Read On Wisconsin Book Trailer Project
UW-Madison School of Education, in collaboration with Whitehorse Middle School
For the past two years, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education has worked in
collaboration with a local middle school to address literacy challenges faced by students from low-income
families. The students in the program had just finished 7th grade and were reading well below grade level,
some as low as 2nd grade. Their teacher had noted that these students were more highly motivated if they
were engaged with technology, so we wrote several small grants to run a competitive program for fifteen
students (selected by the teachers based on students who had the highest need) called Read On Wisconsin
Film Camp.
At the end of 7th grade, each student in the program was given an iPad mini loaded with 12 e-books and
audio-books at the middle level in our statewide reading program. They got together twice to discuss the
books they had read, and then met for two weeks in August for an intensive Film Camp where they
worked in teams to create book trailers (like movie trailers but for books) for the Read On Wisconsin
website, to promote books to other middles school students across Wisconsin. In the Film Camp students
learned to storyboard, search the internet for copyright-free images and audio, do live action filming and
voice-over narratives, and edit in iMovie. They also developed skills in critiquing book trailers made by
others, often times looking at specific features, such as typography or timing. At the end of Film Camp,
all the student films were showcased at a public Film Festival on the UW campus, where parents,
siblings, friends, and others could come to watch the films on the big screen. Students who successfully
completed the program got to keep their iPad minis permanently, a big motivation for these students who,
for the most part, did not have computers -- or even books – in their homes. All students participated
fully, showed up on time every day, and completed the program, except for one girl who moved midway
through the summer. She went to great lengths to return her device, without being prompted.
Testing on the first group of students showed that the participants either maintained or improved their
reading scores over the summer. The teachers have also noted the great strides these students have made
in their social skills, being able to give and accept criticism, and viewing themselves as readers and
leaders.
READ ON WISCONSIN FILM CAMP COSTS IN 2013
TECHNOLOGY (15 iPad minis with Applecare+, cases, screen protectors, earphones)
Subtotal: $6,748.50
BOOKS (18 sets of ROW books in different formats – for students, two classrooms, LMC; hardcovers
and paperback books for students at completion of the program)
Subtotal: $6,317.81
TEACHER STIPENDS (for two teachers and one librarian; UW staff offered in-kind services)
Subtotal: $2,125
SUPPLIES: (UW backpacks for the students)
Subtotal: $599.85
FILM FESTIVAL (Theater rental, catering, roundtrip bus service for families, trophies, professional
photographer)
Subtotal: $2,222.00
GRAND TOTAL: $18,013.16
For more info contact: Kathleen T. Horning ([email protected])
May 3, 2013
Read On Wisconsin!
Students at Whitehorse Middle School are being given a unique opportunity to participate in an
amazing summer workshop right here at our own school! Our current UW literacy partnership is
offering a program which combines encouraging students to read with the excitement of film
production. Students who participated last summer had a blast!
Students who are selected to participate will be reading at least two books from the Read On
Wisconsin! book recommendation list for middle school. There will be two check-in meetings to
provide an opportunity to discuss the books students are reading. The real work will happen
during a two week workshop in late July/early August where students will be trained to use video
equipment and editing software to create their own book trailers (a one-to-two minute film, like a
movie trailer but for a book). These trailers will be posted throughout the next academic year on
the Read On Wisconsin! website. The student films will be premiered at the Bridget Zinn Film
Festival on the UW campus for family and friends.
Dates:






Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting on Wednesday, May 29  7:00 in LMC
Handing out Devices on Wednesday, June 5  2:45-3:30 in Room 173
Check In #1 on Tuesday, July 2  5:00-6:30 in LMC
Check In #2 on Thursday, July 25  5:00-6:30 in LMC
Film Camp – Week of July 29 and August 5  Monday-Friday 1:30-4:00
in LMC at East High School
Saturday, August 17  2:00 at the Marquee Theater in Union South
Incentives
 Learn video-making techniques
 Read some quality books
 Meetings will take place in the air conditioned LMC at Whitehorse
 Prizes to be handed out, including an electronic reader upon completing program!!!
 Final films will be posted on the Read On Wisconsin! Website
 Bridget Zinn Film Festival on UW campus with a reception for family and friends
Requirements
 Read at least two books (options to be provided)
 Attendance at all meetings (see dates above)
 Come and have fun
If you are interested, please fill out the Application on the reverse side and complete a thoughtful
personal statement. Please return materials to Ms. Milne-Carroll by May 17.
Read On Wisconsin! Application
Student Name _______________________________________________________________
Summer Address _____________________________________________________________
Student Phone Number _______________________ (home) ________________________ (cell)
Student’s Summer Email ____________________________________
Are you involved in other programs/camps/sports teams this coming summer? Explain below.
How will you be getting to/from Whitehorse for meetings/Film Camp?
Are there any allergies or medical conditions that we should be aware of?
Please indicate if you will allow your child to be photographed or filmed
for the purpose of teacher education. Only their first name will be used.
(circle) OK or Not OK
Please indicate if you will allow your child leave school grounds to walk (circle) OK or Not OK
with an adult in the neighborhood near Whitehorse for specific film locations.
Student Signature _______________________________________ Date _________________
Parent Signature ________________________________________ Date _________________
Phone Number (in case of emergency) _______________________________
In order for your application to be complete, please attach a personal statement explaining why
you want to be part of this program. There are a limited number of slots available and your essay
will help determine who participates.
If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact:



Jennifer Milne-Carroll at 204-4484 or [email protected]
Sarah Waddell (MMSD contact) at 204-4512 or [email protected]
KT Horning (UW contact) at 263-3721 or [email protected]
Instructors for the course will be Jen Milne-Carroll, Sarah Waddell, and staff from the UWSchool of Education.
This program is being funded by UW School of Education’s Partner School Network,
Educational Partnership Outreach, and the Literacy, Language, and Culture Institute.
2013 Read On WI Agreement
Printed Student Name ____________________________________________________
By signing below I agree that I must take complete responsibility for the use of the iPad
provided for me by Whitehorse Middle School for the purpose of the Read On WI
Summer Program. This would include the following expectations:
 Follow the MMSD guidelines for technology use contract that was previously
signed
 Keep the iPad in a secure location to avoid theft
 Will not loan the iPad to friends or family members during the summer
 Only load the approved Read on WI books during the program
 Attend and actively participate in all Read on WI meetings
 Provide my own transportation to and from all meetings except the event on
campus
__________________________________________ ___________________
Student signature
Date
By signing below, I agree that my child must adhere to the above requirements in order
to officially be presented with an iPad to keep as their own at the completion of the
program. If my child does not complete the program, I agree to return the iPad and
supporting materials to Whitehorse Middle School.
__________________________________________ ___________________
Parent signature
Date
It is important to know in the event that the iPad is lost or stolen,
Read On Wisconsin will not provide participant with another device!
May 24, 2013
Dear _______________________________,
Congratulations! You have officially been accepted into the Read on
Wisconsin Program here at Whitehorse this summer! Our first meeting will be next
Wednesday, May 29 at 7:00 in the LMC. A parent/guardian is expected to
attend this meeting with you. We will be reviewing expectations, handing out a
calendar, signing technology contracts, and answering questions.
We will be having a meeting at lunch time on Tuesday, June 4 for book talks
and again after school on Wednesday, June 5 at 2:45-3:30 in Room 173 to hand out
the electronic devices and give you a quick tutorial on how to use them.
Please share this letter with your parents/guardians so they are aware of
Wednesday’s meeting and your commitment to being part of the success of Read
on WI and the Bridget Zinn Film Festival later this summer!
See you on Wednesday night,
Ms. Milne-Carroll
Ms. Gritt
Ms. Waddell
Read on WI 2013
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
JUNE
29
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
30
31
1
6
7
8
Intro meeting
at 7:00 in
Whitehorse
LMC
2
JUNE
Wednesday
3
4
5
Book Talks at
Lunch in
Room 173
Hand out
Devices at 2:45
in Room 173
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
JULY
Watch for a postcard!
30
1
3
4
5
6
8
2
Check-In #1
Whitehorse
LMC 5-6:30
9
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Check-In #2
Whitehorse
LMC 5-6:30
1
26
27
2
3
Watch for a postcard!
28
29
30
31
AUGUST
FILM CAMP – 1:30-4:00 in LMC at East High School
4
5
Dates:





6
7
8
9
FILM CAMP – 1:30-4:00 in LMC at East High School
Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting on Wednesday, May 29  7:00 in LMC
Handing out Devices on Wednesday, June 5  2:45-3:30 in Room 173
Check In #1 on Tuesday, July 2  5:00-6:30 in LMC
Check In #2 on Thursday, July 25  5:00-6:30 in LMC
Film Camp – Weeks of July 29 and August 5 
Monday-Friday 1:30-4:00 in LMC at East High School
Saturday, August 17  Bridget Zinn Film Festival at 2:00 at the Marquee
Theater in Union South. Please invite family and friends to this free event!!!
10
And of
course, the
BIG Event
July 2 - Check-In #1
Community Building Activity
(10 min - Sarah leading)
Loading iPads
(Brooke/Becky)
Book discussions (KT, Mary Louise, Jen, Sarah - 45 min)
Outcasts United Unwind
Wonder
Dark Lord
Mary Louise
Sarah
Jen
KT
Vanessa
Josh
Montel
Jai
Lupe
JJ
Ben
Davion
Jose
Anna
Lidia
Flo
Genna
Jemelynn
Tim
Group Discussion about iPads (10 min)
Candidates for Book Trailers (10 min)
Announce 2nd Book Groups (10 min)
After Eli
See You at
Harry's
Fire in the
Streets
Ivan/Unwind
Davion
Jemelynn
Anna
Jose
Josh
Lidia
Jai
Ben
Genna
Vanessa
Flo
Tim
Montel
Lupe
JJ
Check-In #1 Discussion Notes
Book Title:
Group Members:
Positive reactions to the text:
Negative reactions to the text:
Questions you had about the book:
ROW Questions:
Book Trailer Candidate - why or why not?
ROW questions to prompt more discussion, if needed
Title: Wonder
1. The kids on Auggie’s welcoming committee have been hand-picked by the principal. Why do you think
the kids the principal picked aren’t all as welcoming as the principal might have wished? How do you
think you would respond if you were a member of Auggie’s welcoming committee?
2. Jack and Summer both want to be good friends to Auggie but each one struggles in different ways.
What do you think is Jack’s biggest challenge? What about Summer’s? How does Auggie respond to
each of them?
3. What do you think is gained by telling Auggie’s story from so many different points of view? Which
character’s perspective did you appreciate the most, and why?
Title: Dark Lord: The Early Years
1. If your arch enemy banished you to an alternate universe, what would it be like?
2. Why do you think the author decided to include a ghost story?
3. Which supporting character(s) in these books would you like to have you welcoming you to a new
situation? What appealed to you about this character?
Title: Unwind
1. Connor, Risa and Lev have followed three different paths to the same fate and are all destined for
“unwinding.” How do their experiences draw similarities between the future in which this story is set and
our society today?
2. What are some of the ways the three main characters influence one another’s understanding of and
attitudes toward “unwinding”? How do Connor, Risa and Lev change in other ways from knowing one
another?
3. This book takes a highly controversial issue in our society today and offers up a fictional future where
the solution is a compromise that seems unimaginable . What do you think the author is hoping readers
will take away from this?
Title: Outcasts United
1. The kids in Outcasts United come from various countries, but all have experienced difficult things both
before and after coming to the United States. Why do you think being on The Fugees means so much to
them?
2. Luma had no background in teaching or social work but seemed to instinctively understand what her
players needed. What are some of the things that she does that make her such an outstanding coach?
3. Why do you think Luma is so strict with her players?
Read On Wisconsin 2013-2014
Name ____________________________
Directions: After the book talks, rank the following choices with 1 being the book you most want to read all the
way to 18.
_____ Wonder by R.J. Palacio, 2012
_____ Dark Lord: The Early Years by Jamie Thomson, 2012
_____ Friends With Boys by Faith Erin Hicks, 2012
_____ The Mighty Mars Rovers: The Incredible Adventures of Spirit and Opportunity by Elizabeth Rusch, 2012
_____ Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by Phillip Hoose, 2012
_____ After Eli by Rebecca Rupp, 2012
_____ Marching to the Mountaintop: How Poverty, Labor Fights, and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther
King, Jr.’s Final Hours by Ann Bausum, 2012
_____ Fire in the Streets by Kekla Magoon, 2012
_____ The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano, 2012
_____ Unwind by Neal Shusterman, 2007
_____ Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team That Changed a Town by Warren St. John, 2012
_____ Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World
by Sy Montgomery, 2012
_____ See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles, 2012
_____ Chomp by Carl Hiaasen, 2005
_____ Diamond Willow by Helen Frost, 2008
_____ Kimchi & Calamari by Rose Kent, 2007
_____ The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Illustrated by Patricia Castelao, 2012
_____ The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis, 2012