[desire2inspir]

I have two goals for my new position that I'd like to get some ideas and feedback on. (I am serving a K-4 elementary campus as a reading specialist/literacy coach)

The first goal is a staff newsletter maybe once a month that might include:
-research (short summary of current research in Literacy)
-books (for staff devt. as well as to share with students)
-struggling reader/writer tips
-websites (lesson plan ideas, rdg. and wrtg. sites for student practice and fun)
I'd like to hear from you on other ideas, sites I might use for good info. and a fun/creative way to share topics. In addition if anyone has a template they've used they don't mind sharing that would be great too.Last but not least...I don't want to waste my time or teacher's time...if you think teachers would not care about this please be honest and let me know.

The second is a family literacy night. I've never done one. I think I might have seen a few posts on this but don't remember when and where so sorry if info. has already been posted. Don't have too many thoughts on this yet but I'd like to go ahead and start pulling ideas together. What have you done that's been both fun, cost-effective, easy to manage, and most of all meaningful?

Thank you in advance for sharing your wonderful ideas!

[scraphappy]

I know we get lots of "newsletters" and the like and don't often get around to reading them. Just a thought, could you give a brief overview at a monthly faculty meeting about what is in the newsletter? I think hearing it would make them appreciate the resource more.

[Socks]

We get a Coach's Chatter (used to be Coach's Corner) that is from both the literacy and math coaches. It is never more than the front of one page. They each do a blurb and then they do a "brag" section. They talk about great things they are seeing in classrooms. We are a K-8 school so we don't often get to see great things that other teacher's are doing in other grade levels. They will also do things like say "email Ms. Coach with the word pumpkin in the subject line for a treat". Then they'll have a small piece of Halloween candy or something for anyone who emails.

I have two literacy night ideas. In my first school our mascot was the bear so we had a Book, Bear, and Blanket night. The students came to the school in the evening in their pajamas with a book, a bear, and a blanket. Everyone came into the multi-purpose room and started by sharing their book with the adult they came with (about 20 minutes). Then the adults stayed in the multipurpose room with the reading specialist and she talked to them about reading, our programs, etc. The kids were split up into groups. In the first group they heard a story read by a teacher (another 20 minutes), then they switched to a second group where they got refreshments and watched a video of a book (another 20 minutes). It worked out pretty well.

The one we did last year was each grade level chose an author. The teacher for that grade level read a story from that author and had the kids do an activity. I did David Shannon. I read How I Became a Pirate. As the kids came in I took their picture and printed it out on writing paper. When the story was over, they worked with their families to use makers to make themselves look like a pirate and write about how they became a pirate. Then they got a book from their author. I gave the kids A Bad Case of the Stripes. We all went to the cafeteria at the end for refreshments and the principal read a story to everyone. This one was great and the families LOVED it!

Hope this helps!!

[desire2inspir]

Thank you for sharing such great ideas!
If I do a newletter I will definitely keep to one front page too!
I love the idea of a brag section and a fun little contest via email.
I also love both ideas for a lit. night.
Just wondering on the second one you talked about... how did you obtain enough books to be able to give every child a book?

[Socks]

I'm glad the ideas (completely not mine) were helpful to you!

As far as the books go, I honestly don't know. I know that we did an RSVP thing and those are the only students who got books (unless we had enough extra from no-shows). We were very explicit about that on the letters that went home. We also explained it to the kids when we passed them out and reminded them daily. It had to be that way so we were sure we had enough for everyone and not way too many. I know they were ordered from Barnes and Noble with a discount. We have a partnership with the B&N that is down the street from our school. I will ask our literacy coach about it when I see her next week and I will be sure to ask her about it for you.

Teachers are bogged down with paper that often gets lost in the piles. However, if I got monthly newsletters with info like that I would find time to read them. Even if it is not right away the info is still good.

I wish that our lit specialist did things like that for us. Don't let anyone talk you out of going the extra mile.

[MsPate]

We have the most awesome Literacy coach at our school!! She has a wonderful way of telling people they are doing something wrong without telling them they are doing something wrong. I so wanna be her when I grow up....

Anyway, my niece's school has the most awesome family literacy nights ever!! They always have a theme like pajama party or cowboy night. The kids AND their parents come all dressed up for the theme and they read books within the theme and do activities like crafts or games for the theme. She loves them and it's a great way for the parents to get involved.

GOOD LUCK!!!

I'll try to be as brief as possible about our Family Literacy Nights. Our K-4 teachers sign up to read a book and do an activity to go along with that book. We usually have 8-10 teachers sign-up. Each teacher makes a poster "advertising" their book. We hang these in the cafeteria so students can see them and be thinking about the two stories they want to sign up for that night. I make a sign-up sheet showing the title of the book and the teacher reading the book . The sheet has 10 spaces for parents to sign up their children to go to that teacher's room to hear the story and do the activity. We only allow a certain number to sign up for each story because we want the teacher to know how many to plan for when preparing for an activity to go along with the story. Some teachers order craft items from Oriental Trade; some do movement activities; some art projects; etc.

When students arrive that night (accompanied by a parent/guardian) they meet in the cafeteria to sign up for their two book sessions. When we dismiss them, they go to their first session then we all meet back in the cafeteria for snacks (made by our home ec. dept.). We have a variety of levels of books spread out on the tables and each student gets to choose a free book. (We order 100 books for $100 from Scholastic.) After this 20-30 min. break, we dismiss the students to go to their second session. When the students finish with their second story/activity, they go home!

You have me excited about the literacy nights and I don't even know what they are! I need to plan one but am not creative. Prior to my coming to this school, they have had the p.j.'s and magic of reading night. I'm looking for something new. Does this awesome coach have any great themes? Thanksl Lizard