LIBE 477: Fostering Reading in the Library Learning Commons
Working in my district is a great TL who mentored me when I first started out in the Library. The TL always has great ideas, initiatives, and contests that promote reading all year round. Some of her initiatives are up on her website, like her "Teach your pet to read" photo contest. https://boninjess.wixsite.com/mrsbonin/contests I have been lucky enough to be able to watch her and imitate some of her initiatives.
In my Library Learning Commons some of the reading initiatives that I have run in the past to foster reading are:
- Red Cedar Book Club + Contest (District wide contest- we participate)
- Golden Tickets (based on Willy Wonka- dispersed throughout the collection)
- Book Fairs (1-2 a year, with Scholastic)
- Travelling Library Bins (each class gets a bin for around a month full of books that match their Science/Socials/English topics)
- Students doing the library read-aloud or doing book recommendations for their class.
- Drop Everything And Read in Oct. -School wide
- I read Canadian in Feb- School wide
For a few years I ran a Harry Potter reading challenge for the month of October that was put in place by my predecessor. Students were divided into the 4 houses and kept a reading log they would submit every Friday. At the end of the month the winning house would each receive a 5$ scholastic GC for ordering a book. I have not run it the past two years because I am now working between two schools and it was difficult to do the decorating, spirit days, and assemblies (for sorting K's and wrap up) when split between the two. I want to start a new whole school reading competition, but I have not decided the theme and timing for it yet.
Some initiatives that I found are:
Reading BINGO: https://www.thecozyredcottage.com/2018/02/reading-bingo-free-printable.html
These cute reading logs to use in my next whole school reading challenge: http://www.startsateight.com/free-printable-reading-logs/
Arm Chair Traveler Challenge: https://www.readerpants.net/2016/09/armchair-travelers-unite-challenge-your.html
This one seems perfect for this year. Many families are not travelling in the pandemic so an arm chair reader- travel the world contest may be perfect to introduce before spring break and warp up after the break.
Having engaging activities in your library is important for helping bring students into the library, and help them develop a love of reading. It seems like you have had some amazing events over the years. As a large Harry Potter geek, I really like the four house challenge, though I am sorry to hear that you have been split between two school and haven't had a chance to run it recently.
ReplyDeleteI also like the fact that you loaned out bins to classes to make sure that they had necessary books on hand to help support their curriculum and thematic units. I imagine that this would have required a lot of collaboration, and communication between you and your staff.
The Armchair Traveller Challenge is a really cute way of bringing the world into your students classes and way to promote different cultures and diversity.
Some very good point form examples to support literacy, fostering reading and creating a school wide culture around enjoying reading, excersing choice, and supporting all students! A little more detail in your description and discussion would be useful, as well as a couple citations, or references will help others looking to go a little deeper into some of these ideas. Lots to explore and ponder here with some good reminders about the importance of mentorship and role-modeling!
ReplyDeleteCan I have a little more clarification, what would you like more description and detail on? also what am I supposed to be citing or referencing? I was talking about programs I ran and then I referenced the resources I found. What exactly are you looking for?
DeleteAndrea K
Your library commons sounds wonderful. You put a lot of dedication into trying different programs that work for your students!
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter challenge sounds amazing. Did you ever have any parents dislike that you were doing Harry Potter? I tried to do a Harry Potter creative writing unit in my practicum a few years ago and had a parent call and was very upset with me. I would love to incorporate Harry Potter again since there is so much that can be done around it! I hope that you are able to bring that challenge back to life one day.
Golden tickets is another brilliant idea that I think I will try out in my library if you don't mind. I feel like it is a really exciting way to get older books to circulate once again.
Hello, I have had a few parent concerns about things like Harry Potter, Young Adult books, and etc. and I just say that it is okay if their child chooses not to read those titles but that I will not restrict them or any other student from accessing those titles. Occasionally I have reviewed the title in question to make sure it is age appropriate. We have a very strong TL community in the district and I feel that I have the backing of a good group and of my admin, so I have never had to cancel a program because of parents. I would never pull my SOGI books from the collection or discourage their use even though that is the most complained about topic area (from families), so why would I consider cancelling Potter?
DeleteHi! Such great examples of what the Library Commons is doing. I love the idea of the Willy Wonka Tickets - could you tell me more about how that worked and what you noticed from the students?
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter sounds amazing! I did a whole class novel study last year on the first book and it was so high interest! Every student got a copy and although it was a challenging read they were all so immersed in the world and we extended it through most of the subjects. It would fun to do a whole school Harry Potter theme - 4 houses etc.
Thank you for sharing!
Sorry this was from Sasha!
DeleteHI,
DeleteThe golden tickets are a PDF template that says something like "SHHHHHHHHH.... you just found a magical golden ticket! Please bring this ticket to Mrs. Koehn or Mrs. R*** in the Library to claim your prize". I have a prize bucket of things like pens, eraser packs, art things (scratch art, sticker books) some books and comics, a pokemon puzzle, etc.
I have about 15 of them spread out in the collection and I just re-hide them once they are returned.
Students seem to find them in groups... I wont have any for a month or two and then all of a sudden I get a few and the the students are all exciting and talking about it before they move on and forget. Then someone will find one and it will start again.
I did have to reiterate that they need to have signed out the book for reading in order to get the prize. (after the first one was found a few students were shaking books off the shelf to try to find another ticket and I said that they couldn't win that way- clever kids) No one has tried that since though and they have so far come by them honestly as happy accidents.