The Newton Rayzor PTA is presenting a book talk celebration program to encourage students to become avid readers. The program is based on the "Book Whisperer" approach of teacher Donalyn Miller, who gets her students to read over 40 books per year. The goal is to create a community of readers. The easy 3 step program has students 1) read books of all types, 2) write a brief book description or "blurb", and 3) count the number of books read and blurbs written over a 6 week period. Students will celebrate their progress each 6 weeks and receive rewards for reading. The PTA is looking for volunteers to help lead book clubs, speak at celebrations, or sponsor celebration

1. Newton Rayzor PTA Presents Book Talk Celebrations

2. Becoming Book Whisperers This book is AWESOME! Why are you whispering? You should be telling everyone. photo courtesy of phaitoon at www.freedigitalphotos.net

3. The Inspiration!!! Amazingly, Miller gets each of her 6th graders to read 40+ books a year! “ Catching Fire” Feb ‘11 The Book Whisperer blog at http://blogs.edweek.org Read how Miller helps light the torch for a student teacher..

4. More Inspiration!!! An anthology of classic children’s literature and encouragement to share books as a family. Teacher, Gallagher looks at some of the ways students grow Disenchanted with reading Synonyms for inspire: motivate, encourage, fire up, instill, DRIVE! hmmm…. This looks a lot like Book Whispering for Big People. photo courtesy of osdonet at www.freedigitalphotos.net

5. The Goal Become a Community of Readers

6. Student Requirements in 3 Easy Steps

7. Overview READ BLURB COUNT

8. Easy Step #1

9. READ

10. Read Silly Books

11. Serious Books These don’t look that “serious”. She must mean nonfiction. photo courtesy of osdonet at www.freedigitalphotos.net

12. Picture Books

13. Chapter Books

14. Comic Books

15. Magazines

16. Even Cereal Boxes Why not? Right? photo courtesy of osdonet at www.freedigitalphotos.net

17. With so much to choose from,

18. find your favorites and read.

19. Read to yourself photo courtesy of phaitoon at www.freedigitalphotos.net

20. or, have someone read to you. photo courtesy of phaitoon at www.freedigitalphotos.net

21. You can even listen to audio books. photo courtesy of osdonet at www.freedigitalphotos.net

22. Read a book

23. Read a book as many times

24. Read a book as many times as

25. Read a book as many times as you

26. Read a book as many times as you like.

27. Did someone really read “ Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” 60 times? photo courtesy of osdonet at www.freedigitalphotos.net

28. Easy Step #2

29. BLURB

30. blurb / bl ɜ rb / - n a promotional description, as found on the jackets of books

31. Set a Goal

32. Fill in a Blurb That’s all? One Page? No Test? photo courtesy of osdonet at www.freedigitalphotos.net

33. This is an example. Actual blurb may be slightly different.

34. Students may also draw a picture.

35. If you don’t have a blurb sheet, you may use a piece of paper.

36. What do I do with the blurbs?

37. Collect them in BOB for six weeks.

38. Easy Step #3

39. COUNT

40. 1 + 8 = 9 9 Blurbs

41. Turn in final number to teacher. 9 Blurbs

42. In one 6 weeks,

43. Miss Akin’s class read 748 books. Way to go Miss Akin!

44. Celebrate Each Six Weeks

46. “ Who Caught the Fire?” Recipient Receives a Charm and Book

47. Each Participant Receives a Charm

48. Recap READ BLURB COUNT CELEBRATE !

49. Other Ways to Whisper

50. Book Talk Clubs You, your child, and a few friends share lunch and blurbs.

51. Book Talk Tuesdays Students share blurbs on morning announcements. photo courtesy of pixomar at www.freedigitalphotos.net

52. Other Ways? ? Feel free to submit ideas.

53. How Can I Help? Read and talk to your kids about books and encourage them to blurb.

54. How Can I Help? Example: Instead of asking, “What did you do today?” ask, “What did you/your teacher read today?”

55. How Can I Help? Attend the Book Talk Celebrations each six weeks.

56. How Can I Help? Volunteer to Lead a Book Talk Club

57. How Can I Help? Volunteer to speak at a Celebration or refer someone.

58. How Can I Help? Sponsor a Book Talk Celebration One Event Costs approximately $800

59. For more information For more info regarding the program email [email_address] To volunteer to lead a club email [email_address]