Reading in the Media Center
Inspired by a School Library Journal article “How My Library Doubled Its Circulation,” (SLJ 2017), I began reading and reflecting on Cal Newport’s Deep Work, Penny Kittle’s “Elements of a Reading Workshop,” Kelley Gallagher’s philosophy and use of reading in his classroom, and viewing the video of Jason Reynold’s interview on the Daily Show. These articles, workshops, and philosophies affirmed my belief that the love of reading comes from building stamina, reading alongside the students, and showing excitement about what I’m reading. I have watched students not commit to what they are reading because it is hard for them to comprehend and it takes away from their socialization. In a world of instant information and over-scheduled down time, reading takes patience and concentration.
Like Northeast High School in the School Library Journal article, the students on my campus are thoroughly distracted by their friends, devices, and school activities. The classroom teachers struggle with students reading class assignment because they cannot sit or focus long enough to absorb the power of the words and content.
Because of this, several teachers on campus asked the students to select a book. Several of the classes provided lists of books to choose; whereas, other classes allowed students free choice. By allowing free choice whether from a list or off the shelves, the students chose the books they wanted to read and made the commitment to read.
One teacher charged her student with reading a novel for the six-weeks marking period. During this time, the students selected a novel, read every day for 10-15 minutes and all period on Thursdays, created weekly journal posts, took Book Snaps of significant quotes, created an infographic about the novel’s main character, and made connections between the novel and real world social issues. The culminating project combined the novel and research on real world social issues by creating a SparkAdobe Video. Throughout this six weeks, the students have learned several new digital tools - Canva or Picktochart infographics, Books Snaps - uploading photos to chromebooks to embellishing with graphics, and Spark Video. There has been a lot of problem solving, wringing of hands due to learning new digital tools, and bribing the teacher to not make them create a voice-over for the Spark Video. Their teacher persevered, encouraged, and cajoled these students to success! I am so proud of her and her students!
During this time, I read too. I wanted to begin reading the new 2018 Tayshas list. Below is SparkAdobe Post of six of the books I read during this time. I also began the 2018 Yalsa Hub Reading Challenge. I enjoyed all six books in the post, but Dear Martin by Nic Stone, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, and Long Way Down by Jason Reynold’s were so enlightening. I wept, laughed, gasped, and couldn’t stop reading. Incredibly eye-opening and current to today’s society. Please take the time to find a copy of these three masterfully crafted time-sensitive novels.
Today, I’m reading Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage. One of my all time favorite series is Pullman’s His Dark Materials.
Find a good book and join us in reading new and wonderful YA!