Building Reading Capacity

Supporting Readers

Connecting Readers

To build reading capacity, the teacher librarian supports readers. I would ensure the library learning commons be a trusting environment build on respect for students and a quality collection that is inclusive and diverse to suit the needs of all students.

To build reading capacity, the SLLC program connects reader and creates positive relationships with their peers, teachers and their community. Getting students talking about their reading is a best way of encouraging others to read.

• Reading buddies: connecting older students to younger readers
• School programs that encourages reading such book clubs, literature circles
• Bring in authors to visit schools, workshops, presentations for students
• Connect with public library. Have students become be aware of the useful resources and programs available at their public library
• Encourage students to share their opinion and ideas. Student book talks, reviews, blogs
• Promote reading at home. Foster communication and connection between parents and TL. Parents teacher night presentation

• Create an environment that allows students to feel positive and safe as they learn, explore, question ideas. Be respectful of the privacy of readers.
• Model and teach active reading strategies (predicting, reflecting, questioning, connecting and evaluating)
• Encourage students to provide feedback or recommendations for titles and authors
• Ensure books and materials are easily accessible for all students, visible clear labeling
• Include materials such as audio books to support readers

When you sell a man a book you don’t sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue — you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night — there’s all heaven and earth in a book, a real book. — Christopher Morley

Fostering Reading Communities

Motivating Readers

Encouraging students to connect with other readers encourages students to be engaged in reading. The teacher library can foster reading communities and get students more involved in their library learning commons.

Schools with well-trained librarian can develop a high quality school library collection to motivate and meet the interest and needs of readers

Ideas for Motivating Readers

• Special events that celebrate reading such as world book day, Freedom to read week
• Varying thematic library displays - highlight particular themes, reflect yearly events, showcase new books, showcase student’s reading selections of books clubs and literature circles, promote forest of reading books etc.
• Promote students to be part of books clubs, library club, book swap
• Forest of Reading program (Blue Spruce, Blue Spruce, Silver Birch, Red Maple, White Pine)

To create a SLLC that motivates readers, the teacher librarian develops a quality collection. As a TL, I would continually assesses their current collection, weeding out irrelevant material, selecting a diverse variety of titles and authors that meet the needs and interest of the student and connecting students to those books. I know as a young reader, I enjoyed reading books with animals, stories of families in different time periods and fantasy novels. Titles such as Where the Red Fern Grows, Little House on the Prairie are some titles I choose and became captivated in the story. It can be difficult to put a good book down. To engage readers, providing them with titles that interest them and allowing them to choose is powerful motivator for reading enjoyment.

• The physical and virtual space of the SLLC is an open, inclusive, welcoming environment in which students feel comfortable to explore, inquire and learn
• Develop a quality collection that is current, relevant and meet the curricular needs
• Provide print and digital material that is representative of their interests, needs and culture of the school population to engage and connect students
• TL connects the student with the right book and other materials
• Power of choice. When reader are connected to a variety of material that peek their interest and give the independence and freedom to choose, they will experience greater enjoyment in reading
• Book displays are visible, easily accessible and attractive. They showcase a relevant and popular titles and authors, are connected to student’s interest
• Encourage a diverse, variety of reading material, through book talks and book displays.

Reading Enjoyment

“When children read well, they have a solid foundation for learning in every subject and they are able to open the door to possibilities and adventures that go far beyond their own experiences.”

- Reading for Joy. People for Education, 2011 (pg. 1)

Building Reading Capacity

“Fewer students today are reading for pleasure, even though daily reading for pleasure is associated with better performance in school and with adult reading proficiency. The challenge for parents and educators is to instill a sense of pleasure in reading by providing reading materials that students find interesting and relevant.” - PISA in Focus 2011. Reading for Joy Report. People for Education 2011 (p. 3)

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How do we build reading capacity through the School Library Learning Commons (SLLC) program?

The SLLC can build reading capacity when students find enjoyment in reading. The teacher librarian can foster this love of reading through reading engagement, allowing opportunities to read for pleasure and encourage reading at home. In the Reading for Joy press release, “Reading at home for fun builds good readers. Another way schools can foster enjoyment of reading is by encouraging parents to read with their children for pleasure.” One of the fondest memories in reading at home was a bedtime read aloud with my mother. My sisters and I would gather around my mother and listen to her read wonderful books and novels. I remember being absorbed listening to The Lion Witch and Wardrobe, and how eagerly I waiting to hear the adventures unfold in the Land of Narnia. The TL can highlight the benefits to parents to be involved in reading with their child. By encouraging reading in both school and home environments, students will have greater opportunities to read for pleasure and instill lifelong reader.

Sources

The School Library Learning Commons can build reading capacity through reading engagement and fostering a joy in reading. Reading engagement as outlined in the Together for learning document can be achieved through motivating readers, connecting readers, supporting readers and fostering reading communities.

Maliszewski, Diana. Reading Choice is Reading Engagement. ETFO Voice Vol. 16, No. 3, Spring 2014.http://content.yudu.com/A2rng8/Spring2014/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http://etfovoice.ca/the-importance-of-equity/

“Reading for Joy.” People For Education: Reading for Joy. People for Education, 2011. https://www.peopleforeducation.ca/document/reading-for-joy

Together For Learning: School Libraries and the Emergence of the Learning Commons. Ontario School Library Association, 2010.

https://www.accessola.org/web/Documents/OLA/Divisions/OSLA/TogetherforLearning.pdf