LIBE 477

Fostering a Love of Reading: Offering Choice and Building Community Ties Through Literacy and the Library

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Fostering a love of reading is one of our primary library goals. Creating and nurturing a true school reading culture involves many factors. While there are many programs, initiatives and philosophies that can be implemented, I strongly feel that allowing choice, and helping students discover books that they are excited about is one of the most important functions of a school library.

Without true engagement and choice, reading may not become a passion for our students. We tell them what to read, how to read and when to read so often throughout their school careers that encouraging a true love of reading should also be a goal. My roles as both a teacher librarian and a reading intervention teacher allow me to work with students in very different capacities, and it allows me to gage the differences around attitudes when we select reading materials for students, versus when students select their own.

“Reading should not be presented to a child as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift”

-Kate DiCamillo

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It is widely accepted that oral language is one of the biggest predictors for early success with reading. Phonemic and phonological awareness skills are also key indicators. Abilities with these skills plays an important factor in reading instruction and overall philosophies by classroom teachers regarding reading instruction. I see this daily in my school, and sometimes it overflows into the library. Sometimes classroom teachers, albeit with good intentions, try to control student selection of books during library book exchanges. The look of crushing defeat on a child's face when they are told "no" to a book because it's too hard for them is one that that we try to prevent (The one exception is if it's not appropriate for age because of content).

Our library operates with the philosophy of student choice for book selection. 

This is a topic that I have seen debated in multiples forums. One of the most important things that I aim to do in my school to foster a love of reading is enter into discussion around this topic with my co-workers. I talk daily about books with my students, and I have began to shift my focus to teachers. I know that there is ample research surrounding this topic but now I have specific articles and links to provide to teachers who would like to discuss this on a deeper level.
The following are some good resources about the importance of offering choice to students when selecting books:

Edutopia link 

Edutopia link 

Daily Literacy link

NCTE link

The National Library of New Zealand link

Things that have helped us along the way...

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In addition to staff that encourages a love for reading, purchasing and possessing books that engage reader excitement is key. Our school library is currently in the middle of a transformation, largely due to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation. We are fortunate enough to be an Indigo grant recipient school, who has benefited tremendously as a result. We have purchased enormous amounts of high interest books that motivate students to read every day. We can track the number of students who check out books and we have a student survey that lets us know how they feel about reading. The survey was implemented two years ago, and I highly recommend it.

Below is a video from the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation

Video

 I also recommend taking the time to look at the grant application process to see if it is a right choice for your school. Not only has it allowed us access to books and resources, but it has created connections with our host store staff, which is an added bonus for our school.
 I'm happy to share more information for anyone interested :)

Specific things that work for us in developing a positive school reading culture…

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•        We have a dedicated number of volunteer readers who come to our school and read with students every Tuesday afternoon. Many volunteers are retired educators, or have similar community links. Teachers often recommend students who love reading but may need additional support accessing the text. Books are always high interest choices of the student. This is highly successful and very positive for students and our volunteers.  

•          We have buddy readers, where intermediate and primary classes work together in weekly reading opportunities.  The key is matching students according to personality, and interest of reading material.

•       We highlight books that students and teachers love on our #bookstagram board weekly

(Picture credits: A. Loudon)
                                                                                   

•      We partner with middle-high school students who come to our classrooms and read with our younger students. We started this a few years ago, inspired by the BCTLA DEAR campaign in October, and have had such success that we strive to do this throughout the year.

•        Whenever possible we bring the community into the school. Our local Cowichan Valley Capitals hockey team volunteers to read with our classes a few times throughout the year. Our students truly love selecting books to read with the hockey players.

•       Our school library has a close relationship with our public librarians. We have partnered for joint programs such as reading challenges and other fantastic programs that occur throughout the year. The public librarian visits our library on many occasions, and we have many classes that go on field trips to the public library.

• We feature an author of the month, where we host book talks, explore websites and activities relating to the author and his/her books, and we read, read, read! 

(Picture credit: A. Loudon)

Goals….

We focus on the community aspect to foster a love of reading whenever possible. Books for breakfast is one specific program what we would like to explore on a deeper level and implement on an ongoing basis.   There are many existing models that often focus on children ages 1-5 (The Greater Victoria area has many). We would like to adapt this and invite families in the morning to read with our students.

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We have a new kitchen so we are looking at ways to incorporate that into the program. This is still in preliminary stages, with the goals as follows: 

ü   To enjoy reading

ü   To improve  literacy rates

ü    To create deeper community relationships

ü  To provide authentic opportunities for students to read with community members, families and other students/staff.

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We already do some of the ideas listed below in the resource from "We Are Teachers," but I wanted to add it my goals section because it is important to have reminders, and adapt what we do to continue to foster a love of reading. I aim to do them all at some point. There are many great, and fun ideas for the whole school.

                                                    

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One final video:  #24 from the above "We are Teachers" link.

I'm truly going to try and encourage my principal to try this :)

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