Omaha Public Schools: A Community of Readers!
Keeping Literacy Alive!
"Keeping Literacy Alive"
The objective of this initiative is to develop "A community of readers" in our school and to help in the objective of improving reading across the content areas.
Schedule of events:
During each of the professional development days, once a month, literacy facilitators* will meet with teams to introduce a new reading strategy.
*Literacy Facilitators: John Campin, Doug Keel, Deb Pauley
Also, a "Hot Reads" Corner will be established in the cafetorium where students will have access to student, parent and teacher reviews, magazines like "Time for Kids" and "Weekly Reader," newspapers, magazines, books. In an effort to keep students engaged, comics will also be included in this area. Students will help maintain and organize area.
In the media center, students are exposed to many literature experiences, including newspapers, graphic novels, book talks, author posters, literature for young adults, independent reading, "the Reading Zone," Accelerated Reader and on-line magazines links on the library webpage.
Book Clubs:
Golden Sower Book Club, parent/teacher book club (one book is selected or members can share what they are reading), high-interest reading club.
Manga book club:
Advisement: Every Friday will be "Reading Day" where teachers are reading aloud to their students.
Most Language arts teachers are beginning the Accelerated Reader program, bringing their classes to the library, and reading much with their students.
Quotable Quotes from Terrific Teachers:
Lisa Howie, 6th grade science teacher says about text previewing, "It really worked for me. My students really know their way around the science text now. Previewing the text once is a timesaver in the long run. This is a great strategy to assist all students."
Monthly Themes:
August:
At opening inservice, Mr. Campin will share objectives behind "Keeping Literacy Alive."
Here are some happenings in some of the classes this month:
Students in Language arts classes receive a library orientation, where they discuss examining their attitudes and beliefs about reading. (Include questions about what types of reading materials they would like, i.e. comics, joke books, etc.)
August 29, 05 - Mr. Campin shares information about reading in advisory period and the Keeping Literacy Alive initiative.
September:
September 12, 05 Text previewing! Teachers in each of the grade levels were competing to win prizes by figuring out certain anagrams, one of the strategies teachers should cover before reading the text. Then, as presenters discussed strategies, teachers tried them out with their textbooks. Great way to get the class going!
October:
October 17, 05 Read-Alouds! Mr. Campin and Mrs. Pauley read a story, inserting teacher's names as some of the characters. This kept their attention and was a great strategy if you want to help draw students in to the read-aloud. Also presented was Reasons for Read-Alouds, by Rachel Billmeyer. (Copies can be requested from Mr. Campin) In addition to the other strategies, cross-curricular strategies were presented so that all content area teachers could do read-alouds.
Read - Alouds are done every Friday in Advisement class, along with book-talks by the Media-specialist!
November:
November 14, 05 Text tagging!
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December:
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January:
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February:
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March:
Some of the strategies we will cover is a great vocab strategy . . . A school version of Taboo!
April:
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May:
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June:
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What are Marrs teachers doing?
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