IRA HONOR COUNCIL AWARD

This is presented by the International Reading Association each Spring. It is the highest honor bestowed on any reading council. ORA desires that each local council in the state of Oklahoma achieve this goal in 2006-2007. 

Contact:

The Regional Directors for Oklahoma Reading Association

Teachers As Readers are groups of diverse individuals who meet on a regular basis to discuss the same literature selected from children, young adult or adult novels. They meet in a convenient setting (a school, member’s home, a coffee house, or any other place) for a lively conversation.

Why Should Teachers Form Book Groups?

Forming reading groups with other teachers contributes to teacher professional development in a number of ways. Reading groups offer opportunities for professional interaction with other teachers, for hearing different perspectives, and for behaving as learners rather than as teachers. In a reading group, teachers are able to:

• Explore his or her own literacy
• Share quality literature with colleagues
• Model lifelong reading pleasure
• Gain experience and confidence with book discussion
• Reflect upon and learn from personal experience with books
• Enhance teaching and learning

How to organize a TAR group?

• Invite about 10 people, including teachers, parents,
   administrators, librarians, and community leaders.
• Select a facilitator.
• Set a regular meeting date and time
• Find a convenient meeting place.
• Establish a way to determine reading materials
   where all participants read the same book or read books on a theme
• Talk about listening and skills and expectations
• Read and enjoy!

Where are the resources for creating and maintaining a TAR group?

The International Reading Association has two resources for purchase.

• Teachers as Readers Starter Kit with video,
   International Reading Association (see: http://markeplace.reading.org)
• Teachers as Readers: Perspectives on the Importance of Reading in Teachers’ Classroom and    Lives. IRA book, Michelle Commeyras, Betty Shockley Bisplinghoff, and Jennifer Olson, editors,    2003, (see: http://markeplace.reading.org)

Ms. Ruurs in the February/March 2006 issue of Reading Today
suggests these sites to find titles to read:

• www.reading.org/resources/tools/choices.html
• www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/childrensnotable/notablecbooklist/currentnotable.htm
• www.cbcbooks.org/readinglists
• www.bookcentre.ca/book_reviews/index.shtml
• www.waterborolibrary.org/bklistjg.htm

The PBS, NCTE, and NAESP have more information
on how to fund TAR groups as well as tips for reading facilitators.

• http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/whats_new/arts/feb01.shtm
• http://www.homepages.dsu.edu/sterlinv/Teachers%20as%20Readers/teachers_as_readers.htm
• http://www.naesp.org/ContentLoad.do?contentId=1252

Sources:
Ruurs, Margriet. (February/March 2006). “Teachers as Readers: Practicing What You Teach,” Reading Today. ( p.22). International Reading Association.

PBS, NAESP, and NCTE websites