1. For the Love of Reading PTO Presentation November 2009 Antoinette Fornshell K-5 Language Arts/Social Studies Specialist

2. What are we really after? Developing life-long learners (curiosity, joy, rigor,…) Children who have the skills to find out what they need Children who can and love to read Children who employ balance & flexibility in their reading lives

3. Why all the fuss about "Just Right" books? What Reading is Like: Sports Analogies  Shots on Goal or Number of Balls Hit The books the teacher is asking my child to read seem too easy.  Training for a Race Preparing for a race is similar to balancing a child's reading life.  Knowing When NOT to Ski Down a Black Diamond Trail If we always skied on terrain that did not match our skill level we would not get better at skiing.

4. David Brooks, New York Times article "Geniuses" The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It's not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it's deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft.

5. -Lucy Calkins, author of “The Art of Teaching Writing” and Director of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, Columbia University “If a child is not matched up with a just right book, they might as well be carrying around a brick.” A “just right” book is a book that a child can and wants to read with 95%-98% accuracy and comprehension.

6. Prompts for Talking with Children About Their Reading  What's happening in your book?  Have you had a chance to read on yet? I'm dying to know if.....?  Wow....I can't believe that just happened!  I'm thinking so many things right now.  I think I know what ________is going to do next.  I didn't know that.  I didn't get that part.  I'm confused. Who is talking?  This book is so much like__________.  _______(Author) always has the same kinds of characters.  What are you thinking?  What are you wondering?  What would you do if_____________?

7. Why these questions? Books that seem simple often have complex plots and ideas. Natural discussions about the events in a book, connections to our lives, and confusion while reading, keep the focus on the meaning in the text. In the end, this is more important and enduring for producing lifelong readers than any number or letter representing the difficulty or readability of the text.

8. Helpful Websites Shelfari Darien Public Library ALA Scholastic RIF Reading A-Z DPS Parent wiki Enchanted Bookery Nutmeg Book Awards Literacy Connections

9. Holiday Gift Ideas for Readers Holiday books-”count down tradition” Personalized books Book plates, bookmarks lapdesk lights & lamps, chairs, shelves, bookends Bags, journals/notebooks, pens Gift cards Series books Picture books Graphic novels Nonfiction Magazine subscriptions

10. Gift Ideas continued… Maps, timelines Hardcover versions of favorite books/boxed sets Books signed by authors/illustrators Costumes/dress-up props Toys, stuffed animals, etc…based on favorites Audio books/ MP3 players (or CD) Miniature boxed sets Favorite books from your childhood