Author: Pernille Ripp

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA, who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade. Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day. First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now. Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press. Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

It’s a Wrap – Goodbye to Global Read Aloud for 2014 #GRA14

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It’s hard to believe that the 2014 Global Read Aloud is over but today I did the final official event with the incredible Q&A with Jenni Holm.  If you are not done, no worries, (I’m not!), but if you are – congratulations!

 It’s hard to express just what your participation means to me.  Every year I wonder if this is the year that people realize that I still don’t know completely what I am doing with this project, every year I think this is the year that people will be too busy or just not interested.  And yet, every year it has grown.  We started with 600 kids the first year, 2010, and this year I closed sign up at 308,000 kids.  The growth of this project is all because of you!  This next year will be one of more growth where I hopefully secure sponsors to help me trademark the name and do other essential things to make it even easier and better for everyone to connect and participate, wish me luck
I leave with you with the last few updates, I am off to read more incredible books, after all 2015 is just around the corner when we kick off October 5th!
To get GRA merchandise, please click here
To see the video of the event with Lynda Mullaly Hunt, click here
To see the video of the event with Jenni Holm, click here
To sign up for 2015, click here (yup you can sign up already!)
To mail me things because you feel like it, send it to this address
And finally, please reach out with what I can do to make this easier/better/or whatever else you feel like telling me.  This is not MY project, this is OUR project.  Our kids connecting is what makes it incredible, so thank you for allowing me to be connected to you and your kids.
Please keep emailing me and more importantly, please keep the connections going – this is what makes the project last.
All my very best and with a huge big thank you.
Pernille Ripp

Ask Lynda Mullaly Hunt #GRA14

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On Friday, November 14th, at 10:45 AM CST, the amazing Lynda Mullaly Hunt and I will do a livestream Q&A via YouTube.  For 30 minutes Lynda will answer as many questions for all of those who have loved reading aloud One For the Murphy’s for this year’s Global Read Aloud.  And fear not, if you cannot join the livestream, this Q&;A will be recorded for you to watch!

Here is the link to view the event:  Click here 

Submit your questions on this form or use the hashtag #GRAMurphys this Friday as we wrap p this amazing book.

Jenni Holm Reads Aloud the Final Chapter and Takes Your Questions #GRA14 #GRAGoldfish

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As promised, Jenni Holm, filmed herself reading the final chapter of The Fourteenth Goldfish.  To view, please head over to her blog.

Also, there will be a final Google Hangout on November 17th at 10:45 AM CST where Jenni will answer some of your questions.  Please submit them below!

Here is the link to view the event – click here  – it will also be recorded for later viewing!  Hand in your questions or tweet them to me during it using the hashtag #GRAGoldfish

Become a Sponsor for the Global Read Aloud #GRA14

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What is the Global Read Aloud?
The GRA is a global literacy initiative that started in 2010.  The premise is simple; facilitators read a pre-selected book aloud to their students during a set 6 week period in early October every year and then use whatever technology they have at hand to connect their students with other students.
Why are sponsors needed?
The project is growing so large that the website is no longer functional as a way to engage/inform all members.  A better website is therefore needed, as well as trademarking of the name and logo.  Also, the work put into the project is extensive so funding to cover an hourly rate to do that work is needed.  

Who is involved?
Students from Kindergarten through College from more than 60 different countries, on 6 different continents are currently participating between October 6th and November 14th. This is a yearly event.
How many are involved?
The first year, 2010, 600 students connected.  This year more than 308,000 students are connecting as we speak.
What does it cost?
Nothing, this project has always been free for any participant to be a part of and I do not make any money from doing it.
What tools are used?
Any technology that facilitators have access to can be used.  The more popular ways of connecting are Kidblog, Skype, Google Hangouts, Twitter, Tackk, Padlet, Wikispaces, as well as Edmodo.
What do sponsors get?
They will be linked with this international project through the website, as well as any presentations, both live and online when suited.  The participants involved are very passionate and share the GRA with others around the world, writing grants, presenting, as well as doing spin-off projects highlighting the tools they have used, thus further ties are established between the sponsors and the project.  Sponsors can also be promoted as tools to use during the project.  Publishers can benefit if their books are selected as the official selection of the year.  
What does the project need?
Funding to cover trademark, web-site creation, plus coverage of hourly rate for work to further expand and run the project.  Currently I spend about 20 hours a week running the project.
Where do I get further information?
To read more about the project, please visit our FAQ here.
To see what participants are doing around the world tune into Twitter using the hashtag #GRA14 or visit the Wikispaces here.
Please contact me, Pernille Ripp, if this opportunity is something you would like to further discuss.   I can be contacted via email p@globalreadaloud.com  

Add Your Location to the Map (And Your Activities!) #GRA14

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I apologize for the lateness of this this year, but the map is finally ready.  I even tried to post an earlier map and that failed, so please add your location or link to your classroom on our official Google Map for the year.

To add yourself to the map, click the link and then add your address in the bar and click return, it should then come up with the marker – click on that marker and say save to map.  

Link to map:  Click here