Matching Readers and Books

Presented by Cathy Potter- School LibrarianFalmouth Elementary School

Read like a wolf eats. ~Gary Paulsen

• We want our students to read voraciously, to read for pleasure, to read to learn, to understand the world, and to understand themselves.

• Prizes, stickers, and extrinsic awards will never take the place of finding the right book at the right time.

Young Readers Must Be Explicitly Taught How to Select Books

• Choice is key!

• Does the book interest the student?

• Is this book a “good fit?” from The Daily 5

• Shoe Store analogy

• Will this book be a better fit next year?

Reading Levels• Children need to learn to identify just

right books.

• Lexiles & GR levels are useful tools for planning instruction, but they can also be misused.

• In the read world, readers do not use Lexile #s or Guided Reading letters to select books.

• When you walk into the public library or bookstore, there are no Lexiles listed.

How to Browse a Book• C

• A

• T

• B

• I

• R

• D

• D

• Cover

• Author

• Title

• Back or blurb

• Illustrations

• Read a page or two

• Does this book seem like a good fit?

Browsing Tips for Middle Grade Readers

• C

• A

• N

• I

• T

• B

• E

• F

• O

• R

• M

• E

• ?

Adapted from Dr. Peggy Sharp

Cover

Author

Number of Pages

Illustrations

Title

Back or Blurb

Excerpt

First Page

Open It Up

Reverse of title

My friends

Entirety

?

Interest Surveys

• Find out what students are interested in learning about.

• What are their pastimes and hobbies?

• What are their current reading habits?

• What are their attitudes toward reading?

Set Reading Goals

•Count books read instead of minutes or pages.

•Give permission to abandon books.

•Read from different genres

•Foster a community of readers. Encourage students to carry books everywhere.

•(from Donalyn Miller’s The Book Whisperer)

Individual Book Conferences

• Make appointment for student to have a book interview with the school librarian.

• This model works well for ELL students, dormant readers, and students reading below grade level.

Read, Read, Read!• As an educator, the best

way to help match your students to books is to read.

• Read outside your comfort zone

• Read one book from the series.

• Listen to student suggestions.

• Show your students what you’re reading.

Graphic Novels

“Engaging graphics make the text more accessible and support readers in the act of making meaning.”

~ Terry Thompson author of Adventures in Graphica.

Nonfiction

•Students should have access to high-interest, high-quality nonfiction texts.

•These texts should be given equal weight to fiction in the classroom.

•Nonfiction & fiction texts can be paired.

Picture Books for Older Readers

Picture books are not just for young children. Many picture books contain complex plots, sophisticated

vocabulary,advanced literary elements, and themes older readers will understand.

Audio Books

Audio books allow students to experience more complex

texts that may be challenging for them to read

independently.

Book Buffets• Choose an author,

theme or genre.

• Gather a range of books.

• Provide students time to browse.

• While music is playing, students must browse silently.

Booktalks

• Brief advertisement of a book. Goal is to hook readers.

• Teachers, librarians and students may give booktalks.

• Be sure to have copies of the book on hand.

• Be prepared to start a waiting list.

http://www.schooltube.com/video/a8e88132d7ee2cef8971/Micro-Monsters-Booktalk

http://www.schooltube.com/video/86bf85e5e012868c7f80/The-Fenway-FoulUp-Booktalk

Book Trailers

• Similar to movie previews.

• Book trailers provide visual cues about what the book is about.

• Great way to hook readers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtPdqV2crQ0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKgG3b0XDD0

Develop a Strong Classroom Library

• Scholastic Warehouse Sale

• Grants

• Books in lieu of teachers gifts

• Make friends with your school librarian.

Resources for Teachers

• NoveList- free book database through MARVEL (Maine’s Virtual Library)

• Good Reads

• Falmouth Elementary School Library

• Maine Student Book Awards

Blogs to Follow

• Children’s Book-a-Day Almanac

• Guys Read

• Kids Reads

• Kid Lit Frenzy

• Great Kid Books

• The Nerdy Book Club

• The Nonfiction Detectives

Professional Books• Adventures in Graphica

by Terry Thompson

• The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

• The Daily 5 by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser

• Igniting a Passion for Reading by Steven L. Layne

• Pam Allyn’s Best Books for Boys by Pam Allyn