August
22, 2013
We’re
back! And you’re back! And they’re back! Welcome back!
Every
Other Thursday,
you’ll get this short, fun, relevant newsletter. It will contain a quote
or smile about the library and those who love it, an idea you can use to
promote your library or reading in general, a Common Core implementation idea
and a shameless plug for the programs I offer. Enjoy!
If
you are new to EOT or have missed any previous issues, you can read them all at
http://smartlibrarians.blogspot.com/.
And tell your friends about it!
In
this issue:
Quote
from Carnegie
Promoting
reading through BIG events
Helping
parents with Common Core
Media
Specialist Training workshops
Library
Quote/Smile
“There
is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library,
this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the
slightest consideration.” ~ Andrew Carnegie
Promote
(From the “Promoting Reading” Section of 45 Ideas in 45 Minutes)
#27.
One way to promote reading is to kick off the school
year with a big event. I have seen pep rallies complete with cheerleaders
and athletes, music videos, bubble parties, bouncy houses, and all kinds of
creative ideas used to get kids excited about reading. Of course there are some
great special guests you can invite in to speak to your students who can teach,
encourage and motivate your readers to explore the library and its resources,
including yours truly. An exciting, well executed kickoff event can really make
a difference in boosting participation in your program!
To
make it easier for you to do this, I am offering special pricing for
August and September. Full Days (up to 6 assemblies) and Half Days (up to 2
assemblies) are usually $875 and $550, unless 2 schools schedule on the same
day, in which case they split the full day fee ($437.50 each). The reading kickoff
special pricing is just $650 for a full day and $400 for a half day (with 2
schools on the same day paying only $325 each!). And be sure to check the
updated website for new reading shows about career awareness and the genre
study! Call or e-mail me for availability.
Common
Core Connection
In
addition to being THE source for your teachers and staff when it comes to
Common Core resources, you can help parents become more informed and involved
in supporting their children in this curriculum. One EXCELLENT resource can be
found at http://www.scholastic.com/commoncore/common-core-for-parents.htm.
Spend a few minutes browsing the material here and you’ll find things you can
use!
You
can point your parents to this resource or use bite sized pieces of it in a
Reading for Common Core section in each issue of the school newsletter. And it
should come as no surprise that when the author Patrick Daley lists “Five tips
to help you support the Common Core at home” three of the five tips are about
reading, one is about writing and one is about math. Reading is HUGE in Common
Core, and that makes our jobs even more important to student and school
success.
Shameless Plug
Speaking
of your importance to your school’s success, I am excited to be presenting a
training session at the Liberty County Media & Technology Showcase on
Friday, September 27. The title of my session is Becoming
Indispensable: Convincing the rest
of the world that a well-stocked media center and a well-trained media staff
are essential for student (and school) success! The workshop will cover 12
things that you can and should do to convince decision makers about the
indispensable nature of what you do.
This
is my 4th year to lead a session at this event and I hope you will
consider attending! It’s free and Jaime Rearley and the crew always do such a
great job with this event! Plus the snacks are always amazing! For more
information, go to http://mediamatterslcss.blogspot.com/.
This showcase has grown every year and I’d love to see you there!
If
you can’t make it to Hinesville, I would love to come to your area and do an
in-service workshop for you and your colleagues. I have presented these for as
few as 5 and as many as 100 at COMO. To see the list of the workshops I offer,
go to http://tommyjohnspresents.com/teachers.htm.
You would be surprised at how affordable this can be. Ask about how to get a
workshop for FREE when you contact me (not a contest – any system in the state
can get this at no cost. Ask me how!)
Let
me know how I can help! See you in two weeks!
Encouraging kids to read, I am
Tommy
Johns
Educational
Entertainment Specialist
tommy@tommyjohnspresents.com
Call
(770) 640-6509 or Toll Free at (866) 490-READ
