Sunshine State Young Readers Award
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivational program for students in grades 3 through 8. The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for pleasure and to read books that are on, above, and below their reading level in order to improve their reading fluency. Sunshine State books are selected for their wide appeal, literary value, varied genres, curriculum connections, and/or multicultural representation. The SSYRA committee is comprised of 20 qualified school librarians located throughout the state of Florida, subdivided into two committees- grades 3-5 and grades 6-8.
Attention Parents:
The SSYRA program is facilitated through your child’s school. In most cases, the school library media specialist administers the program, registers the school, and organizes voting. Please see your school librarian to ask how your child can get involved in the SSYRA program. Homeschooled students are welcome to participate as well.
The SSYRA program is facilitated through your child’s school. In most cases, the school library media specialist administers the program, registers the school, and organizes voting. Please see your school librarian to ask how your child can get involved in the SSYRA program. Homeschooled students are welcome to participate as well.
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Homeschool Families:
You can participate by having your child read the books from the list. Readers of 3 (or more) will be able to vote for their favorite in the spring. Watch our social media accounts for a link to register to vote sometime in January. Be sure to participate in our Facebook Live author events. Please contact the SSYRA grades 3-5 chair at [email protected] or the SSYRA grades 6-8 [email protected] chair at , for any additional inquiries. |
facebook.com/FLSSYRA/
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@FloridaSSYRA
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Follow us! Get the latest news as it happens and share all things exciting that is SSYRA! Find out what's happening with your favorite authors and share what's happening in your libraries! |
FAME is excited to announce this year’s award nominees. Media specialists representing all districts across the state work with integrity and heart to curate great lists each year, with the goal for each and every one of Florida’s students to find three books they want to read and with which they can connect. That’s all it takes for students to vote for their favorites: read at least three and vote. We are especially proud of these lists, knowing they are for our students first and believe that students will find at least three to read this year. We know that not every book is for every student, but we want every student to have the chance to find the book they need, whether it be a window, a mirror, or a door to another world. Many thanks to the media specialists who curate these lists, the media specialists across the state who promote free choice reading in their schools, and mostly to the families and students that participate in our program. Happy reading and have fun as you READ THREE!
Kathleen Daniels, Past President Florida Association for Media in Education.
Kathleen Daniels, Past President Florida Association for Media in Education.
SSYRA FAQ
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General Questions
What is SSYRA?
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3 through 8 promoted by the Florida Association of Media in Education (FAME). The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for pleasure and to read books that are on, above, and below their reading level in order to improve their reading fluency.
How many books do my students have to read to be eligible to vote?
Based on the subject and reading level not all books will be suited for all students; for this reason students only need to read, or have read to them, 3 books from the list in order to vote in the spring. We understand that many schools offer incentives for students to read more than 3 SSYRA books. That is a local decision made by the individual schools or school districts, and is not required by the SSYRA Committee or FAME.
How are the books chosen?
SSYRA Committee members read between 250-300 books each year from which they choose the 15 books for the elementary list and 15 books for the middle school list. The SSYRA Committee will consider the following evaluative criteria for selecting fifteen unique titles for each list:
What are the criteria used for selecting SSYRA books?
The selected books must meet the following criteria for eligibility:
How are books recommended for SSYRA? Can I recommend a book for SSYRA?
The SSYRA Committee takes recommendations from school librarians, students, parents, and interested parties in order to create the reading list each year. There is no guarantee that the committee will read a book that is recommended, nor is there a guarantee that a recommended book will be selected for the SSYRA list. If you would like to recommend a book to the committee, please visit fill out the recommendation form. Please note: the suggestion form runs from June 1- April 30.
Are self-published books considered?
Yes, but like any books considered, a self-published book must meet the eligibility criteria, and must have the required number of copies in print if selected for the SSYRA list.
Who picks the SSYRA Jr. books and the Florida Teens Read (FTR) books?
There are separate FAME committees who pick the books for the SSYRA Jr. list and the FTR list. Please visit the FAME website for more information about those award committees.
Where do I order the books?
Wherever books are sold! Our only recommendation is to purchase as many copies as your budget allows - they’re always popular with students!
I like to order copies of the SSYRA books immediately after the new list is announced. However, sometimes a few of the books are on backorder or are unavailable right away. Why is this?
When the titles are chosen for the next year’s list in the spring, the SSYRA Committee asks the publishers of the books to confirm that there will be 20,000 copies of each title available for purchase by the end of the summer. In some cases, there are not enough books in print at the time that the list is released, and the publishers have to order more copies to be printed. This process takes a few months.
How can I connect with the SSYRA Committee and other librarians to discuss the SSYRA books?
Be sure to follow FAME and SSYRA on social media:
Facebook: Florida Media Ed - FAME, Florida SSYRA @FLSSYRA
Twitter: @FloridaMediaEd, @FloridaSSYRA
YouTube: Florida Association for Media in Education
Can I sponsor the SSYRA Program?
Yes! Sponsorships help defray the costs of the SSYRA Program, which include expenses for the list selection committee meeting. Depending on the level of sponsorship, there are many benefits, including being listed on the FAME website as a sponsor. For more information about sponsorships, please contact the SSYRA Chair.
SSYRA Resources
What kind of resources are available through the FAME website?
There are a variety of resources available to support you in promoting and teaching the SSYRA books, as well as ideas for incentives and rewards for students. Resources include bookmarks, ballots, student progress tracking charts, book club discussion questions, information about the authors, links to book trailers, and many more!
Can my students read the SSYRA books on the FAME website? Can my students listen to the audiobooks on the FAME website?
No, the books are not available for purchase or in electronic format on the FAME website.
Are the SSYRA books good for read-alouds/novel studies/literature circles in the classroom?
Absolutely! The SSYRA books are intended to be read for pleasure, both individually and with others.
Are there resources for Battle of the Books? How do I participate in Battle of the Books?
The SSYRA Committee does not provide any resources, tools, or questions for local Battle of the Books competitions. All Battle of the Books competitions are organized and planned locally. Call your district’s media director for information on one in your area.
Voting
Do I have to register my school to participate in SSYRA?
Yes. Each school must register prior to February of the current school year through the FAME website. The SSYRA committee will email voting links to all registered schools the beginning of March. The school registration form will be posted on the SSYRA website beginning in November and be open for registration through February.
When is the voting window?
Each year the voting period will be determined by the chairs of the FAME reading award committees based on the FLDOE academic schedule of that year. For the 2020-21 school year, you may submit student votes March 8, 2021 - April 16th 2021. You may submit your votes during any day of this window.
How do I submit my school’s votes?
Registered schools will be able to access the voting links March 8, 2021 through April 16, 2021. Simply follow the link and enter your students’ votes.
The voting window is during testing season. Can my students vote in February? In May?
We understand that the spring is a very busy time in schools now. The extended testing windows for state standardized testing prompted us to increase the voting window to accommodate more schools. Many schools like to plan voting parties where students vote and celebrate their SSYRA participation and success. We love this! We encourage this! If it’s impossible to host your school celebration during the voting window, we encourage you to allow your students to cast their ballots during the voting window, and then plan your school celebration event at a later date that works for your school calendar.
SSYRA Committee
Who is on the SSYRA Committee?
The SSYRA Committee is comprised of 20 elementary and middle school librarians representing the 5 FAME regions, subdivided into two committees for elementary level and middle school level.
How do I join the committee?
Apply online through the FAME website on the Committee Interest Form (must be a FAME member). There are a few openings for new committee members every year. Please don’t be discouraged if you aren’t appointed right away; there may not be an opening on the committee for your FAME region or your school level every year. The SSYRA Committee chair keeps a list of FAME members who have indicated interest in serving on the committee, and the president-elect contacts all interested members when positions become available.
Timeline/Process
When are the winners announced?
The winners of the SSYRA Award for Grades 3-5 and the SSYRA Award for Grades 6-8 will be announced April 23, 2021. The announcement will be made online on the FAME website, FAME social media accounts, and SSYRA social media accounts. Be sure to follow @floridamediaed and @FloridaSSYRA on Twitter, and Florida Media Ed - FAME on Facebook!
When is the new list released?
The new list is always released shortly after the winners of the current year have been announced. The announcement will be made online on the FAME website, FAME social media accounts, and SSYRA social media accounts. Be sure to follow @floridamediaed and @FloridaSSYRA on Twitter, and Florida Media Ed - FAME and Florida SSYRA @FLSSYRA on Facebook!
What is SSYRA?
The Sunshine State Young Readers Award (SSYRA) Program is a statewide reading motivation program for students in grades 3 through 8 promoted by the Florida Association of Media in Education (FAME). The purpose of the SSYRA Program is to encourage students to read independently for pleasure and to read books that are on, above, and below their reading level in order to improve their reading fluency.
How many books do my students have to read to be eligible to vote?
Based on the subject and reading level not all books will be suited for all students; for this reason students only need to read, or have read to them, 3 books from the list in order to vote in the spring. We understand that many schools offer incentives for students to read more than 3 SSYRA books. That is a local decision made by the individual schools or school districts, and is not required by the SSYRA Committee or FAME.
How are the books chosen?
SSYRA Committee members read between 250-300 books each year from which they choose the 15 books for the elementary list and 15 books for the middle school list. The SSYRA Committee will consider the following evaluative criteria for selecting fifteen unique titles for each list:
- High degree of reader appeal;
- Representation of various genres on each list;
- Inclusion of authors and characters from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to ensure a list representative of the diverse students across the state of Florida.
- Favorable reviews located in standard selection sources;
- Theme, plot, and characters appropriate for audience and purpose;
- Author’s use of language and its effect is appropriate to the author’s intent and theme; and
- Due to cost, the list should have only one - three titles that are available only as hardbound. The rest of the titles must be available in paperback.
What are the criteria used for selecting SSYRA books?
The selected books must meet the following criteria for eligibility:
- Books must be works of fiction;
- Books must be appropriate for students in grades 3 - 8;
- Books appearing on the Florida Teens Read list are not eligible for selection on the SSYRA list;
- Books must have been originally copyrighted within the three years preceding selection;
- Books must be new considerations; books may not be considered more than once, with the exception of those rolled over by the committee from the prior year; books may only roll over once;
- Books must be first in a series (if part of a series);
- Books must be in print at the time of selection;
- Books must be an original work; no adaptations.
- The winning author of any one year will be excluded from competition the following year;
- Only one title of any one author will be included on the current list;
- Authors included on preceding lists may be repeated, but the titles of previously nominated books may not be repeated; and
- Books should be worthy of an award for their literary qualities.
How are books recommended for SSYRA? Can I recommend a book for SSYRA?
The SSYRA Committee takes recommendations from school librarians, students, parents, and interested parties in order to create the reading list each year. There is no guarantee that the committee will read a book that is recommended, nor is there a guarantee that a recommended book will be selected for the SSYRA list. If you would like to recommend a book to the committee, please visit fill out the recommendation form. Please note: the suggestion form runs from June 1- April 30.
Are self-published books considered?
Yes, but like any books considered, a self-published book must meet the eligibility criteria, and must have the required number of copies in print if selected for the SSYRA list.
Who picks the SSYRA Jr. books and the Florida Teens Read (FTR) books?
There are separate FAME committees who pick the books for the SSYRA Jr. list and the FTR list. Please visit the FAME website for more information about those award committees.
Where do I order the books?
Wherever books are sold! Our only recommendation is to purchase as many copies as your budget allows - they’re always popular with students!
I like to order copies of the SSYRA books immediately after the new list is announced. However, sometimes a few of the books are on backorder or are unavailable right away. Why is this?
When the titles are chosen for the next year’s list in the spring, the SSYRA Committee asks the publishers of the books to confirm that there will be 20,000 copies of each title available for purchase by the end of the summer. In some cases, there are not enough books in print at the time that the list is released, and the publishers have to order more copies to be printed. This process takes a few months.
How can I connect with the SSYRA Committee and other librarians to discuss the SSYRA books?
Be sure to follow FAME and SSYRA on social media:
Facebook: Florida Media Ed - FAME, Florida SSYRA @FLSSYRA
Twitter: @FloridaMediaEd, @FloridaSSYRA
YouTube: Florida Association for Media in Education
Can I sponsor the SSYRA Program?
Yes! Sponsorships help defray the costs of the SSYRA Program, which include expenses for the list selection committee meeting. Depending on the level of sponsorship, there are many benefits, including being listed on the FAME website as a sponsor. For more information about sponsorships, please contact the SSYRA Chair.
SSYRA Resources
What kind of resources are available through the FAME website?
There are a variety of resources available to support you in promoting and teaching the SSYRA books, as well as ideas for incentives and rewards for students. Resources include bookmarks, ballots, student progress tracking charts, book club discussion questions, information about the authors, links to book trailers, and many more!
Can my students read the SSYRA books on the FAME website? Can my students listen to the audiobooks on the FAME website?
No, the books are not available for purchase or in electronic format on the FAME website.
Are the SSYRA books good for read-alouds/novel studies/literature circles in the classroom?
Absolutely! The SSYRA books are intended to be read for pleasure, both individually and with others.
Are there resources for Battle of the Books? How do I participate in Battle of the Books?
The SSYRA Committee does not provide any resources, tools, or questions for local Battle of the Books competitions. All Battle of the Books competitions are organized and planned locally. Call your district’s media director for information on one in your area.
Voting
Do I have to register my school to participate in SSYRA?
Yes. Each school must register prior to February of the current school year through the FAME website. The SSYRA committee will email voting links to all registered schools the beginning of March. The school registration form will be posted on the SSYRA website beginning in November and be open for registration through February.
When is the voting window?
Each year the voting period will be determined by the chairs of the FAME reading award committees based on the FLDOE academic schedule of that year. For the 2020-21 school year, you may submit student votes March 8, 2021 - April 16th 2021. You may submit your votes during any day of this window.
How do I submit my school’s votes?
Registered schools will be able to access the voting links March 8, 2021 through April 16, 2021. Simply follow the link and enter your students’ votes.
The voting window is during testing season. Can my students vote in February? In May?
We understand that the spring is a very busy time in schools now. The extended testing windows for state standardized testing prompted us to increase the voting window to accommodate more schools. Many schools like to plan voting parties where students vote and celebrate their SSYRA participation and success. We love this! We encourage this! If it’s impossible to host your school celebration during the voting window, we encourage you to allow your students to cast their ballots during the voting window, and then plan your school celebration event at a later date that works for your school calendar.
SSYRA Committee
Who is on the SSYRA Committee?
The SSYRA Committee is comprised of 20 elementary and middle school librarians representing the 5 FAME regions, subdivided into two committees for elementary level and middle school level.
How do I join the committee?
Apply online through the FAME website on the Committee Interest Form (must be a FAME member). There are a few openings for new committee members every year. Please don’t be discouraged if you aren’t appointed right away; there may not be an opening on the committee for your FAME region or your school level every year. The SSYRA Committee chair keeps a list of FAME members who have indicated interest in serving on the committee, and the president-elect contacts all interested members when positions become available.
Timeline/Process
When are the winners announced?
The winners of the SSYRA Award for Grades 3-5 and the SSYRA Award for Grades 6-8 will be announced April 23, 2021. The announcement will be made online on the FAME website, FAME social media accounts, and SSYRA social media accounts. Be sure to follow @floridamediaed and @FloridaSSYRA on Twitter, and Florida Media Ed - FAME on Facebook!
When is the new list released?
The new list is always released shortly after the winners of the current year have been announced. The announcement will be made online on the FAME website, FAME social media accounts, and SSYRA social media accounts. Be sure to follow @floridamediaed and @FloridaSSYRA on Twitter, and Florida Media Ed - FAME and Florida SSYRA @FLSSYRA on Facebook!
SSYRA 3-5 Committee
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SSYRA 6-8 Committee
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