{Digital Reading: Part 3} #cyberPD

This summer a really BIG! group of educators are reading and learning together online.  I am participating and co-hosting this year's #cyberPD event about digital reading and creating digital readers in our classrooms with Cathy Mere and Laura Komos. 

Don't forget! Next Tuesday, July 28th @ 7 pm CST, we will be participating in a #cyberPD Twitter chat with authors Franki Sibberson and Bill Bass.

Digital Reading: What's Essential in Grades 3-8 

by William L. Bass II and Franki Sibberson

Paperback or ebook can be purchased from NCTE

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My Thoughts and Reflections

Chapter 6: Assessment: Keeping Our Eye on the Literacy

"Assessment needs to be the vehicle that moves us beyond defining our readers as a number.  Assessment should not be about defining a reader but about piecing together information to help us design classroom experiences so we can observe our readers learning and understand what each one needs."
 (Assessment in Perspective, Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan 
as quoted by Bass & Sibberson, p.87)

Take Away: That's it, right?  (Reread the quote above.) That's all we need to know and remember about assessment?  I wish it were that easy!  (And now I'm kicking myself for not attending Clare and Tammy's assessment session at ILA!)

Think About/Share: I guess I was quite relieved to see that all the best practices for collecting formative data holds true even when digital literacies are present.  Trying to determine where the reader is and how can I continue to move and push the reader forward in learning.  The structures for ongoing assessment listed on p.90 brought a smile to my face.  Yes, this is what I'm always trying to do and I'm constantly wondering how I can improve in my practices of ongoing assessments.  After meeting Patrick Allen at ILA, I'm reminded that I need to revisit an old #cyberPD book selection, Conferring: The Keystone of Reader's Workshop.

Try it: I loved the idea of moving beyond the note taking and using digital tools to gather evidence and artifacts of learning.  I'm realizing that it doesn't have to be complicated.  A snapshot in a moment in time: an audio recording, a photograph of a reader, a screenshot of text.  But how do I keep it organized?!?  I need a crash course with Cathy about Evernote!  I have a Pinterest board of Everything Evernote resources, but I have done nothing more than pin those resources.  I think it's time I create notebooks and go digital with my note keeping and involving students in collecting evidence of learning in digital portfolios with Google Slides (and other suggestions on p.93-94).

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Chapter 7: Beyond the Classroom Walls: Connecting Digital Reading at Home and School

"Parents can engage in their child's learning on a daily basis 

and in a variety of ways." (Bass & Sibberson, p.47)

Take Away: It is essential to open up our classroom doors and let parents and families know what we are doing all day long in our classrooms.  What I love about this concept is that it doesn't (and shouldn't!) fall on only the teacher to communicate with families.  It's important to engage the students in connecting and sharing with families utilizing a variety of digital tools.  

Think About/Share:  In order to communicate with families, I need "to design a classroom communication plan that harnesses the power of digital tools to reach outside the classroom" (p.104).  The reflective questions (on p.105) provide the guidance I need to think about my plan deeply.

Try it: I currently use Kidblog.  I have a class website through the district.  I have a class Twitter account.  I can use Google Calendar and Docs with my students.  Now, I need to think about the purpose and focus of each of these tools and how I will utilize them to increase communication with families.

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Please edit, add to, and use the growing list of DIGITAL READING RESOURCES available.  This is a living document that is meant to be a work of collaboration.   (Note: It's in the early stages of development ... and needs your help!  I'm beginning to organize the various digital resources.  See the tabs at the bottom of the document.  Add headings and notes too!)

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You can participate in the #cyberPD conversations this month too:

• Grab your copy from your book stack or order a copy now (Paperback or e-book)
• Weekly reflection post on your blog or in the Google Community
• Week of July 20th: Chapters 6-7
• Tuesday, July 28th @ 7pm CST: #cyberPD Twitter Chat 
• Chat with authors Franki Sibberson and Bill Bass and many colleagues
• Participate in the conversations. This is where the magic of #cyberPD happens!  
• Visit the Google Community and participant blogs.
• Comment on at least  3 participants reflections during the week.  
• Continue to share on Twitter as well using the #cyberPD hashtag! 
• See, read, share pins on our #cyberPD Digital Reading Pinterest board
• Thanks to Elisa for creating a Padlet of #cyberPD Digital Reading Resources!

Read.  Reflect.  Share.  Respond to others.  Then repeat.

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As always, thank you for taking the time to read and share your voice!