Summer Throwdown: Year 3: The Readers' Edition

For the third year in a row I participated in #SUMMERTHROWDOWN, a READ-a-thon that is all about promoting reading. It started as a teacher librarian and classroom teacher competition and has grown into a personal goal reading challenge. A few of us challenged fellow teacher librarians to read a specific number of books. 

I challenged my friend, colleague, LibraryPals blog partner, and conference roommate. I  wanted to be realistic and challenged myself and Laura to read 30 books in 31 days. Guess what? We did it, and then some!  

I read 43 books during the #SUMMERTHROWDOWN

Laura read 66 books during the #SUMMERTHROWDOWN

It doesn't really matter who read more books, I think we both won and, even better,  I think our students won. I read books that I cannot wait to begin sharing with my students. How can that not mean success?

Here are the books I read:

And We're Off!

Our 180 days of 

wonder, exploration, creation, and connection has begun!

I never know quite how to spend this first thirty minutes of our library learning journey. There are too many things I would like to do, so I have to plan very carefully. Like a traditional classroom, the first few weeks of school are about building community. The question is, "How can I build community in thirty minute segments over three weeks?" The answer is, "not easily."

"Can I afford to spend thirty minutes on summer reading?"

"Can I do justice to a summer reading conversation with only thirty minutes (really twenty with browsing and borrowing time)?

"Do I ignore summer reading and jump right into community building?"

Each year, I feel this pull. Each year, I respond differently.

This year, I am trying to give summer reading some attention, while also paving the way for next week's community-building conversation.

I created two very brief Google forms.  After welcoming the students back to our library community and explaining what our next few weeks will look like, I demonstrated how to get to the forms and modeled answering the questions.

The first form asked them three questions about their summer reading.

The second form asked them three questions about our library learning community.

I saw my three third grade classes today, and so far, I'm feeling good about this year's decision. I feel like I am honoring the reading they did over the summer, while also moving them into next week's conversation.  

Summer Reading

Where did you read most this summer? 

Choose one adjective to describe your summer reading experience:

Is there a book that stood our from the others that you read? (optional)

Gum Girl

Harry Potter

Geronimo Stilton

Big Nate

The Story of Babe Ruth

Who Was Bill Gates

Dork Diaries

Masterpiece

The Dragon in the Sock Drawer

Sisters

Lloyd Alexander

Percy Jackson

The One and Only Ivan

The Babysitters Club

Warriors 

Anne of Green Gables

Fancy Nancy

Percy Jackson

Amulet

Magic Tree House

The Immortal Secrets of Nicholas Flamel

Middle School, the Worst  Days of My Life

Horrible Histories

Big Nate Goes for Broke

Hardy Boy Mysteries

The Hunger Games

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Who was Vince Lombardy

These titles are as diverse as the students. I feel more informed knowing which books resonated with some of the students.

Building Community

Finish this sentence, we are a community of...

How can you best contribute to this learning community? What strengths do you bring?

"by being quiet and not talking when not supposed to"

"sharing"

"I help when my classmates need help"

"by being quiet"

"suggesting books to other readers"

"no strengths"

"I like to read"

"writing"

"listening to others"

"Reading 14 series ( 114 Books )"

"I think I am a great thinker"

"i think i am a great reader"

"reading"

"I am a good learner, I also am good at brainstorming."

"I LOVE to read"

"Listening"

"Raise my hand"

I love that a number of students identified their reading as a strength that they bring to our learning community. 

How can our learning community support you as a learner?

"by being quiet"
"if people raise their hands"
"to listen when i am speaking"
"by listening to each other"
"more books!"
"listening when the teacher is talking"
"being nice"
"when we cooperate"
"I raise my hand"
"when we cooperate"
"By having a big library and helping us learn"
"reading quietly at browsing"
"by raising our hands"
"people recommend books"

I see the basis for our conversation around being a learning community!

And we're off to another great year of reading, thinking, creating, and sharing.

Teacher Librarian Jeopardy: the going-back-to-school edition

Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 200 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 200 dollars...the item(s) you cannot wait to share with your students"

Me: "What are BOOKS?"

AT: "Correct!"

I cannot wait to get back to school and share, read, talk about, and/or hand to students boos from the #bookstack of books that I read over the summer.  I think I have the BEST profession.  I spend my days hanging out at the corner of reader and story and witness the magic that happens when these two connect. 

I get to hear and see the excitement a student has after reading a book.

I get to hear inspiring and fun discussions about books, authors, and illustrators.

I get to see students' faces light up when they see or hear something in a story that tickles their funny bone, surprises them, elicits outrage, or scares them.

~~~~~~

Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 400 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 400 dollars... the thing that makes your school community feel like a family."

Me: "What are teacher friends and staff?

AT: "Correct!"

I feel fortunate to work with a staff that is committed to the learning experiences of each and every child that walks through the door. The added bonus is that I like my colleagues. How lucky is that? I work with people that I enjoy spending time with and with whom I have established personal connections. We run together, we watch Jane Austen movies together, and we know enough about each other's lives to share a look, a hug, a card, and/or a poem on just the right day.

~~~~~~~ 

Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 600 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 600 dollars...this makes every day learning experiences more exciting."

Me: "What are literacy initiatives like World Read Aloud Day, WRAD, Picture Book Month, Dot Day, ALA Book Awards, Read Across America, and Children's Choice Book Awards?"

At: "Correct!"

Moving my library beyond the bricks and mortar that creates our physical space is important to me. Connecting with other students, teachers, authors, and illustrators across the country and around the globe makes our learning experiences more engaging, more interesting, more authentic, and more fun.

~~~~~~~

Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 800 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 800 dollars...What makes each school year feel fresh and new?"

Me: "What is taking risks?"

AT: "Correct!"

Despite the planning, curriculum mapping and other efforts to plan out a year, there are always new opportunities for collaboration, unexpected events, and fresh initiatives. These learning experiences are often the ones that I remember the most. Each year feels fresh because I like trying new things and exploring new learning experience for the students and myself. 

~~~~~

Me: "I'll take Things that Make Going Back to School After Summer Break Exciting for 1000 dollars."

AT: "Okay, for 1000 dollars...These make coming to school each day the only choice you can imagine."

Me: "What are the students?"

AT: "Correct!"

What can I say, the students are the glue that hold everything together, without them the rest of this would be gravy, just nice projects, lessons, and learning experiences. Their energy, knowledge, and presence make everything else worthwhile. They inspire me to be a better teacher and learner every day.

~~~~~

On Tuesday, I will be welcoming students back into the school and my library. My arms and my heart will be open. Happy New School Year to All!

~jennifer

~~~~~

I was not able to participate in Picture Book 10 for 10 this year, but am so thankful for those that did. Please check out the embedded Storify below and follow the links! I am so inspired, I may just have to post a belated 10 for 10.

~jennifer