Create a display of LYRC books. Program logos in black/white and color are available on the State Library’s web site - . Posters and brochures are available in the fall.
Each year the LYRC list includes some nonfiction titles and usually at least one book of poetry. Encourage teacher participation by alerting appropriate teachers of books with curriculum connections. English and Language Arts teachers enjoy using the poetry books during poetry units. Give the list of LYRC books to English/Language Arts teachers to encourage them to offer these books as possible selections for student reading projects. Include brief annotations and genres, plus the web site address for the State Library’s site with the study guides for the LYRC books. Author information, book summary, related web sites and curriculum activities are included in the study guides.
To circulate the 15 titles to as many students as possible, multiple copies are needed for each title. One parish school system purchased a hardcopy of each title for each library that made a commitment to participate in the LYRC program. Using money from the library fundraiser, they also purchased paperback copies of most of the titles. Also, this project is a good time to partner with your local public library.
Book Pass
You can use a Book Pass to acquaint students with the 15 books on the Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice list. A hardcopy of each of the 15 titles was purchased along with several paperback copies to provide multiple copies for this project. Place five to seven different titles in the center of each table for every four students.
Use the first 15 minutes of the class to do a one minute book talk on each book. Pass out a preprinted list of the titles you will be using, in alphabetical order, with a 1, 2, or 3 next to each title. A legend at the top should say:
1 = Sounds great, I want to read it.
2 = It seems ok, I’ll try it.
3 = Not interested at all
Instruct the students to select a book from the center of the table. Everyone will then read for three minutes. Call “time” after three minutes. Instruct students to find the title on the sheet and rate it. Repeat as many times as your class time allows.
Management Suggestions
Since the Book Pass was conducted with numerous classes, students did not checkout a book at that time but signed their name on book reserve sheets for the ones they wanted to read. We made a reserve sheet for each of the 15 books and checked books out to students during the semester. Student helpers delivered books to homeroom classes each morning. Student response to this project was very good.
To help catch the LYRC books when they are returned and not be shelved, a bright orange dot was placed by the barcode on each book. As books are scanned, the orange dot alerts us to put the books back in the display area or check them out to the next student on the reserve list.
Since students must read at least three books from the list to be eligible to vote, a form was created to keep track of each student’s reading. Using landscape format, a chart was made with the 15 titles listed across the top and blanks for student names down the left side. Students entered their name once and then wrote the date for each title read when they returned books to the library. Prior to voting time we could quickly see which students were eligible to vote. Copies of the chart were kept in a notebook by the check out station.
To remind students to mark the chart after they completed a book, a bookmark was made with a reminder to return LYRC books promptly since others were waiting and to enter the date completed by their name on the chart to ensure eligibility to vote in January. These bookmarks were printed on neon yellow paper and placed in all LYRC books as they were checked out.
Mid-Point Boost
Have a Read-In after school. Students must have a permission slip to stay after school. Each student must bring a LYRC book to the Read-In. Students read form 45 minutes to an hour. Light snacks can be provided.
Voting Party
Students who read three or more books were invited to a pizza party during their lunch period. We provided pizza, drinks and dessert. A gift certificate from a local book store was presented to students who read all 15 books. During lunch, ballots were distributed for students to vote. After tallying our votes we announced the winning book for our school. Several weeks later students were notified of the winning book statewide.
