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= Welcome to the //Festo de Libroj// Wiki! = This wiki is a tool for educators in Chicago to connect, share resources, exchange ideas, collaborate, and PLAN for a //Festo de Libroj// 2011-2012!

Thanks to everyone who attended the first planning meeting! As promised, here is the wiki so we can continue the conversation without using up too much of your after-school time! Welcome to everyone who couldn't be there but wanted to be - hope this is a useful tool to bring you into the conversation!

**The Big Idea: ** The idea for this //Festo de Libroj// was inspired by the efforts of a few CPS schools that have collaborated to create a //Torneo de Libros// (a Spanish language "book battle" competition) for the last several years. We hope to build on this work by sponsoring the participation of more schools and adding some components to the event to include other activities, demonstrations, and exhibits that highlight students’ experiences with literacy in (native, heritage, and world) languages other than English. **The hope is that such an event will: ** Ø Motivate students to engage with literature and take pride in their literacy development in a language other than English; Ø Provide a vehicle for emergent bilingual students to demonstrate their skills in their native, heritage, or world language; Ø Elevate the status of languages other than English in the school setting; Ø Raise awareness about the importance of bilingualism and biliteracy; the cognitive, academic, cultural, social, emotional, and economic benefits of developing high levels of proficiency in two (or more!) languages.

**The format of the “//torneo//” that is currently being implemented: ** **We are exploring adding the following elements: ** 1. Integrating learners of many (native, heritage, world) languages, including possible “//torneo//” component in languages other than Spanish 2. Gallery of student art/work that reflects responses to literature in languages other than English 3. Dramatic, spoken word, movement, musical live performances or video projects inspired by or in response to literature in languages other than English 4. Gallery of student-authored, student-made books in languages other than English including audio books 5. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Exhibits by parent book clubs and writing groups <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">6. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Exhibits by teacher book clubs and writing groups <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">7. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Exhibition of teacher units that focus on literacy in a language other than English <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">8. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Demonstrations of innovative classroom strategies/tools for nurturing native/heritage/world language <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">9. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Workshops on strategies for supporting native/heritage/world in the home <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">10. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Author readings & sessions <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">11. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">Gallery of language & literacy resources <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">12. Native/Heritage/World Language Literacy nights at participating schools Happy Festo-wiki-ing!
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Schools agree upon a shared reading list of books in Spanish
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Schools implement a program of independent reading and after-school literature sessions over the course of the school year in which students (4th-6th, possibly 7-8th grade) read and respond to books from the book list
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Students generate (quiz show-style) questions based on all the books on the book list
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Schools participate in a culminating event in which students participate in competitive rounds based on the selected books