MASL Conference 2015 Brenda Steffens Just What is the Reading Circle?

The Purpose: To encourage an interest in and enjoyment of reading.

Reading Circle Committee Brenda SteffensChair, Morgan County R-I (retired)--Pk-K Debbie AndersonWaynesville R-6 (retired)—Primary--1-4 Heather EricksonNorth Calloway Co. R-1—Intermediate—5-8 Lysha ThompsonMiller Co. R-3—Senior—9-12 Sarah KohnleMSTA Staff Liaison

History of the Reading Circle Founded in 1885 by the MSTA The Reading Circle used to sell books out of the MSTA headquarters Students were required to read a certain number of fiction and nonfiction books. The program only went to 8 th grade. It has had many changes over the years, but the purpose to encourage incalculable number of children to discover the wonders of reading and to earn the Reading Certificate has remained the same.

Reading Circle Website Policies and procedures New Books for Missouri Students 2014 Preschool/Kindergarten Primary (1-4) Intermediate (5-8) Senior (9-12) Missouri Building Block (PK-K) Show Me Award Nominees (1-3) Mark Twain Award Nominees (4-6) Truman Award Nominees (6-8) Gateway Award Nominees (9-12) List of National Award-Winning Books

Reading Circle Website continued Pre-K-2 nd grades Log Sheet 3 rd -6 th grades Log Sheet 7 th -12 th grades Log Sheet Author/Illustrator Birthday Websites Author/Illustrator Websites for Children’s Books Choosing Books for Your Children Lifetime Reading Circle Certificate Reading Circle Poster Regular Reading Circle Certificate Why Read to Children Websites Sam Snail Coloring Book

General Policies 1.The Reading Circle Program is intended to encourage students to read. 2.Any student grade PK-12 in Missouri may become a member of the Reading Circle Program. 3.Reading logs can be found online to help monitor student reading, but you can determine your own system. 4.Certificates can be awarded on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis, or at the teacher’s discretion, as students meet requirements based on grade level. This should be noted in each child’s permanent record.

Policies Continued 5. A Certificate of Life Membership may be presented to students who qualify for five consecutive years. 6. Students in special programs can fulfill requirements of the Reading Circle Program by reading the number and level of books commensurate with their reading abilities. Alternative goals for membership in the Reading Circle Program can be established in a student’s Individual Educational Program (IEP).

Getting Started Is Easy as Can be district wide, building wide, or even just one classroom 2. Hand out some type of Reading Log for the students 3. Give instructions to the students so that they will know the procedures. 4. Hand out certificates when log is turned in

Minimum Number of Books Students are required to read the minimum number of books with the student choosing the genre of his or her choice. Reading Circle encourages a healthy balance of fiction and nonfiction, but is not required. Prekindergarten to second grade books Third through sixth grade books Seventh through twelfth grade books

New Books for Missouri Students Printed booklet and found on the website Printed booklet is sent to the school librarian each fall. Annotated list of the best books published the previous year. Also contains the current list of the following Missouri award-nominated books: Missouri Building Block Show-Me Readers Award Nominees Mark Twain Award Nominees Truman Award Nominees Gateway Award Nominees National Award-Winning Books Information on Missouri School Read In Day

Questions?

At my school … Use a theme Pete the Cat for PK-2 Thing One and Two for grades 3-12 Popcorn for Teachers Send a letter home explaining the Reading Circle Program Log on the back of the letter Display in the hallway Hand out certificates at quarterly awards programs

Rocking in our READ Shoes Certificate Pete the Cat Bookmark Reading Bracelet Pete the Cat Tattoo Recognition on the Pete the Cat Wall in the hallway

Rocking in Our Reading Shoes

Reading is Our Thing Certificate Dr. Seuss Bookmark Dr. Seuss item (pencil) Dr. Seuss tattoo Recognition on the Dr. Seuss Wall in the hallway

Reading is our Thing

Reading is Our Thing (7-12) A Certificate Dr. Seuss Bookmark Invited to a Dr. Seuss Party (2 will be held—one each semester Recognition on the Library Bulletin Board

Reading is Our Thing (7-12)

Pop Open Some Great Books Popcorn smelly bookmark Package of microwave popcorn Recognition in the library Certificate outside your classroom

Pop Open Some Great Books

Other Ideas Paper crowns when they have read their books Students take a Shelfie Ice Cream for Books Be A Smart Cookie My Stache of Books Take pictures and place them on the slide photo frame Post the pictures on social media—if school allows

Getting the students to read… Books—lots of them First Book-- v2.phphttp://booksforkids.firstbook.org/myfirstbook/nbbhome- v2.php Show students what you are reading. Winner Winner books/Golden Tickets Survivor Books Shelf Markers Read by Color

Ideas "Awesome Box" -- Students who have particularly enjoyed a book or CD, return the item to the Awesome Box.

Ideas

Book Trailers-- Nerdy Book Club-- Social Media

Missouri School Read-In Day House Bill 795 designates the second Friday of March as "Missouri School Read-In Day" to promote awareness of the importance and benefits of reading, both at school and at home. House Bill 795 was sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelley (R-Lamar) and handled in the Senate by Sen. Mike Parson (R-Bolivar). Held the second Friday of March each year. March 13, 2015—this year

Missouri Read-In Day Activities List of ideas on the website Template for stickers

Missouri Read-In Day Activities

What can we do to help? Website Resources Workshops at your schools

For more information… Contact any Reading Circle Committee Member Call MSTA—

“There is no substitute for books in the life of a child.”