Where to Start?
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| "Google It" |
When learning about a new topic I did what I usually do: I Googled it. I know that Googling isn't the most academic way to go about things but it gives me a nice introduction to the topic before I dive deeper into the academic resources. Right away I was excited about all I was learning through blogs like "Six steps to create reading culture in your school" which contains some excellent practical tips for encouraging readers in your school - and one that I have definitely bookmarked for later, and "Fostering Reading Culture" that has more of a technology focus and with nice tips like creating iMovie book trailers.
I also found excellent examples of schools that have successfully enhanced the culture of reading within their school. This one below is from New Zealand and discusses fostering reading in both Secondary and Primary levels. It is a quick watch that provides some excellent tips!
Adding some depth...
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| "Going Deeper" |
Next, I decided I wanted to feel more intelligent about the topic so I turned to our online academic journals. After I quick search in the UBC Library database of "fostering reading culture" I was awarded with a stunning 200,000+ results; thank goodness for sorting by relevance! The first article that I dove into was a candid conversation between an author and a librarian where, among many things, they discussed the benefits students receive from participating in book talks; students share the bits about the book that stuck out to them including illustrations, certain passages or characters - and their classmates are invited to ask questions about the book (Mukunda & Vellanki, 2016).
Ending with a....hook?
Some tips for the road
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| "Tips" |
Through my quick search I really learned quite a lot but there were a few tips that came up over and over again.
- There is power in choice. This came up in the blogs about fostering a reading culture as well as the academic articles. If students are able to choose what they read they will naturally be more interested in it.
- Role-modelling works. Teachers demonstrating their own love for learning is contagious. Sharing about books that they recently picked up at the library, taking part in silent reading...these all demonstrate to the student that we think reading matters.
- Ten minutes a day. Or fifteen. Or twenty. Dedicating a specific amount of time each day to pick up your book of choice and read is one of the tips that came up over and over again. There are different names used and durations suggested, however the idea is the same - read a book of your choice everyday.
There are absolutely some more tips from the resources that I mentioned above but these three came up consistently. The power of choice, reading everyday, and teachers modelling their own reading are key to fostering a culture of reading in our schools.
Resources
Barnett, Mac. [TED] (2014, September 17). Mac Barnett: Why a good book is a secret door. [videofile] Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPrS7-kx9Y0 on May 23, 2018.
jennielsen. (2017). Fostering reading culture. [Blog Post] Retrieved from https://medium.com/technology-and-the-new-library/fostering-reading-culture-2cb5003f6150
NationalLibraryNZ. (2014, November 6). Creating a school-wide reading culture. [videofile] Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiOZQFLTwmQ on May 23, 2018.
O'Dell, F. (2017). Six steps to create a reading culture in your school. [Blog Post] Retrieved from https://www.tes.com/news/six-steps-create-reading-culture-your-school
Images
"Going Deeper" Retrieved from http://www.judihollis.com/product/cd-going-deeper-bonus-material/ May 23, 2018.
"Google It" Retrieved from https://professorramos.blog/2017/06/26/google-harmful-or-helpful/ May 23, 2018.
"Tips" Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/tips-and-tricks/story/cbse-board-exam-2017-tips-tricks-353003-2016-11-21 on May 23, 2018.
Wow. I just loved reading your post!
ReplyDeleteI found it very interesting to see that we have come up with 2 of the same tips: the power of choice and create a habit through practice. From everything I have read about teaching and learning how to read these 2 (as well as the third one you mentioned) are key to promoting a love of books and reading.
I really like how you included a variety of pictures to guide the post's reading and the addition of videos to exemplify your points.
Hi Lusns, thanks for your comment! I think choice is so integral in fostering a love of reading! If we are forced to read something then we automatically lose a bit of interest.
DeleteHey Natasha,
ReplyDeleteWhat a candid way of showing your journey of dipping in and diving into your search mode. I enjoyed the links you put into your reflection as well as the McBarnett's video. The suspension of belief is such a powerful tool and in my opinion, it takes just one book that has the power to transport to reader into the world set forth by the author. One experience of that powerful suspension turns a non-reader into a reader. Recently, I attended my son's (gr 4) speech night and one of the boys gave a speech on the joys of reading. In a very animated and excited way, he convinced the audience to visit the exciting world of Land of Stories; his biggest argument being that when one reads the Land of stories, one can actually see the dragons and the tree house ...Only a reader can identify with that pure suspension of belief...aren't we lucky to be in the profession of handing kids the escape route to such interesting worlds!
Vandy thank you for your comment and for sharing that story! I wish I had heard that Grade Four student speak as well! So exciting to hear students' passion - and isn't it great when it overlaps with ours? Yes we are so so lucky to be in this profession!
DeleteLove your post Natasha! I'm not in your group, but wanted to express how much I enjoyed it. I also think it's great they we chose the same video! I have forwarded it to my principal to show at our next staff meeting. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAshley
Ashley thanks for your comment! I just read your post and it is so well written - I love the style and ease with which you are presenting your thoughts on the topic - I feel that I have a lot to learn from you!
DeleteIsn't that video great? I really thought it was cool that the Principal was sharing his favourite books too. I like the list of ideas you've come up with - I'm bookmarking your post!
Based on your research process, you have identified some key aspects that may help to foster a reading culture. I found myself wanting to know more about what you thought of the possibilities of these aspects and if you might utilize them in your current or future practice (and/or what some of the challenges might be). One suggestion for future posts is to include the attribution for the images closer to the images, such as underneath the images as a caption or as part of nearby text, such as, for example “as noted the diagram above (image from < insert hyperlink to copyright holder source >)”.
ReplyDelete