How one DE educator is using Sora to build students’ literacy and comprehension [Sora Spotlight]
The Sora Spotlight series profiles educators who’ve become Sora champions at their school, impressing us with their creative strategies to get more students reading digitally. To inspire us all to find new ways to reach learners across our communities, we’ve asked them to share their stories of reading success.
In this special Sora Spotlight subseries, we’re focusing on educators within a shared collection that are Sora champions at their school.
Today, we’re spotlighting an educator from a school participating in the Delaware Accelerate Learning collection. The Delaware Department of Education has selected Sora as their preferred digital reading platform for their K-12 learning community. All elementary, middle and high schools in the state can access Sora for their required curriculum reading, as well as other student favorites.
Educator St
ats:
Name:
Milagros Gonzalez
Describe Your Position:
I am the Warner Elementary School Librarian and academic support teacher, also the Unified Arts Lead. I am a part of the ELT building leadership. I have worked for Warner Elementary for the past four years.
How many years have you been active with OverDrive?
I have been active with OverDrive (Sora) for the past 3 three years.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Milagros’ Sora Story
Why do you love Sora?
I love Sora because of the variety of books for all grade levels, as well as reading levels. It allows students to gain literacy through different methods (reading, read-alongs, and audiobooks). It also offers books in different languages, which helps with our English language learners. It caters to different visual fonts and sizes and even has a dyslexic font. The books visuals are so bold and colorful and are lifelike.
One of the best features to use with my students is the reading stats, which enables me to know how much time a student read (this can be set to monthly timelines). It also allows me to see how many books the students have read and the average reading time.
I utilize it daily with my classes to build their literacy and comprehension.
What unique things have you done to help increase student engagement with Sora?
The unique feature that I use with my students is the reading stats, which relays the students’ reading times. My top student in fifth grade has read a total of six (full) days on Sora in the past three years. The reading tracker allowed me to have data to view so that I could select all the students who have read 400 minutes and succeeded on my October Books to Bundts reading challenge.
In what ways has this been successful?
Sora has been extremely successful in gaining students engagement into reading. They love the variety and book styles. It also is great when students get achievement for different challenges that they may have met. My students are proud of reaching different reading milestones.
Parents with students who may struggle with reading love Sora based on the different reading skills that are available such as read-alongs and audiobooks.
Is there anything you are planning to do to kick off the school year to roll out and introduce Sora to your students or staff?
I always kick off the school year introducing/ reintroducing students to Sora. I do a lesson that allows students to be introduced to Sora by sharing my Sora on the smart board and teaching them about all the features and personalization they can do.
Do you have any exciting ideas you want to try or anything upcoming that you’re looking forward to with Sora?
An exciting idea I would like to do is a professional development for all the educators in my school. This will allow them to learn more about Sora and how they can utilize it in their classrooms.
Have you worked with anyone in your building to use Sora for curriculum?
I have worked with several teachers in my building on what Sora has to offer. They use the books on Sora for ELA and as a downtime activity.
Is there anything else you want readers to know about your implementation of Sora or your library/classroom?
In my educational studies I have learned that using different strategies and techniques to gain students attention and engagement can be essential in motivating students to learn and gain literacy. The style and availability of Sora enables students who normally wouldn’t read start to read. I also use reading punch cards that incentive reading with prizes and Storytime with different readers.
Has being part of the consortium helped you achieve goals that would have been challenging to accomplish independently?
Initially yes, because that is how I was made aware of Sora. I then researched on my own and learned about what it has to offer.
Are there any success stories or notable examples of how the collection has made a difference?
A situation of success is when a student who hates to read due to a low reading level or a general disinterest, and limited literacy knowledge becomes an avid reader and is proud to share their stat every time they visit the library. Their parents are proud of how far they have come and recognize that with practice they have achieved growth and educational advancement.
Get to know Milagros
In your opinion, why is reading digitally important, especially to student readers?
I believe that reading digitally is important for multiple reasons. Students may not have access to purchasing books due to poverty, they may not have the ability to go borrow books from a library or they may have sibling who are younger that can destroy their books.
Having access to digital books allows a student to have a free book at their disposal that they can use on a school device or any device. Digital books can be customized to a specific font and size for easy reading, it can also be translated to a different language and could help with learning disability such as dyslexia.
If you could have your students read one book and one book only, what would it be and why?
Pippi Longstocking, because it tells the tale of a young girl who goes on huge adventures. It allows students to understand that regardless of age or diversity they still can have amazing adventures.
What is your favorite “reading” moment with a student?
My favorite reading moment with a student was in my first year of education, when I aided a fifth grade students’ progression to sounding out words and she was able to read her first small picture book. Her face lit up with pride and excitement when she achieved this goal. It proves that regardless of age or circumstances, individuals can still be taught literacy with patience and dedication.
What is the most important thing you hope your students take away from reading/education?
The most important thing my student can take away from reading is that it exposes you to a world unimaginable.
What advice do you have for new educators/librarians with a digital collection?
My advice to new educators/librarians with digital collections is to research your digital platform and learn about it. Once you become knowledgeable on it you can share and teach your students the wonders of it.
See stories from other Delaware educators
