Big Read Partnerships Provide Big Learning Opportunities 2014 MASL Spring Conference

Jeannine Birkenfeld

• 11 years-Children’s Associate• Springfield Greene-County Library• MEd from Drury University• M.L.S. from Texas Woman’s University-in

progress

Amy Price• 7 years-LMS• Springfield Public Schools district• Wilson’s Creek 5th-6th School• M.L.S. from Mizzou• E-mail/Twitter:

o aprice@spsmail.orgo @AmyDPrice (professional account)o @WCreekLibrary (school library account)

Organizing The Big ReadThe Public Library’s Role

What is the Big Read? • An annual community-

wide reading event• Throughout the month of

April the library sponsors programming and events related to a featured adult book title and a companion title for kids and/or teens.

Source of Funds• National Endowment for the Arts

http://www.neabigread.org/• Arts Midwest

http://www.artsmidwest.org/• Friends of the Library

http://thelibrary.org/donate/friends.cfm• The Library Foundation

http://yourlibraryfoundation.org/

Why Should Schools Compete for the Author Visit?• It’s FREE if you win!• Famous & Expensiveauthors will inspire yourschool community! • It shows you are willing to go the extra mile for your students and teachers.

Application ExampleBig Read Author Contest 2014 ApplicationBig Read Author Visit Application 2014• Ideal: school librarians and teachers work

together to fill out application.• Involve multiple disciplines in creating a

dynamic application.

How the Public Library Chooses the Winners● Polished & Thorough

-organized

-typed• Interdisciplinary

-author visit addsvalue to multiple subjects

• Set your School Apart-tell us why your kids willbenefit from an author visit

Scheduling Logistics• Author’s contract is usually very specific

o Your school must be flexible & agree to host an assembly on a pre-determined date during the school day in April.

• Do you have the space?o # of kids, teachers, and parents in

attendance?

Other Opportunities for Kids @ the Public Library• Big Read photo Contest• Big Read Flash Fiction Contest• Bookmark Contest• Greene Teen Review Board• Teen Advisory Board• Weekly Children’s & Teen Programming

Write a Winning ApplicationThe Library Media Specialist’s Role

School-WideGet as many students involved as possible!

Appeal to Kids

● Incorporate technology

● Involve the 5 senses

Student Effort

● Book Review Contest

● Essay Contest ○ Why should I be

allowed to attend?○ Author Questions

● Community Involvement (tie-in with the book)

Book Review Contest

Collaborate with Specialty Teachers

● Art-draw a scene from the book

● Music-songs connected to a time and place

Collaborate with Core Teachers● Classroom book clubs ● Teach genres based on the author’s work● Use author’s work to teach content (i.e.

Social Studies)● Research author’s website for advice

about writing.

2014 Big Read: The Call of the Wild Art-draw an animalPE-wilderness survival boot campEnglish-read/write stories from the POV of an animal.

Science-Alaskan climate and weatherSocial Studies-Alaska, Gold Rush

How to Get Students Excited and Prepared● Personal connection to

book and/or author.● Lots of announcements● Bulletin boards/displays● Utilize your student

workers● Students choose from

prize box for completing activities

Promotion

● District P.R.● Social Media-tag the

author○ Twitter○ Facebook

● School Newsletter● School/Class

Announcements

Preparations for the Big Day!

Bottled WaterPodiumComfortable ChairTable PenSticky notes and pencils for students to write their names

Laptop with PPTProjectorLarge screenHandheld microphoneElectrical OutletPosters/Student artwork

Big Learning Opportunities for Students● How education impacted their decision to become an author.

● Writing Process○ Inspiration○ Struggles with Writing

● Rejection● Censorship● Writing Advice

Your Ideas and ExperiencesSchool’s involvement in the Big Read?Collaboration with the public library?

Thank You!“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” --Roald Dahl, Matilda.