Videos, Handouts From Institute Sessions Bring Learning to the Bookstore

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

As a benefit of membership in the American Booksellers Association, booksellers have unlimited access, through ABA’s Education Curriculum, to all session videos and handouts from 2014’s ABC Children’s Institute, as well as handouts and select videos from Winter Institute 9 and other educational resources. (The recording of the Children’s Institute sessions was made possible by a grant from author James Patterson.)

Booksellers regularly praise the opportunity to learn about new issues in bookselling alongside their colleagues at ABA’s education events, and video viewings, individually or as part of group staff education nights, are ideal ways to bring that learning experience back to the store, to foster discussions about important topics, and to inspire brainstorming to find new solutions to the day-to-day challenges of bookselling.

Here, watch a 90-second clip featuring a discussion of the four pillars of literacy from the ABC Children’s Institute session “Graduate Level Education on Child Development and Literacy.” The session was led by Dr. Susan Keehn, a graduate professor in early literacy at the University of Texas at San Antonio and an International Reading Association Outstanding Teacher Educator, and Tess Reismeyer of Penguin Bookshop in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, herself an early literacy expert and children’s literature instructor at the University of Pittsburgh.

“This was one of the most informative workshops I’ve attended throughout my career as a bookseller,” Francine Lucidon of The Voracious Reader children’s bookshop in Larchmont, New York, said about the session, which looked at research and data on literacy and translated it into successful bookselling practices.

“Bringing in a literacy expert added an outside dimension that was truly useful,” Lucidon added. “The presenters offered an outstanding number of resources for further exploration and really provided us with a practical base of knowledge to bring back to our store. That, plus the presenters were delightfully funny!”

Booksellers can view the full, hour-long video recording of the Child Development and Literacy session in four parts on BookWeb. (A BookWeb username and password are required.)

The session includes discussion on critical aspects of teaching children to read, how to match customers with titles that are developmentally appropriate, and how to help customers understand the literacy skills that different types of books will help develop.

Booksellers can also see Reismeyer’s recommended picks for alphabet books, rhyming and alliteration books, books that promote interactive storytelling and talking, and compelling nonfiction titles to foster interest in reading.

See the full list of educational sessions and handouts available for viewing through ABA’s Education Curriculum.