New York City School Library System Office of Library Services
Exploratorium – May 14, 2013 NYC Department of Education
Title: Engaging Readers Through Author Visits
Audience level All
Presenter: Jennifer V. Matthews
P.S. 49X
383 East 139
th Street
Bronx, New York 10552
E-mail __ poetd2001@yahoo.com____
Description, Goals, Intended Outcomes:
PS 49X arranged to have an author visit – primarily because author visits are vital ways in which children make the connection that books are written by real people. An author visit emphasizes the importance of reading and writing and can influence children to seek out and read the author’s books. Additionally, author visits can make children look at all books in a different light. As such, they are a vital tool to promote literacy.
The goals:
- To connect the common core standards with curriculum instruction
- To expose students to the creative process of writing
- To offer the opportunity for students to meet with and talk to an author.
- To develop listening skills and good focus questions.
Process to Develop and Implement this Project:
- Librarian writes a grant and submits it to www.donorschoose.com
- Librarian collaborates with teachers to plan the event.
- Librarian collaborates with Ms. Valentine, one of the fourth grade teachers to do an author study.
- Students read books by author and research information about the author and titles of books written.
- Students prepare questions for author on index cards.
- Students decorate a bulletin board in response to literature.
- Students write and send follow up Thank you notes to the author.
Budget: $1,229.00
Timeline:
- Choose a date, purchase/borrow books
- Contact author for any special request
- Advise PTA and Parent Coordinator
- Send letter home to parents
Evidence of Outcomes, Possible Adaptations, Lessons Learned:
Student
survey
Common Core State Standard(s) addressed:
Research to Build and Present Knowledge
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.7 Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.8 Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from
print and digital sources; take notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9a Apply grade 4 Reading standards to literature (e.g., “Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text [e.g., a character’s thoughts, words, or actions].”).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9b Apply grade 4 Reading standards to informational texts (e.g., “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text”).
Information Fluency Continuum (IFC) Skill(s) addressed:
Standard 2
Skill(s) taught: Letter Writing, Book Reviews
Resources Used:
Local public librarian brought in book titles written by the author from all local public library branches
Smart board
Digital Camera
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Donors Choose Grant Request
Author Buzz
Ms. M.'s
trips & visitors project at
PS 49 Willis Avenue in
New York City,
NY |
High Poverty
My Students: The two most engaging powers of an author are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.
We are an elementary school in New York City. We have 695 students from Pre-K through grade 5. The school population comprises 29.5% black, 69% Hispanic,1% white and 0.5% Asian students. We are a title 1 school. Our children love our reading activities.
My Project: We have been promoting literacy in our school, hence we have invited Irene Smalls to speak to our kids. Irene Smalls has earned great recognition for her writing. She has twenty years experience traveling nationally and internationally offering storytelling and professional development
training on early literacy. She has performed twice at the White House Easter Egg Hunt. Book Expo America's African American Pavilion named their children's book award the Irene Smalls Children Book Award in 2008.
We want to create a love for books and reading. We will be inviting the parents to join us. What better way to share a literary feast? Let's have Irene Smalls in the house to share her expertise on Black History and the Publishing Industry. Who knows she might just inspire future authors, publishers and humanitarians.
My students need exposure to the writing
profession. An author is a great way for students to learn and ask questions about the writing process.
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Student Created Irene Smalls Bulletin Board
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SAMPLE LETTER TO PARENTS
Dear Parents,
It is our pleasure to inform you that Ms Irene Smalls, an award-winning author, will be visiting P.S. 49X on Thursday April, 11, 2013. Ms. Smalls is a graduate of New York City Public Schools and she is the author of 15 books for children and three storytelling CDs.
Literacy +Exercise= Literacise is a program developed by Ms. Smalls to move and learn. She will be sharing her stories, singing songs and sharing about writing. She will also be bringing copies of her books in the event you wish to purchase them.
The event will be held in the auditorium during the following times:
11 a.m.-12 p.m.---Grades 4 and 5
12p.m.-1 p.m.—Grades K &1
1 p.m.—2 p.m.---Grades 2&3
We hope to see you all tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Philip Caraher
Principal, I.A
