Learn about a new program created initially in Europe last year and now being introduced in the United States. It is called World Book Night and involves thousands of volunteers giving away  20 books each to people in order to encourage reading. Think about signing up to be a "book giver" or if you are a librarian, think about signing up to be a "book pick-up library."        Katie

This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.

OK..... so I got waylaid in getting the post below posted...by 4 months!!  It is still a great article and I don't want to  wait for Literacy Day this year to publish it. Lori Learned's sharing yesterday of the website International Children's Digital Library reminded me of Literacy Day (don't even try to follow the route my memory takes!) and this entry which has been languishing in draft form. Both sites are worth checking out...the ICDL should be shared with teachers, bi-lingual tutors and parents as its a fantastic  resource.  Kt
--from September----------------------------------------------------------------------------------This blog post poses the question "Are All Readers Literate?" It speaks to the need for our young learners to be acquiring what they call background knowledge, or domain knowledge, domain-specific content knowledge.  What any reader, not matter what their age or skill level, needs in order to fully understand text. This is an area where our profession can help by guiding students to resources which expand their knowledge base; by taking the time to explain idioms and pointing out metaphores and similies; and by making connections for them between a feature in a fictional setting (Charlotte... as in Charlotte's Web) and the Dewey section on spiders. We can help them build background knowledge with games and contests that challenge them to learn new facts and broaden their horizons. We can share a bit of our selves, our interests and backgrounds in order to expand their background information base but also to encourage them to exercise a little self examination and see that they may have a some stories to tell and information to share which will expand our knowledge base as well.
I would encourage you to read not only the short blog post but also to follow some of the links the article alludes to.

Below are ideas shared by our elementary library staff on ways to help reluctant readers in the library setting-

• Listen carefully to what they want to read, be it comics or manga, and purchase what they ask for within guidelines. Get over providing only "good literature" and give them what they'll pick  up and read.
  
• Provide especially topics boys want to read... examples shared include military topics, super hero series, 'look and find' series, Star Wars readers and old standards like Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes. 
  
• Have enough copies (as many as 4-5) to fill the demand in order to take advantage of the enthusiasm from peer sharing when a new bestseller hits the shelves.
  
• Help them identify their reading level so their reading experience is successful. Methods include the 5 finger approach and the AR program.
  
• Make the book displays enticing, the library inviting.
  
• Group the books by genre to make it easy for them to find what they want.

These are just a few ideas. Don't hesitate to forward YOUR ideas and suggestions to LMS for sharing in this blog.  lms@k12northstar.org

Check out this fantastic "uncommercial" (ie. not conducive to commercial success)  for Lifelong Literacy created by our own Karen Stern for her Journalism class at UAF this semester. Hint- keep clicking on the arrow to 'page' through.
http://prezi.com/zszvbaszfdne/lifelong-literacy/

Can't wait to have her show us how she made it!!                                  Katie

Here's a great site to share with your students and their families. This would be a good one to have linked to your school or library webpage AND to highlight in your newsletter.
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/pink-flamingos/

I love that the stars are kids. I think students will love to watch and discuss each of these. One of my favorites is  #15 What Is Your Secret Superhero Identity?
Great fun!      Katie