The Dewey Decathlon is a school-wide reading promotion program based on the 25 book standard and the reading across the curriculum standard. Currently, it is generally a voluntary program. Some teachers have incorporated it into their expectations of their students. Our reading department currently requires students to read 6 books each quarter. The decathlon is promoted as a framework to use in order to meet the 6 book requirement. Students read 25 books from the designated 10 categories. If the book is an AR book, they must score at least an 80% in order to include the book in their count (AR is one of our data management benchmarks for the SIP). If the book is not AR, we have a standard book summary sheet they fill out. Students go to the content area teacher that the book’s content is to have the teacher sign off their book. At 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 books, students come to me (as a record keeping benchmark for me) to receive an incentive: 5 is a bookmark, 10 is a free fine, 15 is to each lunch with a friend in the media center, 20 is a free homework pass in Reading, 25 is a t-shirt and entry into a drawing for Barnes and Noble gift cards at the end of the year. I also track the participation on a display board (picture attached) outside the media center. The student receives a “Raider” (our mascot) to go on the board for each level with their name and team. The students have until May1st to complete the decathlon. I have attached this year’s sheet. Since I heavily promote the Georgia Book Award and Peach Award programs, I have requirements for these books imbedded in the decathlon. This is the second year we are doing this. Last year, I found that the students that completed the decathlon had a significant increase in their STAR reading comprehension scores. I also had content area teachers comment that they saw an improvement in content area vocabulary or at least a familiarity with the content when they would reach a unit from which a student had already read a book.

This is our third year in the HRRB. The team and the book club (pretty much the same group of students) meet at the same time. We start in early September, meeting twice a month. This month we begin meeting weekly. In January we may meet more frequently. Our county bowl is in early February (only two schools from a system can go to the regionals). For the reading bowl team, each student chooses 7 books of the 20 that they agree to become the “expert” in. As they read the books, they are to write 2 questions per chapter. We then copy the questions for everyone so that they can study them at home. We meet to practice the questions using the buzzers. The reviews for the book club are an ongoing project that the students work on during the meetings. I would really like to do that as a blog instead of web pages as I have them now. Our district is working on a policy about blogging. We use some teacher recommendations for the reading bowl team at first to get a core group started and then we actively recruit others that we see are taking an interest in reading the books anyway. This year I have three copies of each Georgia Book Award and two copies of the Peach Award book (I promote 12 of the 20 reviewed for 7th and higher).

Hope that helps,

Kris

Kristine Woods

Media Specialist

M.A.TeasleyMiddle School

From:Rearley, Jaime [mailto:
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 9:52 AM
To: Kristine Woods
Subject: FW: Media Specialist of the Year

Good Morning!

I attended your presentation at GAETC. I really enjoyed hearing about the services and special events that you offer to your students and teachers. This year I am working with a wonderful group of media specialist. Every month we have a media meeting to discuss updates and share ideas. Our monthly meeting is tomorrow. I would like to give the media specialist more information on a few of the topics that were addressed in your session. If you have time, please share any additional information or resources that you have.

Ms. Johnston,

I was very interested in your matrix that you give to teachers to let them know what lessons and resources you have to offer that compliment the objectives that they will be teaching. Please send me a copy of your matrix. I would love to share your idea with LibertyCounty’s media specialists. I agree with your philosophy of being a Teacher-librarian.

Ms. James,

I enjoyed learning about how you promote the Georgia Read More books. Tomorrow at the Liberty County Media Specialist Meeting, I will be passing out the Georgia Read More Posters and DVDs. If possible, I would love to share your Georgia Read More- Racing Bingo cards and author PowerPoint. Please email what ever you are willing to share. I think you racing theme and the idea of completing laps is GREAT! We are trying to launch the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl in our county for the first time. I think your racing idea will work great with the required reading lists!

Ms. Woods,

I am very interested in your Dewey Decathlon. I think it would be a great idea for middle and high schools. If you can send any additional information about how you organize it or any handouts that would be wonderful! I read in your brochure that you have a Reading Raiders Student Book Club that creates web reviews for books. How COOL! This year our county is trying to implement the HRRB for the first time. All three of our middle schools are trying it out. One of our high schools is getting involved also. I would be very interested in how you organize your teams and help them to review the books. I would like to provide more information to my media specialists on how to begin a book club. Please send any suggestions that you have on this topic.

I know that you stay VERY busy! If you have a moment to share, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thank you,

Jaime Rearley
Media Coordinator/ ITS
LibertyCountySchool System
910 Long Frasier Street
Hinesville, GA31313
(912) 369-3178