Dynamic Landscapes
May 15, 201

Cheryl Sloan
Youth Services Librarian, Charlotte Public Library

Heidi Huestis
Teacher Librarian, Charlotte Central School

"The Classics"...what kinds of images pop into your brain when you hear those words?

If it's warm fuzzy memories, wonderful!

More than likely, though, those words might conjure up images like this...."oldie moldie" tomes collecting dust OR

...the classroom you were sitting in way back when ... When you were told what you were expected to read over the summer?

To encourage and challenge middle school students to read and enjoy classical literature. To nurture a love of good books and foster the connections between modern-day children's books and the canon of world literature.

With a generous grant and the seed of an idea from a local patron, we started a week-long summer reading program for middle schoolers.

We realized the program would only be successful if we had the support of middle-grade teachers. They were the key.

An incentive for the students: their summer reading requirements were fulfilled at the completion of the program ( this was especially attractive to the long-suffering parents!)

The success of the program is partially about the connections...

Between school (library, classroom teachers) and the community (public library, community experts).

...and partially about choice.

Teachers offer this program as a choice to complete summer reading requirements for 7th & 8th graders. They mix it up with more traditional options like completing a reading record as well as creating book projects.

Classic Connections offers a structured, intensive opportunity to complete requirements. It includes reading, guided discussions, digital writing, art, as well as other extension activities that allow for collaboration and even a little fun!

CCS staff members wave goodbye to our students, wishing them all a happy summer.

Middle schoolers who have signed up for the program will see us much sooner than the end of August.

For our community, it has worked best to offer our program the very first week after school gets out.

We get materials into students' hands by the last day of school so they have some time to get started on the readings.

A typical week looks like:

Students meet us as the public library for one week. They commit to spending two hours each day with us, as well as keep up with reading each night.

The week begins with an overview of how the group will use both face-to-face interactions and technology tools to center discussions around the students' reading of the books, as well as how they relate to each other and to the contemporary world.

We connect related information through guest experts (local or not-so-local), art projects, interpretive exercises such as play acting and podcasting, and field trips, whenever possible.

2011 Summer Reading Theme
"One World, Many Stories"

Epic Summer Reading with Percy Jackson.

We followed The Lightning Thief from Camp Halfblood to Ancient Greece & back!

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Mythology: Timeless tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton

D'Aulair's Book of Greek Gods and Goddesses

Students
Wrote blog entries to daily discussion prompts.

Created a timeline of related adventures between ancient and modern worlds.

Made character trading cards and played "lightning" bingo.

Created a character mural depicting modern day versions of Greek gods and goddesses and an e-toon retelling of a Greek myth of their choice that was featured in Percy Jackson's story.

2012 Summer Reading Theme
"Own the Night"

Holling Hoodhood meets Shakespeare, whose unlikely influence eases his growth through his 7th grade year at Camillo Junior High.

The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

Tales From Shakespeare by Marcia Williams

Students
Were introduced to Shakespeare as the book's main character, Holling, reads and relives the bard's plays.

Viewed & discussed primary source video clips as they learned more about key moments in 1960s history, including the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Jesse Owens, and the Apollo missions.

Created podcast of some great Shakespearean insults.

Designed a t-shirt silk screened with artwork by the students that reflected the connections made through the week.

Moved from Blogger to Young Writers Project as a digital platform for sharing writing & other work. Students were already familiar with the tool and norms for it's use. Work created over the course of the program remains in their accounts; easy for classroom teachers to access for assessment purposes.

Harnessed the motivational power of graphic novel adaptations of the classics. The big ideas are still there!

We added self-assessment rubrics and exit cards for students to complete on the last day.

Students were honest on both!

Exit cards, in particular, were very helpful for future planning purposes.

2013 Summer Reading theme
"Beneath the Surface"

We played around with all the meanings of the word "underground", and decided on utilizing local historical experts & resources to highlight The Underground Railroad experience in Vermont.

The Rokeby Museum
http://www.rokeby.org/

Charlotte Historical Society

Vermont Historical Society's Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vermonthistory/

UVM's Landscape Change Program
http://www.uvm.edu/landscape/

Jip by Katherine Paterson

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, Graphic Novel adapted by Dan Johnson

Students
Toured our local one-room schoolhouse (Quinlan School).

Welcomed a local expert who spoke about the history of Charlotte's Poor Farm. Investigated objects found on the grounds!

Discussed images related to themes of both stories and designed a t-shirt incorporating the most important elements.

Created a "must-read-aloud" podcast from one of the stories.

Participated in a field trip to the Rokeby Museum where a local expert helped them navigate primary source documents.

Added two sessions!

Added "Thinkmarks" to help students keep track of their thoughts & connections as they read. We try to keep discussion guidelines consistent with what students are already familiar with.

Asked parents to sign a photo/video release form so that we could celebrate via social media.

Parent survey.

2014 Summer reading theme
"Spark a Reaction"

S.T.E.A.M.

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/leviathan/

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species: a Graphic Adaptation by Michael Keller & Nicolle Rager Fuller

The Time Machine by Jules Verne; Graphic Novel adaptation by Lewis Helfand; illustrated by Rajesh Nagulakonda

Go back to the future in The Time Machine & join British Darwinists at the onset of World War I using tactics with new mechanical and biological twists with author Scott Westerfeld.

Turn & Talk!

Take a few minutes to think about your students and your community.

How could you mix and match the classics with modern children's literature? What sorts of community resources or experts could you bring in to inspire creativity in your students?

Summer reading is no longer a one-way street.

Think about all the different directions your ideas can take.

Where will your story take you?

There are grants available to implement Classical Connections in your community!

The grant is designed to fund a week-long middle school reading program. The Vermont Department of Libraries will provide multiple copies of each book to be used.

Grant funding is available up to $450.00.

Visit the Vermont Department of Libraries site for more information:
http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/vplf/classicalconnections

Cheryl Sloan,
Youth Services Librarian
Charlotte Public Library
http://charlottepubliclibrary.org
youthservices@charlottepubliclibrary.org
802-425-3864

Heidi Huestis
Teacher Librarian
Charlotte Central School
http://booksliveon.wordpress.com
802-425-6632
Twitter: @heidihuestis