Who: Primary, secondary and college classes that are involved in Literature Circles, Literature Study, Book Clubs, Reading Clubs, etc. are invited to join.

What: Students will create extension projects individually or in groups. Work samples will be sent electronically for publication on this web site. The amount of files per class will be determined by size. The maximum size per class has not been determined at this time.   Participants will write a brief introduction on how literature circles are implemented in their classrooms.  This will give visitors the opportunity to replicate successful practices.

When: This project runs from January 1, 2005 until June 30, 2007.  Work will be showcased as soon as the materials are sent. 

Where: Extension projects can be created in school or at home.

Why: In addition to supporting state language arts standards, this project supports:

 NETS Technology Foundation Standards for All Students

3. Technology productivity tools

• Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
• Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.

4. Technology communications tools

• Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
• Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

 NETS for Teachers

III Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum

A.  facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standards.
B.  use technology to support learner-centered strategies that address the diverse needs of students.
C.  apply technology to develop students' higher order skills and creativity.
D. manage student learning activities in a technology-enhanced environment

How:  E-mail the following information to susansilverman@yahoo.com

Your Name
School or University and  Address
Grade Level or Course Name
URL if you have one

Suggested Extension Projects

These ideas are from Literature Circles Resource Center by Katherine L. Schlick Noe

• ABC book, collage, literary weaving, story hat, accordion book, CD cover, character bookmark, story quilt, main idea belt, jackdaw, map

Activities are adapted from Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs & Reading Groups by Harvey Daniels

• Posters advertising the book, Readers theater performances, book sequel, story timeline, diary of a character, letters to a character, the story rewritten for younger children as a picture book, gravestone and eulogy for a character, an illustration from the book

Something to Consider

Invite your students to come up with their own extension activities.  Activities can be done with traditional materials or on a computer.  Explore the ReadWriteThink Student Materials.  Some of these online generators would be perfect for extension projects.  The image can be screen captured and e-mailed for publication.

Assessing Extension Activities

My recommendation is to have your students create their own rubrics to assess their activities.  I have seen my colleague, Melissa McMullan have her sixth grade students very successfully create their own rubrics with Rubistar.  Katherine Schlick Noe offers some helpful Guiding Questions with forms that can be printed.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Susan Silverman
Instructional Technology Integration Consultant
http://www.susansilverman.com

Project Inspiration

Dr. Rachel Karchmer's work on extension projects has inspired me to coordinate this learning adventure.

Pippi Longstocking - Dr. Rachel Karchmer and Marci McGowan's first grade class.

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Dr. Rachel Karchmer and Mary Kreul.   I'm delighted to say that Mary Kreul has joined this project.