Category: global read aloud

Edmodo Groups for Global Read Aloud #GRA17

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Every year, I have used Edmodo groups for teachers to share ideas, make connections, and post any random questions they may have pertaining to the book they are doing for the Global Read Aloud.  Edmodo has worked well for many teachers as a way to communicate with others and to find inspiration.  While you do not have to join the Edmodo group to be a part of Global Read Aloud, or use it with your students, many have found it as an easy way to be connected and to connect with others.  If you would rather join the Facebook page, go here 

To Join Edmodo if you do not already have an account:

Follow these three simple steps to create a Teacher Account:

  1. Go to www.edmodo.com.  The “Teachers” button will already be selected by default.
  2. Fill out the registration form and select the “Sign Up” button to complete the sign-up process.
  3. Check your e-mail for a confirmation to view the next steps for setting up your Edmodo Account.

To join the Edmodo GRA groups when you have an account, please click the link for the group you need:

Mem Fox 

Fenway and Hattie

The Wild Robot

A Long Walk to Water

A Monster Calls

How do I connect using Edmodo?

After you have joined your group and I have approved you (which I do on a daily basis) there are two different ways; you post a connections wanted post in your group, or you respond to one.    If you post a connections wanted post, please make sure people have a way to get in touch with you such as email or Twitter handle.  Once you have found the connections, please alert people that you have found them.  Also, please reach out to all people that respond to your post, even if it is to say you have found someone already.

If you respond to a connections wanted post, make sure you describe your classroom and give them a way to contact you.

What should I post in my connections wanted post?

It helps if you do age group, location, experience level, as well as what types of tools you feel comfortable using or would like to use.  That way people can respond with similar dreams.  You can post anything else that you think is helpful as well.

What if I don’t want to use Edmodo?

Then you can look for connections via Twitter using the hashtag #GRA17 or post on our Facebook page as well.

How many connections should I be looking for?

You decide. I like to have one solid connection for each of my classrooms and I like to have our ideas cemented before the project starts, that way I know for sure I am connected with someone.  However, I also like to look at what else is going on during the project, so checking in on the Twitter hashtags, seeing what other people are sharing and such.  Some people like to have several connections ready in case one doesn’t work out.

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Why the Global Read Aloud Matters #GRA14

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Wednesday started out as a normal day at school.  I walked into the office to check my mailbox when our amazing secretary handed me a mystery package.  I immediately looked at the mailing label and was astounded when I saw this.
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Immediately curios, I ripped open the package and was surprised when I saw this
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The package came from Cathy Kreutter, the librarian at the International School of Uganda, and she was reaching out to me continue the global connectedness started by the Global Read Aloud.   Not only was I shocked, but I was also over the moon excited, because the other thing in the package was this…
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A book, written by Cathy, based on the American Folk Tale “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly” meant to tell readers more about Uganda.  I couldn’t wait to read it to my students!  And what happened next was pure magic.
Not only did I read it my students, who couldn’t believe the things they were learning.  They also wanted to find out more about Uganda and had many questions.  Next, I took the book to our 1st grade buddies and shared it with them.  More questions and learning about Uganda happened.  Then I swung by one of our kindergarten classrooms and shared it with them, with the same result.  Within the span of an hour, 3 classes had learned and become curious about Uganda and Africa as a whole.  All through the power of a book mailed to us because of the Global Read Aloud.
Yet, the power of this book has not ended.  Our incredible librarian plans to share it next week with her classes and so we will see the seeds of curiosity planted in more kids.  More kids will find Uganda ion the globe and know a little about this faraway nation where the Nile starts and lions roar.  More kids will wonder about the world and what another child’s every day life is like.  All through the power of a shared read aloud.
So this year, for the Global Read Aloud, I will encourage people who connect to send a picture book to their partners.  A book that shares a little about them, that will deepen the connection between our homes.  I will secretly hope that some will send one to me as well so my students can see just what this project has started.
Thank you Cathy for reaching out to me.  That small gesture has started a wave of curiosity at our small school.
I am a passionate (female) 5th grade teacher in Wisconsin, USA, 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 from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Introducing www.globalreadaloud.com

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As many of you know being heavily pregnant means I am in full nesting mode, so this morning, as I got up way too early, I decided to clean things up a bit.  This website therefore has a new (shorter) address:  www.globalreadaloud.com

So what does this mean for the old address?  I am pretty sure absolutely nothing but it should be easier to get to now.

Plus it just feels more official now, so there you have the news of the day, a new address for all of us to use.

Why Did I Join?

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By Jee Young Kim

This past week, I attended the summer reading institute led by the Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University. One of the main parts of the reading workshop model they talked about is having students engage in book clubs. As we had a chance to participate in our own book club during the conference, I was reminded of how meaningful it was when I could talk to others about the book I was reading. I was excited to hear other peoples’ thoughts, interpretations and questions about the book.

The Global Read Aloud project is so exciting because it creates an international book club for our classes. My fifth grade students from Seoul, Korea will be able to talk, discuss, and share with students from all over the world about Tuck Everlasting. Thanks to the Internet, we can connect to classrooms thousands of miles away, something that I could never imagine doing when I was in fifth grade. This project makes the reading that we do in class more meaningful and relevant for the students. They will have an authentic audience of other students to share their reading with.

Another huge reason that I joined is for myself as an educator. I am thrilled about this opportunity to collaborate with educators from all over the world. It’s not often you can say that you helped plan a global read aloud with talented teachers from outside your school, district, state and country! It is always encouraging to work with other teachers who will put in extra time to plan, write posts, upload videos, leave comments, take photos, and more because of our passion for learning and teaching.

I can’t wait for this project to start with our students in September. I just bought a copy so that I can reread the book again over the summer before school starts. I think the last time I read it was when I was in fifth grade. I hope you and your students will join us on this global journey!