The mission of Books and Hoops is to develop lifelong readers by partnering reading and basketball. Every session, volunteers will teach reading lessons and basketball skills. Wonder how reading lessons and basketball lessons connect?

Sample Session:

Reading Lesson Introduction

Students will learn how to think critically before cracking open the book. Each student is encouraged to closely examine the front cover, back cover, the blurb and teaser on the inside flap.

Exploring the book before reading the first page is essential. Clues, predictions and ideas must be formed and tested while reading the book. Reading blurbs and teasers revs reader’s minds. This excitement is crucial to creating determined readers who will find details on each page.

 

Questions to ask when reading the front cover, back cover, and inside jacket:

• Who is the main character?
• What does the character want?
• What do you already know about the topic of this book?
• Does the topic of the book remind you of something you have done that is similar?
• What are you wondering as you read the front and back cover of the book?
• Is there anything you think will be important as you read the book?

Small Groups

Students break into small groups of 4 or 5 students. Groups begin reading by tracking character development. Students benefit from reading in the small group because it gives each student more opportunities to be heard. It also gives students a chance to ask questions, read with a partner and move at their just right reading pace.

Questions to ask while reading:

• What has happened in the story so far?
• What do you think will happen next? Why?
• Why do you think the character did __________? Is there evidence in the text showing why?

Group Share

Students come back together, sharing what they learned while reading in small groups. Bringing discoveries to the whole group validates student thinking and provides opportunities to revise ideas.

Drive and Dish

Connecting the reading lesson to basketball is an alley-oop. Students have already learned revving up their minds gets them familiar with the book. Now we’ve revved up the mind, it is time to rev up the body up to play hoops! Command of the basketball is essential to every basketball player. Warming up by doing ball handling drills gets basketball players familiar with the ball.

Maravich Drills

• Ball slaps
• Finger Tips
• Ball Circles (one leg then both legs)
• Figure 8
• Dribbling Ball Circles
• Dribbling Figure 8

 

Students continue warming up with: dribble relays, passing drills, form shooting and shooting drills. Each drill is designed to warm up basketball players by getting them familiar with the basketball, the basketball court, and their teammates.

Volunteer

Volunteers are essential to reading groups and demonstrating basketball skills. Do you love reading? Can you hold on to a basketball in your hands? If you’ve answered yes to either question, you would be an excellent volunteer! Email our volunteer coordinator, volunteer@booksandhoops.com, to pursue an opportunity.