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Reluctant readers-teachers and students; classroom libraries; please trim your digests
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From: Susie Highley <shighley_at_warren.k12.in.us>
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:52:54 -0500
As librarians, we may also need to work with our teachers to help them deci de to become readers (I'm wondering what that music teacher finally read th at she liked)
I appointed myself as a member of the language arts department (no one else claimed me), and I go to all of their meetings. This is a great time to s potlight new books, work on collaboration, etc. I also worked with our lit eracy coach for an early summer workshop for the teachers, and we had a loc al bookstore owner come in and booktalk (her son is on this list). What a magical afternoon! She got everyone excited about reading at a time when w e had time to read. Everyone had $$ to spend from one or various book budg ets, and some bought on their own. Several of the books she recommended ar e now used in our literature circles. We had all three middle schools from the district there. Imagine: an afternoon with teachers talking about bo oks! It was more effective than if I had done all of the booktalking. Eve n to set up something just for teachers to share book recommendations would be great, but what was nice was that teachers walked out with books, so th e results were long-lasting.
When a student finishes a book and has time for another, they shouldn't hav e to wait until it's their day or week, or whatever for the library. It is true, though, as Pam pointed out, that sometimes funds are diverted away f rom the school library when they shouldn't be. I had a case where I starte d working for a different principal who "forgot" to give me a budget, but h ad designated thousands for the literacy coach, who didn't have as much kno wledge about children's books and what to order. I was able to get money e ventually.
I'm fortunate to be good friends with two teachers who are phenomenal at ge tting students to read. They have extensive classroom libraries,teach usin g the readers' workshop method, but both sing the praises of a well-stocked school library. Their students are rarely seen without a book in hand, an d it doesn't matter where the books are from. I taught with one of them fo r several years, and at the time, it annoyed me that my students were readi ng her books under the table during my science class. Eventually, I realiz ed that this was better than having students who say they never want to rea d.
Also, if you are responding to a digest post, could you please trim off any unneeded text before sending? Some of the posts are now incorporating pre vious digests many times over.
Susie Highley Indianapolis
Received on Sat 12 Feb 2011 05:52:54 AM CST
Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:52:54 -0500
As librarians, we may also need to work with our teachers to help them deci de to become readers (I'm wondering what that music teacher finally read th at she liked)
I appointed myself as a member of the language arts department (no one else claimed me), and I go to all of their meetings. This is a great time to s potlight new books, work on collaboration, etc. I also worked with our lit eracy coach for an early summer workshop for the teachers, and we had a loc al bookstore owner come in and booktalk (her son is on this list). What a magical afternoon! She got everyone excited about reading at a time when w e had time to read. Everyone had $$ to spend from one or various book budg ets, and some bought on their own. Several of the books she recommended ar e now used in our literature circles. We had all three middle schools from the district there. Imagine: an afternoon with teachers talking about bo oks! It was more effective than if I had done all of the booktalking. Eve n to set up something just for teachers to share book recommendations would be great, but what was nice was that teachers walked out with books, so th e results were long-lasting.
When a student finishes a book and has time for another, they shouldn't hav e to wait until it's their day or week, or whatever for the library. It is true, though, as Pam pointed out, that sometimes funds are diverted away f rom the school library when they shouldn't be. I had a case where I starte d working for a different principal who "forgot" to give me a budget, but h ad designated thousands for the literacy coach, who didn't have as much kno wledge about children's books and what to order. I was able to get money e ventually.
I'm fortunate to be good friends with two teachers who are phenomenal at ge tting students to read. They have extensive classroom libraries,teach usin g the readers' workshop method, but both sing the praises of a well-stocked school library. Their students are rarely seen without a book in hand, an d it doesn't matter where the books are from. I taught with one of them fo r several years, and at the time, it annoyed me that my students were readi ng her books under the table during my science class. Eventually, I realiz ed that this was better than having students who say they never want to rea d.
Also, if you are responding to a digest post, could you please trim off any unneeded text before sending? Some of the posts are now incorporating pre vious digests many times over.
Susie Highley Indianapolis
Received on Sat 12 Feb 2011 05:52:54 AM CST
