Reading Incentive Program 2011-2012

My reading incentive program will involve all students in the school, grades 6-9. The students will choose from lists of fiction, nonfiction, and ebooks which I will post on the library blog and the school website. The students must read a minimum of 15 books during each semester in order to be eligible for recognition. All students who meet the challenge each semester will receive free books, certificates, and an invitation to an end of semester book party with treats and a movie. In addition, students must respond to five books online in order to receive recognition. The responses must include a summary of the book.(I will teach summary skills in my library classes during the first six weeks.) Students will be encouraged to prepare PowerPoint presentations, glogs, book trailers, book videos, and other forms of multimedia. Students will be given the opportunity to present their responses to their classmates during book club meetings or during library classes. Reading logs will be maintained online so that I can monitor participation. Students who surpass the 15 book minimum each semester will receive vouchers to order books through Scholastic Book Club and special recognition during school assemblies.

Book Review: Schooled by Gordan Korman

Schooled is a delightful and humorous novel by Gordon Korman about a 13 year old boy named Capricorn Anderson who goes to public school in California for the first time as he enters 8th grade. Prior to his first day of school, Capricorn has been living in a commune with his hippy grandmother and has been home schooled by her for 12 years.
As the story unfolds the reader is entertained by Capricorn's day to day adventures such as learning to use a telephone, learning to navigate the school cafeteria, or learning to communicate with other 13 year olds in an "average middle school".
Capricorn starts out the year as a "loser" in the sight of his peers, but ends up as the school hero.
This is a lighted-hearted story with a surprise ending which will engage both adult and young adult readers.

Ways I will advocate for my library during the next school year

School Library Advocacy in a New School

School library advocacy means taking charge and letting everyone in the school community know that the library is the best place to be in the entire school. In addition, it means creating an environment within the library which is welcoming and stimulating for students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Advocating for my library means using every opporturnity to let everyone know about all the wonderful programs happening in the library and about the great resources found in the library.