Empowering Readers Learning Community

Moderated by Laura Candler

What's the Empowering Readers Learning Community?

The Empowering Readers Learning Community (ERLC) developed as an outgrowth of my current book project, Empowering Readers: A Quick Start Guide to Reading Workshop. Even though my book isn't finished, the current draft is over 75 pages long and contains a wealth of information you can begin using right away. I set up this learning community because I knew it would be a powerful bonus to have the support of a discussion group for asking questions and sharing ideas. I know it's a radical concept, but it will be exciting for those who choose to participate!

Check it out for yourself! Click on the link above or the preview link below to read the first ten pages of the current draft. You won't be able to print or save the pages, but it will give you an overview of what the book will have to offer.

Click here to preview Pages 1 to 10 of Empowering Readers.

What is included in the current draft of the Empowering Readers book?

• Step-by-step directions for the first 10 days of Reading Workshop
• Ready-made printables to make each step easy-to-implement
• How to upgrade your basic Reading Workshop to a Power Reading Workshop
• Special activities like Book Buzz and Magazine Power Hour
• How to help students set appropriate reading goals

What will be included in the final draft of the Empowering Readers book?

• Loads of graphic organizers and directions for using them
• How to integrate small guided reading groups into your Reading Workshop
• Bibliography of children's books to use with specific mini-lessons

How does the Empowering Readers Learning Community work?

ERLC is a private discussion group based on the draft form of Empowering Readers: A Quick Start Guide to Reading Workshop. Because participants will have access to the final version of the Empowering Readers book, members will have to pay a fee to join the group. Essentially, you are buying the book in advance and receiving ongoing support to implement the strategies. Teachers who field-test the materials with their students and offer feedback will be recognized in the acknowledgements section of the book.

ERLC Fee: The cost of participating in the group and having access to the draft form of Empowering Readers is $20. This fee gives you access to the Empowering Readers exclusive discussion group at YahooGroups.com where the Empowering Readers current draft is located. When the final book is ready, you'll also be able to download the final version.

Please note: The final cost of the book has not been determined, but the cost of buying the book and joining the discussion group will be higher after the book is published. Whether this book will be released as one large book or several smaller ones, members of this group will have access to the entire text.

You can choose to participate in the email discussions or just set your email preferences to "Web only" if you don't want to receive the emails. As I complete more chapters in the book, I will continually update the group files with the new material. You will be able to ask questions of other group members, give me feedback on the book, or offer advice to others. When the final version of the book is available, I will send a message through the group letting you know so you can download the ebook. If this book becomes available in hard copy form, your $20 payment does not cover the cost of the hard copy version. This payment only covers participation in a support group and the digital version of the final book.

What do you get when you join the Empowering Readers Learning Community?

When you click the Buy Now button and make your $20 payment, you won't get anything right away except for a receipt from PayPal. Because this group is private and available by invitation only, you won't receive any information about how to join until I receive your payment receipt. When I see your payment receipt in my inbox, I'll send you a personal invitation to join the Learning Community. If you want me to send the invitation to a different email address from your PayPal address, sent me a message right away with that information. I don't recommend using a school email address because school servers may block Yahoo Group emails. Because I am a full-time teacher and not on the computer 24/7, it may be up to 24 hours before you receive your invitation. It is your responsibility to follow the directions from Yahoo Groups and sign up. I will not be able to offer any support for how to use Yahoo Groups, but you can find information available online to help you. Be sure to keep your receipt on file to show that you did pay the $20 fee for the Empowering Readers Learning Community.

What is your refund policy for the Empowering Readers Learning Community?

I will be happy to refund your money in full at any point until you actually join the Yahoo group. As the group's administrator, I will be able to verify whether you have joined or not. After you join the group, you will have access to exclusive content which can be downloaded to your computer. Therefore, you will be unable to receive a refund after that point. If you have trouble signing up for Yahoo Groups and want your money refunded due to those issues, I'll be happy to refund it prior to you joining the group. To obtain your refund, forward your PayPal receipt to me and explain why you would like the refund. After I verify that you have not joined the group, I'll refund your money back to your card.

What are the limitations of my participation in the group?

Your $20 payment allows you to download the draft versions of Empowering Readers for your own classroom use only. The current draft is extremely rough, and it should be recognized that the initial content contains numerous errors and omissions. I definitely would not want copies of my unpolished work floating around cyberspace! Even after the book is finished, the material is covered by copyright laws. It can't be copied and distributed or sent in digital form to anyone else. You may print copies of the activity pages and blackline masters for your own classroom, but that's it. If others on your grade level or in your school want to sign up, have them visit this page and pay the fee to join the group. Thanks for honoring these guidelines!

Ready to Join? Please read this section carefully before signing up!

Please preview the first 10 pages of Empowering Readers before making your decision about joining the group. Reading the introduction is the best way to find out if the strategies will be useful in your current position. If you are required to teach reading using a basal reader or scripted lessons, you may not be able to use many of the strategies described in the book. If you have read the guidelines above, previewed the introduction, and are ready to join, click the button below to start the payment process. Welcome to our Learning Community!

$20

Note: If you don't get an email invitation within 24 hours, please email me at lauracandler@att.net to be sure I have your correct email address. Include an alternate email address and a phone number where you can be reached. Several invitations have bounced this week and I don't have any other contact information for these people. Thanks!