Reading Instruction and Children’s Books (Feb. 1 - March 5)

Date, Location

Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:00am to Mon, 02/01/2010 - 6:01pm

online
online,

Cost: ALSC Personal Member: $95, ALA Personal Member: $145, Nonmember $165

To Register:

To Register:

To register for this course, visit the ALA online registration site or fax a complete registration form to ALA Member and Customer Service.  Questions?  Please call 1-800-545-2433 ext. 5. 

About the Event

This is a five week Moodle course that will begin the week of February 1, 2010 and end March 5, 2010.

To register for this course, visit the ALA online registration site or fax a complete registration form to ALA Member and Customer Service.  Questions?  Please call 1-800-545-2433 ext. 5.   

Course Description

Although children’s librarians think learning to read is about books, teachers use buzz-words such as lexile, phonics and word walls.  Parents and students are often seeking grade appropriate reading materials.  Several methods are used to determine grade level.  In order for children’s librarians to effectively assist patrons, they need to understand how to interpret grade levels assigned to books by publishers and educators.  This course will provide children’s librarians with an understanding of different methodologies for reading instruction, including sight words, phonics, literate environment and pre- and post-reading activities.  The course will then explore some of the ways that the grade-level of reading materials are determined, including Lexile Levels, Flesch-Kincaid Index and SMOG Readability Formula.  These procedures will be applied to evaluate books, periodicals, websites and other material that children need to read.  Finally, librarians will be encouraged to develop strategies for explaining these grading formulae to parents and to communicate more effectively with teachers as a result of their understanding.
 

Goal 

Participants will be able to assist children, parents and teachers in selecting reading material that is appropriate for students who are developing reading skills.  You will:

1. contrast instructional methods used to teach reading in elementary schools
2. compute grade levels of children’s reading materials using accepted formulas
3. apply readability tests to books, periodicals, websites and other materials that children may need to read
4. interpret readability strategies and numbers for library patrons seeking appropriate material

Course Requirements

Participants will:

1. write, read and respond to other students in online discussions
2. read assigned periodicals and online sources
3. complete and digitally submit assignments for each unit
4. prepare a final presentation and share with other students

There is no text required for this course; however readings from periodicals and online sources will be required. 
There will be one synchronous session during the course.  Date and time for the synchronous chat is TBA.  Students should be available and logged on to a computer during this time.

Who should take this course

Children’s librarians in public libraries and schools; library paraprofessional and support staff who are working with students, parents and teachers; teachers who are not trained in reading instruction would also benefit from this course.

Instructor/Designer

Katherine (Kate) Todd, Adjunct Instructor, Manhattanville College (email: EduKateTodd@gmail.com)