IBSC Getting Boys to Read

Town School for BoysAn IBSC Online Program for Teachers in Boys' Elementary and Middle Schools
Co-hosted by Town School for Boys (United States)

April 5 and 6, 2022

 

Join Margaret Merga, Emma Elizalde, and Kim Stuart for two workshops on getting boys to read. Encouraging boys to read and building reading cultures in boys’ schools remain challenging. Despite the popular belief that this task falls into librarians’ and language teachers’ domains, it is an important issue for every teacher because research shows that reading affects boys’ success across the curriculum. All boys’ schools, teacher-librarians, and educators should understand how best to address the difficulties associated with building cultures of reading in boys' schools.

Sessions

Building Reading Cultures in Boys’ Schools

Tuesday, April 5, 4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT, 9:00 – 10:00 PM BST, 10:00 – 11:00 PM SAST 
Wednesday, April 6, 6:00 – 7:00 AM AEST, 8:00 – 9:00 AM NZST 
Check the time in your time zone.

In this first pre-recorded presentation, Margaret Merga highlights how to build reading cultures in boys’ elementary and middle schools by framing challenges faced frequently and suggesting some solutions. Merga also emphasizes the importance of reading for boys and shares new research about the connection between reading and boys’ well-being.

Join facilitated discussions with global colleagues to examine and consider ways to develop and grow a reading culture in your own school.

Solving the Reading Problem: Tools for Success

Wednesday, April 6, 4:00 - 5:00 PM EDT, 9:00 – 10:00 PM BST, 10:00 – 11:00 PM SAST 
Thursday, April 7, 6:00 – 7:00 AM AEST, 8:00 – 9:00 AM NZST 
Check the time in your time zone.

Emma Elizalde and Kim Stuart from Town School for Boys share tools and tips for developing successful reading cultures in boys' elementary and middle schools, both at an institutional level and in the classroom.

Join facilitated discussions with global colleagues to share your ideas and tips to equip boys with the tools to succeed with reading.

Who Should Attend?

All boys' educators in elementary and middle schools benefit from this program. Classroom teachers and librarians, gain ideas to put into practice immediately. School leaders, develop a better understanding of the impact of reading on boys and how to support reading at an institutional level.

Format

Participate in two scheduled 60-minute interactive sessions using Zoom. Each session includes thought-provoking input and breakout conversations facilitated by faculty from Town School for Boys.

Registration

Registration for this event has closed.

  • IBSC member rate: US $225 

Available exclusively to IBSC members, this event is limited to the first 60 people who register.

Refund Policy 
IBSC will refund 90% of registration fees if a written request is received two weeks prior to the class. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after this time. Schools seeking to register an alternate to replace a participant unable to attend should contact IBSC@theibsc.org.

Please note: Watch your email for login information for your online class the Friday before the class starts. If you registered for the class later than this time, watch for login information within 24 business hours.

Speakers

Margaret MergaMargaret Merga

Margaret Merga is an honorary adjunct at the University of Newcastle and an international expert in literacy, libraries, and research communications. She has written more than 100 peer-reviewed and research-informed publications, including four research-informed non-fiction books, such as the recent School Libraries Supporting Literacy and Wellbeing (Facet, 2022). As of 2022, she is the inaugural Patron of the Western Australian School Library Association, and in 2020 she was honored as inaugural Patron of the Australian School Library Association. In 2021, Merga won an American Association of School Librarians ESLS Research Grant, and she is a keen advocate of the UK Great School Libraries initiative. She has consulted with schools, professional associations, and government departments on a range of literacy projects, such as the Department of Education Western Australia’s Never Stop Reading program.

Merga is keen to see teacher librarians (TLs) engaging with the research and ideas presented in her new book. As both student literacy and well-being are key target areas for contemporary Australian schools, aligning the school library and its staff with improved student outcomes in these areas makes sense, particularly in these challenging times. The book can help readers to further build a case for the importance of their role and library, improving understanding of their value within the school. It can also help TLs enhance their current literacy and well-being offerings to build the capacity of the library. The book also explores some of the challenges facing school libraries and their professional staff that may need to be mitigated to ensure that they can reach their full potential for supporting student literacy and well-being.

Emma ElizaldeEmma Elizalde

Emma Elizalde is a reading teacher at Town School for Boys in San Francisco, California. Outside of Town, she works with students diagnosed with dyslexia and who struggle learning to read. Previously, Elizalde served as president of the Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. Currently a doctoral candidate in the Learning and Instruction program at the University of San Francisco, she holds a certificate in education therapy from Holy Names University and an educational master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

 

   

    

 

Kim StuartKim Stuart

Kim Stuart is the director of library services at Town School for Boys in San Francisco, California. An educator for 20 years, she holds a master of arts in curriculum and teacher education from Stanford University and a master of library and information science from San Jose State University.