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About In2Books
News & Awards
In2Books Origins
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Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility for In2Books
In2Books Program Cost
In2Books Safety
Registration Process
Program
More Information
Eligibility for In2Books
- What schools and programs are eligible for In2Books?
In2Books is available for the 2008-09 school year to 3rd-5th grade Title I classrooms located in the
U.S. Because interest in the program from non-Title 1 schools has been so strong, a classroom waiting list
has been established. If there is additional capacity in the program this school year, In2Books will
contact those teachers and schools on the waiting list during the next few months.
In the future, In2Books will be available to other interested participants, including non-title I
classrooms, additional grade levels, international programs, and others such as library and tutoring programs.
Eligible for In2Books in 2008-09 school year:
- 3rd, 4th, 5th grade Title I classrooms located in the United States
Eligible for In2Books in the future:
- Non-Title I classrooms and schools
- International schools and programs
- 2nd grade and below with gifted or advanced students
- 6th grade and above
- Library programs
- How do I know if my classroom qualifies as Title I?
If your school is eligible for Title I status in the 2007-08 school year or 2008-09 school year,
your classroom can be eligible to participate for free in the In2Books program. According to the
U.S. Department of Education, public schools with poverty rates above 40% are eligible to use
Title I funds.
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In2Books Program Cost
- What does it cost to participate in the In2Books program?
For the 2008-09 school year, the In2Books program is free for 3rd-5th grade Title I classrooms
located in the U.S. The program includes carefully-screened pen pals, books for students and teachers,
as well as websites for all In2Books participants, containing pedagogical-rich resources and tips to
scaffold reading comprehension, critical-thinking and writing skills.
Other schools, grades, and programs are not currently eligible for the In2Books program during
the 2008-09 school year, but may be eligible in the future for a modest participation fee. If you would
like to join our email list to be notified when In2Books expands its offering, please
click here.
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In2Books Safety
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What safeguards are in place to ensure the safety of students using this program?
Your students' safety is our primary concern. We have safeguards, including screening software,
criminal background checks, verification processes and full-time moderation of student forums. But you
have the most important role in ensuring safety in your classroom because you review the adult pen pal
letters before they are released to your students.
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Why do you need to collect the student names?
Student names are collected so that teachers can easily manage student participation in the program.
Teachers upload their student names to manage the program, and are the only ones who can view those names.
Adult pen pals only learn students' first names, and teachers review all pen pal letters before they are
released to the students.
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What is the process to select adult pen pals?
In2Books pen pals are a diverse group of caring adults. They may be parents of children at the school
or volunteers from local community organizations, corporations, government agencies, universities, and
professional organizations. They are adults of all ages, working or retired, having occupations ranging
from lawyers to web designers to stay-at-home parents and retirees. Despite their diversity, In2Books'
adult pen pals all share a commitment to helping school-age children reach their personal and academic
potentials.
In the past, corporations such as AOL, Bank of America, IBM, Fannie Mae, Sun Trust, KPMG, Verizon and
others have provided employees to serve as In2Books pen pals. All pen pal applicants are required to
submit to a background check before receiving approval to be an In2Books pen pal.
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Registration Process
Program
More Information
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Do you have any materials available that I can use to present this program to others at
my school?
Yes. In2Books offers a number of different materials that can provide great details on the
program, including:
Brochure:
In2Books School Brochure Research:
The positive results of using In2Books in classrooms have been documented in a number of studies:
In the 2003-2004 school year, the In2Books program was externally evaluated by
Dr. Susan Goldman.
Children in classrooms participating in the In2Books program scored significantly higher on reading
achievement tests than did non-participating students.
Read
Dr. Goldman's report or read the summary of Dr. Goldman's report.
Video:
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What are the Program Guidelines?
In2Books Program Description
The In2Books program fosters reading, writing and critical-thinking skills across the curriculum. Students and
carefully-screened adult pen pals read books together (chosen by the students from a list compiled by children's
literature experts), and write online letters about the books. The complete In2Books program involves six book cycles:
"Getting to Know You," fiction, science, social studies, biography, and traditional tales. Each cycle takes
approximately one month to complete.
Timeliness
Performing all aspects of the program in a timely manner enables completion of multiple cycles of In2Books, sustains
student enthusiasm and motivation, maintains pen pal interest and commitment, and maximizes the program's impact on
student skills.
Specifically:
- Student letters should be returned within 5 days of receiving adult pen pal letters.
- In2Books should be notified promptly if a student departs from the class (to avoid having a pen pal
write to an already-departed student.)
- Book orders should be approved early in the preceding cycle to minimize the lag time between
cycles.
Student Ownership
Students' literacy skills and interest in learning increases when they choose their own books and
write at least one draft of each letter.
Rich Online Resources
Student Place and Teacher Place are resource-rich websites for members of the In2Books community. If students have ongoing access to Student Place, they can work on their letters independently and reinforce your classroom instruction.
Teacher Approvals
Teachers review and approve all book choices and letters before they are seen by the intended recipients.
Teachers can write a note to the pen pals noting any personally identifying and/or inappropriate language.
Dedicated pen pals are an integral and necessary component of student success. Timeliness in responding
to pen pals' letters and evidence of student effort encourages deep commitment and effort by the adult
pen pals.
Parental Consent
Parental consent is necessary for student participation in the program.
Communications
- Ongoing communication with In2Books is essential for successful program implementation.
- Accurate contact information, including email addresses, shipping addresses, and class rosters
helps the program run smoothly.
- Help and support is just an email away at
support@in2books.com.
Authorization and Release
I hereby irrevocably grant In2Books, its successors and anyone acting with In2Books
(hereafter In2Books) authorization to quote from, reproduce, distribute, display and otherwise use in
any manner, any materials or other information created by me or in my classroom (including, but not limited
to, lesson plans, letters, and artwork, for illustrative, promotional or other purposes) without any payment
to me. I further authorize In2books to take, or authorize the taking of, photographs or videos of me and
In2Books, and to publish, display, distribute, modify and otherwise use those photographs and videos
for purposes relating to In2Books, without any payment to me.
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