New York, NY – November 12, 2018 – Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education, and media company, today announced the release of Game Changer! Book Access for All Kids, a new professional title for K–8 educators, authored by The Nerdy Book Club blog co-founders Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp.

Game Changer! is now available for order online at: www.scholastic.com/gamechanger. 

Inspired by their passion for books, Donalyn and Colby make clear that access to a wide variety of texts, choice in what to read, and time to read are “game changers” for the lives of all children, enhancing academic achievement while shaping kids’ understanding of themselves and their world. Each chapter of the book draws from research, highlights the experiences of educators and families who are finding ways to unite kids with books, and delves into practical methods for improving the reading lives of students, including:  

• Turning “book deserts” into “book floods” through classroom and community initiatives 
• Supporting librarians and implementing their expertise in the classroom
• Establishing and continually re-evaluating robust, diverse, and inclusive classroom libraries
• Creating opportunities for students to own brand-new books that reflect their interest
• Balancing the use of text-leveling systems for book recommendations with getting to know students as readers 
• Advocating for representation in children’s books
• Assisting independent readers as they learn to fine-tune their book selection skills and discover new books to read 
• Building a culture of literacy at school, at home, and community-wide

“Establishing a supportive and inclusive culture of literacy in which children are given time to make choices and partake in discussions about books has a lasting impact on their literacy lives and academic achievement,” says bestselling author and independent reading expert Donalyn Miller. “Game Changer! is a resource for fostering the positive literacy experiences that will serve as the foundation for how children see themselves as readers indefinitely.”

“Just one book has the potential to make someone a lifelong reader, but we realize that there is a lot in the way of getting the right book to the right child at the right time,” says author and fifth grade teacher Colby Sharp. “It is our goal to show educators everywhere that together, we can do this. We can work together to support the reading lives of all children so that they reach their full potential.” 

“Educators strive to help their students develop a passion for reading, but many kids don’t have access to the relevant, high-quality texts they need,” says Dr. Lois Bridges, Vice President & Publisher, Scholastic Education. “Donalyn Miller and Colby Sharp have brilliantly curated a collection of inspiring stories based on their own experiences and those of their accomplished peers to help fellow educators increase access to diverse, authentic, high-interest books—and immerse children in the joy of reading.”

For more information about Scholastic, visit the Company’s media room at: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com. 

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Press contact:

Stephanie Agresti
212-343-7819
sagresti@scholastic.com