The 2010 Plugged-in Literacy Workshop will be held June 28–29, 2010 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Educators are encouraged to reserve seats for the workshop early. Download the registration form (PDF).

The Plugged-in Literacy Workshop is designed for educators who strive to support student literacy achievement in and beyond the classroom. Educators in grades 4–12 will discover effective strategies for supporting students’ literacy success through hands-on experiences and professional development. Each morning Dr. Allen, author of several professional development books including Words, Words, Words and a respected authority on adolescent literacy, will lead with a keynote. Throughout the day educators will participate in a diverse range of breakout sessions with our Plugged-in practitioners.

Registration Information

To register for the 2010 Plugged-in to Literacy Workshop, call Recorded Books at 1-800-638-1304 x1122 or download the registration form available at http://pluggedineducators.ning.com.

Memories from Past Plugged-in Workshops

Susan White, Principal of Maine’s Caribou Middle School, attended the 2009 workshop and said “What Janet has done for our school is difficult to put into words…She has empowered all of us to be better. From my perspective as a school leader it has been wonderful to see not only students become more confident but teachers becoming more confident.” Caribou Middle School special education teachers Susan Keaton and Twyla Learnard said, “Janet Allen and Plugged-in have revolutionized the way we approach teaching reading comprehension…Our students are finally identifying themselves as people who read, and that says it all.”

Click to see memories from past workshops.

2010 Plugged-in Workshop Break-out Session Options Final Breakout List will be Subject to Change

Plugging-in to a New School Year:  Student Surveys, Pre-Assessments and Community-Building

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll. You’ve just learned that you and your students will be Plugging-in to Reading and Nonfiction next school year.  What tools are available to jumpstart my students on paths to independent literate success? 

Books and Audio and Equipment, Oh My!  Managing the Plugged-in Classroom

The materials and the approaches are all new.  What will my Plugged-in classroom look like?  How should I setup the classroom libraries, the curricular materials, and the equipment for audio support?  What role do my students play in this process?  How do I prepare them?  How do I prepare me?!

What Does a Plugged-in Day, Week or Year Look Like?  Scheduling for the Plugged-in Classroom

Plugged-in to Reading employs the gradual-release-of-responsibility instructional model (Pearson & Gallagher).  How do I maintain this approach while building a curriculum map for the school year?  How do I manage all of the components (Teacher-directed learning, Peer-supported Learning, Self-directed Learning) on a day-to-day and week-to-week basis?

*Teaching Students about the World through the Word:  Effective Vocabulary Strategies

My students need word attach strategies to increase their reading and writing fluency and comprehension.  What strategic approaches can support their vocabulary acquisition?  How can I teach students how-to use context clues, structural analysis and other vocabulary acquisition strategies?

*Independent Reading:  How to Start Strong – How to Stay Strong

I have students who love to read, who hate to read, who struggle to read and who have made a conscious choice not to read.  How do I engage them in Independent Reading?  What supports do they need?  Should I use precious class time for students’ Independent Reading?  How do I hold their interest across the school year?

*Beyond Independent Reading:  Growing My Students toward Independent Literacy Exploration (ILE)

I have diverse learners in my classroom at all reading readiness levels and at all levels of engagement (and disengagement).  How can they handle choice and take responsibility for their own learning?  How can I successfully manage students and provide multiple learning choices for independent learning?

You Say Go High Tech.  I Say How High?  Technology in the Plugged-in Classroom

The new state standards include literacy technology but I’m technologically challenged.  How can I support students’ high tech projects?  What is Web 2.0?  How can it support my students’ success?

Formative, Summative, Authentic and High-Stakes:  We’re Talking Assessment

I need to track my students’ progress across the year’s instruction.  How can I assess today to inform my instruction for tomorrow?  What tools can I use?  From anecdotal records and checklists to post-assessments and rubrics, let’s talk multiple points of assessing student achievement.

*But My Students Can’t Read Their Textbook!  Promoting Strategic Transfer and Reinforcement in the Content Area Classroom

My students need effective literacy strategies for reading and writing in math, history, science and other content area studies.  I’m not a reading teacher and I already have extensive standards my students are responsible to learn.  How can I give them access to success with my content area texts?  How do I find the time to do it?

*Empower Students with Power Strategies:  Approaches for Nonfiction Literacy

Dr. Janet Allen outlines eight Power Strategies necessary for student achievement in nonfiction literacy.  Learn how to focus on nonfiction literacy strategies that will increase students’ critical thinking in the areas of fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary acquisition in nonfiction literature. 

**Introducing a New Plugged-in Theme Collection:  Myths and Legends

Plugged-in collections continue to grow.  Learn all about the new Myths and Legends collection from titles to instruction.

**What’s Going on in that Plugged-in Classroom?  Support for Literacy Leaders

So now that we’re plugging-in teachers and students, what should I be looking for in these classrooms?  We’ll start with a brief overview of the Plugged-in components and review tools to support your Plugged-in classroom observations.

 **We’re Plugged-in to Reading but What about Plugged-in to State Standards?  Aligning the Curriculum

I’ve got to connect student learning to the standards designated by the state.  What tools can support these connections?  What can I do on a daily basis to engage learners with the strategies I’m charged with teaching?

**What Would It Take to Plug-in Our Students?  Plugged-in to Reading and Nonfiction Overview

Plugged-in to Reading is a comprehensive literacy program that promotes best-practice instruction and authentic, engaged learning.  What are the components of the program?  What are the goals?  What is the instructional model?  What would an implementation look like in my district?

*Sessions highlighted for content-area teachers

**Sessions highlighted for literacy leaders and administrators

NOTE:  All sessions are open to all participants.  The asterisks are used to highlight sessions pertinent to those in the content-area strand and the literacy leader strand. 

Now, with Plugged-in to Nonfiction, you can intervene before your 4th- and 5th-grade students get left behind. This program contains lessons that teach effective strategies students can use to comprehend textbooks and other nonfiction across all content areas.

The program features:

• Authentic, high-interest nonfiction texts like Hana’s Suitcase and Rescues.
• Lessons that teach strategies such as monitoring understanding, activating background knowledge, and using specialized vocabulary.
• Audiobooks as a scaffold for fluency and pronunciation.
• The gradual release of responsibility model that takes students from whole-class instruction, to peer-supported learning, to independent learning.

For more information, please contact your local sales representative, browse the website, or check out our FAQ.

Download an audio sample of one of the Grade 4/5 Core Novels, Rescues!
Rescues! by Sandra Markle – Saving Elvis 3:31

NOTE: Audio files are hosted at and downloaded from the Recorded Books website. Right Click and choose “Save As” to download file.

We’re also giving away one copy of both the print book and CD audiobook for A Negro League Scrapbook! In this acclaimed book, New York Times best-selling author Carole Boston Weatherford compiles an enthralling summary of Negro league history that includes fascinating tidbits about prominent pitchers, hitters, utility players, teams, and traditions. Booklist says, “A lively presentation—give it credit for at least a triple” and Kirkus Reviews calls it “a thorough picture of the Negro leagues in all their sadness, pain, and glory. One doesn’t need to be a baseball fan to be fascinated.” NEW! As of February 24, we are also adding Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive in CD audio and print to the giveaway! The winner will receive both CD audiobooks and both print audiobooks.

To win, leave a comment below telling us your favorite classroom activity for Black History Month. See the end of the post for complete contest rules.

To download mp3 excerpts, right click and “save as.”

Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Narrated by Kevin R. Free

A Negro League Scrapbook
by Carole Boston Weatherford, Narrated by Ezra Knight

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
by Michael Martin, Narrated by Susan Spain

The contest is now closed. Congratulations to Deborah Davila!

COMPLETE CONTEST RULES:

• Leave a comment below (be sure to enter a valid email address, or we won’t be able to contact you if you win!) sharing one of the above ideas and you’ll be entered to win.
• Contest only open to U.S. residents.
• Tweet (we’re @pluggedintoread) or blog about the contest and you can leave a second comment linking to your tweet or post—you’ll get another contest entry. Spread the word!
• Again, be sure you leave a valid email address with your comment so we can contact you. If you’re picked as a winner and we can’t contact you, the prize will got to the next winner.
• Comments will be assigned a number (first commenter is #1, second is #2, etc). Winners will be picked by random.org according to comment number.
• Drawing will be held on March 22, 2010 at 12:00PM Eastern time. Winners will be contacted by email to get mailing information.
• Winners will receive: one copy of A Negro League Scrapbook on CD audio and one copy of the hardcover print book, one copy of Jesse Owens: Fastest Man Alive on CD audio and one copy of the hardcover print book

Let us know if you use the activities in your classroom or share your favorite Plugged-in activities using these titles.

VIEW the newsletter to download excerpts and view lesson ideas!

Jan says that using classic text The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane brings lively discussion about courage and character to her classroom.

“The Red Badge of Courage is a great example of realism in writing. It’s full of very powerful descriptions of war and can be an impetus to great discussions about courage and character. Crane’s combination of imagery, moral ambiguity, and one soldier’s personal journey to define courage is as relevant today as when it was written.”—Jan Ledger

The ALA has comprehensive lists of banned and challenged books since 1990, even noting the most frequently challenged books of 1990-1999, but even their lists don’t catch all the challenges.

Though it’s a sensitive topic, it’s one that is especially important to address in some way with today’s kids. Has censorship or book challenging touched your classroom? We’d love to hear your story and learn how you dealt with the situation. Do you bring up the topic with your students? How do you deal with controversial topics in books? If you know of a book being challenged in your area, encourage your students to get involved and share stories of how a banned or challenged book changed their lives.

The following Plugged-in books have been banned or challenged in the past:
• Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher (ALSC Notable Recording, ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults, ALA Best Book for YA, ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, SLJ Best Book, SLJ Best of the Best Book, 1992 Michigan Library Association Best Young Adult Book, Nominee 1992-1993 Maine Student Book Award, Nominee 1995 Garden State Teen Book Award, Nominee 2004 Isinglass Teen Read Awards)
Plugged-in to Reading Level 3
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: homosexuality, offensive language

• Go Ask Alice by Anonymous/Beatrice Sparks (YALSA 100 Best Books (1950-2000), YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults)
Plugged-in to Nonfiction Level 3
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: drug use, offensive language, sexually explicit

• The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson (ALSC Notable Recording, AudioFile Earphones Award, National Book Award Winner (Young People’s Literature), Newbery Honor Book)
Plugged-in to Reading Level 1
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: blasphemy, offensive language, not suitable for age level

• The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline B. Cooney (Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, Pacific Northwest Young Reader’s Choice Award, Tennessee Volunteer State Award, Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award, Iowa Children’s Choice Award, Iowa Teen Book Award, Washington Evergreen Young Adult Book Award, Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award)
Plugged-in to Reading Level 2
Reasons for Ban or Challenge: offensive language, sexual situations

For some additional (and very clever!) inspiration, check out this video from ALA: “I’d like to find *BLEEP*.” (Hat tip to @cathyjo for reminding me about it!) Bonus points if anyone can figure out the books he’s mouthing that get bleeped out or (a bit easier) the covers that are blurred!

Sound familiar? It sounds a lot like Plugged-in to us! As we know, choice can greatly increase student motivation. And motivation can greatly increase comprehension and, therefore, test scores. Plugged-in works with a philosophy outlined in the article, that “most experts say that teachers do not have to choose between one approach or the other and that they can incorporate the best of both methods: reading some novels as a group while also giving students opportunities to select their own books.”

Plugged-in’s three-step instructional model offers a built-in structure for a classroom like Ms. McNeill’s. The program starts students off with teacher-directed discussion, then allows them to move to small groups with more autonomy and title choice. From there, students independently read books they’ve chosen from the high-interest Plugged-in classroom library. And in both PITR and PITNF, students read independently throughout the program, not only after completing the teacher-directed and peer-supported sections. All the texts in the program, including those in the teacher-directed portion, have been chosen by Dr. Janet Allen because they are high-interest, relevant to today’s students, and cover the standards. In Level 3 and Level 4, titles also feature classic connections.

Comic-Con 2009 wrapped up this weekend, and got us thinking about comics in the classroom. Comics aren’t just about superheroes and supervillains these days (though there’s certainly nothing wrong with a superhero!). Plugged-in to Nonfiction actually features many comic books, graphic novels, and art-centered books that will get reluctant readers excited about books without sacrificing quality. Students who turn to comic books at home may not think of it as reading, but it counts! These students are reading and don’t even know it, and by having graphic novels in the classroom, you can help connect their current reading habits and experiences to different kinds of books. Some of these graphic novels, such as Malcolm X: A Graphic BIography, even have an accompanying audiobook (noted with a *) to provide extra support to those students that may need it. Others, such as Art Spiegelman’s Maus, are award-winners that are studied even in college classrooms.

Comics, Graphic Novels, and Graphic-Based Books in Plugged-in to Nonfiction:
How to Draw Pokémon – Grades 4-5
Sign Language for Kids – Grades 4-5
The Egyptian News* – Level 2
A Photobiography of Dian Fossey* – Level 2
Andy Warhol: Pop Art Painter* – Level 3
Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation – Level 3
How to Draw Hip Hop – Level 3
Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography* – Level 3
Maus: A Survivor’s Tale – Level 3
Onward: A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson* – Level 3
Periodic Table: Elements with Style – Level 3

Do you use graphic novels in your classroom? If so, share your stories and tips! Here are some great resources:

• comicsintheclassroom.net
• 100 Tips and Teaching Tools for Using Comics in the Classroom
• ToonDoo can help kids create their own comics for projects

Dr. Allen, the creator of the Plugged-in programs, is a member of the Plugged-in Educators Ning and welcomes questions and comments. “Join the discussion!” says Plugged-in Marketing Manager Beth Eaton. “This is a great way to discuss reading and writing strategies and collaborate with teachers all over the country.” Members will also get tips on special giveaways and offers from Plugged-in.

Prince Frederick, MD – May 7, 2009 – Recorded Books, publisher of Dr. Janet Allen’s Plugged-in to Reading and Plugged-in to Nonfiction, recently announced its first two Plugged-in Teachers of the Month, Brent Yoder and Amy Beyer of South Bend, Indiana. Each month, educators will be featured as the Teachers of the Month at the Plugged-in Educators’ Ning at http://pluggedineducators.ning.com. Yoder and Beyer, the first educators chosen for this new monthly feature, will host discussions, answer questions, and share experiences about Plugged-in programs and literacy during the month of May.

Yoder and Beyer were chosen as Plugged-in Teachers of the Month because of their great success promoting literacy in their classrooms. “Brent and Amy are wonderful teachers and we’re glad to have them as part of the Plugged-in family,” Beth Eaton, marketing manager for Plugged-in Products said. Yoder is encouraged by how Plugged-in has motivated his at-risk students: “Struggling readers? Maybe, but they are engaged and willing to take risks. It’s wonderful to see the change in them from the beginning of the year.” Beyer loves using Plugged-in with struggling readers, citing how her students “talk about The Skin I’m In all year long! The Lottery Rose encourages the students to discuss personal issues. They inspire students to read other books by the author during their independent reading time.”

Yoder has been using Plugged-in to Reading with his 8th graders at Jackson Intermediate Center for two years and has become a respected team leader. He works with Explorers, an intensive program focusing on helping at-risk students achieve success. For both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years, Yoder was chosen by his peers as Jackson Intermediate Center teacher of the year. Beyer used Plugged-in to Reading in her 7th grade classroom from 2006-2008 and was named 2006-07 teacher of the year at Jackson Intermediate Center. This year she accepted a position as 5th grade curriculum leader at Dickinson Fine Arts Academy, where she is in charge of identifying students who need additional literacy support. Beyer was recently named 2008-09 Teacher of the Year at Dickinson Fine Arts Academy. Both Yoder and Beyer are also South Bend Community School Corporation Top Ten Teachers for 2008-09.

To follow Yoder and Beyer during their time as Plugged-in Teachers of the Month and find out more about the Plugged-in Programs, visit http://pluggedineducators.ning.com/ and http://www.pluggedintononfiction.com.