by Marian Brovero
The perfect reading trio: teacher, librarian and student. Throw in home support and you possess the mystical ingredients for increasing reading pleasure and extending knowledge. Should one book contain all the available ideas and procedures for a daily menu of exciting reading, a world class weightlifter would have trouble lifting it. Simply, start with these ideas below which place you, the teacher, in your best form: a role model. Nine delightful, easy ways to position books in the front seat of your classroom. Try one a week. Before you realize, you will squeeze in some of your own creative thoughts.
1. Poem of the Day
Today's language-rich and humorous poetry possesses the ability to jump start each morning. Poetry, ala Mr.Pretlusky and pals conducts a happy wedding of reading ingredients. A poem will set the learning direction you desire. Your school library has a collection of poetry books awaiting your arrival. Watch and smile as your students imitate your interest in poetry. Invite a child a day to share the morning spotlight by reading a poem from his/her book. Make Friday learn-a-verse day. Choose a catchy poem to copy, illustrate and memorize. Save those papers for an end of the year booklet. Frame and hang one student¹s endeavor each week. Occasionally a spare moment pops up, review those poems with the children.
2. After Lunch, Dessert
Start the year with a tasty treat of a chapter book read to the class right after lunch. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would be my choice. It was the best non-fattening dessert we ever enjoyed. A chapter a day gave everyone's stomach a chance to digest lunch before the academics resumed. Make a big deal of the book you choose. Point out interesting and exciting words. Toot the author's horn. Have multiple copies available, when possible.
3. Student Reader of the Day
The only prerequisite is using a library book. A maximum of ten minutes and some preparation time makes this interlude more enjoyable for the audience. You are stressing a storytelling voice, eye contact with the class and a book that holds general interest. It is wise to instruct young people on the methods of public speaking. This way is a gentle introduction. Push the envelope a bit more and have the reader plan a few questions to ask of his/her peers and you have a mini language arts lessons unfolding daily. Of course, the audience is filled with polite listeners.
4. Read to Your Class Every Chance You Get
Just back from gym? Grab a short library book to share. While you are reading, call each child's name to get a drink. A little early for lunch, (how did that ever happen?) read an extra set of poems or sing a song to the class from a song book. Tease them by showing how you can read from a song book. Time for home could another reading chance. As you read, weave each child's into the story. It is the key to get his/her stuff from the closet. No, they are never noisy and spoil it. The book possesses magical powers no one wishes to miss.
5. Use USSR (Uninterrupted Silent Sustained Reading)
My simplified version was Private Reading Time. Teachers, it is great for you! When else are you free to enjoy that best seller? I kept my book handy. Each day I sat in a student size chair beside a different child. Sometimes, I whispered in his/her ear a little idea of my book's plot. Often I would gently laugh at a funny part. Or when we stopped, I showed them all a tricky word I had encountered. Or I would ask for a unique word they had found. The only requirement for this period was to have several books nearby. No walking about was permitted.
6. Invite Parent Readers
The reading request to each parent/guardian/grandparent is choosing a book enjoyed in childhood that can be read in approximately 15 minutes. When the adult arrives, a special chair is set in a cozy reading area. All children are requested to sit on the floor and the son/daughter has an adjoining seat to the parent. A perfect photo opportunity. Take advantage of it. A whole new reading outlook occurs with parents in the room. Many embellish their visit with treats that enhance the chosen book. And the pictures make a great bulletin board display.
7. Keeping Books Very Handy
My classes were always permitted to keep their library book out on their desk. Convenience permits ease in reading. Since there was always the encouragement to read while waiting for the next exciting learning moment, having a book handy maximizes use. Of course, it was fun to drop a little pretzel fish in the lap of a wise reader. Amazingly, the class found reading a happy (and tasty) bridge to using time well. It pleased this teacher and the librarian, whose books were always a part of the routine.
8. Personalized Reading Videos
The public television is not the only place Reading Rainbow may be seen. Grab (or reserve) the video camera and tape your kids giving a short power sell version of their recent library book. Speaking skills expressing the main idea are fringe benefits of this project. The third is the best. The video travels home for the family and siblings to enjoy. What a neat treat for the younger children of the house. Feel free to add it to the traveling kit. Youngsters love to see themselves on TV. Now they may constructively improve body language and reading attitude. It doesn't hurt to watch the real Reading Rainbow in the classroom, especially the end where the tv kids give their little synopsis. At last! a true book report.
9. Displaying Books Read
Pick a theme that suits you as simple as Reading Road. Each book read to the class (all the ways above of which we have spoken) becomes a house. Allow a different student to make, decorate and label the building with title and author. Watch the housing boom stretch around the room. Dismantling at year¹s end? Do one or two a day. Ask little questions to stir the memory...who wrote the book? what was the main idea? name one character. It might be fun to add the copyright date. Children should know how to discover a book's birthday. All will easily notice the oldest book read that school year.
You are the master of ceremonies. Books may be celebrated in a never-ending parade of ideas. Take advantage of as many as possible. Your students will remember you and the love of reading for which you are responsible. What a heritage that is! Kids tell their buddies which classes are the most fun place to be. Become known by the great books you share with the class.
About the Author Marian Brovero taught second grade in Waldwick, NJ, for 31 years, and she now volunteers as a Learning Partner for United Way, working with first and second graders to encourage their love of learning. Marian has authored several books, most recently, Grandma & Grandpa, May I Come Over? (Indiana University, 1998).
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