Presented by Angela Zanelli, VP, Policy & Advocacy at Lehigh Valley Public Media, and Campaign Director for Lehigh Valley Reads; and Lisa McManus, US Partnership and Program Manager, Worldreader
Moderated by Kristen Walter, US Director of Programs, Worldreader

Sponsored by Worldreader and Keep Children Reading

Watch the Recording

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation. Get a CE Certificate for this edWebinar Learn more

In this edWebinar, we explore how student goal setting can increase outcomes for individual and community-wide reading goals using digital books. When a shared reading goal is put into place, the message of encouraging each other can motivate young readers to meet their collective and individual targets. See examples of how pairing e-books with activities helps families feel empowered to participate in reading challenges, and explore a free online book collection as a way to provide continuous book access.

Viewers learn:

• How students can set and track individual reading goals
• Why community reading goals are a tool for increasing literacy
• Why relationships, trust, and engagement are at the heart of helping young readers meet their individual reading goals
• How Lehigh Valley Reads structures their Million Minute Reading Challenge, empowering the larger community to meet the million-minute goal

Viewers are given access to Worldreader’s open book collection to use with their own community of readers and leave with instructions on how to download Worldreader’s goal-tracking sheet.

This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK through elementary-level teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, education technology leaders, community leaders, ELL educators, Title I coordinators, and non-profit leaders.

About the Presenters

Angela Zanelli is Vice President of Policy & Advocacy and Campaign Director for Lehigh Valley Reads at PBS39/WLVT in Bethlehem, PA. She has spent her career working for mission-driven organizations that are making a difference. With 20 years of experience in fundraising, marketing, and communications, Angela is thrilled to lead the organization’s external communications as it relates to education. She is also part of the dynamic team charged with developing and executing the strategic vision for Lehigh Valley Reads, the region’s third-grade reading campaign. Because of her career accomplishments, community involvement, leadership, and sustained commitment to mentoring, Angela was recently recognized as a Lehigh Valley Business 2021 Woman of Influence. In addition, she was the 2021 recipient of Waterford.org’s Excellence & Impact Award because of her passion for helping young learners find success and her example of service to her community. When she’s not at her desk, you can find her teaching a yoga class, hiking in the woods, or driving her kids somewhere.

Lisa McManus is the US Partnership and Program Manager for Worldreader in Chicago, IL. She has spent her career teaching students kindergarten through 4th grade throughout the U.S. and coaching teachers in best practices around literacy instruction. She holds a master’s degree in reading and literacy and is part of the team developing the first monthly newsletter at Worldreader geared toward teachers, partners, and families. Throughout her 20 plus years in education, she has been an active member of her community through coaching students in basketball and Girls on the Run, as well as volunteering with Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly and Chicago Canine Rescue. In her free time, she enjoys teaching group fitness classes and playing with her dog, Judy.

About the Moderator

Kristen Walter, Worldreader’s Director of US Programs, has worked in literacy education for the last 20 years. Before joining the Worldreader team, Kristen was the director of education and partnerships for Reading In Motion and teaching and learning manager for Crayola. Kristen’s teaching career spanned over 15 years, starting as a certified art and music instructor in NC and ending as an arts integration specialist with a focus on improving literacy development for second language learners. A leader in the classroom and beyond, Kristen helped her school become a national Title I school, P21 Exemplar School, finalist in the Intel Schools of Distinction Math Award, CCAC Crayola grant winner, and win the National School Change Award. She has been recognized as a Yale Distinguished Music Educator and both Kristen and her fifth-grade students were invited to showcase a game design project at the first annual White House Arts Integration Fair.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

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Worldreader is a global nonprofit that provides access to digital books to children and families around the globe. Since 2010, over 13 million people — using e-readers and tablets in schools and libraries, and mobile phones worldwide — read e-books for free on their devices.