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Middle school students develop their love of literature at high tea

A group of people, likely students, are gathered around a table in a library, engaged in various activities such as reading, writing, and crafting.

"Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible." (Barack Obama)

Warwick Valley Middle School teachers Chelsea Iasello and Jackie Ahearn have been partnering this year with librarian Eleanor Glover to host a series of events and activities designed to promote reading engagement among students who are English Language Learners! You may recall THIS STORY from January about their last event in the series, the Blind Book Bonanza.

During the Book Bonanza is when students chose the independent reading titles they would be reading. 

"When students are given the power to choose what they read, they are more likely to connect with the text, discover the joy of reading, and develop the internal motivation that turns reading from a task into a lifelong habit," Ms. Ahearn said. 

Earlier this month, the literacy promotion series wrapped up with another inspired event called High Tea with Literature. 

First, some additional background. The trio was inspired to develop their literacy promotion program through attending a professional development session entitled Dynamic Duo. The PD sessions equip and enable a district's ENL teachers and librarians to collaborate on ways to boost literacy for ELL students with a simple, powerful goal\: Prove to students that reading can be enjoyable; not just another graded assignment!

"Since our last event [Book Bonanza] in January, the students have been reading their independent reading books at home and in their ENL class," explained Ms. Iasello, adding that they have been doing reading check-ins along the way. The check-ins have helped the educators monitor their students' progress leading up to the High Tea, including ensuring that students understand plot and the nuances of the storytelling in the books they've chosen.

It was at the project-culminating High Tea that the students discussed their books and created formal book ratings in the form of "shelf talkers." If you've ever shopped at a bookstore and seen handwritten staff pick cards, you've seen a shelf talker. They can include reviewer comments, plot points and, often, starred reviews. You can see some examples of the students' reviews in the gallery below.

The image shows the cover of a book titled "Me llamo Goa" by Miriam Tirado, featuring an illustration of a young woman with short dark hair wearing a purple jacket. The background of the image includes floral patterns and a review card for the book.

"As the librarian media-specialist, pairing students with books is one of my favorite parts of the job," Ms. Glover said. "Being able to see the authentic products they created in their book reviews was so gratifying -- especially when they gave a book 5 stars!"

As a teacher and life-long learner herself, Ms. Iasello took the High Tea as an opportunity to pass along the advice her mom gave her growing up about embracing and being proactive about your education.

"It forever echoes in my head. She said, 'Knowledge is power, so learn everything that you can learn,'" Ms. Iasello shared. "We're all so grateful to have been able to give these students the gift of a good book through this series of literacy events!" 

The image depicts a dramatic and intense scene featuring a monstrous figure with outstretched arms against a fiery, ominous background. The figure appears to be the central focus, with the book review providing additional context about the work being reviewed.
A group of people seated around a table, engaged in a presentation or discussion, with a woman standing and presenting information on a screen behind them.
The image shows a handwritten book review for the novel %22Ghoulish Song%22 by William Alexander, along with the book cover itself, which features a fantasy-style illustration.
A classroom-like setting with tables set up for a gathering, featuring a large projection screen displaying information, surrounded by various decorations and educational materials on the walls.
Two young individuals, a male and a female, are seated at a table in what appears to be a library or study area. They are surrounded by bookshelves and other study materials, suggesting an academic setting.
The cover of the graphic novel %22I Survived: The American Revolution, 1776%22 by Lauren Tarshis features a young man in colonial attire running through a battlefield amidst smoke and flames, with a large red %22B%22 symbol in the background.
The image shows the cover of a book titled %22Shadow and Bone%22 by Leigh Bardugo, set against a floral patterned background.
The image shows three women standing together in a room with various decorative elements, including a sign that says %22High Tea with Literature%22.
A group of people, likely students, are gathered around a table in a library, engaged in various activities such as reading, writing, and crafting.
The image shows the cover of a book titled %22Me llamo Goa%22 by Miriam Tirado, featuring an illustration of a young woman with short dark hair wearing a purple jacket. The background of the image includes floral patterns and a review card for the book.