The reading culture at my school is an interesting one. The library is visited frequently by students at lunch. There are definitely the regular readers who return and sign out books every week. For these students, I make an effort to learn their names and have short conversations with them. These students are eager to read and they are embedded in a reading culture. Often, these students will bring their peers to the library as well to help develop the school’s reading culture. Other students only venture into the library when their class pays a visit. Sometimes a teacher will have a reading requirement as part of their course, so the students will oblige. The students in the academic stream who are trying to complete their high school graduation requirements do not typically use the library for reading. These students tend to have a more strenuous work load in class, may only attend school two times per week, and often have full-time jobs.
To foster a reading culture at my school, I visit each class at the beginning of each semester to introduce myself and invite everyone to the library. Many teachers also bring their classes to visit the library at the start of each term (there are 6 6.5 week terms throughout the school year for the Foundations classes.) I work with other teachers to develop reading programs and encourage initiatives like DEAR. Inspired by Aaron’s video, I may attempt to make one for my school next year.
One interesting aspect about our library is the presence of children’s books. Although I work in an adult education centre, we have a sizable collection of picture books, some which are bilingual. While I think there are many fantastic ways picture books can be used to support literacy in any class, another way they can foster reading is by having students sign out books to take home to read with their children. On occasion, students have to bring their children with them to school. If they venture into the library, I always encourage the children to look at the picture books. Inevitably, their parent signs out a few to read at home. I also have students ask for book recommendations for their older children as these parents are keen to see their sons and daughters succeed at school. Fostering a reading culture at school can lead to the ever important reading culture at home.
Check out classmate Kacy Morgan’s perspective on fostering a reading culture at home:
http://kacymorganlibe.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/foster-my-culture/
As Kacy mentions, having options for delivery is a must. Surrey has a subscription to Tumblebooks and it now has a Follett elibrary of 1,100 titles.
SurreySchools has a new virtual library of over 1,100 fiction and nonfiction eBooks http://t.co/uqQCMNg079 #sd36learn pic.twitter.com/AYEBEStyZ9
— LRS Surrey Schools (@LRSsd36) February 4, 2014
Additionally, I share other free book websites with my school via the library webpage and through lessons with individual classes.
Read an example here:
When It’s Time to Eat in Tinga Tinga Tales – Read | We Give Books.
http://www.storylineonline.net/
http://www.allbooksfree.com/childrens.htm
For more ways to foster a reading culture, have a look at this blog post:
http://500hats.edublogs.org/2014/01/09/the-reader-leaders-hat/
There are many ways we can foster reading cultures at our schools. The importance of reading in the text-centric internet is becoming even more evident. The more we read, the better our skills will be to navigate, analyse, critique, applaud, appropriate, and create.
Leslie, I love that you have picture books in your library for the children who come in. I also agree with you that picture books can have a place for everyone. There are many that explore some very in depth themes but are so engaging for all readers. I must say, that my favourite part of the day is sharing a new books with the students. Whether they are 5 years old or 12, they are always engaged and quiet. It never fails to amaze me how powerful a good picture book can be with kids. I’m interested to check out some of the links you have provided. Thanks for your post!
Good post outlining some of the ways you currently support and encourage reading in your school. I like the fact that you anticipate different levels of reading, and encourage patrons to take the children’s books home to read to their kids! I do hope you can make a video for next year for DEAR, it can be a lot of fun, as well as good exposure for your library! Great job on embedding the tweet from your district about follet shelf, and to also link up posts from your PLN! Overall, strong discussion, good sharing, and insightful reflection.
It sounds like your school’s reading culture is something like mine. I too have my regulars, the ones I see when their English classes are doing a novel study, and the ones who appear a few times over the winter months when the weather is particularly nasty just looking for a spot to sit during lunch hour. We also keep some children’s books. I thought it was strange when I first arrived but they are used by some students and by teachers in various ways for class projects (art, illustration, creative writing, etc.). We are also going to be getting on board with the Follet Shelf program in the next 2 years. I’m excited but will miss all my books!