Teen Week Read Out Report!

OK.  I am so excited.  I am so proud.  I am STOKED!

We had eight students come read at the Teen Week Read Out, which almost met my goal of ten!  (Amy and I participated, too, so if you count us, who are teens at heart, we really did meet TEN!)  Besides those eight that read aloud, we had several students in who listened to the readings.  It was just so great!  The students read poetry and book excerpts, and we had everything from Edna St. Vincent Millay to Terry Pratchet. 

It was a nice, laid back event, but I'll have to be more strategic with future Teen Weeks.  I definitely want to keep the Read Out, but I'll have to do even more activities when I get to my own media center and do a lot more publicity for events.  We sent out three emails, put up some flyers around the school, and talked to some students throughout the week, but that was it.

There is always room for improvement, but for my first Teen Read Week efforts, I'm pretty satisfied.   

Teen Read Week!

It's Teen Read Week!  

I promised I'd let you know about the shenanigans I'm trying to get our students to participate in, so here we go:

1.  FLASH US YOUR BOOKS!  I'm collaborating with friend Kristi Danger Murray Costello at Arkansas State University Writing Center for this one, everybody.  Her group had the great idea that everyone should flash their favorite books.

They are meeting at their campus' fountain, by the student union, on October 22 at noon.  Everyone will read aloud the first line of their favorite book.  Sounds awesome, right?  Well, we might not have a fountain to gather round here, but I am hoping students AND staff will come take a picture holding up their favorite book, so I can create an iMovie/slideshow.  So far we don't have any takers, but it would be a great way to participate with A-State's Writing Center, and I'd upload the iMovie to our YouTube channel at noon on 10/22, as the A-State students are reading.

2.  RECORD A BOOK TRAILER!  Supervisor Amy and I are hoping that this week's recorded book trailers are just a jumping off point for a year-long trailer drive.  We want to post these on our YouTube channel.  We ask, however, that the students have a small index card to consult during their reading/recommendation recording, so it's not just a bunch of rambling.  We'd like them to have a bit of structure and to have their book with them.  We want to continue to record these throughout the year.

3.  TEEN READ OUT!  We want to end the week with a read out.  During our Uni Period on Friday, we want students to come in and read their favorite poem, short story, or the first chapter of their favorite book.  We will have snacks to try to lure those teens in....MUHWAHAHAHA!

Didn't like my ideas?  Well, for Teen Read Week Inspiration, visit the official website.  There are programming ideas, products for purchase, and other information for this awesome week of reading.

I'm super excited about all of these activities, and I hope there's a high level of participation.  I'd love to have at least ten students present for the Teen Read Out on Friday.  We'll just have to wait and see!  Read on, Teens!  Read on, EVERYBODY!!!