WAYS TO MAKE READING ROCK Bill Lowenburg – Stroudsburg High School Session B5 May 2, 2014 (Website links on final slide)

Welcome! This morning’s objectives: Sharing ways we promote reading at Stroudsburg High School, Pleasant Valley High School, and your school. Brief discussion of hardware and software considerations. Utilizing WordPress as a library platform to promote reading. Organizing a “Why Reading Rocks” student video contest.

SSR: Sustained Silent Reading English classes read 2-3 times per week for about 20 minutes. No assessments or journals Reading-writing connection – Creative Writing, Film Studies teacher supports SSR Correlation with rise in PSSA/Keystone scores – diverse student population

Professional Development: Reading Apprenticeship Originally we tried to include Social Studies in SSR, but… Several Social Studies and other subject area teachers have benefitted from RA training. Our fourth district cohort group of 9-12 teachers is receiving Reading Apprenticeship training this summer. (~25 total to date)

SHS Library Peer Tutoring Program Over 75 students involved this year. Four seniors, two juniors run the program. Excellent role models: English department Love of Reading Award Locations: high school library, Middle School, Eastern Monroe Public Library, and at home Peer tutors have run two SAT/ACT prep sessions Facebook page, Wordpress

Promoting reading in the community: Eastern Monroe Public Library Teen Advisory Group

Extending the library with Overdrive

Overdrive for Fiction Ebook delivery system – platform independent Majority of titles are fiction Will provide access to > 500 books the first year. Available at consortium pricing in some areas Combined cost for HS and JHS: $2,300

Ebsco Ebook Collection - nonfiction High School Collection: 7,500 titles Cost: $1,795 Nonfiction – excellent for research Academic Collection: 120,000 titles, includes High School Collection Cost: $2,500/yr

Reading on Electronic Devices BYOD vs One-to-one program Stroudsburg headed toward BYOD In search of the “best” device to recommend to students. Mr. Thornton’s Spreadsheet

IRULU 10” $98.00

With Keyboard Holder

Summer Reading Program

Graphic Novel Society

WordPress Library Blog/Website

Wordpress Dashboard

“Why Reading Rocks” Video Contest

Video Contest Guidelines

“Why Reading Rocks” Video Contest

Additional Resources

Tips for video making Produce a series of short “example” videos to encourage participation. Have an easily-accessible website where videos and contest instructions can be viewed. Include a “one continuous shot” category of seconds in length. These will not require editing skills and will emphasize acting over special effects. Encourage student-performed music over downloads. Or have separate categories for each. For more information, go to Mountielibrarylinks.wordpress.com

Contact information Mountielibrarylinks.wordpress.com Amazon author page Zorkichronicles.com Crashburnlove.com