INSPIRING YOUNG READERS AT SUNNY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Presentation to the PTA December 2, 2008 Trent School District Teacher-Librarians: Toni McKenna, Sunny Elementary School Terry Bercini, Laurel Junior High School Stella Mossburg, Trent High School

How is the library making a difference at Sunny Elementary School? Our school library has a positive impact on student achievement The dynamic library program creates enthusiastic readers Our community of prolific readers leads to increased test scores When more books are readily available and the print environment is rich, students read more. When they read more, they read better. (Krashen: 34)

Why Invest in the Sunny Library Program? In , three out of five Pennsylvania elementary schools with adequate school library staffing (61%) reported average or above-average reading scores, while the same proportion of such schools with inadequate library staffing reported below- average scores. (Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2000) Incremental increases in staffing, collections and budgets will yield incremental increases in reading scores. (School Libraries Work!) Pennsylvania middle schools with the best PSSA reading scores spend twice as much on their school libraries as the lowest scoring schools. (Lance, Rodney, and Hamilton-Pennell, 2000)

Inspiring Minds for the Future It is an emphasis on what students can do with knowledge…that best describes the essence of 21st century skills. (Measuring Skills for the 21st Century, Silva, 2)

Meeting a real author is an exciting and interesting foray into the world of a writer’s imagination. After listening to an author, that person comes alive in a way that reading a bio on the book jacket can’t accomplish…his voice stands out in his works as I reread them or read those I haven’t read yet! (Leah Wersebe, student from “Authors in your School” by Ellen Rubin)

Ramos and Krashen (1998) concluded that simply providing interesting books to children is a powerful incentive for reading, perhaps the most powerful incentive possible. (”Measuring Up to Standards: The Impact of School Library Programs & Information Literacy in Pennsylvania Schools” By Keith Curry Lane et al.)

Why a Visiting Author Program? "I hadn't considered writing as a profession while I was in school because all of the books I read were written by people who had long since died." ~Author Josephine Humphries "Developing a robust and engaging 21st century curriculum and employing 21st century instruction means that teachers and school leaders will need to look outside the school walls and seek ideas, resources, and expertise where they are found – in their community; in professional and educational groups; and in individuals, schools, and organizations around the world." ~ Standards for the 21st Century website

Benefits of a Visiting Author Program Include: Students can have an authentic experience with an actual author who shares their achievements and also their frustrations when it come to reading and writing. Provides a natural opportunity for students to read and discuss different texts. "The future isn't outer space or technology, the future is our children." E.B. Lewis

Preparation for the Visit Form committee of parents, teachers, and administrator Create list of possible authors to contact for further detail and honorarium price as well as presentation style After confirming plans with one author, take inventory of the books currently in the library and make arrangements to purchase additional copies for library and classroom use Projected Cost per Year: $2,500 (estimated honorarium plus travel expenses and supplemental book purchases)

Helpful Guidelines for Choosing an Author 1) The author's works should have broad appeal so that as many students as possible can participate 2) The author might have had a book nominated for the Pennsylvania Young Readers Choice Awards. 3) The author should be geographically close either because he or she lives nearby or is already visit a school in the vicinity.

Recommendations and Possibilities Author Vicki Cobb School Presentation entitled "Science Surprises" An audience participation presentation that gets students excited about science, reading and poetry. Teachers are also provided with classroom follow-up activities. Books include: Science Experiments You Can Eat and Where’s the Science Here? series Author Jack Gantos Grades K-3 Presentation focuses on the development of the picturebook. Grades 4-6 Presentation focuses on how to use journaling to create short stories. Teacher guides for some books are available. Books include: Rotten Ralph and the Joey Pigza books

How to Generate Student Enthusiasm "There's nothing more disheartening than to do a reading and not register with students because they have no connection to your book or your work" ~Award Winning Writer, Nikki Grimes "There have been times when schools and classrooms have been completely unprepared for the visit and the student lose out" ~Author and Poet, April Wayland Book Talks with each class leading up to the visit Students can purchase books to have autographed by the author Create connections to the author with art, music, drama Have students create posters and decorations to welcome the author Have students prepare questions in advance for the author

Thank You! Inspiring Young Readers at Sunny Elementary School