The one thing that takes this amazing project to a whole other level is the ability for students to communicate. Do not treat this read aloud like a regular 1980’s novel study. If you are using worksheets, pre-made tests then you are completely dropping the ball. Instead as a teacher, do your homework and make connections. Through platforms like Edmodo, Twitter, Weebly, Kidblogs etc… it has never been easier. Don’t wait for others to do the legwork for you in terms of connecting. You are capable, so start adding teachers and classrooms now.
Once the platforms are in place let your students connect with other kids and teachers around the world, and share information and ideas about the book. Engagement, understanding and enjoyment will never be higher. In other words students will love reading and arriving to class in the morning. Trust me!
Here are frameworks I have set into place so my kids can get the most out of the amazing Global Read Aloud Project:
- Connect daily reading to the child’s multiple intelligence. My grade 6 students are all in different stations throughout the room learning how they learn best…their way.
- Set up Edmodo groups to connect students globally who are reading the same novel. Have thought prompting questions for them daily, but also allow them autonomy to have discussions with their new global friends and PLN. (Yes each kid, like us, needs a personalized learning network.)
- Blog, Blog, Blog. My students all have Weebly accounts where they share their learning. But what takes blogging to another level are the comments. Teacher you need to start a blog roll and have your kids comment on other blogs and vice versa.
- Skype often.
- Have a before or after school tea club. Kind of like a “Dead Poets Society”, where you open up in-depth novel dialogue. It is amazing how many kids will join in to talk literature. How cool is that!
- Use digital platforms to engage and enhance. Don’t tell kids the apps but rather let them choose. For example, some of my kids want to talk about plot through an Adobe Voice and Adobe Slade presentation.
- Have a classroom Twitter handle and hashtag. (Make sure you share the hashtag for others to see). If students have their own accounts let them tweet openly. They love it.
- Make time to be a part of the author’s novel concluding Google Hangout.
It is the eve of arguably the most important project you will run in your room this year. Please embrace the opportunities the great Pernille Ripp has afforded us. I hope this post has given you some ideas. I will be reading “Fish In A Tree” as there is zero percent chance I would pass on a Lynda Mullaly Hunt novel. If you have not connected please don’t wait any longer. Write me a comment below or send me a message on Twitter @rondorland and I will add you to my novel contacts. The map above are the connections I made last year, and if you click here you can read a post I wrote last year on just how engaged my class was. Happy reading everyone!
The Global Read Aloud 
Please add me to your contacts. My students are so excited to begin this adventure.
barmy@sggsvb.org
Hi Beth, thanks for your interest. What grade are you? And where are you located?
I am a third grade teacher in Mankato, MN. We are reading FIAT! I am following you on Twitter (@BridgesBears_3M), and look forward to a fabulous first GRA!
Hey!! We are a third grade class in Stamford, CT — let me know if you want to connect @MrsSmithsStars
Fantastic! Connection made!
Thanks Ron for a well-written GRA pep post. I agree, and am so excited for another GRA with Pernille and Lynda Mullaly Hunt. It will be fantastic. Please add me to your list. We are from Short Hills, NJ. USA (@applemurphy22)
Thank you all for not only reading my post but also commenting. If you want to connect please connect with me on twitter @rondorland or on the initial blog post on mrdorland.weebly.com
I am excited to begin too, if you want a connection in the Cayman Islands, we are in Grand Cayman, 11 Grade 5 students,
Would love to connect but you are listed as anonymous. Can you reach me on twitter @rondorland or through my website mrdorland.weebly.com
Please send me a message on my blog post so we can connect.
I am a newbie this year and very excited. We too are reading FIAT. Please add me to your contacts. Going to follow you on Twitter.
I am new to GRA. I would like to connect to you as a way kick-starting this exciting project. I have group of 25 4th graders.
Hi, I teach 5th grade in Silicon Valley, CA. Please add me to your contacts -@kkmcquinn.
Add our twitter handle to your contacts: @MrsK_icrew; We are 6th also. My handle is @mrskochheiser and our email is kkochheiser@waverlyk12.net Reading FIAT and looking forward to using WriteAbout and blogging!
Hello! We are a group of 39 3rd-5th graders at a rural school in Stoddard, NH. This is our first time with GRA and we are reading FIAT.
We will be on edmundo and writeabout. I also have a skype account. We would love to connect with people my email is amanda.bridges@sau24.org
I will be starting Fish in a Tree with my students today for GRA, but had no idea of all these fun connections going on! I definitely wish I would’ve started planning sooner and connected with other classes!
I will definitely try looking into blog posts and other things.
Thanks for the tips,
Lorraine G.
5th grade teacher, Southern CA
I am a third grade teacher in Upper Arlington, Ohio and am excited to be a part of this for the first time! We are reading FIAT. Please add me to your contacts @kmwilcox2.
I am a little late to the game, but I just learned about GRA and it seems like the perfect fit for the type of literary experiences I want to provide our students with. I just finished “Fish in a Tree” and want to be able to share it with students as well. I would love if you added us to your contacts @LGESlibrary
Fifth graders in Iowa reading FIAT. Love this author!! pmcgee@cbcsd.org
My class started reading Fish in a Tree this week. So far my class loves it. We are a private school for children with disabilities in Gainesville GA and each of the 4 classes are reading a different book.
How do we connect to others reading the same book on Skype?
Please add me to your contacts.
Regards,
Cathy
Please add my 6th grade class to your contacts!
@Brooke McLeod, this is our first year doing the read aloud and weebly is not working for any of us, nor do we know when to Skype, or how to find classes reading the same novels as we are. How do we know what time of day to get onto Skype to communicate with others around the world reading the same book that we are? Anybody out there with tips? Shortcuts? Please PLEASE advise. Thank you.
Did you read this post? https://theglobalreadaloud.com/2015/08/09/if-you-are-new-to-the-global-read-aloud-tips-for-you-gra15/