Table #10 The 25 Books You Should Read Before Leaving Middle School
Audience: All
Presenter: Esther Keller
JHS 278 Marine Park
1925 Stuart Street
Brooklyn, NY 11229
Library Web site http://is278library.org
E-mail ekeller3@schools.nyc.gov
Description, Goals, Intended Outcomes:
In collaboration with the literacy and art teacher, we created a bookmark/booklist for the entire school. Our theme was The 25 Books You Should Read Before Leaving Middle School. Based on classroom discussions three 8th grade classes created a list of criteria for books that are a “must read” before graduating 8th grade. Using an online form, each student submitted the titles of five books they felt it was imperative to read before graduating 8th grade. They also justified their choices in a brief essay. Students then voted online and we narrowed down the list to 25 books. (We had 2 votes to get the final list). With the collaboration of the art teacher, students designed bookmarks, which were then voted on by students and staff. (We scanned the bookmarks and posted them online.)
Before we started the project, the LA teacher wrote up a proposal for Donors Choose. We used Staples as a vendor to double-side, laminate, and cut the bookmarks for us. Once the project was funded, we went ahead with the project and submitted the final design for printing.
Bookmarks were distributed to all students, including incoming 6th graders at the September orientation. Some teachers even brought their classes to the library to bookmark the titles.
Process to Develop and Implement this Project:
Budget:
This will depend on where you print. Staples cost nearly $900, but there are cheaper alternatives to Staples (as we discovered over the summer). http://gotprint.net printed 2500 2x8 glossy bookmarks (color on 1 side and black and white on the other side) for $60. If you go with the cheaper alternative, consider having the PA budget it.
Timeline:
November – Posted project on Donors Choose
December – Project was funded
January – February – Planned details and got bogged down with testing and other projects
March – Rolled out the project
March 11 – Five picks due
March 25 – Final day for 1st booklist vote
March 30th – Final day for bookmark design vote
March 30th - Final day for tie breaker booklist vote
April – Submitted project to be printed
Beginning of May -- Distributed bookmarks and booktalked titles
Evidence of Outcomes, Possible Adaptations, Lessons Learned:
This generated a tremendous excitement for reading. Students still come looking for the booklist and have challenged themselves to read every book on the list. Teachers have specifically asked to booktalk titles from that list.
Common Core State Standard(s) addressed:
R.10. By the end of year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
W.1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
S.1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
S.3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
S.4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
Information Fluency Continuum (IFC) Skill(s) addressed:
Standard 2:
Skill(s) taught:
Assessments:
N/A
Resources Used:
Donors Choose, Google Forms, Google Sites