IBSC Ideas Lab
Professional Conversations About Boys and Reading
Starting September 12, 2024
This IBSC Ideas Lab has reached capacity. Please contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org to add your name to the waitlist. Thank you.
IBSC Ideas Lab invites school librarians, language teachers, learning support educators, and academic leaders in member schools to connect virtually using Zoom. Limited to 14 participants plus the facilitator, this IBSC Ideas Lab includes three one-hour sessions for participants to discuss relevant topics.
Designed as an interactive exchange among colleagues, IBSC Ideas Lab engages dedicated educators who learn and grow together. Before each session, participants engage with relevant resources to provide a foundation for discussions. Together we surface fresh ideas and build mutual support structures and enduring professional friendships.
Available exclusively to IBSC member schools, first-time participants who can commit to joining all three sessions get preference in registration to support the success of each small group. No more than two participants from one school may register for an IBSC Ideas Lab.
In the spirit of open dialogue and collaboration, IBSC Ideas Labs are not recorded, allowing participants the freedom to express themselves openly and share their experiences candidly.
Who Should Attend?
School librarians, language teachers, learning support educators, and academic leaders in IBSC member schools
Format
IBSC Ideas Lab attendees participate in three scheduled one-hour calls using Zoom. Gabrielle Mace, head of library at St Augustine's College (Australia), facilitates each session.
Conversation Topics
Conversation 1
Sharing the Challenges of Getting Boys to Read
Thursday, September 12, 5:00 PM EDT, 10:00 PM BST, 11:00 PM SAST
Friday, September 13, 7:00 AM AEST, 9:00 AM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes
Many educators in boys' schools grapple with similar challenges when it comes to encouraging reading. How can we address the perception that reading is "uncool" or "not for boys"? What strategies have you found effective in overcoming the lure of screens and competing interests? How do we tap into the unique motivations of boys from diverse backgrounds and identities? Join this safe space for sharing your experiences, brainstorming creative solutions, and discovering innovative approaches to reignite the joy of reading for boys.
Conversation 2
Initiatives That Work—Sharing Successes
Thursday, September 19, 5:00 PM EDT, 10:00 PM BST, 11:00 PM SAST
Friday, September 20, 7:00 AM AEST, 9:00 AM NZDT
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60 minutes
Let’s celebrate the wins! Come prepared to share your school's most successful reading initiatives. Have you implemented a book club with a unique twist that captured boys' imaginations? Did you create a reading challenge that fostered friendly competition and a sense of achievement? Perhaps a partnership with a local author or community organization ignited a passion for reading. By sharing our success stories, we learn from each other's experiences, discover best practices, and create a library of proven strategies to inspire boys to read.
Conversation 3
Developing a School-wide Reading Culture for Boys
Thursday, September 26, 5:00 PM EDT, 10:00 PM BST, 11:00 PM SAST
Friday, September 27, 7:00 AM AEST, 9:00 AM NZDT
Check the event time in your time zone.
60 minutes
A thriving reading culture extends beyond the library and English and language classrooms. How can we embed a love of reading into the fabric of our schools? What role do academic leaders, teachers, support staff, and parents play in fostering this culture? Explore ways to make reading a shared priority, from creating inviting reading spaces to incorporating reading across the curriculum. Together, let’s develop strategies for building a comprehensive reading program that empowers boys to become lifelong readers.
Registration
IBSC member rate: US $170
This IBSC Ideas Lab has reached capacity. Please contact Bruce Collins at collins@theibsc.org to add your name to the waitlist. Thank you.
Refund Policy
IBSC will refund 90% of registration fees if a written request is received by August 30, 2024. 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 this IBSC Ideas Lab by September 5, 2024. If you registered after this time, watch for login information within 24 hours.
Participation certificates: Participants present for all three conversations will receive a certificate of participation within two weeks of the final session.
Facilitator
Gabrielle Mace
Gabrielle Mace is an accomplished library executive with 14 years of experience in the independent education sector, specializing in strategic planning and policy development. Her expertise lies in enhancing library services to ensure exceptional service delivery to staff and students. Mace’s notable achievements include leading the successful implementation of the renowned school-wide reading program, Just Read, built on evidence-based research methodologies.
With a strategic mindset Mace excels in operational functions and provides strong staff and resource management leadership. She founded ProReading Solutions, a boutique consultancy dedicated to delivering tailored, embedded school literacy programs and expert coaching for diverse school environments. Mace’s custom solutions cater to students in grades PK–12, empowering educators and communities to improve literacy outcomes together.