7+Communication

"Some crazy subtitle" possibility... Might be too long though (I was trying to find a catchy quote pertaining to book clubs!) "//The man who does not read books has no advantage over the man that cannot read them//" //(Mark Twain)//

__**March 18 - Skype conversation notes**__ (mostly just deadlines)
 * Don't upload any content to website until Monday @ midnight (John's time) to allow him to restructure the site
 * Finalize all content on various pages before our next Skype (can email Niki if want proofreading)
 * We will tackle the Virtual Handout together at our next Skype (after seeing others and finalizing other pages)

John, I did write down our ideas for the site layout. Let me know if you need that info.

Next Skype: __**Thursday, March 22 - one hour earlier!**__ = 6 p.m. John & Tracy, 7 p.m. Niki (or 5 p.m. in California!), & 8 p.m. for Brenda



Hey Niki, Yes, we can discuss the best location. Also, I think there might be a nice way to embed it into an existing page if we want to. Right now, I am not permitted to look at the VoiceThread you linked to :( John

Hi John, I guess I will need somewhere to put the interactive piece (Voicethread) on our website... I am struggling with how to format everything currently, but it will need to go somewhere in the end! Thanks, Niki

All, I am struggling a bit with how to format the whole Voicethread. I have a mock up ready, but think we can chat about it on Sunday. (I don't think it works well the way it is... I am a bit stuck though.) http://voicethread.com/share/2862977/ N http://voicethread.com/share/2862977/



__March 11 - Skype conversation notes**__ __Misc:__
 * Hunt for images to include on individual pages - John can format them for a consistent look
 * Recommend: Consistent terms for tabs/subpages

__Next Steps/Need:__
 * Additional tabs/subpages to be set up (*John) - Introduction/Overview (which term?), Recommended reading, virtual handout, and perhaps an "About Us" (Book Club Bios)
 * John will play with formatting - some pages will likely need to be on sidebar, etc.
 * Welcome/Home (How to) - guide to how to work through the website, common pages & differentiation/choice (*Tracy will establish, can be edited later)
 * Digital Page - possibilities: Library Thing, Good Reads, Twitter feeds, facebook (?) (*Brenda & John to collaborate)
 * Virtual Handout - John to set up within wiki and ask us to contribute various aspects, we should all be paying attention/checking in with this. Will be edited/finalized later and turned into a printable PDF.

__TARGET:__
 * Add __content to Squarespace by Saturday, March 17__ (sometime). This enables all to look at each others before Skype
 * __Skype - Sunday, March 18th__ - (John & Tracy 7 pm, Niki 8 pm, & Brenda 9 pm)

__**March 4 - Skype conversation notes**__ __**Need:**__
 * Introduction/Overview that includes a definition and differentiation between literature circles and a general, overarching rationale (*Tracy)
 * Why this is important for a literacy leader (*Brenda)
 * Additional interactive opportunities/activities... see below
 * Need clarification over presentation vs resource sheet (Awaiting Joanne's reply to question)
 * Will need a "handout"/resource sheet (*John assigned)

__**Interactive/Activities:**__
 * 1) Survey in intro (Tracy will you include this, or should John work on this?)
 * 2) Linoit (Brenda already set up)
 * 3) Mini-book club (format likely VoiceThread) (*Niki)

__**Other:**__
 * Each individual section will include references and each person will contribute their recommendations to the recommended reading list

__**NEXT SKYPE:**__ **SUNDAY, MARCH 11 (same time)** **All individual sections MUST be completed by that date. The additional sections discussed today should have been started on in some form ready to share**

__March 4 - link for Niki__
 * [] Niki, I'm slow sharing this with you. If you need more on professional book clubs this is our union's site. - Brenda**

__February 20 - Skype conversation notes:**__ >
 * Timeline (part of overview) - Brenda had some historical dates, etc. Web 2.0 tool for timelines = http://www.timetoast.com/ See note regarding Timetoast on Overview page.
 * Photos (part of overview) - Brenda has found some, could possibly make Animoto or Slideshare
 * Overview should address the variety of what is called a book club - purpose is important
 * Discussed whether a book club should include assessment - felt it shouldn't
 * Discussed format: wiki, but include links, multimedia, recommended readings, etc.
 * Could possibly include surveys, common myths, perhaps host a mini-book club?

NEXT SKYPE SESSION - Planned for March 5 (same time)
 * __*Each member will plan on having his/her content (page) ready by March 5th.__ **This will allow us a couple weeks to complete the overview, pull everything together, and fill any gaps, etc.**

__February 8 - Skype conversation notes:**__

Just thought I would recap a few of the items we discussed:
 * Will include book clubs and literature circles in some form

Want to explore or provide examples that include:


 * Primary Years Book Clubs (John)
 * Gr 4-8 Book Clubs (Brenda)
 * High School Book Clubs (Tracy)
 * Professional Book Clubs (Niki)

Want to be cognizant of including virtual book clubs and non-fiction.

Subheadings for topics:
 * 1) Define/explain
 * 2) How to establish
 * 3) Examples/Possibilities

Some key thoughts from the format discussion:
 * Possibility of a Google site or Squarespace
 * Live Binder or Sliderocket
 * Want entertainment/break from text - podcast? video?
 * Flare/wow!
 * PDFs - downloadable resources

Assignment due - post by March 26, aiming for around 20th for majority of work to be completed Our next Skype session is planned for __**Monday, February 20/12 (7:00 for John, 8:00 for Niki and Tracy and 9:00p.m. for Brenda)**__

John's Resources: 1. Appleman, D. 2006. //Reading for themselves. How to transform adolescents into lifelong readers through out-of-class book clubs//. Portsmouth, NH: Heinnemann

2. Marriott, D. 2002. //Comprehension right from the start. How to organize and manage book clubs for young readers.// Portsmouth, NH: Heinnemann

3. O'Donnell-Allen, C. 2006. //The book club companion. Fostering strategic readers in the secondary classroom.// Portsmouth, NH: Heinnemann

4. Raphael, T., Fiore-Ruane, S., George, M, Hasty, N. & Highfield, K. 2004. //Book club plus! A literacy framework for the primary grades.// Lawrence, MA: Small Planet Communications, Inc.

5. Faust, M., Cockrill, J., Hancock, C. & Isserstedt, H. 2005. //Student Book Clubs. Improving literature instruction in middle and high school.// Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon Publishers, Inc.