Texas Bluebonnet Award

RAL: Readers Are Leaders Grades: PreK-6 Frequently Asked Questions

Mission: To increase reading for pleasure. Research shows that students who self-select books for reading become better readers. Promoting reading for pleasure is one way to highlight the library’s contribution to student achievement.

Lists: Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) (grades 3-6) http://www.txla.org/TBA-nominees TBA Reader Advisory List (grades 3-6) See RAL Toolkit 2 X 2 List (ages 2 through grade 2) http://www.txla.org/groups/2x2-current Lone Star (grades 6-8) and Try These Too http://www.txla.org/groups/lone-star Abilene ISD Mockingbird (grades 1-2) http://www.abileneisd.org/Page/2295 Dallas Luminarias Bilingual/Spanish List (grades PK-3) & Recommended Titles See RAL Toolkit

Incentives: Grades PK-2: Read 20 from any of the lists RAL Wristband Read together as a class Read 40 from grade lists RAL Tea Party hosted by campus Certificate and class set of books for homeroom teacher from LMS

Incentives: Grades 3-6: Read 5 TBA vote & TBA sticker “I voted today” Read 15 from grade lists RAL Wristband Read 30 from grade lists invitation to RAL Tea hosted by campus

*Reading deadline for final prize (RAL Tea Party) March 1, 2013*

Books from the lists may be read independently or read aloud to students. Librarians should use professional judgment and discretion as to which lists students may use. For example, older students with fewer English reading skills may be more comfortable reading independently from the 2 X 2, Mockingbird, or Luminarias lists. Advanced readers may read from the TBA or Lone Star lists. You know your students best and can be flexible in implementing the RAL Program. Keep in mind that the purpose is to increase reading for pleasure to make life-long readers rather than comparing one school to another! Remember the circulation goal is 50 books per elementary student each year.

Toolkit: Everything you need to implement a successful Readers Are Leaders program can be found at http://www.dallasisd.org/Page/1039 (passwords are same as for book review) Items include: recording keeping charts for all reading lists, book trailers, website links and much. much more!

Questions or comments: your RAL representative: Lynn DeFord – Stemmons Elem.