for a child audience: mock award programs in the library
TRANSCRIPT
FOR A CHILD AUDIENCE: MOCK AWARD PROGRAMS
IN THE LIBRARYAmy Koester | MASL 2016
ON OUR AGENDA• Why mock?
• Choosing the best award for your students
• Involving teachers & community members
• How to run a mock discussion, step by step
• Resources & time for questions
AND YOU ARE…?• Amy Koester, MLS
• Youth & Family Program Supervisor, Skokie (IL) Public Library
• Formerly St. Charles City-County Library District
• The Show Me Librarian
• 2014 Newbery Award Committee
WHY RUN A MOCK AWARDS DISCUSSION IN YOUR LIBRARY?• Engage students in new ways of reading
• Build a community of critical readers
• Develop students’ evaluation & public speaking skills
• Ensure more people know about awards for great books
CHOOSING THE BEST* AWARD
*for your students
INVOLVING TEACHERS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS
• Think cross-curricular
• Engage your administration
• Contact your local library
• Consider your community experts
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Creating your “committee”:
• Determine your preferred age focus
• Don’t limit participation to “high” readers
• Consider best times for consistent participation
• Be open to subgroups
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Sharing the award criteria:
• Talk about the award’s history, past winners, & criteria on day one
• Discuss what the criteria mean
• Create a resource to make the criteria accessible and usable for your committee
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Guide reading:
• Choose the books you want to focus on
• Multiple copies vs. single copies
• Leave room for “write-ins”
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Facilitate discussion:
• Ask open-ended questions
“How did the pacing contribute to the story?”
• Encourage students to go deeper
“Tell me more about why the setting gave you the creeps.”
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Introduce new perspectives:
• Have an art teacher visit for a Caldecott meeting
• Bring in a social studies teacher for a Sibert discussion
• Older students can lend their thoughts
• What other mockers are saying
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Formal discussion (optional):
• ALA committees use the CCBC discussion format:
• Round 1: Positives
• Round 2: Negatives
• Round 3: Responses (optional)
• Create your own format
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Vote:
• Explain the balloting process
• Print voting slips with clear lines for first, second, and third choices
• Tally votes and repeat as necessary
HOW TO RUN A MOCK DISCUSSION
Celebrate!
• Recognize the work your students have put in
• Share their winners around school
• Celebrate the official award announcements, too!
BONUS: INCENTIVIZE PARTICIPATION
• Make it a club
• Arrange for classroom benefits
• Waive overdue fines for mock books
SOME GREAT RESOURCES
• Book & Media Awards Committee Manuals, ALSC
• How to Host a Mock Newbery Book Club: 10 Easy Steps, Armin Arethna & Mary Ann Scheuer
• Newbery and Caldecott Mock Elections Tool Kit, ALSC
• The Newbery Award & Mock Award Discussion Resources, The Show Me Librarian (Amy Koester)
