1. Reading Circles Isabelle Giroux, CSRDN Dominique Leblanc, CSPN

2. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 2 Did you say Reading Circles? What’s this? What do you know about Reading Circles? Do you know any other names used for this type of activity? Have you ever experienced it as an adult?

3. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 3 Reading Circles A teaching strategy for developing children's independent reading habits and comprehension The teacher assumes a role of facilitator rather than a group leader

4. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 4 Reading Circles activity Choose a book using strategies (skim-scan-predict-infer- comparing) Team-up with people that have the same book as you Take your log book Assign yourselves roles Read pages assigned to you and do the task related to your role. (in a SQUIRT moment)

5. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 5 But how can I do it in MY class? Teacher’s guide Presentation of toolbox to start off

6. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 6 I can’t do it… If you were to convince these teachers about Reading Circles, what would you answer to these following comments: « My students don’t speak English in class » « My students are too young » « My students don’t understand a short text so how can they understand a book » « My students don’t understand a word of English » « The boys won’t be interested in reading » « I only have an hour a week with my students » « I won’t have time to teach grammar rules » « They don’t even know their colours or their verb To Be » « I don’t have the budget to buy books » « I won’t have the time to do « my program » » « OH no…not reading again » Mathieu 12 years old.

7. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 7 Linking it to the different ESL programs? As a team: Which competecies are developed while doing the Reading Circles and say why? Give examples of activities that could be added to develop a particular competency. (C1-C2 or C3) Share with another group.

8. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 8 But what about boys? Did you know that: Boys take longer to read than girls Boys read less than girls Boys express less enthusiasm for reading than girls do More boys than girls declare themselves to be non-readers Source: Me read? No way?

9. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 9 13 strategies for Success 1. Have the Right Stuff Boys like to read if: – Books reflect their image – Books make them laugh – There is more action that emotions – Books are in series – It is Science-fiction or fantasy – They have the impression that they are not reading (ex. hockey cards, instruction manuals, comic books, etc.)

10. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 10 2. Help Make it a Habit Provide frequent opportunities to read « If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write. » King, 2000,p.117 – Create a link between reading and writing

11. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 11 3. Teach with Purpose Understand boys’ learning styles – Boys respond best when: -work is assigned in bite-sized -the work seems relevant to them -the work includes an element of competition and/or involves short-term goals -they receive regular, positive feedback

12. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 12 4. Embrace the Arts Use the arts to bring literacy to life – Role playing, correspondence, missing-scene scipts, newscast, etc.

13. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 13 5. Let Them Talk Appealing to boys’ need for social interaction – Literature circles are tailor-made for boys – Students choose their own reading materials – Topics for discussion come from the students themselves – Etc.

14. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 14 6. Find Positive Role Models Influence boys’ attitudes through the use of role models – « Modelling isn’t one way of influencing people. It’s the only way. » Albert Einstein

15. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 15 7. Read Between the Lines – Bringing critical-literacy skills into the classroom. Exploring interpretations of the text made by the others Adopting a point of view about the text

16. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 16 8. Keep it Real Making reading and writing relevant to boys Boys will be deeply engaged in literacy when they are deeply engaged in the subject of the reading or writing task itself. Having boys explore real-world themes and issues- particularly, but not limited to, those that touch them personally-taps into their need for academic tasks to be purposeful, and meaning ful to their lives.

17. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 17 9. Get the Net Using technology to get boys interested in literacy – Interactive story CD-ROMs – Web-books – Digital Cameras can be used to produce books – Etc.

18. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 18 10. Assess for Success Using appropriate assessment tools for boys – Design assessment tasks and criteria carefully

19. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 19 11. Be in their Corner – « If we, as teachers, do not look forward to our lessons and do not get excited about learning then we can hardly expect our students to do so. » Cullen, n.d. p.4

20. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 20 12. Drive the Point Home Engaging parents in boys’ literacy – Use home school reading diaries where students write lists of new words, interesting words, draw scenes or characters, etc.

21. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 21 13. Build a school-wide focus Building literacy beyond the classroom – Get started with a colleague – Involve the librarian, the principal, etc.

22. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 22 Challenge What’s yours? In a week from now: In a month from now: In the year to come:

23. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 23 girouxi@csrdn.qc.ca leblanc.dominique@cspn.qc.ca

24. Free powerpoint template: www.brainybetty.com 24 Evaluation of workshop