DROP Everything and READ!

FINAL DEAR 2011 NUMBERS

2011-11-15T21:21:00.000-08:00

With over 145 schools checking in it looks as though over 58 000 students and 3900 staff participated in this year's Drop Everything and Read. Sadly, not all participating schools/school districts have recorded participation rates so it is probably safe to say that these numbers are very much underrepresented. Our best estimate is that over 120 000 students and staff participated this year.

Thanks again to EVERYONE that made DEAR 2011 the biggest so far!

Kamloops-Thompson Celebrates DEAR Challenge

2011-11-15T21:17:00.000-08:00

School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) celebrated DEAR 2011 with over 7700 students and staff participating this year. Great little article (with pictures) by district library co-ordinator, Andrea Wallin.

Thanks to everyone in SD73, especially, TL Rae Carter, for their continued support of Drop Everything and Read!

Tyee Elementary does DEAR Challenge

2011-10-29T18:37:00.001-07:00

Tyee Elementary in Vancouver also celebrated DEAR. Here's on from the library courtesy of teacher-librarian, Chris Evans.

Seniors Buddy-Read with Little Ones in Nelson

2011-10-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

A group of seniors for L.V. Rogers Secondary spent the morning buddy-reading with the Kindergarten class at Hume Elementary in Nelson in celebration of National School Library Day!

Final Numbers Coming Shortly!

2011-10-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

OK. I've been asked by a couple of folks about the final DEAR 2011 participation numbers...

I hope to have these tallied by early this week. We just wanted to make sure that we had as many school results as possible.

So stay tuned for details. We'll also post the results on our Facebook page via Twitter (@BCTLA_DEAR).

Thanks again to everyone that participated and to those that all logged their participation numbers!

Glenwood Elementary Celebrates DEAR House-Style

2011-10-29T12:03:00.000-07:00

Glenwood Elementary in Burnaby celebrated DEAR with a 'Read in your House Teams' event. All of the house teams gathered together and read their favourite books. Their were lots of students wearing their house team colours for added festivity (and to earn house points!). Amazing participation, everyone!

Aberdeen Elementary Gussy Up Their Doors for DEAR

2011-10-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Aberdeen Elementary in Kamloops decorated their classroom doors a part of their DEAR challenged and celebration of National School Library Day! Way to go, guys!

Parkland Secondary Does the Mission Impossible!

2011-10-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

The students and staff at Parkland Secondary in Sidney created a fantastic video for DEAR Challenge 2011! Great work guys, and thanks for sharing!

DEAR Goes at Glenmerry Elementary

2011-10-29T06:37:00.000-07:00

At Glenmerry Elementary in Trail it was a busy morning at the DEAR Challenge!

Full Stop at Blair Elementary for DEAR

2011-10-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

The entire staff and student body at Blair Elementary in Richmond dropped it all and read for DEAR Challenge 2011. Apparently, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop in the parking lot!

Photos courtesy of Janice Novakowski

BCTF President Supports DEAR in Negoitations

2011-10-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

On Monday, British Columbia Teachers' Federation president, Susan Lambert (a former teacher-librarian) proudly wore her swanky new DEAR t-shirt to her negotiations with the government over, ironically, Bills 27/28 (i.e the class size legislation). We are awaiting to a photo...

DEAR a Family Event at South Nelson Elementary

2011-10-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

South Nelson Elementary, in Nelson, celebrated DEAR with a 'family group reads' where all members of each family were invited to join their children and school staff (in their pyjamas) for some good 'ol fashion family reading!

all photos courtesy of Michelle Quesnel-Tosney

Nanaimo Garners Press for DEAR

2011-10-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

Students drop everything and read

By Jenn McGarrigle - Nanaimo News Bulletin

Published: October 25, 2011 9:00 AM

Hundreds of Nanaimo students put their regular studies aside to enjoy a good book Monday.

About half of the schools in the district participated in the Drop Everything and Read Challenge, which celebrates and joy of reading and the power of literacy by reading for 20 minutes, said Val Martineau, teacher-librarian at Randerson Ridge Elementary School and the district's representative with the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association.

The event also highlights the importance of school libraries, she added.

Mr. Mazzei, principal at Randerson Ridge takes some time to drop everything and read.

Members of the Nanaimo Clippers choosing books to read to the kids

"We're kind of the meeting place for everyone, the hub of the school," said Martineau.

Some schools are having students read or reading to them for 20 minutes, while other schools have organized special activities to make the event more exciting for students, she said.

Randerson Ridge had a pyjama day and members of the Nanaimo Clippers hockey team, as well as superintendent Dave Hutchinson, dropped in to read with students.

"Some of our older kids are reading with the little kids," Martineau added.

Members of the Clippers will also head to Quarterway Elementary School.

At Wellington Secondary School, city councillors are coming to read a newspaper article about a decision council made to social studies students and members of the Vancouver Island Raiders football team, First Nations elders and school trustees will also read to and with students.

Senior students at John Barsby Secondary School are going to surrounding elementary schools to read with the younger students.

Martineau said getting sports teams involved gives literacy a huge boost for the boys especially because students are seeing their role models reading.

The district has been participating in DEAR every year on National School Library Day since 2007, the year it was started by a teacher-librarian in Victoria, said Martineau, and the event has grown steadily.

"Last year we had 45,000 people partake in it in B.C.," she said.

The Cat in the Hat Reads at DEAR!

2011-10-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

The Cat in the Hat reads at Canyon Lister Elementary in Canyon, BC for Drop Everything and Read on Monday, October 24th.

The Cat in the Hat in action at Canyon Elementary

Former NDP Leader Reads for DEAR!

2011-10-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

Former BC NDP leader, Carol James, drops everything to read with the students at Central Middle School in Victoria!

Photo Courtesy of Lindsay Ross

Ladysmith-Nanaimo (SD68) into DEAR Challenge 2011

2011-10-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

And the events continue...

Chase River Elementary: Junior hockey squad, the Barsby Bulldogs are there to read with students.

Quarterway Elementary: Junior hockey squad the Nanaimo Clippers are there to read with students.

Ladysmith Intermediate: School-wide DEAR at 11:00 and "dress up as your favourite book character" day with prizes for individuals and classes with the most participants

Rock City Elementary: It's "Give a mouse a cookie PJ day; at 11:00 they will be DEARing with a cookie and a buddy reader.

Wellington Secondary: City council member reading newspaper article on why he voted on a controversial issue and the way he voted, followed by a discussion; two local elders will be coming in and storytelling, with the local junior football team (The Raiders) and school trustees in attendance

Barsby Secondary: Grade 10-12 students going to feeder schools to read

Let us know what your school is doing! Love to share ideas for next year, too.

More DEAR Events from Around the Province

2011-10-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

A couple of more events to celebrate National School Library Day and DEAR Challenge 2011:

Morfee Elementary in Mackenzie, BC will be celebrating National School Library Day with Drop Everything and Read all afternoon including lots of reading, pajama day, and guest readers from the community in many of our classrooms. One community reader will be our local radio announcer who will be reading his story to students live-to-air! They're looking forward to a great day of reading!

Rockheights Middle School (SD61, Greater Victoria) will be welcoming their local MLA, Ms. Maurine Karagianis, and local Junior A hockey team, the Victoria Grizzlies!

What is your school doing for NSLD and DEAR Challenge 2011?

Please let us know.

You can leave a message on the DEAR page on the BCTLA Ning or leave a comment or email Jeff Yasinchuk yasinchuk@hotmail.com!

What is your school doing for NSLD and DEAR?

Let us know!

DEAR T-Shirts A Huge Hit @ BCTLA Conference

2011-10-21T22:17:00.000-07:00

At the BCTLA conference this past Friday in Burnaby, we managed to sell ALL of our official DEAR Challenge T-shirts!

Thanks to everyone who purchased a t-shirt either at our conference table or through our supplier this month.

And we raised nearly $150 for the BC Digitization Project.

Next year?

French versions, more colours, and more Medium and Large sizes will be available!

Thanks for your support and have fun on Monday!

BCTF to Support DEAR

2011-10-17T19:58:00.000-07:00

The President of the BCTF, Susan Lambert, will be joining thousands of students are teachers across the province and drop everything and read this Monday!

C'mon and join us!

They're Gearing up DEAR in SD68!

2011-10-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

What is your school doing to celebrate DEAR 2011?

Randerson Elementary (SD 68) is having a pajama day. And members of the Nanaimo Clippers are dropping by for a read-a-long with the students!

Ladysmith Intermediate is came up with the idea of having DEAR day as our first spirit day! The theme is "Celebrating Books" and students are challenged to dress up as their favourite book character, and we will have prizes for most original, funniest, etc. Some ideas that the students shared include:

Little Red Riding Hood: black skirt, white blouse, red cape, basket of cookies!

Ramona: messy hair in pigtails, kid type cloths (wrinkly, dirty knees)

Wolf (from The True Story of Three Little Pigs): jailbird costume, ears, snout, mixing bowl and spoon.
Mouse (from If You Give a Mouse... books): grey cloths, ears, whiskers, popcorn bowl or giant cookie.

Let us know what your school is doing! We'd love to share with everyone around the province. Leave a comments or contact Jeff Yasinchuk at yasinchuk@hotmail.com.

Minister to Read at James Bay Elementary

2011-10-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, the rumours are true! Honourable George Abbott, British Columbia Minister of Education, WILL be reading with (or maybe to) students at James Bay Elementary next Monday in support of DEAR challenge and National School Library Day!

What are YOU doing at your school to celebrate DEAR next week?

Let us know.

Leave a comment or email yasinchuk@hotmail.com. We want to share what you're doing with everyone!

DEAR in Burnaby

2011-10-11T10:57:00.000-07:00

DEAR will be in Burnaby at the BCTLA annual PSA conference. Look for our table in the lobby of Burnaby Mountain Secondary and make sure to stop by and say "Hi!". We'll have a couple of free posters and a limited number of official DEAR t-shirts available for sale ($12) each.
See you next week!

Ministry of Education Still Non-Committal

2011-10-04T15:57:00.000-07:00

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association recently received a letter from the Minister of Education, the Honourable George Abbott, indicating his support (of sorts) for National Library Day.

And while the Minister goes on to note that the Liberal government recognizes the important roles that libraries play in our society, his office fails to recognize the important (and distinct role) of school libraries and teacher-librarians play in improving reading levels and literacy levels in our schools. He fails to address the fact that hundreds of schools in BC do not have a trained teacher-librarian at best, and at worst, often have the doors to those libraries locked the vast majority of the time. (Anybody in there?).

Sadly, while the list of provincial MOEs that have joined the CASL (Canadian Association of School Libraries) in support of a National School Library Day continues to grow (including Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia), BC continues to be the odd province out.

Why the resistance you ask?

Let's get some answers.

Take a second and write your MLA and ask them. I wonder if they know something that the Minister doesn't. We might be surprised.

DEAR in 'School Libraries in Canada'

2011-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

DEAR founding member, Karen Lindsay, and recent co-conspirator, Jeff Yasinchuk recently collaborated on an article for the fall edition of School Libraries in Canada. The article traces the brief history of the Drop Everything and Read Challenge including continued lobbying and pleas to the Liberal government to recognize the fourth Monday of every October to our recent attempts at making it DEAR a national event with the BCTLA as one of the major sponsors.


Fall 2011 Issue of School Libraries in Canada

Congratulations to Karen (and her early DEAR conspirators!) for their tremendous work and commitment to the Drop Everything and Read Challenge, school libraries, and BC students. We're not quite where Karen envisioned, but we're headed in the right direction! DEAR will continue to grow.

DEAR Goes National!

2011-08-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

VOICES FOR SCHOOL LIBRARIES (formerly Canadian Association of School Libraries) recently approached the BCTLA for help with launching its first every NATIONAL Drop Everything and Read campaign.

With very little time to prepare the BCTLA has offered to sponsor the inaugural event by offering all Canadian schools, school libraries, students, TLs, and educators a chance to use our 2011 POSTERS and purchase OFFICIAL DEAR T-SHIRTS.

The BCTLA is excited about this opportunity to be a part of what will surely become an annual national event. We will continue work towards obtaining federal recognition and observance of the last Monday of every October as Canadian School Library Day and Drop Everything and Read!

Details as they unfold!

BCCPAC Gives Support to DEAR!

2011-08-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

Last week, the British Columbia Confederation of Parent Advisory Committees has given their official support for DEAR 2011. Here is the letter of support from BCCPAC president Anne Whiteaker.

Outgoing Email August 25 2011 - Jeff Yasinchuk BC Teacher Librarian DEAR Response From Jun 21

We are still awaiting official word from the Minister Abbott's office about his support for DEAR 2011. Fingers crossed!

Official DEAR T-Shirts Are Now Available!

2011-07-19T11:40:00.000-07:00

They're heeeeeeeeere...

Official DEAR T-Shirts: Reading is a beautiful thing. Today. Everyday!

Available in virtually any colour, our official 'Drop Everything and Read' t-shirts are now on sale.

To order your t-shirts, please contact Randy Haggstrom (randy@outofthebluedesigns.com or 250.380.9179) at Out of the Blue Designs in Victoria.

The t-shirts are $10 each with a minimum order of 12 required. Prices do not include shipping and HST.

Order for your district, school, staff, or even purchase a bunch to give away to students!

Follow DEAR on Twitter!

2011-07-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Remember you can follow updates and press release notes by following DEAR on Twitter @BCTLA_DEAR.

Follow now, follow often!

DEAR 2011 POSTERS NOW AVAILABLE!

2011-07-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

To view and download one (or all) of the digital versions of the 2011 DEAR posters please visit the official British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association website.

We recommend that districts and/or schools tend a local printers to assist with poster production where possible.

Please contact Jeff Yasinchuk, BCTLA VP Advocacy, with any downloading problems.

A huge and much appreciated THANK YOU! to our digital graphics guru, teacher-librarian extraordinaire, and much loved BCTLA colleague, Al Smith (@literateowl).

DEAR 2011 LOOKS FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

2011-06-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

The DEAR 2011 campaign is looking for BCTLA members interested in helping to make this the biggest event in its relatively short infancy. Year FIVE looks to draw in more media and political support from around BC, Canada, and even the United States. Yes, we've now friends in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington State that wish to be a part of this event!

If you are a member in good standing with British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association WE WANT YOU!

No experience is necessary, just a willingness to work with a group of like-minded professionals keen on advocating for school libraries, teacher-librarians, and the important role that both play in the education of our students.

Two ways to join the DEAR 2011 Committee:

Email Jeff Yasinchuk at yasinchuk@hotmail.com

or go to the BCTLA Ning and join the 'DEAR group'.

Hope you can join us!

Back in the Saddle: DEAR 2011

2011-05-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

We've begun preparations for DEAR 2011 to be held province-wide on Monday, October 24th. I have contacted the Minister of Education's office to touch base.

With a fall election looming, his Honourable's office was unable to commit to participation at this point in time. But, the Ministry will again publicly recognize and support DEAR and school libraries around the province with an official press release.

We will endeavour to get students into the Legislature to visit and read with MLAs in support of DEAR. Any suggestions or recommendations are readily welcome!

Please continue to follow us and spread the word!

DEAR 2010: Participation Numbers

2011-01-22T21:05:00.000-08:00

We finally have the participation numbers for DEAR 2010 based on those schools and/or districts that reported participation from October-November 2010.

Schools participating: 202

Students participating: 91 129

Teachers, parents, and volunteers participating: 4515

If you are interested in becoming involved in planning, organizing, and promoting DEAR 2011 feel free to drop us a note at yasinchuk@hotmail.com.

Until next fall...

DEAR to be Published in Feliciter

2010-11-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

We're hoping that DEAR will be published in the latest edition of the Canadian Library Association publication Feliciter later this year!

Fingers crossed...

DEAR PRESS RELEASE COMING...

2010-11-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone:

It's been a busy week of catching up (!) and so I hope to have a press release with the official participation numbers later this week or at some point on the weekend.

We're at around 67 000 at this point in time.

Still looking for photos, too! 

Ta ta!

DEAR 2010 NEARS 65 000!

2010-11-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

To date, DEAR 2010 is nearing 65 000 students and another 8 000 participants including teachers, parents, and volunteers!

WHOO-HOO!!

You guys RAWK!

Mt. Sentinel Secondary Shows its DEAR Stuff

2010-10-31T17:12:00.000-07:00

Mt. Sentinel in South Slocan, BC rocks the DEAR!

Slideshow courtesy of Tamara Malloff, MSSS.

DEAR 2010 PARTICIPATION UPDATE!

2010-10-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

As of Friday afternoon over 180 schools have reported participation numbers for DEAR. The total is nearing 38 000 students, teachers, and parents!

Spread the word to everyone: Have you reported your numbers? If not, they can email them to me at yasinchuk@hotmail.com. Pictures, too!

PARKLAND SECONDARY ROCKS THE DEAR

2010-10-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

Staging a good old fashion READ-IN, students and staff at Parkland Secondary in Saanich rocked the DEAR on Monday! Thanks for your 'literary activism', gang! Photos courtesy of Bonnie McComb.

Heartfelt Message from the (former) Minister of Education

2010-10-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

I returned to my office after class today to find a beautiful and heartfelt message from the former Minister of Education, Margaret MacDiarmid! She apologized for their inability to bring DEAR to the legislature; ironically, the cabinet shuffle was being announced in the legislature at 11:00 that same day. Minister MacDiarmid also reaffirmed her committment and support for future DEAR endeavours. Apparently, writing the official press release in support of DEAR was her last official act as Minister of Education.

Wow!

We wish her all the best in her new portfolio and hope to continue our dialogue in the months ahead!

OK, Mr. Abbott, it's time we had a discussion...

DEAR on Facebook

2010-10-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

Make sure to visit us on Facebook. Search for 'DROP Everything and READ'. Write on our wall, leave a note, check out our photos, whatever! Feel free to drop by.

Don't Forgot Your Thank Yous

2010-10-27T06:27:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder to all chapter councilors and teacher-librarians to take a moment to write a quick "thank you" note to any guests/media personnel/special individuals that attended or helped to make DEAR at your school a memorable event!

A letter was sent to the (former) Minister of Education's office today on behalf of students and teachers in the province.

Aberdeen Elementary Drops Everything to Read

2010-10-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Rae Carter for these photos!

Kelowna Secondary Celebrates DEAR 2010

2010-10-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

KSS Celebrates Drop Everything and Read

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Al Smith

National School Library Day is always the third Monday of October, Canada’s official Library month. The BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association celebrates the occasion by sponsoring DEAR Drop Everything and Read Challenge. Encouraging everyone to read each day for 20 minutes. Whether books, magazines, eReaders or even smartphones, reading makes us smarter and sharper.

"Reading is the stairmaster for the brain" -Sharon Bede, TL, Kelowna Secondary

Kelowna Secondary School had the pleasure of a special event. While many Grade 11/12 classes read silently, Grade 10′s had the fun of Director of Instruction Mr. Norm Bradley reading aloud:

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids, by Carol McCleod http://www.flickr.com/photos/okflyfisher/sets/72157625118702549/show/

ADDING UP THE NUMBERS

2010-10-25T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

Phew, what a day. Still trying to finish a paper for my TL course...not gonna get it done tonight that's for sure. 

OK, one last post before hitting the hay. 

Please ask your chapter councilor about accessing the Google Docs document so that you can add your DEAR participation numbers. You will have until the end of Thursday in order for your numbers to be counted.

If you want me to add them to the total please just email me: yasinchuk@hotmail.com.

Thanks for everyone's support. Make sure to check the DEAR Flickr account for photos later this week!

If you want to add photos please just email me for the login details, too.

G'night!

J.L. Crowe Secondary Drops Everything to Read

2010-10-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

J.L. Crowe Secondary in Trail joined the DEAR campaign today! Way to go, folks!

Photos courtesy of Marilyn Lunde.

Dropping Everything to Read in Tunisia

2010-10-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Our dearly missed colleague, Karen Lindsay, drops everything for a moment or two to read in Tunisia!

We miss you, Karen!

L.V. Rogers Secondary Drops Everything to Read

2010-10-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

Students and staff did their duty and took some time off to kick back and just read. Of special interest was the Big Buddy reading activity that took place with Grade 1 students from a local elementary school. The senior students were just as excited if not more so than the wee ones!

What happened in your neck of the woods today?

THE COQUITLAM EXPRESS IS ONBOARD!

2010-10-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

In today's THE NOW:

http://www.thenownews.com/news/Drop+everything+read+with+Coquitlam+Express/3678437/story.html

DEAR IS RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM BC LIBRARIES!

2010-10-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

From Vancouver's the Metro:

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/local/article/671925--metro-minute-at-the-public-library

Thanks for Val Hamilton for the heads-up!

LAST MINUTE DETAILS AND PARTICIPATION FORM INFORMATION

2010-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

Hi All!

Great to see you all yesterday. I hope that you are as jazzed about DEAR as I am!

Before sending out a post-DEAR press release I'm hoping that the chapter councilors or school teacher-librarians might be able to get approximate participatory numbers for students and staff in their districts.

So, here is the link to a Google Doc for recording participation purposes. Just click on the link. Enter your information (should take about 30 seconds!) and then SAVE. That's it. All done.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aloz8kzZaHZAdHMxZ2U4Mzd0dm1CN0JoTllnRkhtU3c&hl=en&authkey=CILBrY4H

CHAPTER COUNCILORS: PLEASE FORWARD THIS ON TO ALL OF YOUR SCHOOL CONTACTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

If you have any pictures from DEAR please either email them to me (however, you will only be able to probably send a few at a time and make sure to indicate the school or school district) or you can post them on the DEAR photostream on Flickr yourself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bctla_dear/

If you wish to post them yourself, please email me and I will send all the details to login (a very easy process to upload to!) before you will be permitted to upload.

Good luck and have fun on Monday!

Minister Gives Official Backing to DEAR

2010-10-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

Here is the official press release hot off the presses!

OPINION-EDITORIAL
DROP EVERYTHING AND READ ON OCT. 25

By Margaret MacDiarmid
Minister of Education
Government of British Columbia
(343 Words)

Oct. 22, 2010

VICTORIA - Reading is a priceless gift we can give our children and
ourselves. It not only helps ensure success throughout our lives, but opens up new worlds to us every day.

Can you imagine what could happen if you couldn't read a prescription bottle or understand instructions from your doctor? More than one million British Columbians struggle with literacy,and as a doctor, I saw first-hand the effects that low literacy has on people's health and lives.

Reading is the foundation everyone must have to be successful. Strong reading skills bring self-confidence and a better quality of life, which is what I want for every British Columbian. Literacy truly transforms lives.

That's why I encourage you to Drop Everything and Read at 11 a.m. on Oct. 25. Take a break from your hectic day and grab your favourite book or magazine, or snuggle up on the couch with your children and their favourite book, and indulge in the joy of reading for 20 minutes.

But don't stop there. Did you know that simple things like reading and telling stories to a child at 18 months are powerful stimuli for brain development, or that reading to children more than once a day has asubstantial positive impact on their future academic skills? Moreover, research shows that children aged two and three who are read to several times a day do better in kindergarten by age four or five than children who are read to only a few times a week.

Reading is like anything else - practice makes perfect. The more time you can spend reading as a family, the better. In fact, reading together builds stronger family relationships, encourages children's imaginations and, best of all, helps children develop a lifelong love of reading and learning.

The Province proclaimed October as Library Month in B.C. In addition to Drop Everything and Read Day, Oct. 25 also marks the eighth National School Library Day.

So, please drop everything and read on Oct. 25 as a show of support for literacy and libraries around the province.

-30-

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the
Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at
www.gov.bc.ca.

South Delta Secondary Hits DEAR Early!

2010-10-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Sharon Doyle at South Delta Secondary School that celebrated DEAR early this year!

Check out their short Drop Everything and Read video courtesy of Animoto...

BCTF TO HELP WITH DEAR PROMOTION

2010-10-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Nancy Knickerbocker from the BCTF will be assisting with spreading the word about DEAR to this rest of its members via a 'School Alert'. They are also sending out a press release to the major dailies in the province. More on this as it develops...

DEAR Photostream on FLICKR

2010-10-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

A reminder that he official DEAR 2010 Flickr photostream is located at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bctla_dear/.

Once again, please email me to receive access to the account in order to upload your photos.

OR

You can simply email your photos (perhaps 6-7 maximum) to me and I will upload them to the photostream.

Thanks for your cooperation, folks!

DEAR ON BCTLA CONFERENCE IN KELOWNA

2010-10-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that DEAR will be at the BCTLA conference in Kelowna on Friday.
Make sure to drop by our teeny tiny table and say "Hi".

JY

ONE WEEK TO GO!

2010-10-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

With one week to go, here's a quick check list of things to keep in mind:

Have you downloaded, printed, and distributed posters & bookmarks to your schools (classrooms)?

Have your teachers and students have been informed at prepped? Is your school district senior management in the know? Have you notified local leaders (mayor, city councillors, etc.)?

Has your local media has been notified (in some cases you may need to document with photos and submit a write-up) and a photo-op planned?

Do you have access to the DEAR photostream on Flickr to post some of your favourite photos from your local events? If not email me: yasinchuk@hotmail.com

If I can help in anyway please just let me know!

Moving Ahead with Plans at the Legislature

2010-10-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

It looks as though we are moving ahead with plans to bring DEAR to the BC Legislature again this year. I contacted the Minister's Office again today and her Executive Assistant will be contacting me later this week to discuss a class visit to read with the Minister on October 25th at her offices in Victoria.

Keely Thornton, our colleague at Monterey Elementary School in Victoria, has kindly offered to accompany her eager group of literacy leaders to Minister MacDiarmid's office for a twenty-minute public reading and photo-op from 11:00-11:20 a.m. More on that in the days ahead.

And there's still no word on the status of the Minister declaring the fourth month of October BC School Libraries Day. Fingers crossed.

Also, an official press release will be made available early next week so make sure to check back here. We are asking BCTLA chapter councilors to forward the press release onto their local media outlets for publication.

Lastly, if you haven't already done so, please contact your local MLA and/or mayor to see if they are able to attend a DEAR event at a local school.

We will be setting up a Flickr account to manage all the photos from around the province during DEAR. Details to follow.

As always, please email me with any questions, concerns, etc.

DEAR @ Kelowna Fresh 2010

2010-10-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

Three weeks to go to another Drop Everything and Read campaign!

We will offer an official press release that all TLs can distribute to their local media. Be sure to check back here in a few days time to get your copy.

Going to KelownaFresh2010 (the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association conference)? Make sure to drop by our table and let us know how things are going! Grab a couple of posters and some bookmarks, too.

We are still waiting to hear from the Minister's Office for a reply about her official support and efforts to recognize the fourth Monday of every October BC School Library Day.

Fingers still crossed...

Four Weeks to Go!

2010-09-27T21:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we're nearing the one month mark. If you haven't already done so, please visit the BCTLA website and make sure that you get those original posters to a local printer to start your promotion now. There is also a template for a DEAR bookmark, too!

As always, if you have any questions please let me know!

GET UP TO THE MINUTE INFORMATION ON DEAR 2010: FOLLOW US!

2010-09-20T17:14:00.000-07:00

To get up to the minute information on the DEAR 2010 campaign, make sure to click on the 'FOLLOW' button on the right hand side. Blog updates will be sent immediately your email!

'DEAR' 2010 BOOKMARKS NOW AVAILABLE!

2010-09-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

Our digital graphic guru, Mr. Al Smith, has created and posted a copy of the official DEAR 2010 bookmark. Feel free to visit the BCTLA website and download the digital version! We strongly recommend that teachers send out the digital version to a professional printer in order to have the bookmarks printed on the appropriate weighted paper. For more details please contact Jeff Yasinchuk, VP Advocacy.

Garner Support from your MLA

2010-09-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

Supporters of the BCTLA and the 'Drop Everything and Read' campaign to get the fourth Monday of every October declared BC School Library Day are strongly encouraged to email their MLA! Let's make this happen. Please email them today!

Support from the Minister of Education

2010-09-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

I had a positive conversation with the Minister of Education's assistant last week, and the Minister, Margaret MacDiarmid, is still keen to go ahead and begin the procedure of recognizing the fourth Monday of every October as BC School Library Day in conjunction with National School Library Day event. Stay tuned for more information!

DEAR 2010: The Campaign Has Begun!

2010-06-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it's just over a month away, and DEAR is kicking into high gear! Make sure to mark Monday, October 25th on your calendar! To view, and download, copies the beautiful posters (three this year!) created by our web-guru, graphics-whiz, and dear colleague, Al Smith, please visit the BCTLA website! Follow us on Twitter, on Facebook or contact Jeff Yasinchuk, VP Advocacy.

Taking up the challenge

2009-10-28T22:32:00.000-07:00

Hope Standard: 2009 October 28

You could hear a pin drop at Silver Creek Elementary during the Drop Everything and Read challenge, Monday morning. Students, teachers and even the principal, headed out into the hallways for some silent reading. Austin Christopher, Lindsay Lemay, Lindsay Flexhaug, and Katie Talarico brought their new ball seats out of their classroom - making for a very comfortable read. The B.C. Teacher-Librarians’ Association (BCTLA) challenged everyone in the province to Drop Everything and Read for 20 minutes at exactly 11 a.m.. The Drop Everything and Read challenge began in Surrey in 2007 and became a province-wide event last year.

Simone Rolph

Hansard — House Blues — Monday, October 26, 2009 p.m.

2009-10-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

Hansard — House Blues — Monday, October 26, 2009 p.m.

Schools drop everything and read

2009-10-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

Victoria News: 2009 October 21

No matter what you’re doing Monday morning, librarians want you to drop everything and read.

As part of National School Library Day, an initiative to promote literacy, Drop Everything and Read hopes to get as many people reading at the same time, on the same day, as possible.

Victorians offer dental help to Ugandans

2009-10-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Victoria Times Colonist: 2009 October 25

Scroll down to Drop everything and read

The acronym is DEAR, short for Drop Everything and Read, and the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association and B.C. Teachers' Federation are hoping people all around the province take it to heart tomorrow.

Drop Everything and Read started in 2007 to help mark National School Library Day. The idea is to stop what you're doing at 11 a.m. and spend the next 20 minutes with your face in a book.

Drop Everything and Read . . .

2009-10-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Report Card: 2009 October 25

Get ready for the Drop Everything and Read event Monday at 11 a.m.

The event is organized by the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association and celebrates International School Library Day.

BC teacher-librarians (BCTLA) challenge the Legislature to Drop Everything and Read

2009-10-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

BCTF: 2009 October 20

October 26, 2009 is National School Library Day and the third anniversary of the BC Drop Everything and Read Challenge. DEAR started as a small challenge between BC school libraries in 2007 and has since grown by leaps and bounds. The simple but powerful idea is to promote the importance of literacy by having as many students and adults as possible read at the same time on the same day.

This year, Victoria school librarian Karen Lindsay and the BCTLA are challenging the Legislature to participate in the DEAR Challenge as well. Imagine the message it would send to the entire province about the importance of reading if MLAs took out their books to “Drop Everything and Read” on October 26!

Organizer Karen Lindsay’s dream is to have everyone in BC put down their work, turn off their computer screens, pick up a book, magazine, or newspaper, and read quietly for 20 minutes on October 26 between 11:00 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. The event was a huge success last year. Dozens of schools representing thousands of students participated in the DEAR Challenge. Many schools across BC organized special events. Local celebrities—athletes, firefighters, police officers, politicians, parents—came in to read, “big” kids read to little ones, and group read-ins were held on playing fields. The response was uniformly positive, so positive that several schools decided to make silent, free-choice reading part of their weekly routines.

That is why the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association is so committed to this challenge. It gives kids across the province not only the chance to relax with books of their own choosing, but the opportunity to see the grown-ups around them model how important reading is in their lives.

Want to participate? This year’s blog is at http://bctladear.blogspot.com/2009/02/dear-drop-everything-and-read.html. To take the event “viral” the BCTLA has a Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/ktj3ea. On Twitter, search BCTLADEAR.

To see some of the participation and endorsements from last year go to http://bctladear.blogspot.com/2008/10/bc-school-trustees-association-has.html.

Parkland's librarian presents human books

2009-10-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

Victoria Time Colonist: 2009 October 9

...Coming up for Parkland and many other area schools Oct. 26 is the annual Drop Everything and Read Challenge, which will see people in schools, offices and other gathering places stop whatever they're doing at 11 a.m. and read for 15 to 20 minutes.

"We've got the support of the school community," Rutten said. "Everybody for at least 15 minutes, including the office staff and maintenance staff, will drop everything and they will read."

Reynolds Secondary teacher-librarian Karen Lindsay, an executive member of the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association, said a challenge has again been issued for MLAs to be part of the event. Last year, Premier Gordon Campbell, then-education minister Shirley Bond and many other provincial politicians agreed to take part.

Drop Everything and Read

2009-10-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

Prince George Citizen: 2009 October 1

A challenge has been issued to Drop Everything and Read by the teacher-librarians of B.C.

On Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. everyone is asked to pick up a newspaper, book or magazine and read for 20 minutes.

In its third year, the B.C. teacher-librarians are inviting businesses, students, adults, even the Legislature to participate.

Last year, the premier, MLA Shirley Bond and several other MLAs participated in the challenge and the invitation is extended to everyone in the province.

Organizer Karen Lindsay’s dream is to have everyone in B.C. put down their work, turn off their computer screens, pick up a book, magazine or newspaper, and read. Picture offices where calls go to voice mail just for those few minutes.

"You have reached L & G Real Estate. We are dropping everything to read until 11:20. If this is an emergency, please call (a designated cell number). Otherwise, why don't you read along with us?"

The event was a huge success last year. Dozens of schools representing thousands of students participated in the DEAR Challenge. Many schools across B.C. organized special events. Local celebrities, athletes, firefighters, police officers, politicians, parents came in to read. Big kids read to little ones, and group read-ins were held on playing fields.

B.C. teacher-librarians want to draw attention to the importance of reading in the development of a successful human being. People know the more you read the better you get at it, and the ability to read with understanding is vitally important to success in the world.

Reading improves vocabulary, increases general knowledge about the world, improves one's writing, and is a great way to relax. Not so obvious is its ability to increase the reader's capacity for empathy, stimulate imagination and create new connections in the brain.

Drop Everything and Read

2009-10-01T14:25:00.001-07:00

Aldergrove Star: 2009 October 1

October 26 is National School Library Day and the third anniversary of the BC Drop Everything and Read Challenge.

DEAR started as a small challenge between B.C. school libraries in 2007 and has since grown by leaps and bounds. The simple but powerful idea is to promote the importance of literacy by having as many students and adults as possible read at the same time on the same day.

Facebook: Drop Everything and Read BC

2009-09-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

Facebook: Drop Everything and Read BC

Please join the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association for the 2009 Drop Everything a Read Challenge. Take 20 minutes on Monday, October 26 to celebrate International School Library Day, and to honour the contribution that school library programs make to students across BC. Take the phone off the hook, put down that mouse, pick up a good book and read for twenty minutes. Read to yourself, read aloud, read fiction, read poetry, read the dictionary, just read. Want to feel part of something bigger? Do your reading from 11:00 am to 11:20 when schools all over BC will be participating. Want to help? Forward the Challenge to your BC Friends. Write to your MPP and ask him or her to encourage the BC Legislature to Drop Everything and Read along with us.

DEAR: Drop Everything and Read

2009-02-04T23:23:00.000-08:00

BCLA Browser: 2009

http://bclabrowser.ca/index.php/browser/article/view/7/20

BC drops everything and reads!

2008-11-30T23:19:00.000-08:00

BC Teacher: 2008 November
Karen Lindsay

On September 2, 2008, the British Columbia Teacher-librarians’ Association challenged not only students and teachers, but the premier, members of the legislature, and people across BC to “Drop Everything and Read” for 20 minutes on Monday, October 27.

For many years, teacher-librarians have organized special school events to mark National School Library Day on the fourth Monday in October. This was the first year they took their celebration to the general public, and the response was wonderful. Hundreds of people signed up on the Drop Everything and Read Facebook page, and hundreds more on the BCTLA’s DEAR blog. People signed on from across BC and as far away as Israel!

Teacher-librarians agree that making BC the most literate province in Canada is a worthy goal. An educated population makes the province wealthy in so many ways. As teachers, they also know the impact that good modeling has on children. Seeing the adults around them put aside business for a few minutes to let pleasure reading be their priority sent a powerful message.

Originally the brainchild of Surrey teacher-librarian Bonnie Chapman, the Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Challenge was tested in many schools across the province on National School Library Day last year. Hundreds of BC students engaged in silent reading from 11:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. that day, and the response was terrific. “You could hear a pin drop!” “Kids didn’t want to stop after 20 minutes.”

This year’s campaign really seemed to capture people’s imaginations. Teachers and teacher-librarians invited their MLA, the mayor, trustees, their superintendent, local athletes and actors to come and read with their students—and they did! Parents took the DEAR challenge into their workplaces where they read quietly for 20 minutes away from the phones. Finance Minister Carole Taylor set aside “some pleasurable reading time in the Vancouver-Langara constituency office.” Premier Campbell commended the BCTLA on the initiative. And Education Minister Shirley Bond celebrated National School Library by taking part in the Drop Everything and Read challenge. At Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, students, and staff were joined by Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Steven Point in celebration of First Nations literacy.

Responses from schools were the stuff that warms a teacher-librarian’s heart. Several schools wrote to say they were going to Drop Everything and Read every month for the rest of the year. DEAR went well enough in some high schools that they are now willing to pilot a daily silent reading program that could become a permanent part of their timetable.

The BCTLA would love to see the DEAR campaign grow so that in the next few years other provinces take up the challenge as well. Given a few years’ practice, I think BC could take on the whole country in a DEAR challenge! One of the best things about DEAR is the way it puts everyone on the same page, if you’ll excuse the expression. No matter where you are politically, you can get behind the value of a few minutes’ peaceful reading. If your school was not involved this year, do not despair; DEAR will be back to celebrate National School Library Day 2009.

Karen Lindsay is teacher-librarian at Ecole Reynolds Secondary, Richmond.

DID YOU DROP EVERYTHING AND READ?

2008-11-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

BCTF E-News
Vol. 8, No.3, November 12, 2008

On Monday, October 27, at 11:00 a.m., the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association was urging everyone to spend at least 20 minutes reading. Fifty reports are in from schools around the province giving numbers of students and staff who participated. At Carson Graham Secondary School in North Vancouver, students and staff were joined by Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Steven Point in celebration of First Nations literacy. MLA Claude Richmond, Mayor Terry Lake, school trustees, and councillors along with members of the Kamloops Blazers WHL Hockey team joined Sahali Secondary School in Kamloops and were featured on the local TV evening news.

You can read more at http://bctladear.blogspot.com/2008/10/send-us-your-numbers.html.

Shirley Bond

2008-11-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Minister Shirley Bond took part in the “Drop Everything and Read” challenge on Monday, October 27. The challenge was an initiative of the B.C. Teacher-Librarians’ Association, as part of the National School Library Day. At 11 a.m., people across B.C. were encouraged to drop everything they were doing and read for 20 minutes.

Educational Report

Pacific Newspaper Group employees stand up for literacy

2008-10-28T10:10:00.000-07:00

Citizen Gallery

2008-10-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

Prince George Citizen: 2008 October 27

http://tinyurl.com/d9fwal

http://tinyurl.com/bbpaqh

Send us your numbers

2008-10-27T14:14:00.001-07:00

Just add your school name, district and count to the comments at the end of this entry!

MINISTER BOND DROPS EVERYTHING AND READS

2008-10-27T13:27:00.001-07:00

BC Ministry of Education: 2008 October 27

PRINCE GEORGE - Education Minister Shirley Bond celebrated National School Library Day Oct. 27 by taking part in the Drop Everything and Read challenge, issued by the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association.

"Our family loves to read and has always made it a priority. I am happy to 'drop everything and read' to celebrate national school library day," said Bond. "I have also invited my colleagues around the province to do the same thing."

B.C.'s teacher-librarians challenged everyone in the province to Drop Everything and Read for 20 minutes at 11 a.m. today. The event began last year in Surrey but this year the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association took it provincewide and they hope that it will grow to become a national event.

"It's about encouraging young people to read and value literacy," said Karen Lindsay, vice-president of the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association. "Studies clearly show that daily silent reading improves vocabulary, spelling, comprehension and much more."

"It is also important to say thank you to teacher-librarians and other educators who work so hard to ensure our students develop a love of reading and excellent literacy skills," said Bond.

Since 2001, government has invested more than $145 million in new literacy initiatives, including pre-literacy and early learning programs, such as $12 million to operate the kindergarten readiness program Ready, Set, Learn and $2.7 million for the ActNow Literacy Education Activity and Play (LEAP BC) program that encourages literacy, physical activity and healthy eating in preschool-aged children.

Set an example: Read today

2008-10-27T00:41:00.000-07:00

20-minute reading session stresses importance of literacy

Janet Steffenhagen, Vancouver Sun
Monday, October 27, 2008

Drop everything and read.

That's what librarians are asking British Columbians to do today at 11 a.m. to mark National School Library Day and deliver a strong signal to children about the importance of literacy.

"The message it sends could be so powerful," said Karen Lindsay, librarian at Reynolds secondary school in Victoria and chief organizer of the Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) event. "It costs nothing [and] it has that Zen-like simplicity."

The DEAR project began as an experiment last year in Surrey, but this year it's being promoted provincewide and Lindsay is determined to make it a national event. She hopes answering machines everywhere will advise callers to ring back after the 20-minute reading time has lapsed -- unless it's an emergency.

The event also calls attention to the state of school libraries, described several years ago as being on life-support as scarce resources were stretched in different directions and reduced hours for teacher-librarians forced some library closures during the school day.

Whether things have improved since then is a matter of opinion.

Heather Daly, president of the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association, said the situation is better than it was five years ago -- after the Liberals changed the teachers' contract and eliminated guaranteed staffing levels for libraries.

Staffing became a school board responsibility and the number of teacher-librarians fell as boards spent scarce dollars elsewhere. "Those were dark times," Daly said. "From that position, we've grown back and we're finally to a position where it feels healthy again.

"Provincially, it feels like things are more positive," she said, crediting the government's decision to give responsibility for all libraries to Education Minister Shirley Bond.

That linked school libraries with public, post-secondary and specialty libraries and allowed them to share resources.

Still, she said there are variations in schools around the province.

Moira Ekdahl, library consultant for Vancouver schools, said staffing in her district hasn't improved dramatically and there are still struggles to keep resources current but there have been some remarkable innovations.

Livingston elementary is leading the way with interactive white boards called Smart Boards, and John Oliver secondary has one of the most vibrant reading communities in the province.

"They have a rock-solid silent reading program," Ekdahl said. "Even the secretaries drop their tools to read every single day."

Kerrisdale elementary also has a well-equipped library, Ekdahl said. Teacher-librarian Michele Farquharson, who won an award of merit from her association this month, said staffing levels are always a challenge.

"It's not a rosy [situation] because it's not a well-understood position," said Farquharson, who has a .8 teacher-librarian position in a school with more than 600 students.

jsteffenhagen@vancouversun.com

online: Read more education news at vancouversun.com/reportcard

Set aside Monday to praise libraries

2008-10-26T17:51:00.000-07:00

Victoria Times Colonist Letter: 2008 October 26

On Oct. 27, the people of B.C. are called to do one simple thing: "Drop everything and read."

This task seems so easy, so commonplace, yet it is surprising how few of us find time to do it on a regular basis. National School Library Day is a time to examine how the demands of today's competitive and technological society have taken priority over literacy and the library.

However, this day is also a time to appreciate what makes reading and libraries important, what makes them triumphant still.

Every time I enter a library, I am taken back to the first one I experienced, at St. Joseph's Elementary School. The people, and books, I was introduced to there have had a lasting impact on how I view reading, writing and learning about life.

Dreams and ideas grow best in libraries; at least mine did, as I developed my love of literature, especially through the St. Joseph's writing club. Even now, as a Grade 12 student at St. Andrew's High School, I find myself going back through the halls of my memories and into that time and place where imagination came alive.

Raya MacKenzie, Saanich

DEAR Endorsements

2008-10-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

• BC School Trustees Association has mentioned DEAR in the latest issue of their journal (You'll have to scroll down a bit.)
• DEAR has been added as an event on the Canadian Library Month website
• Electronic copy of DEAR poster provided to Public Library Services Branch; sent by them to public libraries for posting
• The BC Library Trustees Association has put DEAR in their latest Bulletin. More scrolling required.
• DEAR information & poster added to SD61 and SD43 website; endorsed by Victoria and VSB trustees.
• Media: Interviews with Victoria Times Colonist, Vancouver Sun, Comox Valley Record
• Created this Blog and DEAR Facebook event
• Janet Steffenhagen really heats things up with this posting in her blog, Report Card.
• A second post in the Report Card keeps readers up to date.
• Janet Steffenhagen's writes an article that is published on National School Library Day.

Premier Endorses DEAR

2008-10-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

When I got home from the opening of the BCTLA Fall Conference last Thursday evening, I found this in my in box! (I inserted the photo, not Mr. Campbell.)

Dear Ms. Lindsay:

Thank you for sending me the news release highlighting the Drop Everything and Read initiative.

I would like to commend the BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association for raising the profile of literacy initiatives. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of being able to read, write and understand numbers, as they are the basic skills everyone needs to be functioning and contributing citizens. The more we as a community can do to help people who slipped through the cracks, and to ensure all students get the time and attention they need to be prolific with language and computation skills, the better off we will all be as a society.

Moving literacy forward is key to a better future for all of us and I wish the Drop Everything and Read initiative every success.

Gordon Campbell

Premier

Drop Everything and Read update

2008-10-26T13:46:00.000-07:00

Report Card
Vancouver Sun: 2008 October 26

The countdown has begun towards 11 a.m. Monday when we're all poised to Drop Everything and Read (DEAR). I posted a couple of days ago about this event and noted the organizer's dismay with a lack of response from Premier Gordon Campbell and Education Minister Shirley Bond - both big literacy boosters.

Well, Victoria school librarian Karen Lindsay happily advised me today that both are now on board. Shortly after my post appeared, Campbell sent her an email commending the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association for organizing the event.

"The more we as a community can do to help people who slipped through the cracks, and to ensure all students get the time and attention they need to be prolific with language and computation skills, the better off we will all be as a society," the premier wrote.

"Moving literacy forward is key to a better future for all of us and I wish the Drop Everything and Read initiative every success."

She also got a call from Bond's office, advising that a news release endorsing the event will soon be released.

"The Bond press release comes too late to create more participants for this year, but it is fabulous news nonetheless," Lindsay told me. "It raises awareness and creates a fast lane for next year's campaign . . ."

No surprise, I'll be reading the Vancouver Sun tomorrow morning. There you will find more about DEAR and school libraries.

Drop Everything and Read

2008-10-22T17:58:00.001-07:00

The Report Card

Vancouver Sun: 2008 October 22

School librarians have a big event planned for Monday to celebrate National School Library Day. It's called Drop Everything and Read and librarians hope everyone in this province -- not just school kids -- will do exactly that.

The event got started last year in Surrey but this year, the B.C. Teacher Librarians' Association is taking it province-wide and organizer Karen Lindsay hopes it will soon become a national affair. She envisions 20 minutes of silence province-wide as everyone drops the tools of their trade and picks up a book.

"This is not just about an event," she explained "It’s about encouraging young people to read and value literacy.”

"The more that adults model reading, the more kids get it.”

In planning the event, Lindsay had hoped the legislature would be sitting and at 11 a.m., the Speaker would instruct MLAs to grab a book. It would have been a PR sensation. That was not to be, but Lindsay said she is pleased that former finance minister Carole Taylor has offered her support for the initiative.

What about Premier Gordon Campbell and Education Minister Shirley Bond, both of whom are great literacy advocates? (Bond is the minister responsible for the Liberal push to make B.C. the most literate jurisdiction in North America by 2015.)

Lindsay doesn't know what they will be doing at 11 a.m. Monday because neither has responded to her email invitations to participate. She's disappointed, particularly with the premier, saying: "I know he supports literacy. Where is he?"

Mr. Premier?

Way to go, Terrace

2008-10-21T20:32:00.001-07:00

Lynn Turner, teacher-librarian extraordinaire, writes to report the following levels of participation in DEAR:

Thornhill Junior Secondary - 250
E T Kenney - 140
Clarence Michiel - 180

Well done, Lynn. Bravo, Terrace!

Reading challenge set to promote literacy across the province

2008-10-20T09:36:00.001-07:00

Reynolds students Bret Enemark, 16, and Anna-Maria Trudel, 15, and
librarian Karen Lindsay prepare for the DEAR Challenge.
Debra Brash, Times Colonist

Victoria Times Colonist: 2008 October 20
Jeff Bell

Karen Lindsay is an easy person to read. She loves books, and she loves seeing people use them.

Lindsay, a teacher-librarian at Reynolds Secondary School and vice-president of the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association, is leading local efforts in a provincewide push to establish a special day when literacy and reading take centre stage.

The day's big event is being called the DEAR Challenge, short for Drop Everything and Read. Lindsay and her colleagues around B.C. are challenging everyone, from school communities to businesspeople to MLAs, to take 20 minutes out of their schedules on Oct. 27 and relax with some reading material. The occasion corresponds with National School Library Day.

The DEAR project, based on an idea from a teacher-librarian in Surrey, was started last year on a trial basis and was popular with students, Lindsay said.

"This year, we've worked on it a whole lot harder, and it's starting to develop a life of its own. There's a blog on it and there's a Facebook page on it, and there are lots of members on both.

"The big deal for me is the idea of taking it into the public. The government has said that it wants to make B.C. the most literate jurisdiction in Canada, and I just think this is a simple little idea that models something for kids. I get a feeling of purpose and peace when I think about it."

Schools throughout the Greater Victoria school district will be taking part, Lindsay said, and she would like to see things extend as far as possible into the wider community.

"I have a fantasy in my mind where you might call your real-estate office and there's just a message saying 'We've dropped everything and we're reading right now, if it's an emergency call this cell phone number'."

Beyond that, Lindsay envisions other provinces joining in, and B.C. emerging as the champion in a national DEAR event.

Most schools will have their Oct. 27 reading session at 11 a.m.

Reynolds will be a major participant, of course. Lindsay said the school already does something similar with daily "silent reading" times.

"The staff has become creative around the silent reading. Some of them, instead of having silent reading, might have kids bring in poetry or short stories that they love. The teacher might read to them or they might read to the class, and some people have even talked about getting an author in."

Lindsay said studies clearly show that daily silent reading improves vocabulary, spelling, comprehension and much more. Students thrive on having the chance to sit down and read "away from the threat of tests and questions," she said.

Asked if she had any recent favourites on her own bookshelf, Lindsay was quick to answer The Secret Life of Bees, a novel by Sue Monk Kidd set in the civil-rights era in the United States. A movie based on the book was released last week.

"I read it this summer, and it was so important to me that I intend to reread it once a year until I'm tired of it," Lindsay said.

On Facebook: www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=38741982688

Blog address: bctladear.blogspot.com/

MLAs

2008-10-10T10:20:00.001-07:00

Have you heard from your MLA or the Premier?

BCTF DEAR Poster

2008-10-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

Check your school for a DEAR poster from the BCTF.

Are you taking part?

2008-09-30T10:33:00.001-07:00

Tell us about how you organized your school or district by adding a Comment below!

DEAR

2008-09-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

The British Columbia Teacher-librarians’ Association has dropped the gauntlet. We are challenging the Premier, members of the legislature, and people across BC to “Drop Everything and Read” for 20 minutes on National School Library Day -- Monday, October 27.

Teacher-librarians strongly support Premier Campbell’s goal of making BC the most literate province in Canada and know the impact that good modeling has on children. Seeing our provincial leaders put aside business for a few minutes to let pleasure reading be their priority will send a powerful message to students and families.

Please invite your friends, organize your workplace to participate, contact your local media, and generally create a buzz about reading in BC. After the event, post your comments and pictures to this page or to our Facebook page.

Why so many are 'reluctant readers' and what to do about it

2008-09-08T19:58:00.000-07:00

Melanie Jackson, Special to the Sun
Published: Monday, September 08, 2008

When Bobby O. stood up to read aloud, we all groaned. The next minutes, as Bobby stumbled painfully over texts by Sir Charles G.D. Roberts or some other venerable Canadian writer, were agony.

We were supposed to read along silently, so our eyes would be trapped on every syllable that Bobby mangled. Unsure of what he was reading, Bobby kept his voice to a dull, ambiguous monotone.

Eventually the teacher would cut short Bobby's turn at reading aloud, and pass with ill-concealed relief to the next student.

Bobby, everyone shrugged, was just not a natural reader. Educators would invent the term "reluctant reader" to define kids who reached the intermediate grades and floundered over texts their classmates absorbed with ease. In recent years, however, educators have reconsidered the case of the reluctant reader.

Maybe it's not that these kids don't take to reading. Maybe the way reading is taught doesn't take to them.

The traditional view was that teachers taught primary schoolchildren how to read. From intermediate grades on up, the teachers taught what the kids were reading. The gates to reading comprehension effectively clanged shut to the Bobby O.'s still struggling with the how.

In such new approaches as the Vancouver School Board's Later Literacy Project, students read texts they're comfortable with. Gone is the old idea of across-the-board texts.

"We want to make sure students have appropriate reading activities for their level, and opportunities to write for enjoyment," says Meredyth Grace Kezar, the VSB's later literacy consultant.

"We're looking at all the components of reading: fluency, vocabulary, comprehension."

Thus the advent of the so-called "hi-lo" text, with simple vocabulary, yet a mature enough storyline to appeal to older readers.

In other words, it's no longer an either-or between Sir Charles G.D. Roberts and Dick and Jane. With focused instruction, Kezar insists, all students can learn to read -- and enjoy it.

How do you tell when a reader blossoms into a good reader? Kezar cites the research of P. David Pearson, dean of Berkeley's Graduate School of Education.

According to Pearson, good readers make connections between personal experiences and what they're reading.

They break information down into key ideas and form their own conclusions. Further, they can infer, or fill in, information not overtly presented in a text.

For example, if a character in a novel is being ironic, the other characters may not get it, but the reader will.

Today, with the flow of information increasing and intensifying, we need lots of good readers, says Kezar.

She points to several awareness-raising initiatives in the Lower Mainland this fall.

The Surrey Board of Education has adopted a proposal by its teacher-librarian association that everyone Drop Everything And Read (or DEAR) for five minutes at 1 p.m. on October 22. Two days later, in Vancouver, Kezar co-hosts an International Reading Association conference on the reluctant reader.

A new Vancouver publisher, Gumboot Books, has just released a fictional anthology, The World of Stories, for different elementary-age reading abilities.

The book, with all proceeds going to community literacy efforts, will be launched September 9 at Caulfeild elementary in West Vancouver.

Says Kezar, "We want people to realize that it is never too late to get into reading -- and that it's never been more urgent."

Melanie Jackson, a volunteer with young writers through the VSB, is one of the B.C. authors who donated a story to Gumboot Books' The World of Stories (www.gumbootbooks.macwebsitebuilder.com/page/page/5659839.htm). Gumboot Books sponsors the Raise A Reader Brunch for Books at the Fairmont Waterfront on the last Sunday of each month.