Getting Boys to Read Links

*** Me Read? No Way! A practical guide to improving boys' literacy skills.
This publication is available on the Ministry of Education's website at
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/brochure/meread/index.html
As far as I can tell there is no copyright issue by downloading this 61 page document. I highly recommend you take advantage of this resource.

Kid-produced Video on Boy's Reading
http://www.sla.org.uk/sla-boys-into-books-video.php

Focus Book: To Be a Boy, To Be a Reader by William Brozo
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/To-Be-a-Boy-to-Be-a-Reader/William-G-G-Brozo/e/9780872071759/?itm=1

Guys Read Website (Jon Scieszka)
http://guysread.com/

Jon Scieszka Discusses Boys and Reading at IRA 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Not4JWDXefM

Getting Boys to Read Website
http://www.gettingboystoread.com/

Jim Trelease's Website
http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/default.html

Jim Trelease's YouTube video "How to Read a Book You Don't Want to Read"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEMEBBwO6J8

Will Smith "Running and Reading - The Key to Life." This is Will's inspirational speech after winning at the 2005 Kid's Choice Awards (YouTube)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEMEBBwO6J8

Books for Boys at Bettertv.com (Elem+)
http://www.better.tv/videos/m/21882369/books-for-boys.htm#q=BOYS+READING

This is a slideshow that includes 7 book covers aimed at boys.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121786619139710339.html

Unleashing Potential With Emerging Technologies

How would you respond to the following?

"The thing is, my reading and writing doesn't happen here. Anywhere I'd really like to write is blocked, or the stuff teachers ask us to do is so much the same thing again and again that it really isn't writing" (p214).

Talking about his blog - "...this is writing that has a very engaged audience. I write as much for getting my ideas out as I do to see the comments and responses of those who are listening and reacting. In school, writing is about handing something in. Here, it's about having something to say" (p215).

Kajder - "Emergent technology use requires time spent deeply considering the instructional value added by new tools and time spent crafting instruction that puts content and instructional goals ahead of teaching technology" (p216).

Let's take an in-depth look at the following technologies and evaluate how we could incorporate them into our own classrooms. Afterwards, we will add comments to this post, indicating our thoughts about these technologies and realistic goals for ourselves.

1. A Class Blog
2. Podcasting
3. Wikis
4. Book Trailers

Examples:
Elizabeth Boeser - blog and wikis http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us/indschool/tj/teachers/boeser.html
Holdingford Elementary - podcasts http://web.mac.com/husker2/elmedia/Links.html
Greg Spanier - podcasts http://www.rocori.k12.mn.us/~spanierg/


Final thought from Kajder - "There's no denying it. We're past the point where we can keep doing old things with old tools, or old things with new tools. Students simply won't allow it. No matter how savvy they might be, they are all looking to us to push them, to stretch their thinking, and to teach them to use the tools of the truly literate in a rapidly changing world" (p229).

Adolescent Literacy - Turning Promise into Practice

Adolescent learners. What do we know about them? Which method of literacy instruction is best suited for them? How do we incorporate technology into our teaching routines? What are your ideas?