A Love for Reading: Lead by Example

A great way to encourage reading and teach students how fun it can be is to model reading.  One of my schools created a picture wall in the library.   Since then, other schools have customized it for their needs.  Some made a simple display, others turned it into a contest and one asked students to bring in their own pictures to add.

This is a mock up of a contest where students are challenged to match the book cover to the staff member who read it.

It started as a promotion for Summer Reading and was easy to create. Ask your staff - teachers, custodians, support staff, principals, volunteers - to bring in or email photos of themselves reading over the summer. Encourage people to get creative. It doesn't just have to be of the person sitting in a chair holding a book, although that is fine too. As you can see from some of these pictures below, there are a lot of options. The only limitations is the reader's creativity.  I have seen pictures of people holding a book on a roller coaster, dressed up in tuxedos and others dressed in vibrant PJs or onesies with fuzzy bunny slippers.  Do anything to have fun with the picture.

Is your staff camera shy? Don't let them miss out on this!  I have had people submit pictures of their pets reading or pictures in silhouette of them reading, or even pictures of the book from their point of view with the book on their lap and their feet stretched out in front.  They can set up a scene of where they read such as reading at the beach with a snap of  the book with sunglasses, a sunscreen bottle and  a sun hat. 

If people are reading with their families but don't want the kids pictures to show publicly, they can take pictures from behind,  showing the backs of their heads.   Model co-reading by including the whole family.

Include an info bite.  The captions can say anything, again,  be creative.  Tell where you were reading, the title of the book, a quote from the book,  what you liked about the book or author.  Add recommendations or what you will read next.

Have fun with it and create a great display for back-to-school.  Or reading week.  Or any time!

D.E.A.R. Drop everything and read

Several of my schools run Drop Everything And Read programs where D.E.A.R. is scheduled once or twice every week.  The school falls silent except for that wonderful sound of pages turning.

Never heard of D.E.A.R?    Learn more about it here...

What is D.E.A.R.? 

image source: www.thedabblingspeechie.com 

From http://www.dropeverythingandread.com

D.E.A.R. stands for “Drop Everything and Read,” a  celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives. Because, what’s more fun(damental) than reading, really? 

Drop Everything and Read-where dropping things (chores, errands, paperwork, staplers . . . okay, maybe not that last one) and reading books is highly encouraged! 

Our assertion around here is that reading, whether you’re on your own or cozied up on the couch with your kids, is so much more fun and rewarding than just about anything else (especially, chores!). So, we’re telling folks of all ages to “drop” what they’re doing and pick up a book, instead.

D.E.A.R. can be an individual home activity or , as I often participate in, a school-wide activity.  


How Does it Work?

Very easy to organize, D.E.A.R. is a great way to get both staff and students reading! Once a week (or more often) an specific time is set aside where the whole school will clear their desks off, or find a comfy spot on the floor to take their book and read quietly. Every student in the school brings in their own reading material or a book from the school or classroom library  An announcement is made over the P.A. letting the school know that D.E.A.R. is about to  begin.  The whole school will stop, drop what they are doing and to read, for pleasure, for 20 minutes.  A follow-up  announcement lets students know when it ends.

Alternatively, classes can schedule their own D.E.A.R. time, close the classroom door and enjoy a book for a while. I prefer the school-wide version because it usually illuminates the chances for interruption.  Since the whole school is involved, there are no classes moving in the halls and no visitors knocking on room doors.  P.A. interruptions are usually suspended during the 20 minutes.

It is a great way to take a break from an intensive lesson or to calm everyone down after recess or ease into the day.

Many Public Libraries, School Libraries and Library Systems hold annual D.E.A.R. events advertised with posters, bookmarks, book fairs and t-shirts.

Poster used by Library Resource Centre Managers in North Lanarkshire.

from the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association