Plan Your Own Big Universe Read-In

This year’s 1st annual Big Universe Read-In was a tremendous success! Entire families visited the library media center and read books together on the Big Universe website.

This was a daunting task. This year was the first year implementing 1:1 laptop use in the library. Our students have been steadily building their confidence with using technology since we began this Fall. Up until this point, I had only used our mobile laptop lab with students during the school day. Big Universe is such a great resource that I just had to share it with our families. I share this information in hopes that YOU will create a Big Universe Read-In during your next family night or community celebration.

1. Begin with a whole class lesson. Model how to navigate to the Big Universe website and log in. I embedded the URL for the Big Universe Sign In page in our library website to make it easy for parents to click and immediately log in.
2. Choose your focus for the lesson. Don’t overwhelm your audience by introducing too many features of Big Universe too soon. I chose to focus on the READ tab. Parents want to support students with reading but always have questions about which books to choose when they visit the library or a bookstore. Our students know their reading level. Big Universe makes it easy for families to locate a variety of books at just the right reading level. I modeled how to search by reading level, select a book, turn pages, and close a book selection.
3. Model several ways to search for a book on the Big Universe website: entering keywords in the search box and advanced search methods (category, interest age, reading level, academic subject, language, fiction, and non-fiction).
4. Review laptop policies and procedures. Don’t assume parents know what to do in a computer lab. Review established rules and routines. Provide hand wipes or hand sanitizer for all family members before they move to the laptops.
5. Let the reading begin!

Keisa Williams (aka Ms. K) is a K-5 School Librarian at Monarch Academy, a public charter school in Oakland, CA. She is certified in secondary and elementary education (MLIS and MEd) and loves collaborating with teachers and integrating technology into her library lessons. She considers herself a “Technology Diva” and “Gadget Junkie”.