American Association of School Librarians Pittsburgh October 7, 2005

1. The 1998 AASL National School Library Media Program of the Year Literacy Initiatives for High School Students: YES, they WILL Read! Harlene Rosenberg Heather Hersey Phyllis Miller Hunterdon Central Regional High School Flemington, New Jersey American Association of School Librarians Pittsburgh October 7, 2005

2. Background Information • 2885 Students • 752 Freshmen • 751 Sophomores • 729 Juniors • 653 Seniors • 287 Faculty • 6 IMC staff - 3 Certified • 15 classes/day • 298 classes given formal instruction

3. Proposal for Third LMS • Growth in student population • Growth in class visits • “House calls” - off site instruction • Collaboration with faculty • Scheduled meeting vs “on the fly” • Quality time with new faculty • Introduce resources • Plan research projects

4. Proposal for Third LMS • Literacy/reading appreciation • Collection development • Enhance curriculum • Character education • ESL - introducing language and culture • Provide time for teacher observations and other administrative duties • Stagger schedule for after school • Research assistance • Supervision

5. English as a Second Language • Purchased high interest, low vocabulary books with INTERESTING covers • Attended NJTESOL conference/exhibits • Surveyed public library collections • Selected list of ESL titles available online and in catalogs • Established in-class bookclub • Meets twice weekly • Thursday select book(s) and set reading goals (bookmarks) • Following Wednesday class discussion

6. English as a Second Language • Last bookclub meeting, brought donated paperbacks for students to take home • Arranged visit to public library • Met librarian • Taken on tour of facility • Given library cards (applications distributed in class) • Checked out books

7. English as a Second Language • What are they reading? • Bilingual books • Poetry • Love stories • Magazines • Adaptations • Nonfiction • Novels • Writing book reviews/Weblogs

8. Special Education Class • Round Robin reading for Read Across America • Weekly classroom visits to read • Overhead review questions prior to visit • Book read • Holes (Sachar) • Hoot (Hiassen) • Messenger (Lowry) • Gathering Blue (Lowry)

9. Teen Read Week • Morning Announcement “Movie” • Microsoft Movie Maker • Books covers • Music • Text • Future plans for movies • “Toxic” by Britney Spears for Banned Book Week

10. Teen Read Week • Surveys • Distributed at all booktalks • Copies available in offices and IMC • Promoted in morning announcements • E-mail to faculty • Prizes • Donated by local merchants • Vendor freebies (AASL/EMAnj)

11. 2002 Survey Results • Analyzed by Adv. Statistics students (service learning project) • Most likely to read • 1st and 2nd - Books and magazines • 3rd - 7th - Websites, newspapers, catalogs, comics and graphic novels • Top 5 genres • Mystery, fantasy, realistic fiction, horror, SF

12. 2002 Survey Results What Students Read Graphic Novels Comics Websites Newspapers Catalogs None Books Magazines

13. 2002 Survey Results Favorite Genres historical fiction graphic novels realistic fiction anime mystery horror fantasy poetry romance sci fi

14. 2003 Survey Results • 360 surveys returned • 229 individual titles listed! • And the winners are... • Harry Potter series • LOTR series • Holes • The Giver • The Lords of Discipline

15. Read Across America • Book Display • Morning Announcements • One Fish, Two Fish read in Chinese • Promos for “favorite Seuss” survey • Name the Seuss book • School store selling Seuss items (NEA) • Favorite Seuss book survey - lunchbox prize! • “Round robin” reading of One Fish Two Fish with Special Education class

16. National Library WeekSchool Library Media Month • Created READ posters • Sent email to ALL STAFF to participate • Took photos in IMC or “on location” • Printed two copies in color on 11”x 17” paper • Laminated • Posters hung in IMC in time for annual faculty coffee • Additional staff have asked to be included!

17. Banned Books • Displays in IMC • Freshman Tour • Morning Announcements • Class booktalks • Letter home for approval signature • Have generated interest in “older” books • Continue to be requested • Class assignment • Discuss why book was challenged/banned

18. Classroom Booktalks • Handout for teachers • Selling the book • Reading from book/back cover • Comparison • Starter question • Story setup • Independent reading assignments • Presentations to English Department • Offer to come in before breaks begin • Our first history department customer

19. General Multicultural Beyond the Novel Memoirs Asia and Africa Cool Books for Hot days Hot Books for Cold days International “Modern Classics” Nonfiction & Movies Fiction & Movies Historical Fiction Advanced Placement Types of Booktalks

20. Collaborative Projects • Freshman and Sophomore English • Cool Books for Hot Days • Banned Book Project • Movie Research Project (historical and topical) • Fiction & Movies • Citation Celebration • Assisted Social Studies department in the teaching of citations and research • Idea originated in meeting with English faculty

21. Collaborative Projects • Critical issues in literature • Short story debate • Dystopia project • Alternative titles for The Giver • Research component • Asian and African literature • Created list of titles in IMC and public library • Booktalked titles • Art class

22. Shiva Dancing: Meena Kumari was seven when she was abducted from her village. Though she managed to escape a life of slavery, she was unable to find her way home, and was adopted by a wealthy American couple. Despite a flourishing career, she lacks a personal life and keenly feels the separation from her heritage. Shiva Dancing takes us from the arid desert plains of Northern India to the bustle and charm of San Francisco to modern-day Calcutta as a spirited woman seeks to reconnect with her past. (Adapted from BN.com) Bharti KirchnerIndia

23. Graphic Novels • IMC display • Highlighted during freshman orientation • Booktalks • Reinforcing book covers • Morning announcements

24. The Book Nook • IMC staff posting “news and information” • Book of the Week • Staff Picks • New Books • Bookworms Club • Adding student reviews • Class generated • Independent

26. Book of the Week The Lamp, November 19, 2004

27. Student Bookclub • Meets twice a month • 25 members • 50/50 girls/boys • 50% sophomores; 25 % frosh; 25% jr/sr • Student officers run meeting • Creating themed booklists • Weblog on IMC website to keep up-to-date • Online discussions • Book discussion with Middle School students

29. Promoting Reading • ALA posters • New books displays – they move! • Bookmarks - purchased, donated and homemade • Bulletin boards • Book suggestion box • Middle school visit

30. Reading Pamphletsat the entrance and exit

31. Faculty Reading • READ posters • Faculty bookclub hosted by principal • Installing bookshelves in faculty cafeterias • “Book swap” • Community donations • “Giving thanks” bulletin board

32. Staff Picks

33. Grants • Character Education • Books initially requested by ISS teacher • Ordered books for In-School Suspension and Alternative School classrooms • Collection is maintained by IMC and rotated between classrooms • Heather booktalks in Alternative School classrooms

34. Grants • Title V - “Innovative Programs” • Books and materials for ESL students • Pleasure reading • Support new US History class for ESL students • Books and materials for Honors and AP courses

44. Contact Information Heather Hersey hhersey@hcrhs.k12.nj.us Phyllis Miller pmiller@hcrhs.k12.nj.us Harlene Rosenberg hrosenbe@hcrhs.k12.nj.us Handouts http//central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/imc/conference Hunterdon Central Regional High School 84 Route 31 Flemington, New Jersey 08822 (908) 284-7141