Upload
freddie-loan
View
214
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
One School, One Read
Linda RobinsonLibrary Coordinator,Mansfield Public Schools
An idea starts……
• Reading American Libraries in 2003
• Shared the idea with my principal
• Sold the idea with a school/community connection
• Shared it with MMS Team Leaders, given the green light
Best advice given to me………• Chatting with the
Superintendent• He suggested that I get
the BOE involved• We did a BOE
presentation and gave them copies of the book and asked their advice
• Made lots of adults part of the discussion
Required Reading……..
• Since everyone would be reading this book it became “Required Reading”
• Formed a committee of teachers to read about 20 pre-selected titles available in paperback
• Offered alternatives• Connected with Public
Library/Parents
How the basics worked…..
• Each grade level teacher has one reading class (32 classes)
• Each student received a copy of the book, as did all adults
• Reading was done in the reading classes
• I involved Specials teachers
Mansfield Middle School
Fall 2003
Preparations
Staff Brainstorming sessions Located support information & resources Planning by teams and information shared Creation of a web page Ordered 800 books LMC became the “Prop Department” Decorated School
Decorated the Building
Kick Off Events
X-Block Activities
Classroom Activities
The Meeker Inn and……..
Our Colonial Lunch
Identify the Object contest
Additional Features
OSOR magnets to all students
OSOR pins to all staff Colonial bookmarks to
everyone Tried to bring in a Fife &
Drum Tried to have an outside
Colonial Winter Fest Tried to involve student
council Music connection created
Teacher Survey
What was one aspect that was positive? What was one aspect that was negative? What would you suggest to improve your
response to the previous question? On a scale of 1 to 5 how would you rate this
experience? (1 is least worthwhile) Do you think we should repeat this? Other comments?
SURVEY: Positive Aspects
High involvement Everyone could talk and share even between classes Foreign Language and Music classes could be
involved in the discussion Loved all the activities & extensions (lunch) Loved having their own books w/ their names Timely discussions Tied in with world events Everyone was involved
SURVEY: Negative Aspects
Cancellation of some fun activities Various reading levels hard to meet Play gave away the ending Student Council events needed more
planning Realistic fiction genre is not as popular Disruptions in the schedule & normal
curriculum activities
SURVEY: Improvements
More group talk opportunities More students involved in planning Don’t give away the ending Difficult to decide where it should be
covered (LA or A&A) Different opinions on the time line and the
time of year
How worthwhile was OSOR?
On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being least worthwhile) the average was 4.2
Should we repeat OSOR?
53 said “yes”; 1 said “no”; and 5 didn’t answer the question.
Other Teacher Comments
Many thanks of appreciation Suggestions regarding the type of book Need for a culminating activity Unfortunate that the authors didn’t visit We’ll get better the more we do it Timely topic, but maybe something more
uplifting or a different culture or genre Could we “re-use” book titles every 4-5 years Stretched reluctant readers to try a book they
wouldn’t normally select
Other Comments
Conversation shared by one of our teachers:
In the middle of the event two fifth graders decided to both read another book together (The Witch of Blackbird Pond) and they said to their teacher “Look! Two friends, one read!”
7th Grade Survey
OSOR done through A & A so that all teachers could participate.
Survey given at the end of the events. Included 10 questions—many questions
asked students to explain their answers. Almost everyone understood the purpose
of OSOR and what they were supposed to learn based on the responses.
Student Survey Comments:
More mixing between groups. Disappointed in not going outside. Didn’t like the ending of the book. Many thought it was very exciting
and some boring. Liked working together in student
council More cross-grade activities are
needed
Student Survey Results:
• Did you like the book?Yes—102 No—42
• Do you think it was a good choice?Yes—105 No—40
• Did reading this book inspire you to further research?Yes—4 No—118
Student Survey (con’t):
• What was your favorite activity?1st--Reading in A&A2nd—Colonial Lunch
• Do you feel more connected after OSOR?Yes—45 No—98
• Would you recommend having another OSOR?Yes—106 No—35
Reflecting upon 2003-04…..• Overall the feedback by
teachers, students, parents, and the BOE was positive
• But how much reading really got done?
• And how much did we talk about the book?
Repeating the experience…..• Decided it was too much
to do every year• Started another
committee to select a book
• Picked a title and started planning with teachers in a staff meeting
• Grassroots changes were proposed
If this is OSOR……..
• Why aren’t all teachers and adults involved?
• Why isn’t the focus on reading?
• Why isn’t the focus on building school community?
What’s the answer…….
• Small groups, mixing grades within groups
• 30 minutes each day for three weeks, school-wide
• All certified staff in the building had a group, other adults helped a group
• Support a school goal— global awareness
Raising the stakes……
• Now everyone wanted to know how to teach the book
• Book Support Central (coordinating lesson plans, resources, webpages)
• Connections to other cultures and reading
• We still offered other events (like contacting the author), but our focus changed
My new responsibilities…..
• “Group Guru”• PR and advertising• Fund Raising• Outside Resource
Coordinator• Communications Central• Cheerleader• Book Expert
OSOR 2005-06…..
Book: The Breadwinner
Here is a summary in video form
Reflecting on OSOR 05/06…..• Even more successful• Lots of reading• Lots of community• Very positive survey
results• 95% of teachers wanted it
again, but for varied reasons
• Great community connections
Where are we with OSOR……• Staff ask when and what
book is next• Connecting to “personal
kindness” and “global awareness”
• A committee has a tentative title
• The BOE is on board and older members can’t wait
At Mansfield Middle School
One School, One Readis a collaborative reading experiencefrom beginningto end