In the past, I’ve written a #SibertSmackdown Wrap-up
post with tidbits from some of the schools that participated. But last year, I
decided to invite educators to share their experiences directly. And it was a
great decision—teachers and librarians loved hearing from their colleagues. So
this year, I’m doing it again.
Most of these posts
come from school librarians, classroom teachers, or literacy educators, but
today I’m excited to hear from elementary science specialist Jessica
Fries-Gaither. There are so many great ways to offer students a Mock Sibert experience!
As
an elementary science specialist and author, I’m always on the lookout for ways
to get more nonfiction into the hands of my students. I’ve built an extensive
classroom library and try to incorporate as many relevant books into my lessons
as I can. I also visit students homerooms to serve as a guest reader on a
regular basis. I’ve been intrigued by Melissa’s Sibert
Smackdown
for years, but couldn’t figure out how to make it work in my already limited
contact hours.
This
year, I decided to offer it as an optional book club experience instead of a
classroom lesson. My school librarian runs a Caldecott prediction party for
second graders and their families and a Newbery challenge (and book club) for
our fourth and fifth graders. Adding a Sibert challenge for our third graders
seemed to be a good fit. Since it was my first year running the book club, I
wasn’t sure how well-attended it would be, so I opted to also include our
fourth-grade class too.
Setting up the book club was a fairly simple process. I started with Melissa’s Sibert Smackdown list and added some
additional titles from the Anderson’s Bookshop list and my own reading,
ending up with a total of 20 books.
I
reserved as many of the books from my local library as possible, and my school
librarian ordered many for our school as well. I created a handout, introduced
the Sibert award, and announced the challenge in my third and fourth grade
science classes the first week back from winter break. We were ready to roll!
During
the next three weeks, students read two books from the list and completed Melissa’s
Sibert Smackdown worksheet comparing the two
books across a number of criteria and ultimately choosing one as the deserving
winner.
Students
were able to borrow books from specially designated crates in my classroom and
our school library. Many took advantage of this, while others chose to check
out books from the public library. At least one student loved the books she
read so much that she convinced her parents to buy it. To properly prepare for
the book club, I required students to sign up and turn in their worksheet when
they had completed the challenge.
Eighteen students, evenly split between third and fourth grades, completed our Sibert
challenge on top of daily school reading, homework assignments, and other
extracurricular activities. At the advice of my school librarian, I opted to
keep the plans for the book club simple, giving students time to share about
the books they’d read and recommend them to others. I prepared questions from
each book and baked treats (sugar cookies decorated like pizzas in honor of Pizza! A Slice of History by Greg
Pizzoli).
As
with other book clubs, we met during morning recess and lunch in our school’s
private dining room area. I decorated the space by setting up a display with
most of the Sibert books and taped color copies of the covers to the walls
around the room.
I opened book club by asking students to introduce themselves and share the
titles of the books they had read. Next, I passed out post-it notes and pencils
and asked students to write down something they had learned or loved about each
book. Students posted these next to the cover images, and we were able to
engage in a gallery walk of sorts to learn more about each title.
At this point, students were naturally engaging in lively conversation about their
books, their learning, and their opinions about it all. Several students
grabbed books to check facts or share favorite pages, and suddenly everyone was
reading new (to them) titles. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it was pretty
magical.
We concluded book club with “candy questions”—a book club tradition at our school—in
which students are challenged to answer questions for, as you probably guessed,
candy prizes. Students left feeling excited by nonfiction and eager to get
their hands on the books that they hadn’t read yet. I left feeling excited by
the enthusiasm generated for nonfiction in one short activity and enthused at
the prospect of hosting additional nonfiction book clubs in the future. I am
grateful for Melissa in compiling titles and creating resources that made
hosting this book club an easier lift for an admittedly busy teacher.
Jessica Fries-Gaither is a science educator and award-winning
author of books for students and teachers. Her titles include Notable Notebooks: Scientists and Their
Writings, Exemplary Evidence:
Scientists and Their Drawings, and Science
Notebooks in Student-Centered Classrooms. Her newest book, Nature’s Rule Breakers: Creatures That Don’t
Fit In, will be published in October 2023 by Millbrook Press.
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One Response
This looks like such a fun way for kids to share their thoughts about nonfiction books they read. Plus pizza cookies! What fun!