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| D. Davis |
Bonjour! That is "hello" in French. I am a French teacher who is studying to be a library media specialist. I believe in the importance of being a good reader in order to be a good student. In addition, reading helps us to have a better understanding of all of the different cultures in this world. Reading can take you places that you may not be able to visit right away. In fantasy literature, it takes us to places that don't exist. Reading teaches students to think critically. It can be a great escape or the best way to learn history and science. Reading may well be the most important life skill we can learn for succeeding in life.
In this technological world, students can learn science and history by watching videos. This is only one way to learn. It cannot replace the ability to read well. For some students, reading is becoming a "lost art." Students do not see the value in it, and some do not know the joy of curling up with a good book. Parents are often working one or two jobs and do not have the time to devote to reading to their children every night. Even when children are old enough to read themselves, they still enjoy being read to. Another problem is having someone to help them find the right book. The search engines are helpful, but first students must have a love of reading to want to use the search engines. So, my question is "how do we motivate students who are not good readers or who do not want to read for fun?" First, how do we convince them to want to read and to want to go to the library media center to spend some time there? The next step is to entice to start reading for fun! This is our job as educators! All teachers must be teaching the joy of reading because it is so important. Here are some questions for my fellow library media specialists:
1. As classroom teachers, how do we motivate students to read?
2. As library media specialists, how do we motivate students by making the library a place they want to go?
3. Would you share any websites that would help us to be better teachers and library media specialists?
4. Do you have a favorite quote about reading?
My answers:
1. One way to motivate students to read is by reading to them. Read an excerpt from favorite books at the beginning of class. Have students bring in their favorite books, and read a paragraph or tell why they like it. Have a classroom collection of books for them to check out. Allow them to leave your class to check out books or schedule a time to bring the entire class to the library. Make book reports fun!
2. One key part of a library collection is a well-stocked library with appropriate magazines and sports magazines. Struggling readers can read short articles and enjoy the color photographs. Also, hard back comic strip books are entertaining and have lots of scaffolding for readers. Since they are often written for adults, the vocabulary is challenging, and they will stretch their reading skills by reading Calvin and Hobbes and FoxTrot. Another option for reading is on the many computers available in the media center.s to books to read on the computer as well as reading games can both entice students to come to the library and help develop their reading skills.
3. Websites: Click on these websites:
Why Raising Readers Matters Adventure stories - great for motivating boys to read
FAVORITE QUOTES on importance of reading
4. My favorite quote about reading is from C.S. Lewis in the movie, Shadowlands, about his life. He said, "We read to know that we are not alone." I think a good book can be a good companion and that many children can find joy and friendship by reading good books!
