taken book sets that each grade level received with old basal adoptions and dispersed them back into appropriate classroom libraries; we’ve also disbanded the central leveled library that was not being utilized to put more books in classrooms
I love to talk about books with my best buddy @TechNinjaTodd! We share book recommendations constantly. We keep each other busy with our conversations about books. #G2Great
7:42 A1 My good friends Travis Crowder & Todd Nesloney have a great podcast called Sparks in the dark (soon to follow book). They share favorite books OFTEN @TechNinjaTodd@teachermantrav#G2Great
A1: What @vrkimmel is saying here is true. Always opens up conversations about intent when we say we do this. It's about getting books to kids. And it means spending a LOT of money from the LITTLE that we make as teachers. But, I've committed to this a part of practice. #g2great
I get that it can be hard to read at certain times in life, but I don’t understand how a teacher of literacy doesn’t read at all. And I know some teachers who will say “Oh… I don’t like to read kids’ books” or “I don’t read.” #g2great.
A1 It’’s always easier to know what books to share with kids if we - as teachers - are readers ourselves. So while I always look to others, I make sure I’m keeping up with reading as much as I can. #G2great
We hope so - every book purchased goes to the Book Love Foundation - 1000 (ish) books will fund an elementary classroom library for a teacher. Thank you for making a difference! #G2Great
I’m just enjoying the view watching the book loving conversation whoosh past my eyes. Teachers enthralled with conversations about getting books in kids hands on a Thursday night. Totally inspired by the sight #G2Great
A1. We started with saying, "books in the hands of students." Which turned into Readers are Leaders - matched with the Leader in Me philosophy. If students who are readers actually is a goal then money can be found. #G2Great
A1 It’’s always easier to know what books to share with kids if we - as teachers - are readers ourselves. So while I always look to others, I make sure I’m keeping up with reading as much as I can. #G2great
A2: The best way to curate a diverse collection is to read widely and challenge yourself as a teacher to broaden your own reading habits. The Reading Without Walls challenge is a good place to start….and began this week! #g2greathttps://t.co/8dheekWUgI
A2: Helpful post by @chadceveretthttps://t.co/oDGrxzSykx. Do each of our book baskets have books that affirm children’s life experiences and books that affirm the life experiences of others? #G2Great
My niece does too and I get so mad. She's 14 and loves to read. I want all of her books for my classroom and she refuses to donate them to me. I love that she's an avid reader though. #g2great
In reply to
@drmollyness, @MelanieMeehan1, @MrsPalmer23, @franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
A2: Helpful post by @chadceveretthttps://t.co/oDGrxzSykx. Do each of our book baskets have books that affirm children’s life experiences and books that affirm the life experiences of others? #G2Great
A1 Reader suggestions!! I had a student finish THE WILD ROBOT and she asked if I had the second book. After spring break I showed with a copy. I told her she was reading it before me!! #g2great
This chat is going so fast I need someone to get my sheets out of the dryer. Sad to say that they are still flannel sheets. Where's spring weather???? #g2great
My niece does too and I get so mad. She's 14 and loves to read. I want all of her books for my classroom and she refuses to donate them to me. I love that she's an avid reader though. #g2great
In reply to
@drmollyness, @MelanieMeehan1, @MrsPalmer23, @franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
We lost ours in Louisville. Boy, do I wish we had this one back. We do have a Book Sale there still at the VFW branch, but you have to look for the dates. #g2great
A2: @pernilleripp@donalynbooks@colbysharp@MrSchuReads all do a great job with suggesting diverse books. I do not have diverse students typically. So their interests are not always in diverse books but i think we need them regardless. #g2great
#G2Great A1 As a Literacy Coach I purchase new books all the time typically 2 copies at a time; one for my bookshelf accessible to any teacher and 1 to gift or giveaway. This summer I’m hoping to gift many during my Teacher Book Tasting 😊
A1: We don’t have to put all of our books out at once. We save some to introduce as the year progresses – Readers skills and interests grow so our classroom library should grow with them #G2Great
#g2great A2: Diversifying the characters and authors in my library has been a focus this year. I follow the #weneeddiversebooks hashtag on Twitter and look to other readers I trust for ideas.
A2 It seems the more my classroom library diversifies, the easier it is to keep going. Esp since recommendations from online sources get more tailored to you as you buy. I rely on Tweeps using the #ownvoices hashtag, and a ton of other resources that I can't think of now #g2great
A2 I reach out to colleagues in my building/district. I also mentor 3 new teachers in my district and I always discover new book titles when I visit their classrooms. #G2Great
A2: I talk to lots of people about books. Also following diverse authors on Twitter b/c they talk about diverse books. Award winners like Coretta Scott King,,, #G2Great
A2: Some of my best resources to intrigue students to extend themselves to a new topic/idea is to read a picture book with the same ideas/topics. It can be the click of the key for some kids. #G2great And then they want more
A2 I rely on PLN, on Twitter chats, on blogs to help me keep up with suggestions. I reach out to authors for help/ideas. I do not like "literature canon", I like students to explore, to feel. My class is going towards total differentiation/personalization. I'm excited. #G2Great
That will always be our problem too... but every classroom should be provisioned with the tools needed to teach literacy --BOOKS!!! Every child. Every classroom. Every year. #G2great
A2 I reach out to colleagues in my building/district. I also mentor 3 new teachers in my district and I always discover new book titles when I visit their classrooms. #G2Great
Q2: I connect with other educators and my MC specialist is a great resource for suggestions and my Ss. I research the authors and stories prior to purchase so I can economize my budget- but... I just want all the books! #g2great
A2. Decades ago I wanted to purchase books that represented our Native American student demographics. During summer I ordered them from Scholastic. BAD decision :-( In fall NA coordinator enlightened me (I didn't know what I didn't know) #G2Great
I purchased the book after the Facebook Live event because of the donation to the Book Love Foundation. I’m going to gift it to my student teacher. #g2great
A2 A Mighty Girl on Facebook is a great resource for a variety of books. I also follow some great facebook groups and I love hosting "Book Tasting" events to expose my students to a variety/ genre of books that they might not have otherwise even bothered to read #g2great
A2: A key part to choice is ensuring we use reading interest surveys and allow students to tell us what they want to read. We gave a survey to over 1000 9-12 students and the books they wanted weren’t exactly what we expected. Great info! #noaccountingfortaste#G2Great
A2: Diversity is found everywhere. A great literary immersion practice is to begin each day with a poem. Talk about diversity, create empathy, and explore other cultures through poems. Be sure to include all walks of life in your room. Talk them up with book talks. #G2Great
A2: @pernilleripp@donalynbooks@colbysharp@MrSchuReads all do a great job with suggesting diverse books. I do not have diverse students typically. So their interests are not always in diverse books but i think we need them regardless. #g2great
I purchased the book after the Facebook Live event because of the donation to the Book Love Foundation. I’m going to gift it to my student teacher. #g2great
#G2Great A2 Twitter has completely revolutionized the way I learn abt books! (plus more!) #titletalk, being part of #bookexcursion to read ARC's, follwg educators who are passionate abt books, follwg authors who tend to take care of ea other.
A2: I keep building my book club library as well and try to cont. to select diverse books for Ss to share together. Sometimes a club is the place to start. #G2Great
A2 It’s in our most homogenous communities that we most need our books that show the wonderful diversity of this world. Books let us be for a while what we are not. #G2Great
A2 if we want to kids to get excited about reading, we have to provide books THEY can identify with. Their interests WILL differ from ours and we need to remember that when we select books for classroom libraries #G2Great
A1/A2: In order to assure access, we must be resourceful. Many times, we must be resource. Goodwill. Yard Sales. Friends of the Library. You know what I find most often? WE are the ones who make A book interesting, not THE book interesting. Readers read what we "bless." #g2great
A2 I was at the Scholastic book fair today with Ss. Listening to their conversations and watching as they browsed books, I was able to make a list of books that they are drawn to. #G2Great
A2: A co-worker & I recently put together this newsletter for staff of recommendations for diversifying classroom libraries with culturally diverse series books. https://t.co/EcMP5ETbWI#G2Great
A2 I try to recognize and address my personal reading gaps. I get recommendations from @nerdybookclub, @diversebooks, twitter friends, and from students I meet when I visit classrooms. #G2Great
A2: I bring my students into the curating process. Are there books in the classroom library that represent them? Which ones? If none do, we search together. I use @diversebooks, online resources, & suggestions from my colleagues to build a rich collection. #G2Great
I purchased the book after the Facebook Live event because of the donation to the Book Love Foundation. I’m going to gift it to my student teacher. #g2great
Absolutely agree @mrbgilson we need diverse books for classrooms where there is little diversity. So agree @mrbgilson. Imperative. We need to cultivate compassion, understanding and empathy across cultures, races and socioeconomic classes. #G2Great#LitBankStreet
A2: @pernilleripp@donalynbooks@colbysharp@MrSchuReads all do a great job with suggesting diverse books. I do not have diverse students typically. So their interests are not always in diverse books but i think we need them regardless. #g2great
A2 One of the best resources of all is our kids. They are reading books on their own that I may never have considered and so we need be present in day to day opportunities. #G2Great
#G2Great This is so true! I have read more in the last 10 months than ever before in my life! So fulfilling! Conferring is so fun as it becomes a time to visit old friends!
My most powerful BHH reflections of the year came from books where my students did not "see" themselves. I am not a Number showed me a side of my students thoughts I would never have discovered otherwise. #disruptingthinking#g2great
A2: Teacher, staff, student book talks are huge! When a student leader stands up to share a great book- that’s the best advert for a book. It keeps reading cool! Also- staff members stopping by to share their textual lineage (@AlfredTatum ) is awesome. Book talks rock. #G2Great
This will make a teacher very happy! We have more than 200 applications this year and one board member told me they are keeping her up at night! So inspiring. #G2Great
I purchased the book after the Facebook Live event because of the donation to the Book Love Foundation. I’m going to gift it to my student teacher. #g2great
When we live our lives as learners we can be teachers - reading, writing, science, math, social studies anything we teach we need to experience too. #G2Great
A2: I found several publishers authors & illustrators to follow on Instagram. Always find a title or two to check out whenever I peruse my feed. #g2great
This is so true. The kids who are assigned to my class are lucky. My CR library is over 1400 titles. Other classrooms have fewer than 100. Why should my kids have an advantage because I can financially provide these books? All kids deserve access to great books. #g2great
A2 include all genres, also picture books for middle school. Have diverse cultures represented so students see themselves in books and also learn about other cultures! To find books: The Horn Book, Goodreads, Nerdy Book Club, read in book stores before buying. #g2great
These are exactly the kind of conversations that we need to have in our schools. Why is it that we can spend hours out of the year talking data, but ignore the most essential topic of this magnitude - getting beautiful books in kids hand? #G2Great
My most powerful BHH reflections of the year came from books where my students did not "see" themselves. I am not a Number showed me a side of my students thoughts I would never have discovered otherwise. #disruptingthinking#g2great
A3. "Intent vs. Impact: We level books not children. Levels are instructional tools. Put levels in books - as a guide but NEVER to limit access. Ts must understand text complexity!
@ClareandTammy#booklove#G2Great
A1/A2: Tonight, a good author friend of our classroom, #Room407, sent us a copy of her new book. I'm so grateful. Her gift means that I can share HER book and the book of ANOTHER author with our students. #g2great
That author was @gaepol. Please tell me that you know her books.
A2: I also consider the books that represent all types of diversity w/ characters who are differently abled, whose philosophies (religious, etc.) are wide and varied, who are LGBTQIA, and so on. Ss should see characters who do & do not look/sound like they do. #G2Great
A2: I have to go back to Twitter! Following authors, teachers, book fans, readers LOVE to share a new favorite! Also, being intentional about incorporating/buying diverse books! #G2Great
I have read more diverse books this year due to @lauramossa@DrLMaucione@Teacher_AWebb@rtslitech & others. It has been wonderful to read abt others around the world. Necessary for our students to realize that land, air and sea just separates us. #g2great
A2 We are grateful for donations. We named this diverse library section after him - & had a beautiful award sticker created for their front covers. Monthly, our whole sch focuses on 1. The children know those bks are very special & call them "The Dr. H" books. #G2Great
A3: We want the labels on the baskets to match what readers consider when they choose books – community, interest, inquiry, disposition, life events & goals. We level the texts inside the baskets to support young readers' choices. #G2Great
A2: A co-worker & I recently put together this newsletter for staff of recommendations for diversifying classroom libraries with culturally diverse series books. https://t.co/EcMP5ETbWI#G2Great
The only data I'm concerned about: how many books do my kids have access to? How many can they read in a year? How many can I get them to read over the summer #g2great
These are exactly the kind of conversations that we need to have in our schools. Why is it that we can spend hours out of the year talking data, but ignore the most essential topic of this magnitude - getting beautiful books in kids hand? #G2Great
A2 @diversebooks is a great source to follow. There’s also an app called We Read Too that I believe was created by a student! Once you start looking, you can find a lot of great diverse books being published. #g2great
A3. We must teach Ss to begin with interests in choosing a book. So label baskets with
"blood and guts"
"LOL"
"Parents were disasters"
to help in making choices.
No levels!
#G2Great@ClareandTammy#BookLove
A3 If we believe that choice matters in our own lives, then why wouldn’t we also believe that it matters in the lives of children. Our libraries must be a reflection of our beliefs! #G2Great
A3: We need to think like real readers here. While we might level books for our instruction, they should not shackle a student. Use bins based on topic, genre, interest, format and more and teach students how to make good book choices. #g2great
A1/A2 Forgot to mention that a lot of my book selections come from the very dedicated, energetic, awesome @colbysharp . His videos are the best! #G2Great
I love that book. I have it in English and French. I have started a conference with that book, reading it to everyone. The power of a story. Just amazing. #G2Great
A3: When we label book baskets with titles such as: Books to Read with a Partner, Tear Jerkers, LOL, we teach children what readers consider when they choose texts. #G2Great
A2: Teacher, staff, student book talks are huge! When a student leader stands up to share a great book- that’s the best advert for a book. It keeps reading cool! Also- staff members stopping by to share their textual lineage (@AlfredTatum ) is awesome. Book talks rock. #G2Great
A3: Initially my classroom library is set up by me. As the year progresses my students change out the books and create bin labels as they see fit. I try to let them create the library.#g2great
Yes definitely. I”ll post it afterward Just sit back and enjoy the view. Do you use tweetdeck. It’s a twitter chat blessing? If not think about it for the future. https://t.co/7z1Rih4iG8#G2Great
A2. Please don't assume that one the many companies that have been named during this chat say they are "culturally diverse" actually represent that culture correctly. Do your research. #G2Great
A2 @donalynbooks and her husband have been giving away books daily the last couple of years and they are all great titles promoting diversity. Follow her on FB and Twitter for lots of great titles. #G2Great
A3- I start with some baskets labelled- then students start adding their own. We never talk about levels. We speak about finding 'good fit' books and how some books fit differently than others. #G2Great
#g2great A3: My library is organized by genre (F) and topic (NF) with some series and author baskets. I do not level my library. I have lots of conversations with students about what makes a “stretch book”.
#G2Great A3 interest first. Then we teach the Ss how to pick good fit books. If they don’t learn now what they enjoy reading about and what they’re able to comprehend on their own I can’t expect them to love to read and become lifelong readers.
A3:I don’t level my library. This year I let students decide how to group books by genre/topics/ favorite series. This helped me learn more about their reading lives!#g2great
A3 My library is organized by genre. I don't pay much attention to levels (I teach 8th grade so it's not really a thing.) I just try to help kids find books they love based on what their interests and other books they liked. #g2great
In the word of @KellyGToGo-- we need a literal book flood to make this happen. Teachers need books to develop passionate and proficient readers! #G2great
The only data I'm concerned about: how many books do my kids have access to? How many can they read in a year? How many can I get them to read over the summer #g2great
These are exactly the kind of conversations that we need to have in our schools. Why is it that we can spend hours out of the year talking data, but ignore the most essential topic of this magnitude - getting beautiful books in kids hand? #G2Great
A3 I don't use leveled baskets. I teach and guide students on learning how to choose the "just right book" so that they understand have ultimate choice over what they read. If a book is too hard we write down the title and go back to it later on in the year #g2great
#g2great A3 When I was in the classroom, my books were organized in many ways: genre, author, interests, levels, series. No one method stood out. Variety and choice are best!
A3: I think there is so much misunderstanding with levels and it is unfortunate. I feel like it is the algorithm to reading in some ways and many are missing the conceptual understanding behind it all. #G2Great
#g2great A3: My library is organized by genre (F) and topic (NF) with some series and author baskets. I do not level my library. I have lots of conversations with students about what makes a “stretch book”.
A2 Children need to see themselves in books and recognize that in many ways they’re alike but also different. Conversations abound when we give them the floor. #G2Great
#G2Great A4 topics, author, series, genres, love pairing across genres by like theme or topic to help students with a more balanced reading diet...I’ve found when they are passionate about the topic they enjoy seeing it reflected in different genres
A3. "Intent vs. Impact: We level books not children. Levels are instructional tools. Put levels in books - as a guide but NEVER to limit access. Ts must understand text complexity!
@ClareandTammy#booklove#G2Great
A3 I think primary students need more support and guidance with finding books they can read and enjoy. Our classroom library has books by level, author, series, and interests--It's a mixture. The I teach/support with how to find books they can read & enjoy. #G2Great
#g2great A3: Since this is my second year in 3rd grade, I will still look up book levels on the F & P website, but it’s for me, to help me learn what kinds of things my kids can do as readers in 3rd grade.
A3 We have lost the purpose of levels. They are ONLY a flexible for my eyes only professional reference for instructional experiences NOT to tether kids to leveled bins. #G2Great
A3 Going back to the classroom has me reflecting on this a lot. I love having a little card that sticks out with themes, ideas, words to describe it. Students should gravitate with feeling first, use the cover and words to see the emotions, and just try out books. #G2Great
The book problem is so bad because kids know if they want a book, I will buy it for them, meanwhile, I'm scraping up change to buy my coffee (I have a coffee problem too) #G2Great
A2: Three requirements for buying books: 1. Cognitive/Academic Questions and Issues 2. Personal growth opportunities. 3. Social awareness and expansion opportunities-- has been really helpful in deciding on books. #g2great
A3:I put my Ss in charge of organizing the library. It’s been a big “letting go” process for me, but so valuable for my kids to take true ownership. #G2Great
Right? It can mean so many different things, too! A book can stretch a reader in many different ways. I didn’t invent it, but I don’t remember where I first encountered the term. #g2great
A3: I organize books by genre. Students gravitate to overarching ideas that speak to them. I handle levels through conversations, guiding students to book choices that will meet their independent reading needs. I prefer talking w/ Ss as opposed to labeling books w/levels #G2Great
A3 #G2Great I don't label book bins w/levels. Books are grouped by genre. Initially, they were grped by various types of fiction & non-fiction. Making the shift to matching genre labels to 40 bk chllg so Ss can stretch their habits to include genres they may not otherwise select.
A3:I don’t level my library. This year I let students decide how to group books by genre/topics/ favorite series. This helped me learn more about their reading lives!#g2great
A3: I let the kids decide how to organize the book bins. We have genres, NF topics, favorite authors, and titles like “strong girl (or boy) characters”. Also have some bins for Ss one books they write/publish. #G2Great
A3 Genres, Series, authors. Let the students create the organization! Share books with readers: Lots of Book talks and book sharing and “I thought of you ...” #G2Great
A3 I always want to ask my students - how do you want to organize books. I mean, why should it be the same way all the time. Versatility, flexibility are key. Make it about the students. Talk with them and have them be part of the process. #G2Great
A1/A2: Tonight, a good author friend of our classroom, #Room407, sent us a copy of her new book. I'm so grateful. Her gift means that I can share HER book and the book of ANOTHER author with our students. #g2great
That author was @gaepol. Please tell me that you know her books.
A3 During first few days the students,yes the students,organize the library. They touch all the books, sneak peeks to read, make piles, organize as it makes sense to them. They get to know & own their library. Conversations & scaffolding help Ss learn how to choose books #G2Great
A3- I used to have my classroom library organized by level, but the past few years I switched to sorting them by genre. It’s been amazing! Caught a die hard NF fan in the fiction buckets today and was in love #booksbooksbooks#G2Great
A3: When we label book baskets with titles such as: Books to Read with a Partner, Tear Jerkers, LOL, we teach children what readers consider when they choose texts. #G2Great
A3: When I was in the classroom I had books organized by both, some levels & I would have Ss separate books into different groups to create bins and labels for those bins. Some bins I would create too, but classroom libraries should represent the students in that class #g2great
A2: Teacher, staff, student book talks are huge! When a student leader stands up to share a great book- that’s the best advert for a book. It keeps reading cool! Also- staff members stopping by to share their textual lineage (@AlfredTatum ) is awesome. Book talks rock. #G2Great
A3: When we label book baskets with titles such as: Books to Read with a Partner, Tear Jerkers, LOL, we teach children what readers consider when they choose texts. #G2Great
A3: I have had kids, on numerous occasions, tell me "my teacher never would have let me read this last year." It's the "let me" that gets me every time. Why was it a rule and not a conversation? So much can be learned. #G2Great
A3 Classroom libraries should make boos accessible: organized bins labeled by genre, topic, series, interest, style and always with kids engaged in the process. #G2Great
A3 I organize books by genres.I do not level books in classroom libraries. When a student chooses a book beyond reach, we talk and I offer others. Always the students choice. Never take a book away. Be patient! #g2great
A3: I start out by genre, then let the kids have input & move books around as the year goes on. I also put books outside of the boundaries of the library to catch Ss eyes—chalk ledge, tops of shelves, windowsills, etc. #g2great
#g2great A2: Diversifying the characters and authors in my library has been a focus this year. I follow the #weneeddiversebooks hashtag on Twitter and look to other readers I trust for ideas.
A3: I did away with levels. I do away with limits. My students are asked to pick books they can understand and I conference and check in if I see them dating a book until it is common law status but if they understand it they can read it. My shelf is organized by colour #g2great
A3 I got rid of leveled bins several years ago after noticing that NO ONE shopped in that area of the CR Library. I asked my Ss why and they responded “I just don’t like to shop for books that way” Nuff said! #g2great
I love this so much Kylene! The minute we level book bins we are starting the process of locking the door to books that could entice our readers. #G2Great
A3: My 4th grade classroom library has fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction that have F&P levels on stickers on front of books. Nonfiction is by topic, not leveled. Teach kids 5 finger rule & let them choose. #G2Great
A3: Label by topic (#MeToo, BLM, Mental Illness, LGBTQIA, etc.), genre (graphic novels, poetry, YA, SF, etc.), and Book Club reads (The Hat U Give, Everything, Everything, Symptoms of Being Human, Dumplin’ etc.) #G2Great
A3 I always want to ask my students - how do you want to organize books. I mean, why should it be the same way all the time. Versatility, flexibility are key. Make it about the students. Talk with them and have them be part of the process. #G2Great
A3 Leveling books is starting point for kids, but when we (adult readers) select books, we do it by interest or genre. I never go to the library to look for a level “Z.” Whatever we do, it needs to be authentic. School will end. Reading is forever #G2Great
Books are organized in baskets by type of book, such as "extreme adventure" or "books about funny kids." Graphic novel baskets are by far the most popular! #G2Great
#G2Great A3 I admit I am not a fan of labeling with levels, I believe levels are tools for teachers. Ive suggested to teachers that instead of speaking levels speak book characteristics that complement the reader and provide them a list of, “if you like - you might try -“
A3 I also read aloud books that are at various reading levels. We bless the books we read-aloud. Students love getting the Frog and Toad or Elephant and Piggie book I just read to the class. #G2Great
A3 Bob Probst and I always ask kids “What world problem would you like to solve?” Their answers - from K-12- always impress us: homelessness, hunger, bullying, loneliness, etc - and that then helps us help them find books they are already passionate about. #G2Great
A3: Many of my books have a level on them, but there is never a focus on that and they are not arranged by level. I don't put levels on them anymore either. It was required. I figure there is enough there to suffice. #G2Great
A3: Metacognition is one of the most important skills to develop. Students need to know whether a book is too hard and make decisions about whether they want to stretch how far from their comfort zone it is. #G2Great
A4. When Ss organize, curate, and reshelve books, they can also help friends find NEXT books & help keep books fresh as well as titles that need ordered & replaced.
@ClareandTammy#G2Great#BookLove
Ss asked if they could just read during their time with me & several went straight for Elephant & Piggie books. They are 3rd graders and with choice they went to books that they love. Doesn't matter how they are organized they know where to go. #g2great
A3 I really prefer to organize books by genre with colored dots that let me know approximate level. I can see at a glance if a book I recommend is a possible fit for a kid. It's ultimately their choice, though. #G2Great
#G2Great Is this how all bins get labeled or maybe just some that you are choosing to highlight based on Ss interests? Not sure I could pull this off in my CR library in entirety!
I have such a hard time with that one too. I just can't imagine telling a kid that they can't read something they really want to. (I mean as long as it's not 50 Shades or something) #g2great
I do that. One of my sixth graders came in with The Hate You Give this week. GREAT book, but a bit mature for her. Turns out she couldn't get into it and had a new, middle grade book the next day. They often self-montior and deselect. #g2great
A4 Our 1st order of business is to be expert kidwatchers from day 1 of school. When we’re present in day-to-day moments, kids are “telling” us a great deal by their every move/ #G2Great
#G2Great A3 I think it’s vitally Important we don’t restrict access to books Ss have a vested interest and/or prior knowledge in...there is much to be said about engagement and productive effort
#g2great A4: My kids are responsible for making sure books are put away neatly and in the right bins. They will flip through the bins and see if any are out of place. They also recommend books they think I should weed out and titles they think I should buy. It’s their library.
For those of you who are new to Twitter, don’t be afraid to just enjoy the passion view and soak in the wisdom and dedication of all. We would love for you to jump in but we love and appreciate that you’re here even more! ❤️ #G2Great
A3: I have had kids, on numerous occasions, tell me "my teacher never would have let me read this last year." It's the "let me" that gets me every time. Why was it a rule and not a conversation? So much can be learned. #G2Great
.@KyleneBeers Reminds me of head of education at Google who asks students the same question instead of "What do you want to be when you grow up?" We unlock the potential in ss when we ask deeper ?'s and find books for them to devour. SS are our future. #G2Great#LitBankStreet
A3 Bob Probst and I always ask kids “What world problem would you like to solve?” Their answers - from K-12- always impress us: homelessness, hunger, bullying, loneliness, etc - and that then helps us help them find books they are already passionate about. #G2Great
A4: Ss recs, a list of needs is posted, I've had kids do book talk videos for the school or our class website. They also help create new categories or arrangements that work for them. #G2Great
A3 I also organize some sections by authors especially in early elementary classrooms. Other times I gather by topic or theme. With older Ss we start out the year by letting them decide how we'll organize our reading shelves. #G2Great
A4 One of my favorite activities that we do is our diversity inventory. We inventory the entire classroom library, looking to see whose voices are represented well and who we need to hear more from. I use the results to guide buying decisions. #g2great
Hey #G2Great Join us for THE BEST teacher led collaborative workshops @EdCampNEWARK Saturday, 4/21/18! All things education and teaching in conversational learning spaces. https://t.co/CvOG5XCEbU Pls #RT
A4: I ask students to help me recreate new genres for the library each year. What genres do they want to see in our classroom collection? I also listen to their recommendations. What books will help them lead stronger readerly lives? #g2great#SparksInTheDark
A4 I love giving kids book blurbs = I sometimes write or sometimes take fr publisher’s blurb and then asking kids to decide what makes them put certain blurbs together - “these are all funny” “these are all girl characters” “these are all zombie” or whatever. #G2Great
A4 This will be part of my new year welcome in the summer. I will invite students/parents to the class, talk with them, look for their suggestions. Many HS kids come with a notion of "not being readers" I work to change that with them. Find the passion. #G2Great
#G2Great You just reminded me abt the book Pay it Forward that I read aloud to my 4th graders several yrs ago...need to put that out for Ss to explore.
A4: Having Ss re-evaluate classroom library organization & make changes for next year’s class sounds like a great end of the year collaborative project. #g2great
A4- They write and add their own books to the library; they create new labels for bins (this week, we started a 'Life' basket), they change labels as they see fit- there is always healthy debate beforehand & we have an ongoing wish list on chart paper of books we'd like #g2great
A4: My Ss can create new “book collections” in bins. I have some by author or series when we start the year. They can add/change as we go through the year! #G2Great
A4 When it is time to buy books, involve students. Traditionally, teachers were seen as the masters of deciding what to buy. Share the leadership. Get donations and go to the bookstore with kids. So much pride is felt by kids when you involve them in the process. #G2Great
A4 INVITE & make clear that their voice matters. We can’t do this if the library is done when they arrive. Give them time to put their imprint on it in every possible way! #G2Great
A4 Prior to starting our information book clubs my students helped me reorganize our classroom library by nonfiction topics which then helps them determine which NF Book Club they want to participate in. #G2Great
A4: Having Ss re-evaluate classroom library organization & make changes for next year’s class sounds like a great end of the year collaborative project. #g2great
A4 I love giving kids book blurbs = I sometimes write or sometimes take fr publisher’s blurb and then asking kids to decide what makes them put certain blurbs together - “these are all funny” “these are all girl characters” “these are all zombie” or whatever. #G2Great
We have a “library suggestion box” where kids request books, make suggestions for new book bins/way to organize, or things they find problematic when trying to find books. We discuss these as a class and problem solve together #g2great
YES YES YES! We can scaffold without labeling or being restricting. Readers think about interests first. If we have enough book volume levels do not have to be an issue! #G2great
A4: Today, a young man helped in a HUGE way. Nick came in/arranged my professional books into three categories (and authors if I had a bunch by any one in particular). This task would have taken me a week. He got it done in short order. I would have labored over sort. #g2great
A4 I'm always asking ss for the names of books they want to read that aren't in our classroom library. They love it when I walk in with a brand new stack of books that they've requested. This also helps us create a deeply meaningful relationship. It's a strong bond #g2great
A4: Establish class library norms at beginning of the year. Ss know is a sacred space & want to keep it organized so everyone can access. We have stickers on books to match basket labels for easy return. #G2Great
A4: Having Ss re-evaluate classroom library organization & make changes for next year’s class sounds like a great end of the year collaborative project. #g2great
A 4 Have students work with a partner and figure out genre. When a large number of books arrive, partners do this and share their books. All become aware of books and are mentally selecting titles. When organized by genre, easy to put back. #g2great
A3 I organize bks by unit of study (for my private collection) as well as minilesson topic. B/c I tch K/1, I swap them out so things can appear fresh even 1.5 yrs later. But I've discovered several children are the best organizers of their own bks! #G2Great (This just happened!)
Standing ovation for Tammy & Clare for this statement @Heinemann
"Tammy and Clare want this book to impact the lives of teachers and students directly so they are donating all author royalties it generates to the Book Love Foundation.”
We love you girls! #G2Great
A4: Students can add texts and create their own text sets. These can be organized by topic of interest, genre, literary theme and writer’s craft. #G2Great
A3: and I should add that I ask Ss what they want and order right on the spot! Just ordered 3 books this week b/c of student request! I kinda have an AmaIng problem...too easy! #G2Great
A4 I rotate books each month. The first of the month, Ss empty their bins and reshelve everything (cuts down on hoarding!) then they make a list of all the bins they want to keep out for the next month (refreshes their interest!) #g2great
A4 Let kids create/adopt labeled bins. As the “bin expert” they maintain, add, rearrange & advertise books (orally and in writing). Turn your students into literary pied pipers! #G2Great
#G2Great OK - now I'm questioning "labels" on my bins - maybe I let Ss reshelve a chunk of books at end of yr for incoming class? Need a way to know where to reshelve when finished. I have a yellow sticker in upper rt corner that matches letter on bin - HF for historical fiction.
I have two libraries in my k classroom. One is a rotating picture book library filled with favorites and thematically based books. I also have a color coded leveled library. K kids need books they can open and think: I can read this! #G2Great
A4: few times a year I will do a bulk order, so we get a big box. Usually a big variety. The kids swoon over them and then we figure out how they fit in our classroom. They stay on the NEW BOOK counter for a spell though-with who's next lists. #G2great
Most readers think about interests first...unless they are AR readers and then it is all "levels in my ZPD". I wish this would change in my district. #G2great
YES YES YES! We can scaffold without labeling or being restricting. Readers think about interests first. If we have enough book volume levels do not have to be an issue! #G2great
My third graders were shocked the first time I fired up Amazon when they asked about a book that wasn’t in our library. They said, “You did that just for us? We’ve never seen that before!” #g2great
A5. Have kindles & nooks in some bldgs. Limit of # of devices. Highlighted texts appear on all. LOVE that no one SEES the text the S is reading. Public library - overdrive. School -Pebble 2 go and S created books.
#G2Great@ClareandTammy#BookLove
A4: By having Nick come into to arrange my professional development titles (also purchased by me), he was able to come to a deeper appreciation of what his teacher feels is important to have near as resource in the room. Books for them. Books for me. Books for us. #g2great
A4 one of my favorite parts of the year is seeing the kids light up when they see my classroom library. Creating a space for THEM gets them to want to be involved in the process of cultivating and creating. #G2Great
In reply to
@franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
A5 SEEK THEM OUT and listen to kids. Not just things we purchase but those things available online as well (podcasts are so popular now and should be accessed #G2Great
A5: My favorite? Using QR codes! I link students to audio recordings, the author’s website, book reviews and videos and articles that could enhance their understanding of the book’s content. They LOVE it! #g2great
A4: few times a year I will do a bulk order, so we get a big box. Usually a big variety. The kids swoon over them and then we figure out how they fit in our classroom. They stay on the NEW BOOK counter for a spell though-with who's next lists. #G2great
So much in this idea. I feel classroom library needs to evolve throughout the year. Especially in younger grades where so much is in the Ts hands. Giving kids agency in as many ways as possible. #g2great
A4: I've had kids looking up when books are coming out, the most recent one was-Bat and the Waiting Game. I had kids waiting months for this. Can't wait to show it to them next week after break. #G2Great
#g2great I’ll admit that I don’t use many digital resources with my kids. Mostly because of access. I’m hoping that will change as my district rolls out our new “access anytime, anywhere” program.
A4 one of my favorite parts of the year is seeing the kids light up when they see my classroom library. Creating a space for THEM gets them to want to be involved in the process of cultivating and creating. #G2Great
In reply to
@franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
#G2Great I heard this last week and was so impressed with the generosity of @ClareandTammy TeachersforTeachers. @heinemann (Carol ELA Consultant from Long Island here to chat with friends). @DrMaryHoward @
Standing ovation for Tammy & Clare for this statement @Heinemann
"Tammy and Clare want this book to impact the lives of teachers and students directly so they are donating all author royalties it generates to the Book Love Foundation.”
We love you girls! #G2Great
A4 one of my favorite parts of the year is seeing the kids light up when they see my classroom library. Creating a space for THEM gets them to want to be involved in the process of cultivating and creating. #G2Great
In reply to
@franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
My third graders were shocked the first time I fired up Amazon when they asked about a book that wasn’t in our library. They said, “You did that just for us? We’ve never seen that before!” #g2great
Q5: We’ve started using @Flipgrid where sts can record book talks as a place for others to go when they don’t know what to read next. Peer recommendations are best. #g2great
I couldn't figure out how to attach a standing ovation GIF for this, but seriously? donating all author royalties it generates to the Book Love Foundation. I have just found two new heroes! @ClareandTammy#G2Great#LitBankStreet
Standing ovation for Tammy & Clare for this statement @Heinemann
"Tammy and Clare want this book to impact the lives of teachers and students directly so they are donating all author royalties it generates to the Book Love Foundation.”
We love you girls! #G2Great
A5: We are big fans of @wonderopolis – Love that students can explore a question each day. Videos are amazing and the program can read aloud to students. #G2Great
A5 Our technological world is growing by leaps and bounds so it’s impossible to keep up with everything. Invite kids to share. Why not create a digital wall with ideas #G2Great
While this is a powerful chat, the chemo is powerfully strong, so I’m calling it a night. Thanks all for the brilliant thinking. I loved being nearly back in the joy of connecting with teachers this way! I so appreciate all the support so many of you have offered. #G2Great
They knew every book I preordered so far this year. I think they believe I have magical powers. I’m not telling them it’s @MrSchuReads’s book release calendar! #g2great
A5: there are so many awesome digital texts in our world. Reading on devices isn’t going away. I love hardcover@and paperback books, but we can increase access and choice with digital texts, audio books, ebooks, etc. #G2Great
A5: We LOVE the @nerdybookclub and submit guest blog posts as authentic writing opportunities. https://t.co/nNQGz9Nsa1 It helps kids share books they love with folks who love books! #G2Great
A5: Where's my girl @Deb_Frazier She's the queen of digital tools for good and the perfect balance of the right tool at the right time for the right reason. #G2Great
I read with a 2nd grader lately. I asked her if she had read a book I showed her. She said, if it was in the orange bin I read it. #G2Great#LitBankStreet
Most readers think about interests first...unless they are AR readers and then it is all "levels in my ZPD". I wish this would change in my district. #G2great
YES YES YES! We can scaffold without labeling or being restricting. Readers think about interests first. If we have enough book volume levels do not have to be an issue! #G2great
Standing ovation for Tammy & Clare for this statement @Heinemann
"Tammy and Clare want this book to impact the lives of teachers and students directly so they are donating all author royalties it generates to the Book Love Foundation.”
We love you girls! #G2Great
A5 Let’s not ignore the power of student-created digital tools that allow kids to read their favorite texts or advertise/share their thinking with peers (video/audio) #G2Great
#G2Great One of my Ss has asked daily when the "Sunny" book is coming in to the classroom! @JasonReynolds83 thinking it will come next Tues on its book bday due to Donor's Choose project! Loving the pre-orders this way!
In reply to
@mindi_r, @angie_debertin, @MrSchuReads, @JasonReynolds83
A5: This is an area I definitely need to work on. Sites like Newsela and Wonderopolis have great articles. We explore author websites. Looking for more resources. #G2Great
Q5- we use @myONreader and learning ally on devices. We have 2 newer iPads and 3 OG iPads that work when they want to. With so many different learning styles in my groups, I wish we could get to 1-1. Have a @DonorsChoose project up, so we’ll see! #grantwriting#edtech#g2great
That’s beautiful. It’s not enough to just have books… we have to show that we value them by creating a display that beckons readers to enter and linger awhile! #G2Great
This needs to change. Lifelong readers read books they can read and they want to read. Our students deserve both - we need books to give them this opportunity. #G2great
I read with a 2nd grader lately. I asked her if she had read a book I showed her. She said, if it was in the orange bin I read it. #G2Great#LitBankStreet
Most readers think about interests first...unless they are AR readers and then it is all "levels in my ZPD". I wish this would change in my district. #G2great
YES YES YES! We can scaffold without labeling or being restricting. Readers think about interests first. If we have enough book volume levels do not have to be an issue! #G2great
A5 I don't use a lot of digital resources for reading. We are a 1:1 school already, and I find my kids really need the time to unplug and disengage from the digital. We are all analog for reading time. #g2great
A5. Wondering which of the programs mentioned has a large number of books in Spanish and other languages? Those are terrific for students to use at home with younger brothers and sisters. #G2Great
Q6. Book convos can help move a "plot junkie" to a parallel book. Push to take a risk!
Form a new book group.
Determine if needs to be WG instruction or just SG.
#G2Great@ClareandTammy#BookLove
A5 I love to explore reading online with students. It is part of getting to know them as learners and readers. From blogs, to websites, articles, emails, texts, message threads on video sites. Every piece of writing is an opportunity to read and learn. #G2Great
While this is a powerful chat, the chemo is powerfully strong, so I’m calling it a night. Thanks all for the brilliant thinking. I loved being nearly back in the joy of connecting with teachers this way! I so appreciate all the support so many of you have offered. #G2Great
A5- I reached out to an author via e-mail this week for the very first time- I shared his response with my class- they were so excited to begin crafting their own e-mails- suddenly an author wasn't just a face on the back cover #G2Great
A6 Informal FLEXIBLE short-term small groups is one way. This allows us to match kids interests & use choice books to generate student-driven conversations. #G2Great
A6: Listening and watching as Ss choose books give us a window into their habits and dispositions. Essential to understand the “whys” behind their choices. Once we know the “why” we find teaching opportunities. #G2Great
I have great big smile on my face just watching my screen and thinking about all of the children will be enriched by these conversations and this wonderful books. So inspiring #G2Great
"Experience Immersion Reading
Read and listen simultaneously with real-time highlighting. " I think this is a game changer for some Ss and gives accessibility to all kids. #G2Great
A6 Conferences conferences conferences. They are THE BEST WAY to learn who students are as readers. I always help Ss book shop by asking, "Tell me a book you loved and what you loved about it." #g2great
A5. Wondering which of the programs mentioned has a large number of books in Spanish and other languages? Those are terrific for students to use at home with younger brothers and sisters. #G2Great
One of the most important things I learned from having @EllinKeene work with teachers in my district is to stand back and just watch. It can be hard to not jump in to conferring, but that WATCHING is purposeful and teaches us so much about kids. #g2great
A4 Once my K/1 librarians became invested, I've stayed out of their way! Truly. They know I have favs, newer read-alouds, autographed ones; they hand them to me when they're done. They have such agency now they give recommendations, find requests, even host story hour. #G2great
If we broaden what it means to read, dependency on a book leveling system might become just one of many ways of selecting books, including listening to text. #G2Great
This needs to change. Lifelong readers read books they can read and they want to read. Our students deserve both - we need books to give them this opportunity. #G2great
I read with a 2nd grader lately. I asked her if she had read a book I showed her. She said, if it was in the orange bin I read it. #G2Great#LitBankStreet
Most readers think about interests first...unless they are AR readers and then it is all "levels in my ZPD". I wish this would change in my district. #G2great
YES YES YES! We can scaffold without labeling or being restricting. Readers think about interests first. If we have enough book volume levels do not have to be an issue! #G2great
A6 Building relationships is the key to helping choose books and supporting learning. Information from talk helps guide choices to read but also helps guide learning plan for that student. Every student is unique, approach reading and learning that way. #G2Great
While this is a powerful chat, the chemo is powerfully strong, so I’m calling it a night. Thanks all for the brilliant thinking. I loved being nearly back in the joy of connecting with teachers this way! I so appreciate all the support so many of you have offered. #G2Great
A6- Often at the start of the year, my students equate reading with struggle and assessment. I listen to their take on why we read ("because we have to") and then make it my mission to change their minds and to make it "because we want to". #G2Great
A6 Daily book advertising (oral, written, whole class, small group, partner) is a MUST. Sharing allows books to flow freely down a river of book love across the year. #G2Great
A6: Moving students from choosing BIG, LONG and HARD books is important work. We must expand Ss understanding of why readers choose books in order to bring back the joy of reading #G2Great
A6: we do a reading diet so Ss build awareness of their reading habits. Then we can look for books that feed their interests and make adjustments so they have a balanced reading meal (lame analogy but it works). #g2great
A2 ReadWriteThink has a great podcast called Text Messages. An older episode is called #weneeddiversebooks Also check the many book bloggers on @tumblr#G2Great
A6 I know what they like, how they choose, and blocks they have because I got rid of my teacher desk and I sit with them everyday, asking questions about their books, and them. I can’t help get great books in the hands that need them if I’m off grading at a desk #G2Great
In reply to
@franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
A4 Once my K/1 librarians became invested, I've stayed out of their way! Truly. They know I have favs, newer read-alouds, autographed ones; they hand them to me when they're done. They have such agency now they give recommendations, find requests, even host story hour. #G2great
A6 Students are motivated to read by interest. Find out what animals they like, topics and authors they enjoy. I have a first grader who loves excavators. He is our class expert on that topic and his interest inspired me to buy books about excavators. #G2Great
One of my daughters became a reader when she was introduced to audio in 5th grade. Now she's in college and the first thing she does on vacation is make a book stack #G2Great
A6: My favourite time of the day is helping students find their book match. It is joyful. Chatting sharing discovering and then targeting purchases so they are excited. 2 copies of Rebound have students very excited. #G2Great
A6 Building relationships is the key to helping choose books and supporting learning. Information from talk helps guide choices to read but also helps guide learning plan for that student. Every student is unique, approach reading and learning that way. #G2Great
A6 #booklove Match readers to book with their passions, their inquiry study choices & their reading abilities. Don't dissuade readers from trying out books they want to read. Offer support. #G2Great
In reply to
@franmcveigh, @ClareandTammy, @DrMaryHoward, @brennanamy, @hayhurst3
A6: I ask students to describe a book they've read and loved. Then, I ask them to describe what made them fall in love with it. It's through talk that I hear their interests. Ss will tell you titles that have spoken to them & tugged at their heartstrings. #g2great
I just haven't ever made it an option. I have a few who might benefit from audiobooks, but they seem to adapt. It just hasn't ever come up. They don't ask, I don't mention it, they read, everybody's happy! #g2great
A6 Conferring with Ss about the books they are reading/want to read. I have found the best incentive for reading in the elementary school is offering the Ss a chance to talk about what they are reading. That five minutes sitting with a Ss is invaluable. #g2great
A6 student interests are one of the most important thing for creating purposeful reading instruction! We ask the kids to complete an interest survey and create book clubs based on their interests for all the genres! Fic, NF, Lit NF! #G2Great
A6 Helps me decide what new books to put out and where to steer readers next. This year we did our own classroom #MarchBookMadness and Ss chose all the books. We also tied it to our opinion writing unit. The engagement was incredible! #g2great
A6 When we know kids then we can look at books from the lens of that child (I thought of you when I saw this book) That speaks volumes about our deep commitment to them. #G2Great
A6: Moving students from choosing BIG, LONG and HARD books is important work. We must expand Ss understanding of why readers choose books in order to bring back the joy of reading #G2Great
A6: My favourite time of the day is helping students find their book match. It is joyful. Chatting sharing discovering and then targeting purchases so they are excited. 2 copies of Rebound have students very excited. #G2Great
A7: library open during summer school. Open once a week to the community.
Let Ss check out MANY books!
Ss must have access.
Book Trades
Library open during summer sporting events!
#g2great@ClareandTammy#BookLove
A6: Tell kids you want them to have healthy relationships with books. If they find one they want to spend time with great! If they are not getting along well, abandon it and move on. Soon kids won’t be able to stop themselves from telling each other to read good books. #G2Great
What I do that is most important is I read voraciously. This allows me to have at my fingertips great books that may match student and teacher interests. #G2Great
A7 I think we have to start at the beginning of the year making that plan, not when it’s almost here. This should be a major part of our professional collective conversations. #G2Great
A7: Send students home with a few books that they self-selected and then give them a way to connect over the summer to share ideas through @Padlet and @Flipgrid. #g2great
A6 love hearing why Students love books & fall in love with an author or genre. Book talk new books and old favorites and leave them out for browsing. If I try to match a student to a book he/ she feels pressure to take it. Surround them with books & give choice. #g2great
A7: library open during summer school. Open once a week to the community.
Let Ss check out MANY books!
Ss must have access.
Book Trades
Library open during summer sporting events!
#g2great@ClareandTammy#BookLove
#g2great A7: one of the last things we’ll do in class in June is to make reading plans for the summer. My kids almost all have library cards and have access to books at home. I’ll make sure parents know the kids’ plans so they’ll help them get the books.
We also have student created short book talks that we put on QR codes right in the book so students can share their book passions with each other #g2great
WE cannot use the leveling system as the only measure of a child's ability to read a book. We must find ways to tap into students passions and choices to pursue their inquiry projects. #G2Great
A7 Keep the relationships and discussions going through the summer. Work with local library, use videos, @Flipgrid and other digital tools to keep sharing the love of reading. When you have that relationship, you will want to keep investing. Kids are worth it. #G2Great
A5 One more digital resource-- T got folks to read pic books using Vocaroo https://t.co/arb9P7cDmf and then created QR codes which she taped inside the front cover. Kids used devices to scan and then listened to peers, parents, campus admin read books to them. Brilliant #g2great
A7: Approximately 64% of adults now own a smart phone – Ss may not have books, but they often have access to a digital device. Teach them how to access digital texts from the library. #G2Great
A7: I believe @SHKrajewski is the one that first mentioned doing this but, The idea of opening my classroom a day a week or so in the summer for kids that want to get some books...ALso getting them library cards is on the to do list. #g2great
A7: Our school puts out a huge quantity of donated books & lets Ss who are likely to not have access to books over the summer select a large # to take home to keep. Students also have access to Raz-Kids over the summer. #G2Great
A7 The most important thing we can do is make sure we make readers out of them while we have them. I do a series of mini-lessons before break called "So you're a reader, now what?" about where to find books and recs while we're not in school. #g2great
A7: library summer exchange if possible. Send kids home with some books from your library, especially if you know they won’t have summer book access otherwise. #g2great
Congratulations @valruckes - YOU WON! Thank you to @HeinemannPub for the generous book donation! Please DM your name and address so we can get the book out to you! Let's give her a #G2Great shout out everyone!
Talking to students about how they choose books helps us honor their interests so we can match them to books that will be engaging and motivating for them to read. #G2Great
A7: I let students check out books from the classroom. I keep my website going all summer with books I am reading and encourage them to post as well.#g2great
#G2Great A7 Our district has partnered w/@Scholastic to offer 10 bk per child for summer/winter break time dep on school - think we are on a rotating schedule. Having town librarian come in to talk to Ss abt summer prgm and PRIZES works, too! Humanities puts together a pkt also.
A7. What I don’t do is give children mandatory ‘book projects.’ In one district we surveyedkids and based on the results held voluntary book chats in neighborhood libraries. #G2Great
A7 Our Ss have access to RAZ Kids all summer. I'm part of the summer camp staff. My class is a big book club. We have a mobile library that we can bring from room to room and the students read, read, read. Our local library is awesome too--and air conditioned! #g2great
A7: we also have a “give a book, take a book” (or just take a book/books) box that we put out in front of our school all summer. Ss dontate the books to start it. Ours is a big crocodile shape someone made for us! (Our mascot) #G2Great
A6 Tchg K/1, we take time to know ea other as rdrs, wrtrs, scientists... You don't have to be in my room long before you know to pass along any body bks to Van! We all know ea other well! We share from 3-5 bks daily; talk abt what we read; buddy rd/write; share lives. #G2great
YES YES YES! Thank you - we need to put levels in perspective. They were never meant to restrict. They are an instructional tool for teachers. #G2great
WE cannot use the leveling system as the only measure of a child's ability to read a book. We must find ways to tap into students passions and choices to pursue their inquiry projects. #G2Great
A7 My adopted school takes books into their schools’ poverty community weekly in a library on wheels. This is such an important way to keep books in their hands. #G2Great
We also have student created short book talks that we put on QR codes right in the book so students can share their book passions with each other #g2great
Congratulations @valruckes - YOU WON! Thank you to @HeinemannPub for the generous book donation! Please DM your name and address so we can get the book out to you! Let's give her a #G2Great shout out everyone!
A7: I send books home w/ students. Even when I know I won't get them back, I encourage them to take books home. I share my @goodreads page & my #SparksInTheDark podcast w/ @TechNinjaTodd w/ everyone. We build book lists before we go home for summer break, too. #g2great
Congratulations @valruckes - YOU WON! Thank you to @HeinemannPub for the generous book donation! Please DM your name and address so we can get the book out to you! Let's give her a #G2Great shout out everyone!
A1: I buy books at garage sales, through Scholastic orders, library sales, and from friends and family! It is a challenge keeping my classroom library current and relevant for my students when I have to buy them myself. #G2Great
A7 @donalynbooks says we have all the resources right inside our building--classroom and campus library books. Send kids home w/books over the summer. Some asked what if they lose them. @donalynbooks says "I'd rather lose a book than a kid any day." #g2great
A7: Send students home with a few books that they self-selected and then give them a way to connect over the summer to share ideas through @Padlet and @Flipgrid. #g2great
A7 Keep the school Library open 10 days in each vacation month. Send books home from class library that students check out. Most do come back. Instead of a boring summer school program have a litcamp to foster reading and book love ❤️. #g2great
I talk about breaking up with books and let students know that readers, myself included, abandon books that aren't working for them. Too many other great titles out there! #g2great
#g2great A7: I live in the neighborhood where I teach. Sometimes I’ll send books home with kids and they’ll return them to my home mailbox as they finish. They all know where I live already from trick or treating.
Congratulations @valruckes - YOU WON! Thank you to @HeinemannPub for the generous book donation! Please DM your name and address so we can get the book out to you! Let's give her a #G2Great shout out everyone!
Congratulations @valruckes - YOU WON! Thank you to @HeinemannPub for the generous book donation! Please DM your name and address so we can get the book out to you! Let's give her a #G2Great shout out everyone!
A7 I love to stay connected with my students, I share goodreads with them, I send postcards about what I'm reading, I'm going to try a @flipgrid to share what I'm reading over the summer - We'll see how that goes #g2great
WE cannot use the leveling system as the only measure of a child's ability to read a book. We must find ways to tap into students passions and choices to pursue their inquiry projects. #G2Great
A7 Many schools I work with get donations so that every can leave school with 10-15 books and a book bag on the last day. These are all CHOICE books which is key! #G2Great
A7 Last week of school we make summer reading plans. Start by listing faves from the year, then I make individual recs, they get recs from friends, l they plan where they can get books and when/where they’ll read. Last identify an adult who can help stick to the plan! #g2great
A7: I send books home w/ students. Even when I know I won't get them back, I encourage them to take books home. I share my @goodreads page & my #SparksInTheDark podcast w/ @TechNinjaTodd w/ everyone. We build book lists before we go home for summer break, too. #g2great
#G2Great Last yr, we were cleaning out an old bookroom and Ts selected a wide variety of bks to bring into CR. Ss were then able to select bks until they were all gone. Such a great resource! Check your own bookrooms for possible donations!
That's what my goal was; I don't know what their ELA experience will be like next year! I want them to be self-sustaining readers if at all possible. #g2great
A7: I would love to start a blanket book party once a week during the summer @ a park close to school. Everyone brings books (including me) and we read together/ read aloud while enjoying popsicles! #G2Great
A7 The most important thing we can do is make sure we make readers out of them while we have them. I do a series of mini-lessons before break called "So you're a reader, now what?" about where to find books and recs while we're not in school. #g2great
