FALL IN LOVE WITH BOOKS

      Everyone knows that in spring romance is in the air.  But, to tell you the truth, spring holds no patent on romance; so if you’ll pardon the pun, let’s encourage our students to fall in love with books this autumn.  Those of us, young people included, who already love reading, don’t have to be convinced of its charms.  But for those students who need a nudge toward books, we have to do everything possible to help them discover the joy, fun, adventure, and excitement to be found in reading.

      Let’s look at some ideas to energize faculty and students around reading.

Inaugurate or Reinforce Existing School Wide Programs.  Programs such as Reading Counts, Accelerated Reader, Young Hoosier Book Award Program, and/or Newspaper In Education can be started or revisited to be certain that they are promoted to students and that adequate resources are available.

Promote Reading with Posters.  The American Library Association has available a program on two disks that can be used to print 11” x 17” posters that feature teachers, principals, superintendents, students, and others reading.  The posters can be displayed around the school to remind students of the pleasure to be found in the printed word.

Provide a Sustained Silent Reading Program.  Work with the principal, school librarian, and teachers to develop a program requiring students to read books during school time.  Keep in mind that behind all successful programs are planning, funds, monitoring, and leadership. 

Promote Silent Reading through Oral Reading.  Encourage students to select their favorite books.  Write the titles on index cards.  Teachers would then select a card and prepare a passage from that book to read orally to the class.  Encourage interested students to participate in the oral reading as well.

Have Older Students Tutor Younger Students.  In a 6th-8th middle school, for example, eighth graders can tutor sixth grade struggling students.  Eighth grade reading teachers can provide suggestions both at the start and during tutoring sessions.  Eighth grade students can share experiences and discuss what works.  Sixth grade reading teachers should identify students needing help and provide suitable materials.  The tutoring might involve comprehension and vocabulary instruction or oral reading of books provided by the sixth grade teachers.  Time for tutoring, materials needed, and other details should be developed, organized, and carefully scheduled before the start of the program.  Consider giving your program a special name.  Elicit suggestions from the students themselves.

Provide an Incentive Program. Students love to receive restaurant coupons and other rewards when they achieve a goal such as reading five Young Hoosier Book Award books.  First, design a reasonable plan for your program that describes it in detail and then calculate the funding.  Next, seek funding from the PTA, community foundation, service group such as Kiwanis, or a local business.  Once funding is secured, directly involve the donor in activities such as handing out certificates.  If books are donated, provide bookplates displaying the name of the donor’s business or organization.  Provide a feature story and accompanying photograph for the local newspaper.  The publicity will benefit the students, the school, and the donor.

Brainstorm with Students.  Involve the students as much as possible.  Encourage and challenge them to create their own ideas for a motivational reading program for their school.  Their ideas may delight you and lead to a successful school wide activity.

      Some of you may remember the movie,” Stand and Deliver.”  In it, a student asks his high school teacher why he needs to bother learning calculus. After all, who needs it in the real world? “Do you want to wash cars or design them?” the teacher responds.  It’s all about empowering students. If we want to see them fulfill their goals and dreams, we have to make sure they have mastered the most important skill of all—READING.  If we can encourage them to fall in love with books along the way, well, that’s just terrific, isn’t it?