Greeting from myON headquarters in Edina, Minnesota where we are recooperating from what we hope to be our last spring snowstorm (yes April 21st and still snowing). We so deserve our anticipated forecast of 70 degrees by Sunday! I am so excited to introduce a guest blogger that wanted to share her 2013 IRA experience.
myON is the Answer to the Question
How do educators provide students with the books they need in order to be successful readers in school and in life?
Some
people go to rock concerts or fashions shows for enjoyment and rejuvenation. I
attend reading
conferences. The speakers are inspiring, the data invigorating,
and the opportunities for autographs from authors are thrilling. In addition, I
gain great pleasure from the free swag that is offered to me at the mere swipe
of a badge; notepads, posters, pens, magnets, frisbees, and tote bags, oh, the
tote bags! (Of course the Capstone bag was the BEST - as indicated by the attendees running to get them each morning! Wonderwoman was a true hit on the bag!)
Recently I attended the 2013 International Reading Conference in San Antonio, Texas. I entered the glossy exhibit halls and cavernous auditoriums as a 2nd Grade Teacher, a user of myON, and an avid reader. I exited the conference center four days later as a woman with a renewed life mission. My mission is to spend the rest of my life doing everything in my power to connect books to children.
As
I fervently scrawled notes in general sessions, raptly listened to educational
researchers, breathlessly conversed with authors, and devoured information in
my newly purchased (and autographed) professional books, it became clear that
connecting books to readers is still the most important factor in promoting
achievement in students. Beginning in the 1970’s when books became my drug of
choice, continuing through the 90’s as I shared meaningful books with my
students and own children, and
now as I continue to teach in the public school
system, it has always been clear that children need time to read real books,
lots of real books, in order to be successful in school. The difference now is
that I have myON Reader to help me with this monumental task of connecting books
to readers.
Over the next few weeks I will ponder some of the questions that were raised by experts at the International Reading Conference 2013. I will delve into the research findings on best practices in teaching reading and contemplate how I am using myON Reader in conjunction with my classroom library to accomplish these tasks in my own classroom. Some of the questions to which I believe myON is the answer are:
-
How can teachers provide 500-1,000 appropriate and varied books in their classroom libraries?
-
How can teachers find interesting and appropriate books for all the students in their class, especially the reluctant readers?
-
How can teachers monitor their students reading if they allow them to self-select reading materials?
-
How can teachers encourage students to have authentic and organic conversations about books that they are reading?
-
How can teachers give students opportunities to write about what they are reading and then share those responses with their peers?
-
How can teachers find time to read aloud to their students everyday in order to promote vocabulary development and fluency?
-
How can teachers ensure that their students choose materials that they can read with at least 98% accuracy?
-
How can teachers encourage their students to read and learn about topics of their own choosing?
-
How can teachers provide students with books all year round in order to reduce or eliminate the summer slide?
-
How can teachers make the world available to their students through books?
This time last year if I had attempted to answer these questions, my mind would have wandered to grants, book club points, and book drives in order to provide my student with the materials necessary, yet often not provided by school systems, to equip them to be successful readers. Now, however, after I have embraced e-books for myself and have had the privilege of using myON reader with my students for the past seven months, it is apparent to me that myON is the answer to the question.
I have returned to my home and my classroom from the International Reading Conference refreshed and rejuvenated My mind is swirling with the information I received. I am inspired to accomplish my newly refined life’s mission of connecting books to readers. As I fill my new tote bags, read my autographed books, and ponder all that I learned, I am grateful that myON is the answer to so many of my questions.
Comments