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Twitter and the Global Read Aloud #GRA15

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One of the easiest tools to use during the Global Read aloud is Twitter.  Why?  because it allows you to share what your students are doing, allows you to connect with the authors, and also allows you to connect with others.  It is not time consuming, students all tweet throughone class account and you can still be connected to the entire project without having to connect with just one class.

So how do you use Twitter?

Here is a nice video from Howcast that explains it well.

What are the hashtags for this year?

The official hashtag is #GRA15 – this is for anything Global Read Aloud related.

My account is @pernilleripp – tag me in your tweets so I can share your tweets!

Each group has it’s own hashtags as well

  • Amy Krouse Rosenthal Picture Book study #GRAAmy
  • The Year of Billy Miller #GRABilly
  • Fish In A Tree  #GRAFIAT
  • Fish  #GRAFish
  • Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass #GRAYaqui

Some of the authors are on Twitter as well:

Amy Krouse Rosenthal @MissAmyKR

Lynda Mullaly Hun @LynMullalyhunt

Laura Dron (L.S.Matthews) @LauraDron

Meg Medina @Meg_Medina

Slowchat on Twitter Info:

One of the easiest ways to get connected during the GRA is to participate in the slowchats on Twitter.  You may be wondering what a slowchat is.  Well, it is a Twitter chat meant to last a week.  That means that a class will host the chat for a week and send out questions using a specific hashtag, often posting a new question every day, and then moderating the chat for an entire week.  Why do we love slowchats?  Because we don’t have to worry about having all of our students on Twitter at the same time, it allows for all time zones to participate, as well as for great conversations to unfold at a slower pace.

If you want to participate:

  • You or your class must have a Twitter account to participate
  • See the lists of hashtags so you know which one to use
  • During the week, answer the questions, ask your own and connect.
  • You don’t have to sign up anywhere, just participate when you want.

What will the hashtags be?

The hashtags will be the official hashtags followed by the number of the week, so for example for Fish In A Tree it would be #GRAFIAT1 #GRAFIAT2 etc dpending on the week we are in.

There are slowchats for all of the groups with classrooms moderating (sending outt he questions) each week.

I hope this helps!  Let me know if you have any more Twitter hints for the Global Read Aloud.

If you like what you read here, consider reading my book Passionate Learners – How to Engage and Empower Your Students.  The 2nd edition and actual book-book (not just e-book!) just came out!

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

The Share a Book Initiative – New for 2014 #GRA14

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image from etsy
I don’t think there is much that beats receiving an unexpected package .  After all, the possibility of what could be inside is tantalizing in itself.  Yet, when an unexpected package brings a new book into my hands…pure bliss.  Every year of the Global Read Aloud, people have wondered what they could to to push the connections they make further.  Usually, I stay our of their way and have shied away from doing anything official.  But this year, our 5th Global Read Aloud year, I am ready to take the plunge…

Introducing:  The Share a Book Initiative!  
Once again, it is a very simple ideas, inspired by an unexpected book arrival from Uganda.  All I am hoping (because you do not have to do this) is that once you you start to connect with your chosen school (s), you will send them a book (chapter or picture) that reflects your region, city, state, country, whatever area you choose, or somehow has a connection with where you are.  This way, your students will have to think about which book to send, and the receiving students get  a slice of what life is like where you live.  (You can even send one to me if you feel like it). 
You do not have to do this.  Not everyone can or will.  But if you do, I promise it will add another layer to your connections and global understanding.  And why not spread more great books among us?  After all, books are some of the most powerful connection bringers we have, why not use them for good?

I am a passionate (female) 7th 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.   Second book “Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

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.

What Are the Book Choices for #GRA14?

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This never gets any easier.  Between the many, many votes cast (more than 4,000!) and my own personal experiences reading the books, as well as reaching out to others to discuss the books, these decisions keep me up at night.

A big change for this year’s project is the removal of grade levels.  Instead, just pick the  book you think will best suit your class and your goals.  Groups will be set up for each specific book soon.  All of the books chosen share the themes of transformation and love, something I think all students can relate to.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
Why this book:  This new classic has been nominated every year as a wonderfully engaging story that reads aloud beautifully.
From Goodreads:
“Someone will come for you, but first you must open your heart. . . .”

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. 

And then, one day, he was lost. 

Kate DiCamillo takes us on an extraordinary journey, from the depths of the ocean to the net of a fisherman, from the top of a garbage heap to the fireside of a hoboes’ camp, from the bedside of an ailing child to the bustling streets of Memphis. And along the way, we are shown a true miracle — that even a heart of the most breakable kind can learn to love, to lose, and to love again.

The Fourteenth Goldfish
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
Why this book?  I am one of the lucky ones that have read an advanced copy of this book, and besides being immediately sucked into it, I think it will be a wonderful read aloud.  The story is whimsical, thought provoking and can definitely lead to bigger connections being made.  We are working on getting more copies to mail out to participants to pre-read before the release so you can see why this book was chosen!

From Goodreads:
Galileo. Newton. Salk. Oppenheimer.
Science can change the world . . . but can it go too far?

Eleven-year-old Ellie has never liked change. She misses fifth grade. She misses her old best friend. She even misses her dearly departed goldfish. Then one day a strange boy shows up. He’s bossy. He’s cranky. And weirdly enough . . . he looks a lot like Ellie’s grandfather, a scientist who’s always been slightly obsessed with immortality. Could this pimply boy really be Grandpa Melvin? Has he finally found the secret to eternal youth?

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One for the Murphy’s by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Why this book:  Anyone who has read the book will know why.  This incredibly touching story that carries heavy themes is a story about transformation, love of the deepest kind, and survival of the spirit.

From Goodreads:
Twelve-year-old Carley Connors can take a lot. Growing up in Las Vegas with her fun-loving mother, she’s learned to be tough. But she never expected a betrayal that would land her in a foster care. When she’s placed with the Murphys, a lively family with three boys, she’s blindsided. Do happy families really exist? Carley knows she could never belong in their world, so she keeps her distance.

It’s easy to stay suspicious of Daniel, the brother who is almost her age and is resentful she’s there. But Mrs. Murphy makes her feel heard and seen for the first time, and the two younger boys seem determinded to work their way into her heart. Before she knows it, Carley is protected the boys from a neighbourhood bullly and even teaching Daniel how to play basketball. Then just when she’s feeling like she could truly be one of the Murphys, news from her mother shakes her world

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Why this book?  This book was first runner up last year and came back strong this year.  This incredible story of one girl’s courageous battle and, yes, transformation, is one that will resonate globally.

From Goodreads:
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

There you have it, I hope you are as excited as I am.  To sign up, please go here.

Who is behind this?
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 Classroom Back to Our Students Starting Today” can be pre-bought now from Powerful Learning Press.   Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Key Information for Global Read Aloud 2013

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Welcome to the 2013 Global Read Aloud!  Here is what you need to know for now:

Books:

  • Eric Carle Author Study – ideal for primary grades
  • Marty McGuire by Kate Messner – ideal for 1st through 3rd
  • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper – ideal for 4th and up (can go as high as you want)
  • Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach – Middle School and High School although I will be reading it with my 5th graders

Dates:

Starts September 30th and finishes November 8th, 2013

What Do I Read Aloud:
There will be a breakdown of pages to read for each week, that does not mean you have to keep up, it just means please do not read further than that and then share about – no spoilers please.

Stupid Fast:

Week 1:  1-56
Week 2:  57-105
Week 3:  106-161
Week 4:  162-209
Week 5:  210-260
Week 6:  261-311

Out of My Mind:

Week 1: Chapters 1-6 (pgs. 1-50)
Week 2: Chapters 7-11 (pgs. 51-101)
Week 3: Chapters 12-17 (pgs. 102-155)
Week 4: Chapters 18-23 (pgs. 156-205)
Week 5: Chapters 24-27 (pgs. 206-247)
Week 6: Chapters 28 – end (pgs. 248-295)

Marty McGuire:

Week 1: Chapters 1-2 (pg. 1-19)

Week 2: Chapters 3-5 (pg. 20-38)

Week 3: Chapters 6-7 (pg. 39-57)

Week 4: Chapters 8-9 (pg. 58-79)

Week 5: Chapters 10-11 (pg. 80-95)

Week 6: Chapters 12-14 (pg. 96-131)

Eric Carle
Read and connect over as many of his books as you would like with your partners.  Get connected via our Edmodo group ygqh89.

Connections:
  • Get connected via our groups on Edmodo for teachers-here you can find a few teachers to connect with and decide how you would like to connect during the 6 weeks.  Codes for the groups can be found here.
  • Our Wiki – great place to showcase Animoto’s, videos, Wordles, or whatever else you may be creating
  • On Twitter using the hashtag #GRA13 – my classroom will be definitely using Twitter to connect, follow them at @MrsRippsClass
  • Wherever else you choose during the 6 weeks.

Find more answers here to frequently asked questions.
But wait, I have more questions – use the contact fom on the right, tweet me at @pernilleripp or email me a p@globalreadaloud.com

    Global Read Aloud Partners with Paths to Literacy and Bookshare!

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    I am so very excited and honored that Paths to Literacy and Bookshare has partnered up with the Global Read Aloud for this year’s event.  Inclusiveness and opening this project up to as many children as possible is one of our major goals; this partnership furthers that.  Please see the announcement below

    The Global Read-Aloud 2013

    In a classroom, kids watch a classmate communicate remotely with another class.
    Paths to Literacy is excited to announce our new relationship with the Global Read-Aloud Project , a common reading experience initiative founded in 2010 to help students find connections through shared reading.  Founder Pernille Ripp, a teacher and blogger in Middleton, Wisconsin, uses multi-media activities across her fifth-grade curriculum.  She remarks on her website that the Global Read Aloud   “is meant to make the world a little smaller, to open our eyes to the rest of the world and look at all of our shared experiences.”  “How phenomenal,” she writes,  “for a child to know that the same book they are reading is being read in classrooms across the globe.”
    The website explains:
    The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible. Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be. Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible. The scope and depth of the project is up to you. In the past we have used Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, our wiki, email, regular mail, Kidblog, and any other tools we can think of to make these connections. Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project with, hopefully inspiring them to continue these connections through the year.
    At Paths to Literacy, we were inspired by the inclusive and adaptable nature of the project, and its potential to demonstrate the social value of literature and reading experiences.  Paths to Literacy was instrumental in connecting Global Read Aloud with Bookshare. to help select titles available in alternative formats.  
    For the past three years, Global Read Aloud participants have selected a single book for this project.  For 2013, project members will select 3 titles for differing age groups, to provide a selection for younger students, and to get upper grades  involved as well .  Finalists for this year’s titles are available on the project website. Take a look at the selections and vote for your recommendations!
    Getting your students involved in the Global Read Aloud is easy.
    1.       Sign up on the mailing list http://www.globalreadaloud.com/p/sign-up-here.html
    2.       That’s it!
    From there, the ideas and opportunities will emerge through the summer in preparation for the fall event.  To learn how past participants have gotten involved, take a look at their stories onhttp://www.globalreadaloud.com/p/press.html
    You do not have to be a classroom teacher to participate, and you do not need a group of students.  There is no entry fee.
    Paths to Literacy will continue to provide updates as they develop, and we are excited to hear from Paths members who join up.  Follow the action here, as well as on Twitter, using #GRA13 and following @pernilleripp, @bookshare and @pathstoliteracy on Twitter.  If you prefer Facebook, add https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReadAloud to your pages.

    The Official Tools We Use #GLRead12

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    The thing that I have always loved the most about the GRA is that every person makes this project into whatever they want it to be.  That also means that you choose what ever tools and methods of sharing that you feel most adventurous or most comfortable with.  In the spirit of this, here is what is officially available for participants.
    We will have:
    A central wiki – this will have time lines, helpful tools, but no teacher contact info.  This will be be the main showcase piece for people to share what their students have been doing.  http://globalreadaloud.wikispaces.com/
    Edmodo for teachers to connect.  Both groups have been set up already.  These are where you can set up contacts with others such as for skyping, quad blogging, book discussions, whatever you choose.  This is also another great venue to share any tools or resources you may be using.  These groups are only adults, no students/kids allowed.  You will need to join Edmodo to connect to the groups.
    • Charlotte’s teacher group code is 93pop0
    • Ivan’s teacher group code is njco4k
    Edmodo groups for students and yes, these will be much smaller, there will definitely not be one large group for students.  I encourage you to start reaching out to others and make those connections, put “want ads” up on our Edmodo teacher group and get those connections going before October 1st.  As much as I would love to facilitate all of these connections it is not going to happen with this many people involved.  These student groups have therefore not been set up yet and can be set up by you.
    Google groups – these are solely for behind the scenes communication because not everybody is signed up to receive these emails.  I finally got the planning group sign ups to work and have been approving members as the requests come in.  Soon, I will be using that more to speak specifically to groups and this big group will be for once in a while updates or discussions.  These can be joined by signing up your email on the right side of this blog
    Our Blog – http://www.globalreadaloud.com – this is used for posts on the project both from students and teachers, like a front window for the project.  If you would like to write a post for the project please do so and send it to me, I would love to hear whatever you have to say about why you are doing this, your hopes, oyur past experience, etc.  The same goes for during the project and after, I particularly love hearing from the students and their thoughts.

    Twitter – the hashtag is #glread12 – use this to share ideas and to reach out to others as well.  Follow me on Twitter @pernilleripp and I will gladly help get you connected.

    Anything else you choose.  People in the past have used all sorts of various tools and places to connect; Twitter, Facebook, Teachmeet, classroom websites etc.  This is all up to you.

    So I Joined, Now What?

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    First of all, thank you!  This project started with a simple idea 3 years ago now and has blossomed into something much bigger or better than I could ever imagine.  So while we wait until the project actually starts here are just a couple of details to get you started with the Global Read Aloud 2012.

    The dates have been set with the project starting October 1st and going until October 26th, while you can start sooner or later than these dates please do not give away any information about the happenings of the book except for in the designated weeks.

    Choose your book, Charlotte’s Web or The One and Only Ivan.  I love reading the book before the project so I can think about what we will discuss, you may want to order your own copy and decide whether you want each student to have a copy as well.

    Decide if you want to work behind the scenes on either book.  If you really want to have  say or just connect even more with people join the Google Groups set up for planning.  Both can be found on the right side of the Global Read Aloud blog.

    Join the Edmodo groups for teachers to connect.  Last year these were used to set up Skype connections, ask for ideas or support and just general sharing.  This is for teachers only, smaller Edmodo groups will be set up for students closer to the start date.  Log in to Edmodo and enter in the code for the group you wish to join.  If you are not sure how to do this please reach out.

    • Charlotte’s teacher group code is 93pop0
    • Ivan’s teacher group code is njco4k

    Check out the wiki, right now it is filled with info from last year but it will soon be updated.  Browse through what happened last year to give you an idea of what you can do with the book.

    Follow the hashtag on Twitter #glread12 and follow me on Twitter to stay updated @pernilleripp

    And other than that, just relax, this project is what you make it out to be.  The bottomline is connecting with others through a book, you decide how much time you want to dedicate to it and what you feel most comfortable with.