Franki Sibberson has worked for nineteen years as an educator in many different roles - teaching children in a variety of elementary grades, assisting struggling readers in an intervention position, guiding literacy programs K - 12 in the central district office, and leading workshops for teachers at the state, regional, and national level.

This year she has taken on a new role as a Curriculum Support Teacher in Dublin, Ohio, splitting her days between a grades 3/4 multiage classroom she shares with a colleague, and classroom visits and discussions with colleagues focused around literacy issues. Her writing for Choice Literacy will explore this new work and the reflections on learning and literacy it provokes. Franki is the co-author with Karen Szymusiak of many books and videos on teaching reading in the intermediate grades, including Beyond Leveled Books, Still Learning to Read, Bringing Reading to Life, and Making the Most of News Magazines.

Franki also writes regularly in the blog she shares with Mary Lee Hahn, "A Year of Reading." You can access the blog at:

http://readingyear.blogspot.com/

Revising Titles Minilesson (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this minilesson from Franki Sibberson's grades 3/4 classroom, Franki takes students through the process of selecting and revising titles. She uses the poem "Confessions of a Reader" by Carol Wilcox as a mentor text. . . . more The Book Matchmaker: Texts for "Outdoorsy" Boys Franki Sibberson I received this request from Carolyn: "Can we tackle the age-old problem of books that get ten-year-old boys jazzed about reading? I had many boys this past year that just didn't get drawn into a book. The boys in my school are outdoors guys. Many hike, hunt, fish, and ride their all-terrain vehicles." . . . more Quick Takes: Advice on Book Hogs from Franki Sibberson In this video quick take, Franki Sibberson gives advice for dealing with "book hogs" - those students who try to grab any new book when it appears in the classroom library. . . . more The Book Matchmaker: Texts to Inspire Our Youngest Readers and Writers Franki Sibberson In this installment of the "Book Matchmaker" series with Franki Sibberson, Franki helps first-grade teacher Danielle think through what books might spark better writing in her young students who are mostly interested in toys and video games. . . . more Using Comics in Literacy Workshops Part II (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this second video in a two-part series, Franki Sibberson's grades 3 and 4 students share their learning from a literacy workshop activity with comic books. . . . more Using Comics in Literacy Workshops Part I (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this first video in a two-part series, Franki Sibberson works with her third- and fourth-graders to use comics in the literacy workshop. . . . more Closing Out the Library: Cleaning Up and Thinking Ahead Franki Sibberson I am finding that my reflections in closing out the school library are not that much different from when I was packing up and rethinking my classroom library in previous years. The process of cleaning out book tubs, collecting books from students, and weeding out books that are no longer all in one piece invites me to see my text collection with new eyes. It is always fascinating to me that the same books are read over and over by students while others sit on the shelf, either unnoticed or rarely browsed. . . . more Books to Celebrate Earth Day Franki Sibberson Earth Day will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary in 2010 on April 22nd. As we think about celebrating Earth Day in our schools, we can expand the things that we can teach children by the books that we share. There are so many ways to introduce the importance of taking care of our world. Here is a list of my favorite books for helping students understand and appreciate their world, as well as take better care of it . . . more Linking Math and Writing Through Word Problems (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this six-minute video, Franki Sibberson demonstrates how she helps her third- and fourth-grade students make connections between writer's workshop and math problem solving. . . . more Nonfiction Word Hunt Part II (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson Finding new words to follow is always a fun part of our word wall routine. Students love to go back into text to find words that they are curious about. The problem is always that we find so, so many and it is hard to think about more than a handful, as a class. As the routine evolves, students begin to take this on in their personal lives--finding their own words to think about and listen for. But for this routine, we are looking for the best words to think about as a class. . . . more Nonfiction Word Hunt Part I (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson adapts an idea from Sharon Taberski to build word study into nonfiction reading time with her grades 3-4 students. . . . more Helping Young Readers Become Independent: The "Next-Read" Stack and Peer Groups (VIDEOS) Franki Sibberson I find next-read book stacks to be critical for students in the transitional years of reading. Many young readers are just beginning to read books that take longer than one sitting to complete. The choice becomes overwhelming. I have used Ziploc bags, boxes and other containers to help students be intentional about their next-read stacks. I find when students have a place to stack those books that they want to read in the future, they spend less time wandering around the bookshelves. They begin to live their daily lives as readers, always looking for new books to read in the future. . . . more When Does Level Matter? Being Efficient with Small Group Instruction Franki Sibberson I find my flexibility as a teacher is both challenged and validated when I group students for instruction. When I think about the wide range of needs in my classroom and then about the wide range of levels, it feels nearly impossible to do all the teaching that needs to be done. When I group students by level, within each leveled group are many different needs. Just because students' reading levels are the same, their needs aren't necessarily aligned. Students may read independently at the same level -- yet some may need support at predicting, while others need support with determining the meaning of unknown words. Still others may struggle with engagement. . . . more Previewing New Books with Students (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson Book choice is something that we talk about all year long. Years ago, I did several minilessons on book choice early in the year and assumed that once my students knew how to choose books, they would be set. But I soon realized that book choice changes as readers change. The advice that helps students choose good books at one point in their reading lives, doesn't help when they are at a different place as readers. Now, I include minilessons throughout the year that focus on students book choice. . . . more Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom Volume 2 Number 3 November 28, 2009 Welcome to the latest Teaching Beyond Reading Levels Digest! Comics and graphic novels have never been more popular among tweens and teens. I've found thinking through how to match kids to these texts is one of the best ways to get out of the rut of over-emphasizing book levels in teaching. The web is a wonderful source for reviews and teaching ideas to use with comics and graphic novels. . . . more Using Student Conferences to Build Book Choice Skills Franki Sibberson I went through a phase last January where I just couldn't find a book that I loved. I started lots of books, but didn't finish any of them. I tried to continue my usual routine of reading at bedtime, but I'd fall asleep. This had never happened to me - I was in a reading rut and I couldn't get out of it. It took a spring break vacation on the beach before I finally found some books that I loved and was able to enjoy my bedtime reading. Those few months of non-reading at night reminded me that these ruts happen for all readers, no matter how ingrained the routines are and how much they cherish reading time. . . . more Setting Up the Classroom for Teaching Beyond Levels Volume 2 Number 1 October 31, 2009 Welcome to the new Teaching Beyond Reading Levels Digest! This topic has been a focus of mine for years. Early in the school year, much of my time goes into setting up the classroom and library for instruction, as well as getting to know students as learners, not numbers from an assessment grid. I hope you enjoy these new features and old favorites from the Choice Literacy Archives. . . . more What Messages Do We Give Students with Our Classroom Library Design? Franki Sibberson The design of our classroom library gives a message to anyone who walks into our classroom. But most importantly, the way that it is organized gives big messages to our students about the things we value about their reading lives. The students know what is valued when they look at the way that reading materials are organized. . . . more Using Picture Books to Teach Theme in Grades 3-6 Franki Sibberson Theme is one of the most difficult things for students in grades 3-6 to understand. For students to understand theme and then discover themes in the books that they read, they need to synthesize the ideas across a book. This is often very difficult to do with the novels that they are reading independently. Yet when we scaffold their learning by using picture books with easily accessible themes and build on conversations from one book to another, our students can begin to understand theme and find theme in the books that they are reading independently. . . . more Setting Reading Goals (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson I find it's important for students to set long-term goals periodically throughout the year. In this video, students are thinking about their long-term nonfiction reading goals. We do this at the end of a whole-class share session, so students can hear the thinking of their peers. . . . more The Human Face of the 21st Century Literacy: Favorite Technology Blogs (BEYOND GADGETS SERIES) Franki Sibberson Over the past few years, I have been trying to understand the concept of 21st Century Literacy. I am interested in technology, but adamant in my belief that any tool must be used in authentic ways. To use technology for the sake of technology serves no purpose for our students. I am working to understand how new technological tools might impact our classrooms, especially in the area of literacy. . . . more Books That Invite Conversations About Perspective (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson I have recently found several books that invite conversations on perspective - books that for some reason or another, help you look at something from someone else's point of view. I have found this is not only an important life skill, but something that helps readers think about characters in new ways. If we want students to think deeply about character, to understand conflict in text, and to read critically thinking about perspective is critical. . . . more Rethinking the Study of Nonfiction in the 21st Century (BEYOND GADGETS SERIES) Franki Sibberson Years ago, I attended a workshop in which Regie Routman asked us to list all of the reading that we did over the last week. As we all worked and then reflected, we realized that most of the reading that we did on a day-to-day basis was nonfiction. So much of what was read in the classroom at that time was fiction. The workshop was powerful, and made me realize how much nonfiction reading mattered. . . . more Not Available in a Six-Pack: Books to Place Alongside Leveled Texts for Our Youngest Readers Franki Sibberson Some of my favorite days in teaching have been when a new reader insists on reading a book aloud to me (and everyone they meet that day) because they've discovered, "I can read this book all by myself!" There is nothing like the face of a new reader who happens upon a text that they can read on their own. Often these children have lots of "little books" or leveled books that they can read. But to choose a book that is not one of the leveled books that they've been introduced to by a teacher, and then to discover that they can read it without any support, is definitely a thrill. . . . more Expanding the Ways We Preview Books (BEYOND GADGETS Series) Franki Sibberson Our 5th graders are moving to middle school. As incoming 6th graders, they are given a summer reading assignment by our district. As I was looking at the 4 books that they are to choose from and thinking about ways to support them in previewing these four choices, I was struck by the ways that the internet has expanded the ways in which we can preview and choose books. It made me realize just how much my book previewing has changed over the last few years. . . . more The Reading Skills We Use When Searching the Internet (BEYOND GADGETS SERIES) Franki Sibberson Our students are often much more technologically savvy than we are. They have grown up with tools that are fairly new to us. They sometimes teach themselves the skills that they need to know. Children who teach themselves to use a handheld game by just "trying stuff out" always amaze me. Our kids are confident users of many kinds of new technology. However, I have found that even though our students know how to use several tools and how to navigate the web, actually using websites for in-depth research is a bit more difficult for them. . . . more New Mentor Texts for Word Choice (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson Choosing words in writing is a key to effectively communicating ideas. It is part of a conversation we have all year long, no matter which grade I teach. Using great language is an important part of effective communication. I have found that the best way to introduce and extend this conversation is through the use of picture books. Picture books allow me to introduce students to an idea about words in a very short time. These mentor texts serves as the conversation starter that we can come back to again and again during the writing process. These are some of the recent books I have added to my collection. . . . more Using Summer Reading to Expand the Whole School Reading Community Franki Sibberson I have always worked hard to prepare my students for a summer of reading. When I was a classroom teacher, we spent quite a bit of time during our last few weeks of school thinking ahead to summer reading. Instead of a log or an assignment, I wanted my students to see summer as an opportunity to get to those books they had been hoping to read, and to see summer reading as an invitation for lots of reading. . . . more Great New Nonfiction for Elementary Students Franki Sibberson When I scan the nonfiction shelves of our school library, I notice the quality of nonfiction books for children is so much better than it was years ago. Looking at some of the older titles in the library, I see encyclopedia-type text with not-so-engaging visuals. I am so happy that nonfiction has gotten so much better in the recent past. Now our children have so many great nonfiction books to choose from. Current nonfiction is written in ways that engage children. The visuals are diverse and authentic, and the topics are subjects that are interesting for a variety of reasons. . . . more Addicted to Twitter: How Did It Happen? Franki Sibberson I have become addicted to Twitter, and this shocks me. I really had no intention of "twittering," and I certainly did not plan on making it a part of my daily life. Yet it really is my new favorite hobby. Now that I am addicted, I have done some reflection on the process I went through to learn how to use this new technological tool. I think my process has definite implications for my teaching. . . . more Making a Difference: Examples from Children's Literature (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson Last year, my nine-year-old daughter Ana decided that she did not want gifts at her birthday party. She had heard about other kids who had used their birthday party as a way to give back to a cause they cared about. She knew she wanted to do something, but she wasn't sure what. I happened upon the organization The Reading Village (www.readingvillage.org) and shared the site and its mission with my daughter. Since Guatemala and literacy are two things that we care deeply about, we knew that this was the right fit. . . . more Characters We Love (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson When I think about matching students to books, I want my students to find books for a variety of reasons. I know that finding favorite series and characters is key to a child's development as a reader. I spend lots of time sharing books with my students that have characters that they can read about in other books. I know the excitement they feel when they discover a new book about Fancy Nancy or a new book that has just come out in the Magic Treehouse series. As readers, many of us do this. We look forward to catching up with characters we love. . . . more The Year's Best New Read Alouds Franki Sibberson I am always on the lookout for new books to read aloud to my students. I like to read new, "hot-off-the-press" books for several reasons. First of all, I don't have to worry about whether students have already read the book in past years. But more importantly, reading aloud new books helps my students feel "in-the-know" about reading and books. They like the idea that they are experiencing a book that is new, that not many people know about. They love to spread the word about the new book. . . . more Talking About Tests (VIDEO) For several years, I have been spending about a month before state testing on a test-taking genre in reading. It works like any other genre study, allowing students to learn strategies for comprehending the genre. So much of the work is in helping students use the strategies they have learned throughout the year while they are reading a test. I used to believe that this would happen naturally but have learned that students need explicit work in the area. . . . more Sports Writing Group Discussion (VIDEO) As part of our nonfiction writing study, many of the students in the class began to write about sports. Every year that I've taught in any grade, students enjoy writing about sports. It is always difficult to teach this writing style, because students write mostly play-by-play writing of the games they've played or watched. . . . more The Luxury of Extra Reading Time Over the Holidays Franki Sibberson I love thinking ahead to holiday reading. The books seem to pile up all fall with hopes that over vacation, I'll find long periods of time to read and to catch up a bit. Sometimes I find the time and other times we are busy with traveling and family. When readers have extra time coming up, it is natural for us to think ahead to what we might read. . . . more Making Time for Nonfiction Read Alouds Franki Sibberson As an elementary teacher, it is so easy to find great fiction texts to read aloud to students. There are many books to choose from, and I can readily envision my students enjoying fiction read alouds and then going back to read these books on their own during reading workshops. It is no wonder that many of our students feel more comfortable reading fiction than nonfiction, since so many read alouds focus on fiction. . . . more Books that Invite Student Participation Franki Sibberson When I taught first grade years ago, my students had a rousing good time with text that invited them to join in. Even before they were actually reading the text, they were able to join in on many of their favorite stories. Since leveled books seem to have taken over our classrooms in the past 10-15 years, we sometimes forget the important supports that these "real" books have for early readers. . . . more Student Independence and Ownership in the Library Franki Sibberson As I continued to teach, I realized that Status of the Class routine did so much more than help me to keep up with what my students were reading and writing. By taking a few minutes each day to everyone's plans for the workshop, community building happened because readers and writers came to know other. By listening in on others' plans, they came up with new ideas for themselves. I realized that the message that I gave by asking each student what they were doing was a message about student ownership: The way in which you spend your time is up to you. When I think about how this relates to my role as a school librarian, I know that if I want students to use the library independently, they deserve this same independence and ownership. . . . more Build Fluency with Books That Are Fun for Kids to Read Aloud Over and Over and Over Again Franki Sibberson Fluency has been such a hot topic lately. Our students are tested and timed on passages to check their reading progress. There is so much to fluency, but it has come to mean only the speed and accuracy with which our children read. As literacy educators, we know that fluency is so much more than speed and accuracy. To be fluent is to read in a way that is smooth and interesting. Read aloud is no fun if you are rushing through your reading. Pacing and rhythm are key. Anyone who has ever heard a story read aloud by Mem Fox or Lester Laminack knows that there is a skill to reading aloud that has so much more to do with meaning than with speed and accuracy. . . . more New Versions of Old Favorites (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson We seem to have gotten away from reading new versions of old stories. With the focus on guided reading and leveled books, I worry that our students aren't hearing the wonderful stories that we all know and love. There are so many terrific new versions of more classic tales - it's a shame if students don't have a chance to enjoy them . . . more A Workshop Model in the Library: Time for More Than Book Checkout Franki Sibberson Starting a new job as a school librarian has been a learning experience for me. There is so much to love from being around books and kids all day, sharing the best books with every child in a school, and having kids stop you in the hall to tell you about the book they are reading or the one that they want to check out next. But, I am also out of my comfort zone. After spending 21 years in the classroom, the library is a new challenge and I am definitely on a steep learning curve. . . . more Next Book Stack: Helping Students Make Wise Independent Reading Choices (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this video, Franki Sibberson confers with 4th grader Hailey about her "next book" pile to help her hone in on her interests and needs as a reader. . . . more How Can School and Classroom Libraries Support Struggling Readers? Franki Sibberson I have been trying to imagine what those struggling readers see when they look at the classroom libraries and school libraries. Does the set-up let these readers know that there is a place for them in this school or does it give them the message that the reading they can do is not valued here? . . . more Knitting, Independence, and Small Group Routines for Intermediate Readers Franki Sibberson A few years ago, my teenage daughter mentioned that she would like to learn to knit. I told her that I could teach her and that we should start with something easy, like a scarf. I was excited as I thought back to my childhood days--learning to crochet from one grandmother and learning to knit from my other grandmother. I had made several projects and had knit several gifts as a child. I didn't have fantastic skills, but I could knit. I had no doubt that I could teach my daughter to knit something simple. . . . more Supporting Thoughtful Book Choice (VIDEO) In this video filmed in the spring, Franki Sibberson helps her third and fourth grade students think through what books they might select for independent reading. The discussion ranges from new books available in the class library, to individual quirks and preferences: . . . more Sharing Our Lives as Readers with Our Students Franki Sibberson As a classroom teacher, sharing my own life as a reader has always been an important part of my teaching. I believe that if we are to have authentic conversations with kids about their lives as readers, they need to know that every reader is quite unique-and that the uniqueness is so wonderful. I decided that this "Lesson" of me sharing my life as a reader was an important thing for me to bring to the school library. No matter what my role in the school, I think this is critical. For me, it has been a way to begin conversations with kids about their lives as readers and to invite kids to begin to think about their own reader identities . . . more Easing into Assessments During the First Six Weeks of School Franki Sibberson and Karen Szymusiak For the first several days of independent reading, we don't administer assessments in the traditional sense. Instead, we watch, listen, and learn about what students do in the routines. This is an important time for informal assessments. This work is so informative. For example, we may learn that a few children are struggling and others are quite secure in their reading. We try to notice as much as we can about our new students, including the following . . . more Aligning Curriculum with Struggling Readers in Mind Franki Sibberson Years ago in a workshop, Shelley Harwayne asked us to think about how many books our struggling readers were reading on any given day. When you think about struggling readers, they may be reading a book that they've chosen on their own during independent reading time, and they may also be listening to a book being read aloud by the classroom teacher. Their special education or reading teacher may be reading another book with them. A parent volunteer may come in and ask them to participate in a book club about yet another book. With all of the right intentions, this child who struggles with reading may be expected to engage with 3-5 books per day. For younger students who can often read books in one sitting, this is not usually a problem. For older students who are beginning to read chapter books, sustaining comprehension for multiple chapter books at the same time may be too much of a challenge. . . . more Fairy Tales for Middle Grade Readers (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson Fantasy is becoming quite a popular genre with middle grade and middle school readers. Even though I am not a huge reader of fantasy, I am a fan of fairy tales. For many readers who already love fairy tales, this is a fun way to revisit old favorites. For others who are less familiar with the traditional tales, having picture book versions of the original fairy tales available alongside the newer, more sophisticated ones, is important. The fun of fairy tales is that they come in many different formats. I have been collecting and sharing new books in this genre with my middle grade readers. Here are some of our favorites. . . . more If You Like Captain Underpants: Related Books for Students (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson I have found that there is often one book that hooks a child on reading. Children may know how to read other books, they read other books...but they aren't hooked. Then they read a book or series that they fall in love with and they can't stop reading! It is what we hope will happen for all of our students. I always feel extra lucky when kids have fallen in love with a book in a series. I know that when this happens, they are likely to read all of the books in the series without stopping, and they are set for awhile in their reading lives. . . . more Making Time for Literacy Chit-Chat to Support Book Choice Franki Sibberson I have come to know lots of my friends' children from quick conversations on the telephone. When I call to chat with a friend, usually one of the children in the house answers the phone. For those friends who I call several times a week, this adds up to lots of very short conversations with these children over years and years. Even though I only have very short conversations with these children, I have so many of them over time that they add up and I come to know them well. . . . more Just Because It's Skinny, Doesn't Mean It's Easy: Matching Books to Transitional Readers in Grades 2-4 Franki Sibberson I buy a LOT of books for my classroom library. But, there are also many books that I won't buy! My husband has a lot of trouble believing I reject many books when he sees our bills from the local children's bookstore, yet I know that I am very picky about the books that I add to my classroom library. Lately I have been on the lookout for new chapter books for transitional readers. No matter which grade I teach, I know I will have at least a handful of children at the transitional stage of reading in my class. . . . more Novels in Verse (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson This year several of my students got hooked on novels in verse. A novel in verse is a short novel that is told in a series of poems or verses. The books have become popular quite quickly - I have students who have read every novel in verse that is available in the classroom. . . . more Reflections on Our Year of Read Alouds (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson Read aloud is a key time in reading workshop with my grades 3 and 4 students. We all sit in a circle on the floor, coming together as a community to share a book. Since each book takes approximately a month to read, I have to choose wisely. I have to know my students well, and choose books that will help move us forward as readers. . . . more Books to Get Us Ready for Summer Vacation Franki Sibberson When spring finally arrives, I am always excited to find books that make the transition to summer seem so much quicker for my students and me. This year, I have found some great books to help me lose myself in the world of summer. These books are in a variety of genres that are great to read all year, but they are a special treat when summer is just around the corner. . . . more If Boot Camp Was Standards-Based Franki Sibberson As I move into my fourth month of fitness boot camp, I can't help but reflect on my time there so far. The initial shock to my body is past, and I now find getting up at 4:45 every morning a bit less daunting. . . . more Rethinking a Study of Nonfiction Writing Franki Sibberson I have always done a study of nonfiction as part of our year in writing workshop. This study of nonfiction writing seems critical for students in the upper elementary grades, because we know that they will need good nonfiction writing skills throughout their schooling and lives. In our district, writing literary nonfiction is a focus unit for our fourth graders . . . more Beyond Matt Christopher (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson Thank goodness for Matt Christopher! I can't imagine how many boys are avid readers because of his books. Every year, I have readers, mostly boys, who become obsessed with reading the great sports novels by this author. Over the last several years, I have tried to find books by other authors that these same readers could enjoy--books to stretch their lives as readers, building on their love of sports reading. I have watched these readers over the years, and eventually, they decide to move on from Matt Christopher. But they never give up Matt Christopher completely. Instead, they read sports books in other genres and by other authors, always going back to a Matt Christoper title now and then. . . . more Fitness Boot Camp Helps Me Understand Struggling Readers Franki Sibberson Reflecting on the first week of fitness boot camp, I am realizing some things about how and when reading workshop works for all students--especially for those who struggle. I have been more patient with some of my students' behaviors during this time as I reflect on my own feelings and behaviors in the midst of boot camp. Here is what I've learned that I hope impacts the way I teach my own students. . . . more Enhance Your Classroom Poetry Collection: Great New Titles Franki Sibberson I have found that a good poetry collection supports students' literacy in a variety of ways. When shopping, I look for books that have poems that would be fun to read aloud, poems with great language, poems that will allow us to study poet's craft, and more. The fun in poetry shopping is that I am never sure what I might find! Because we read poetry each Friday morning, my students are always excited about new poetry books. Here are some of this year's poetry purchases . . . more Staying True to Our Beliefs When Working With Struggling Readers and Writers in Grades 3-6 Franki Sibberson I often find myself wondering how my knowledge about quality reading instruction plays out for my most struggling students. To keep myself true to my beliefs so that these students can make great progress, I think through the four things that hold true for all students and consider how they apply to struggling readers in my grades 3-4 classroom. . . . more Short Genres, Big Messages Franki Sibberson Last year, I moved from a 5th grade classroom to an intermediate multiage classroom with grades 3 and 4 students. I realized quickly that my writing workshop would be different from what it was in 5th grade. Although these students were ready to keep a writers' notebook, there were things from the primary writing workshop that I felt these kids would also benefit from continuing. . . . more Sales Clerks and Literacy Leaders Franki Sibberson As a literacy leader I run the risk of being too much like the hovering saleswoman or the missing saleswoman. Knowing the level of support that each colleague needs and wants at any given moment is an important part of my work with them. It's recognizing what a teacher needs that will make us the most effective. . . . more An Assessment Notebook That Works for Me Franki Sibberson I have been looking for the perfect assessment organization system since I started teaching over 20 years ago. I remember my excitement when I heard about others who were using address labels to take conference notes, then transferring those to a child's individual folder. But when I gave it a try, I found that I never actually put the stickers into the appropriate folder. Instead, these pages of disorganized stickers piled up. . . . more Strong Girls (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson I have become more committed to finding good books for my boys over the last few years. So much has been written about the crisis in boys and literacy that I want to make sure that I have books that will hook them as readers. I have found great resources such as Jon Scieszka's website www.guysread.com. But, with the focus on boys and literacy, I do not want to forget the girls in my classroom. Not only do I want to have good books for them to read, I want to make sure they have lots of girls to read about who are strong female characters. . . . more Reflecting on the First Six Weeks of Word Study Franki Sibberson Going into word study with a different plan is always a little scary. With the first six weeks of school finished, it feels like it is time to see where we've been and what I've learned. This year, I am working hard to make sure that my word study work makes a difference. Rather than going through the motions of studying patterns, sorting words, etc. I am making sure that every lesson connects in some way to students' reading and writing. And I want them to know that too. . . . more Revision: It's in the Bag Franki Sibberson For years, I have heard the same moans and groans when I have mentioned revision to my students in the midst of a genre study. I usually teach students in grades 3-6, and these students have somehow equated revision with editing. At the point they are ready for an edit, they may be finished thinking about their writing and want to move on to something else. . . . more Literary Nonfiction: Models for Writing Franki Sibberson I have never felt as comfortable with nonfiction writing in my elementary classroom as other genres. The products never have much variety. Somehow, students' nonfiction writing always ends up sounding like "report" writing. . . . more Nonfiction Books for Independent Reading: Moving Beyond Content Connections (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson I realized years ago that my 4th and 5th grade students were not choosing nonfiction for their independent reading time. When we discussed this as a class, the kids were honest. They had found many great novels to enjoy and they were hooked. They didn't want to give up reading the fiction that they had come to love in order to read nonfiction. This made a lot of sense to me. When I think about my own reading, I make time for nonfiction reading, but it never gets in the way of my fiction reading. I set aside separate times for each. . . . more Rethinking Word Study: The Sentence Study Routine Franki Sibberson As I continue to think about expanding my word study program to include a broader perspective of how we use words--beyond just spelling--I've realized I've never taken it a step further to think about how authors craft sentences or phrases. We have looked at some things closely---ways that metaphors help us understand what the author is trying to convey, or how strong verbs help us visualize what is happening. But, we have not really dug in to see how authors craft these amazing sentences as a daily part of our work as writers. . . . more Helping Students Find Their Own Mentor Texts Franki Sibberson Recently, I have realized that I have too much control over the mentor texts we study in the classroom. I have built a stack of the best of children's literature, taught my students to read like writers, to analyze great writing and to try new things in their own writing. There is no doubt that quality literature makes a difference in children's writing lives. But, I realize that I usually choose the lessons. I often choose the texts that we will learn from as a class. This coming school year, I am hoping to take the idea of mentor texts one step further. . . . more Teaching About Words, Grammar, and Mechanics Through Children's Literature (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson When I think about my students as word learners, I want them to be more than just good spellers. I think that this year, many of my daily word study lessons will focus on grammar and mechanics. The challenge for me is fitting grammar and mechanics into my fifteen minute word study block. What better way to do this than to look at how authors put words together in their writing? After all, grammar and mechanics are all about how words work together. . . . more Whole Class Interviews: Building Community in Writing Workshop (TEMPLATE) Franki Sibberson At the beginning of the year, I want my students to feel valued as part of our learning community. To do that, I also want them to develop their own identities as writers. I know that if they know themselves as writers - what they like, their strengths, their goals, etc. they will grow in all areas of writing. So, I've developed a writing interview that I plan to administer to my students as part of their first writing conferences during those first few weeks of school. By asking them questions about their lives as writers, I place value on their lives outside of school. . . . more My Summer Book Bag: New Books that Invite Conversations with Colleagues Franki Sibberson Many teachers love to catch up on their reading during the summer months. With the extra time, it is nice to catch up on our own personal reading and to find new books that we might use with our students once the school year begins. One of the things I love to do to support teachers is to share new books with them. Last year, during the first month of school I invited teachers to my office to see the new books I had added to my collection over the summer. We had donuts and coffee and the new books were displayed around the room. . . . more Word Study is More Than Spelling Franki Sibberson For so many years, I have struggled with word study in my classroom. The vision I have had for how kids think about words has never matched what actually happens in the classroom. I know that embedded word learning can't really happen without a solid Reading and Writing Workshop in place. For children to see the power of words, it is critical that they have time each day to read and write. So, this workshop time is one of the most important structures that supports word learning. Lots of books and tools for writing are critical if kids are to use words in authentic ways. But, a Reading and Writing Workshop without a plan for embedded word study is not enough. . . . more Crafting Characters in Writer's Workshop (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this lesson from writer's workshop with grades 3 and 4 students, Franki Sibberson helps students analyze character traits through whole-class and partner work with the lead to The Secret Garden. The text used from The Secret Garden is provided below the video player. . . . more Playing with Word Work: Inviting Students to See Playful Language in Books (BOOKLIST) Franki Sibberson Over the years, I have learned that for children to really be attentive to word meanings and spelling patterns, they first need to see the fun in words and language. I often get so caught up in the "skill lesson" I am trying to teach or the fact that I want kids to understand a particular word that I don't show them how much fun words can be. I can be in such a hurry to get through the spelling and vocabulary goals of the curriculum that kids jump through my hoops without being fascinated by words and language. . . . more Jumpstarting Students' Summer Reading: Classroom Strategies and Activities to Promote Independence Franki Sibberson As a teacher of reading, I want to prepare my students for these times in life that invite extra reading time and the ways in which these times impact their reading lives. I have learned that summer is a perfect time to learn to enjoy the extra time. I am opposed to "summer reading lists" and required summer reading. Students usually see summer reading as an assignment and often put off the reading until the week before school starts. I have found that my upper elementary students and my own children respond more positively when they see summer as a great time to catch up on the reading they haven't had time to get to. . . . more Where Have All the Picture Books Gone? Franki Sibberson When my oldest daughter was in first grade, she was in the 20+ basket. This meant that during reading time, she could read books at level 20 and above. This was above average for a beginning first grader. But, Alexa was not happy. Her favorite book, Cookie's Week was in one of the lower level baskets. So, she had to read that one at home. There were definitely great books in the 20+ basket and her wonderful teacher supported her reading from the start. . . . more Giving New Readers a Diet of More Than Leveled Books Franki Sibberson I am going on another diet. Not one of my favorite things, but something I have to do. I know that for the diet to last through all of the weight I need to lose, I need a little variety. I can't eat lettuce, grilled chicken and oatmeal for months at a time. When I have gone on diets without variety, I have always ended up deciding that I'd rather just be a little plump. It isn't really worth it. I am wondering if this is the same thing that our youngest readers feel when they are given only a diet of leveled books. I wonder if after months and months of leveled books as their only independent reading material, they feel as we chronic dieters do. Do they watch other students in the room reading "real books" in the same way that we watch size 5 colleagues in the lounge eating brownies? Do they think maybe they'd just rather not be readers? . . . more Organizing Writing Groups Franki Sibberson Many times I'll form a writing group based on what I'm noticing as I observe children in writer's workshop. They will tell me what they need in conferences, or I'll see patterns across the class. I might ask kids, "Who's having trouble with their lead?" and pull a group based on student response. I might notice that three children are writing something with a sports theme, so I might pull those students together to look at sports writers. . . . more Using Foam Boards in Writer's Workshop (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson Foam boards are a new teaching tool for me this year in writer's workshop. The idea came from my friend Ann Marie Corgill. She shared this idea with me when she was working at the Manhattan New School in New York City. I've always used a lot of wall space for writer's workshop, and have even gone beyond that to cover closet doors and the door going into the classroom with student work, ideas, and resources. There is never enough room to display or post everything we are working on and everything that might help build the writing community. The foam boards are a way to extend the display space flexibly all year long, and what's great about them is that they are so portable - each one becomes a moving, changing bulletin board tied to literacy topics we are studying and discussing together. . . . more Assessing Student Writing Franki Sibberson The standards and testing movement almost made me lose sight of the "workshop" part of writing workshop. It's been hard to keep the energy, joy, and excitement of a thriving writer's workshop and still do all the things states and districts are asking us to do when it comes to assessment. I decided before this year began to think really hard about third and fourth graders as writers--where they are in their learning at this stage in their lives, what excites them, and how to tap that energy in writer's workshop again. For me, the challenge has been combining the energy of writer's workshop and what we know works for teaching writers with all the standards and skills that are required by any district or state these days. . . . more Using Foam Boards in Writer's Workshop Franki Sibberson Foam boards are a new teaching tool for me this year in writer's workshop. The idea came from my friend Ann Marie Corgill. She shared this idea with me when she was working at the Manhattan New School . . . more Helping Struggling Writers Franki Sibberson I've found there are two kinds of struggling writers in my classroom, even though any struggling writer has some unique personality traits. At the start of the year, some students may not know what to write about. We spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year thinking about how to come up with things to write, and we talk pretty honestly about writer's block. Everyone has days when you don't have anything to write about -- I certainly have those days myself. . . . more Writing Workshop Share: Talking About Revision Tools (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this video of a discussion after writing workshop in Franki Sibberson's classroom, intermediate students share the tools they used in revision. The video is approximately five minutes long... . . . more Revision Tools: Providing Options to Students (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson From old favorites like highlighters to new resources like kangaroo bags, this whole class session with Franki Sibberson's students highlights cool tools that will inspire learners to dive in and test out different revision strategies in writer's workshop... . . . more Poetry Friday! Poetry Books That Are Fun to Read Aloud Franki Sibberson Early in my career, I taught at a school that had doughnuts and coffee for teachers each Friday in the teachers' lounge. It was a great way to start our Fridays--chatting with colleagues in a relaxed setting. I learned how important these traditions are when setting the stage for positive interactions. I thought that something like this would be great to do with children. Didn't they deserve a relaxing, talk-filled Friday morning too? . . . more The CYBILS: A New Award Program for Children's Books and Young Adult Literature Franki Sibberson There is a world on the web where lovers of children's literature blog and chat about books. It has recently been named the "Kidlitosphere" and the group is growing. This fall, a few of the bloggers decided to create the CYBILS - Children's and YA Bloggers' Literary Awards. These awards are given to children's books in various categories, nominated by readers of blogs, and judged by the blogging communities... . . . more New Year Reflections on the Classroom Library Franki Sibberson and Aimee Buckner This past August, Aimee Buckner and Franki Sibberson exchanged a series of letters as they set up their classroom libraries, chatting about how to create inviting spaces for intermediate readers (even when there is never enough space in classrooms for all the books!). This week, they reflect upon what has worked and what is still a puzzle after months of using the libraries with students... . . . more Fonts: Small Group and Conferring with Intermediate Writers (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this follow-up to a whole class lesson and discussion on fonts, Franki Sibberson pulls together a group of third and fourth graders from her class who have asked to be a part of a small group on fonts. She talks about how these small groups fit into her writing workshop plans, and how she assesses the needs of each group as they emerge to determine her role in the group... . . . more Gifts for Friends Who are Readers Franki Sibberson I have become one of those aunts that give books as gifts. I love the books that I choose for the children of friends and relatives. I find many excuses to buy books for the children in my life. But I just recently decided to add my adult friends to my book shopping list at holiday time. My friends are all busy people. They make time to read, but I know that if I give them a book that I've read and loved, they will feel obligated to read it. I am giving them an excuse to give themselves time to read a really good book. What better gift is there than that? . . . more Fonts Lesson: A Revision Strategy for Transitional Writers (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson I recently added a nonfiction reading time at the start of the day, and I've found this time has changed many of the conversations about reading and writing with the third and fourth graders in the classroom. In this lesson, I use the students' interest in nonfiction text features as a springboard into looking at fonts... . . . more Top 10 New Fiction Read Alouds for the Intermediate Grades Franki Sibberson I am picky about read alouds. A book that makes my list of possible read alouds has to be REALLY good. There is only so much time in a school year. I average about a book per month during read-aloud time. So, during a good year, we can possibly read aloud a total of 10 books. I have to make sure that each book is worth the time... . . . more Reflection Sheets: A Tool for Assessment and Conferring (VIDEO and TEMPLATE) Franki Sibberson I use reflection sheets a few times a month with my third- and fourth-grade students in reading and writing workshops. The students answer a few questions around some issue we are considering related to reading strategies or writer's craft. We then refer to these sheets in individual conferences, talk about the student's growth or needs, and set goals or chat about next steps... . . . more Grades 3&4 Room Tour (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson In this video tour, Franki Sibberson narrates a description of the grades 3&4 multiage classroom she shares with a colleague. The space is small, so Franki explains how storage areas are carefully arranged and seating is creatively designed to make the most of limited space... . . . more Hooked on Series: Great New Series Books for Transitional Readers Franki Sibberson The thrill of finding a series that you are hooked on is addicting. When I go to our local bookstore, I am always amazed at the number of series for adult readers. The new book in a favorite series is always welcome, no matter the age of the reader. Reading about characters we love in familiar settings, with plots that we can predict, provides a comfortable read no matter what our age. . . . . . more Favorite Blogs: A Great Way to Keep Up with New Children's Books Franki Sibberson A few years ago over coffee my friend Mary Lee Hahn suggested that we start a blog. We meet several times a year to chat about new books we were reading. We try desperately to have read the book that wins the Newbery before it wins, and it has always been a fun excuse to get together. I really had no idea what she was talking about -- I had little experience with weblogs, or blogs for short, which are on-line diaries kept by millions of people all over the world. I thought it would be a bit odd to write to each other on a blog, but I figured it would be an adventure. . . . more