Literacy Inititatives

The end of the first semsester is nearly here and I have been busy. After distributing chromebooks, MAP testing and filling in as subsistute teacher, I have found the rythm for this school year. I can focus more on literacy initiatives. I don't know if "Library Initiatives" is the right term for what I am doing this school year. I'm not even clear if that is a thing. But what I am doing is finding as many opportunities as I can to promote reading and build a school culture that promotes reading and a love of books. How am doing that? Honestly by winging it and "borrowing" from anyone who shares their ideas on the internet. You might ask, what have I "borrowed"? I'm so glad you asked, let me tell you! I have borrowed a Library Advisory club, a Passport to Empathy reading challenge, book subscription boxes, reading clubs, bulletin board ideas, teacher gift bags with an emphasis on reading, wall displays, book displays, and reading promotional material like bookmarks and stickers.

Literacy initiative #1: I started the school year last year saying I wanted to try something new. So, I decided to create a Library Advisory club. I "borrowed" the idea from a fellow librarian who created a Library Advisory group that helped with anything and everything in the library: book displays, shelving, book recommendations, bulletin boards, posters etc... All the things I need help with too! It worked beautifully. I continued the group this year and we meet once a week and plan what we want to work on. The group members assist with building the book order, creating posters and bookmarks in Canva, genrefying the library, debating books to weed, shelving, covering books and basically anything that needs to be done in a library.

Literacy initiative #2, #3, & #4: The reading challenge, book subscriptions, and teacher gift bags were all borrowed from @discoveringtheremarkable. I adapted the Passport to Empathy Reading challenge to fit the needs of my school. I chose different books, and created a semester long reading challenge for one passport.

• Reading Challenge: For each book review (students complete a google form to review the book) and Flipgrid synopsis (students describe the book and the connections they made) students have their name entered into a raffle at the end of the month. Their chances for winning the raffle increase for each challenge/book completed.

To see the original Passport Reading Challenge you can go to Martha Bongiorno's blog post.

Click here to see the modification for my school.

• Book Subscription box: Students complete a google form about their interests and the library advisory students pull a book they recommend based on the students' responses.

• Teacher gift bags (You got Boooked) Halloween bag: I bought some cheap stuff at target (cookie, mug, socks, spooky necklace) and loaned them a library book to read while students read reading (if they wanted to model good reading practices) or they could read the first chapter to the class to introduce them to a book they might not have chosen otherwise. I had a teacher who chose to have the student read the first chapter, and I think that's a great idea also! Click here for Martha Bongiorno's blog post.

Literacy initiative #5: Reading clubs: Art & Audiobook club and silent reading book club. Both are low stress, low commitment and time friendly. Art & Audiobook meet once a month and students bring their own craft project. Silent reading book club meets daily during lunch. We read silently (most of the time) and some students use cleanup time to talk and connect.

Our first book we listened to on sora was Serafina and the Black Cloak. It was perfect for the day before Halloween! Also, as it was our first meeting, most of my students forgot to bring their craft projects, so we decided to color while we listened :)

My coloring pages come from Canva and bookmarks and thebookwrangler and nearly all of my ideas for book displays come from Pinterest.

Lunch Bunch Silent Book Club:

My Lunch Bunch Silent Reading Club has enjoyed visiting the library during lunch to read with friends and also escape the noise of the cafeteria. It has been nice to see students respond to this opportunity. Currently I have about 5 students who visit every day. I always have between 5 and 8 students during this time.