How Our LLC Program Fosters Reading Culture
I just got hired as a TL in a middle school library for the fall. So I am still unsure of how my new workspace will function. Therefore, I will be using examples from what I know of my new job as well as, my previous jobs, working as a resource teacher and a grade 3/4 teacher (both in an elementary school) as well as my experience from working online during the pandemic. Fostering a reading culture in the school (and home) is one of the most important elements of any LLC program. As I am thinking about how or what I have done in the past to foster a love for reading, I am also questioning what worked and trying to find new ways to go about this.
Read ins
My TL partner has informed me that we will do one activity called a “Read-in”. This is something the school has done in the past but was on hold last year due to Covid. The students come in and choose a book and a place to read. They are given a snack (and this is a big deal!). The students love it and are extremely engaged.
Social media/blogs
Some of the current ways that our LLC promotes reading culture is through the school’s blog and twitter feeds. When students are familiarized with the collection, facilities and digital tools, the more confident and comfortable students become with accessing library services. Our school has a twitter account and a blog. These were the lifelines (as my partner described them) during the pandemic. They were very helpful in keeping the students and staff up to date and engaged when the actual physical space could not be used. The blog is constantly being updated with information about new books, contests and news. This is something I hope to get more comfortable with in the fall.
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Apps!
During the pandemic I was teaching from home. I signed all of my students up with Epic, a free reading app. There I was able to keep track of how much my students were reading. But I was also able to send recommendations and get my students to record themselves reading. The kids recorded themselves reading once every term. They were so excited to ‘hear’ how much their reading improved. Also, they were equally excited by the amount of books available to them. I have also used other programs like Raz kids in the past. I feel like both programs are amazing for boosting skills, confidence and the love of reading.
Celebrating!
( Photo from my grade two class)
During Literacy week at one elementary school I worked at, all of the teachers would come together and collaborate on fun activities for literacy week. Every day a picture book would be read over the PA system. The kids would be so excited to listen to different teachers and staff read them a book collectively as a school. Every class would decorate their classroom doors based on a favourite book for a contest and loads of other really fun ways to celebrate reading. The teachers would also put on a readers theatre performance in front of the school during the assembly. There are so many fun ways to celebrate reading and the love of it. I also find when the adults show love and enthusiasm it rubs off on the kids!
Displays and book selection
(Pride book display at my future learning commons)
This may not be a groundbreaking idea but I find that most kids these days are highly visual. By using eye grabbing book displays and blog posts we can really pique their interest in books they may not normally choose for themselves. I think it is equally if not more important to constantly be updating the books in the library to make sure that they are diverse and all of my children, their families and their identities are mirrored in the collection. While I was doing research I came across a paper that echoes what I am saying , “ Our school libraries should reflect our common values of equity, diversity, and cultural identity as well as best approaches in the educational and library professions” ( Brown, 2017).
The Future
It can get a little overwhelming out there when you start to look at all of the ways learning commons can foster a love for reading. I think that I still have a lot to learn in my new role as a TL. I am always learning new ways to be better at my job and ways I can serve the kids. I did find this blog https://www.weareteachers.com/build-reading-culture/ I want to try and use some of these suggestions in my upcoming school year. Particularly, the march madness book battle!
I also want to get more comfortable with blogging and social media posts around my school library. I am still a little trepidatious because I tend to over analyze things and also compare myself to others. My plan is to follow a lot of different TL’s on social media and through blogging and hopefully I can become more confident in my blogging abilities!
References:
Brown, J. (2017). Equity and Social Justice in The Library Learning Commons. In Canadian School Libraries Research Archive.
Inc., E. C. (n.d.). Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic. Retrieved from https://www.getepic.com/
Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.raz-kids.com/
Lindsay Barrett on March 19, 2. .. (2021, May 11). 25 Ways to Build Your School’s Reading Culture. Retrieved July 20, 2021, from https://www.weareteachers.com/build-reading-culture/
Philpot, Chelsey. “How to Create a Culture of Reading – AASL 2013.” School Library Journal. WordPress, 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2016.