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A list of references for curated resources.

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Teachers set aside a regular time in their Advisory classes to read aloud a selection from a school library book.

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Eyes wide and mouths agape, 24 8th graders are waiting with bated breath as the villain sneaks up behind our protagonists. I pause. "Should we stop for today?" I ask with a smirk.

"Noooo!" the class collectively reacts, and I laugh and continue. It's rare to have the rapt attention of two dozen adolescents around anything, but when I garner that attention for a book, I am particularly grateful.

Their engagement should hardly be surprising, however. Reading aloud is a strategy elementary school teachers have capitalized on for generations. Teachers use storytelling and drama to get younger students engaged with and loving literature, only to mourn when those same students appear to lose that love once they reach middle and high school. We rarely acknowledge that reading quickly turns from a group experience to an individual one once kids reach middle school.

For the past six years, I've used "read-along," a twist on reading aloud, as a staple of my middle and high school teaching practice. Based on the Performance English program from the Curriculum Research and Development Group at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, my students and I read about 75 percent of our texts together in class (they also have independent reading books that they choose). Unlike traditional read-alouds, all students follow along with their own copy of the text, and I stop periodically to explain vocabulary, model note-taking in the margins, or engage in class discussion.

This strategy has been hugely beneficial for my students. Reading texts aloud in class has helped me build community. And the experience of hearing a story together has helped build student enjoyment, engagement, and camaraderie. Since I began doing read-along, my students have started discussing the books we read the way an audience talks after a movie: They walk out of class chatting about what happened. They ask their peers in other classes about the voices I used, or if I added sound effects. Other teachers tell me they catch students reading ahead or discussing what we read in class with their peers.

This love of storytelling can snowball into an overall love of literature that extends beyond our classroom walls. I often have students ask me if Harper Lee has written anything else they can read after we finish To Kill a Mockingbird as a class.

By reading the book with students, I'm also able to engage more deeply in discussions mid-text. When we encounter a difficult word, we stop and work through it as a class. I'll model metacognitive thinking as we read, stopping after a line and questioning my reactions to plot points or literary devices, or connecting the story to other things we've read. Later, I'll ask students to pause and share their reactions and reflect on where those feelings are coming from, as well as have them create text-to-text connections.

Reading aloud can be nerve-wracking for those new to the method. Here are some ways to reap its full benefits:

Use performance and storytelling techniques.

Do I use a subtle Southern affect while reading To Kill a Mockingbird? Absolutely! Not only does it show students that reading can be playful and imperfect (their reactions to different voices are always amusing), but it also helps conjure the world of the novel and attract interest in the story. I create different voices using pitch, vocal placement, and speech patterns to differentiate characters. I also play with pacing to build suspense or excitement. I'll even turn off the lights or project images on the board for ambience.

Build in time and activities to purposefully engage with the text.

Reading along gives us the opportunity to discuss not just the overall story, but the intricacies of the writing. We can model and use a variety of skills to understand new vocabulary, and give students chances to explain their reasoning when they infer meaning. Stopping to help students recognize "sign-post" moments in a story-strategically placed words, phrases, or plot points that help readers recognize that something important is happening-can help them learn and practice deeper analytical skills in a group setting. I'll have students share their thoughts, questions, and epiphanies ( TQEs, as teacher Marisa Thompson calls them) at the ends of sections or even mid-paragraph, ensuring we read actively. These strategies also allow students to have critical conversations with themselves and each other as they read the text, not just after they've read it. Students can hone these skills together before they have to use them independently.

Practice, practice, practice.

Read-aloud is like any performance: We do better when we know what's coming and how we want to create feeling. When I practice, I time myself reading a page so I can better plan for how much we'll get through in class. I also make notes on different voices, difficult words to address, and where I want to stop to engage in discussion or activities.

Only ask students to read if they've had time to prepare or are reading in small groups.

This a question I'm often asked when I share my read-along practice: How much do I read and how much do the students read? I read a majority of the text in a whole-class setting. While reading aloud can build fluency, research shows that forcing students to read aloud, in front of their peers, and without preparation is not only unhelpful, but potentially damaging. When I do have students read aloud, I use a number of strategies that lower the stakes (such as partner or small-group reading) or give them time to prepare a passage on their own. This gives them a chance to practice fluency while ensuring we don't do more harm than good.

Beyond its practical benefits, read-along has provided me some of my most rewarding teaching experiences. Students frequently share that is one of their favorite, most memorable parts of their experiences with me, and nothing quite beats the feeling of hearing a classroom full of students gasp, laugh, or squeal in delight in response to a great story-ultimately leaving us feeling just a little closer to one another at the end of the day.

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Bringing the Joy of Read-Alouds to Middle School Students (Opinion)

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Eyes wide and mouths agape, 24 8th graders are waiting with bated breath as the villain sneaks up behind our protagonists. I pause. "Should we stop for today?" I ask with a smirk. "Noooo!" the class collectively reacts, and I laugh and continue.

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Teachers set aside a regular time in their Advisory classes to read aloud a selection from a school library book.

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Do you read aloud to your students? Is there ever a time when students are too old to be read to? Many teachers are firm believers in reading aloud-even at the upper grade levels!
"I...became nothing but hearing. I would settle down...and, propped up high against the pillows, listen to my nurse read the Grimms' terrifying fairy-tales. Sometimes her voice put me to sleep; sometimes, on the contrary, it made me feverish with excitement, and I urged her on in order to find out, more quickly than the author had intended, what happened in the story. But most of the time I simply enjoyed the luxurious sensation of being carried away by the words, and felt, in a very physical sense, that I was actually travelling somewhere wonderfully remote, to a place that I hardly dared glimpse on the secret last page of the book. Later on, when I was nine or ten, I was told by my school principal that being read to was suitable only for small children. I believed him, and gave up the practice...." (From A History of Reading, Viking, 1996, by Alberto Manguel, pp. 109-110)

Why Read Aloud?

Teachers have read aloud to young children for centuries. We know that time spent reading aloud is valuable to them. We have watched pre-readers listen to a story, then capture the book itself to look at again and again. Sometimes they memorized the story, shared it with their friends, and at times even slept with the book.

I sometimes shared picture books with kindergarten classes without showing the illustrations. Children paid close attention, listening more carefully since there were no pictures to tell the story for them. After reading the story, I would ask children to draw pictures of the setting, the main characters, or their favorite parts of the story. When the pictures were shared, children were always surprised by the different ways they interpreted the same story. Of course, their favorite part was when they finally had a chance to see the illustrations in the book!

But reading aloud in school by teachers (and even by students), often stops, or is greatly cut back, once a child learns to read on his own.

Why?, wonders author Jim Trelease in his book The Read Aloud Handbook:

"Reading aloud is a commercial for reading. ...Think of it this way: McDonald's doesn't stop advertising just because the vast majority of Americans know about its restaurants. Each year it spends more money on ads to remind people how good its products taste. Don't cut your reading advertising budget as children grow older."

Reading aloud to children helps them develop and improve literacy skills -- reading, writing, speaking, and listening, Trelease adds. And since children listen on a higher level than they read, listening to other readers stimulates growth and understanding of vocabulary and language patterns.

"Whole language teachers affirm that reading aloud teaches children about literature in a way that silent or independent reading never can," says Judy Freeman in a 1992 Teacher Magazine article, Read Aloud Books: The Best Of The Bunch.

"Reading aloud in school is not a frill. Go out of your way to make each book a special experience for your students. Allow them to live literature, to become so involved in a story that they become a part of it. It could change their lives."

Reading Aloud to Young Children

Public TV station WETA provides tips for reading aloud to children. Those tips include:

Remember to discuss read-alouds with the class to enhance and expand students' understanding.

Use the illustrations to encourage prediction and interpretation. Encourage students to use the illustrations to add to their understanding.

Learn more about the authors and illustrators. Read other works by favorite authors.

Help students relate books to their own experiences.

Get other books about curriculum-related topics of interest to class members.

Reading Literature Aloud in Adult ESL Classes

Amy Staley, an ESL writing teacher in Japan, recommends the use of children's picture books with adult students. She discovered the value of using such books when she read Hiroshima no Pika (Hiroshima Flash), a story about the atomic bomb, to her students. She used it to stimulate emotion and questions before presenting a writing assignment (writing letters to French President Chirac about nuclear testing). With careful selection and planning, such books can be incorporated into the curriculum.

An ERIC Digest article, "Children's Literature for Adult ESL Literacy," discusses how reading children's books aloud to adult learners of English as a second language can be valuable. The illustrations often help to explain vocabulary and "...repeated patterns [often] provide an additional aid for language learning." Children's picture books now cover more mature themes, but author Betty Ansin Smallwood cautions that "...book selection is critical...."

Reading Aloud a Part of Tutoring Programs

The Department of Education's America Reads Challenge encourages the institution of tutoring programs to help raise the reading levels of school children and to raise the awareness of parents about reading's impact on children. Reading aloud to children, is an important part of those programs:

Belmont Community School in Worcester, Massachusetts, has seen kindergarten test scores rise. "We sell a product at our school and that product is reading," says Principal John Monfredo. The school-wide program, Books and Beyond, was designed to "build the skills and the desire of every child to read." An important part of the program is teaching parents the importance of and the "how-to" of reading aloud to their children.

The Reach Out and Read Program of Boston Medical Center puts books and children together in clinic offices. "In the clinic waiting room, community volunteers read to the children, engaging their interest while modeling book-related interactions for the parents." As doctors interact with the children, they use books to determine developmental progress. And each child receives a new book to take home.

States Take Action To Promote Reading Aloud Across the Grades

Programs in Indiana and Virginia are emphasizing the importance of reading aloud. An important part of both initiatives is the provision of new, quality, high-interest books.

The Middle Grades Reading Network is "dedicated to the promotion of voluntary reading among young adolescents, the reinstitution of reading as a subject taught in Indiana's middle-grade schools, and the updating and expansion of Indiana's school library book collections." The program, funded by the Lilly Endowment, places books in middle school libraries and encourages teachers in all subject areas to read aloud to their classes, carefully choosing the material for its interest level and content. The Indiana program pushes for more structured library time for middle-grade students where the librarians read aloud and make students aware of new reading material. And, very importantly, the reinstatement of reading as an appropriate subject for these grades is being promoted in the state.

West Virginia has initiated "...a volunteer effort that seeks to motivate children to want to read." Read Aloud West Virginia has more than 5,000 trained volunteers who read aloud to 65,000 students throughout the state. "Book trunks" are another component of the program, providing quality books for the volunteer readers.

And what happened to Alberto Manguel (the boy whose principal told him that he was too old to be read to)? Did he really give up the practice?

"...[I] gave up the practice [of being read to] -- partly because being read to gave me enormous pleasure, and by then I was quite ready to believe that anything that gave pleasure was somehow unwholesome. It was not until much later ... that the long-lost delight of being read to came back to me." (From A History of Reading, Viking, 1996, by Alberto Manguel, p. 110)

Article by Anne Guignon
Education World ®
Copyright © Education World

Last updated: 11/22/2016

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Reading Aloud: Are Students Ever Too Old?

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Do you read aloud to your students? Is there ever a time when students are too old to be read to? Many teachers are firm believers in reading aloud-even at the upper grade levels! "I...became nothing but hearing. I would settle down...and, propped up high against the pillows, listen to my nurse read the Grimms' terrifying fairy-tales.

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Literary calendar will be posted in the library and used as discussion point for library patrons.

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The new year brings so many special days, weeks, and months for celebrating books and reading that you need a year-long literary calendar to keep track of all of them.

Whether you want to celebrate the importance of grammar, support indie bookstores, or dig into the dictionary, there's an occasion you can you can celebrate and enjoy.

Use this 2022 literary calendar to help support books, reading, and literacy in the coming year. They're all important in civilized society.

How to use your 2022 literary calendar

What's the best way to use these special dates? Here are ideas.

Step 1. Start by reviewing the list below and selecting those that speak to you. For example, do you have a favorite classic author from years gone by? Throw one of them a virtual birthday party! (I might have to do that for Louisa May Alcott on November 29.) Are you a children's book author or illustrator? You've got an entire week in February dedicated to you. Take advantage of it!

Step 2. Add your favorite occasions and dates to your calendar, but also create a reminder a few days in advance so you have time to plan and create what you'll use to promote the special day.

Step 3. Decide how you'll recognize the occasion. Here are a few ideas:

Team up with a group of authors to donate proceeds from book sales during a specific period to a nonprofit or cause linked to one of the occasions that's close to your heart.

Blog about why the special day is important to you or write about it in your email newsletter.

Create a short video to share on social media. Use Instagram or Facebook Stories or share it on your book's Facebook page.

Create an event-related image to share on social media. Here's one I created for World Book Day, which is on March 3 this year.

Step 4: Don't let all of these amazing ways to honor books and reading go to waste. Take action!

Your 2022 literary calendar

Now you're ready to make things happen. Here's your month-by-month, 2022 literary calendar.

January

National Braille Literacy Month

1 - Copyright Law Day

2 - National Science Fiction Day

9-15 - Universal Letter Writing Week

11 - Poetry at Work Day

18 - Thesaurus Day

18 - Winnie the Pooh Day (birthday of author A.A. Milne)

19 - Edgar Allan Poe's birthday

23 - National Handwriting Day

25 - Burns Supper (Robert Burns's birthday)

26 - Library Shelfie Day

27 - Family Literacy Day in Canada

February

Library Lovers' Month

2-8 - Children's Authors and Illustrators Week

2 - World Read Aloud Day

5 - Take Your Child to the Library Day

7 - Charles Dickens's birthday

9 - Read in the Bathtub Day

12 - Judy Blume's birthday

14 - International Book Giving Day

14 - Library Lover's Day

19 - Amy Tan's birthday

20-26 - Freedom to Read Week in Canada

26 - Tell a Fairy Tale Day

27 - John Steinbeck's birthday

March

National Reading Month

Small Press Month

2 - Read Across America Day

2 - Dr. Seuss's birthday

3 - World Book Day in the UK and Ireland

4 - National Grammar Day

6-12 - Read an E-book Week

6-12 - Return Borrowed Books Week

16 - Freedom of Information Day

20 - World Storytelling Day

21 - World Poetry Day

26 - Robert Frost's birthday

30 - Pencil Day

April

D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) Month

National Poetry Month

School Library Month

1 - Reading is Funny Day

2 - International Children's Book Day

2 - National Children's Picture Book Day

2 - Hans Christian Anderson's birthday

3-9 - National Library Week

4 - National School Librarian Day

4 - Maya Angelou's birthday

5 - National Library Worker's Day

6 - National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day)

7 - Take Action for Libraries Day

9 - National Unicorn Day

12 - Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.) Day

12 - Beverly Cleary's birthday

13 - Scrabble Day

14 - Celebrate Teen Literature Day

15 - Rubber Eraser Day

15 - World Art Day

16 - National Librarian Day

17 - International Haiku Poetry Day

18 - Newspaper Columnists Day

23 - Shakespeare's birthday

23 - World Book and Copyright Day

23 - World Book Night

24 - Congress approved the Library of Congress

27 - National Tell A Story Day

28 - Harper Lee's birthday

28 - Great Poetry Reading Day

30 - Independent Bookstore Day

May

Get Caught Reading Month

Short Story Month

1 - Mother Goose Day

2 - International Harry Potter Day

2-8 - Children's Book Week

3 - World Press Freedom Day

5 - National Cartoonists Day

7 - Free Comic Book Day

9 - Peter Pan Day

12 - Limerick Day

16 - Love a Tree Day

20 - Eliza Doolittle Day

22 - Sherlock Holmes Day

31 - Walt Whitman's birthday

June

Audiobook Appreciation Month

GLBT Book Month

10 - Ball Point Pen Day

12 - Anne Frank's birthday

16 - Bloomsday (celebration of Irish writer James Joyce's life)

22 - Octavia Butler's birthday

23 - Typewriter patent awarded

25 - Eric Carle's birthday

July

National Anti-Boredom Month

Read an Almanac Month

11 - E.B. White's birthday

17 - World Emoji Day

21 - Ernest Hemingway's birthday

30 - Paperback Book Day

31 - J.K. Rowling's birthday

August

Romance Awareness Month

2 - National Coloring Book Day

9 - Book Lover's Day (also November 6)

18 - Bad Poetry Day

21 - Poet's Day

31 - We Love Memoirs Day

September

Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month

Library Card Sign Up Month

National Literacy Month

Read a New Book Month (also December)

4 - Richard Wright's birthday

4 - Newspaper Carrier Day

6 - Read a Book Day

8 - International Literacy Day

18 - Read an E-book Day

18-24 - National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

22 - Hobbit Day

22 - Dear Diary Day

24 - National Punctuation Day

24 - F. Scott Fitzgerald's birthday

25 - National Comic Book Day

25-October 1 - Banned Books Week

29 - National Coffee Day in the U.S.

October

National Book Month

National Reading Group Month

1 - International Coffee Day

6 - Mad Hatter Day

11 - Myth and Legends Day

16 - Dictionary Day

16-22 - National Friends of Libraries Week

20 - National Day on Writing

27 - National Tell a Story Day in Scotland and the U.K.

November

National Family Literacy Month

National Memoir Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month

Picture Book Month

1 - National Family Literacy Day

1 - Author's Day

3 - National Non-Fiction Day in the UK

6 - Book Lovers Day (also August 9)

8 - Young Readers Day

15 - I Love to Write Day

18 - High-Five a Librarian Day

29 - Louisa May Alcott's birthday

December

Read a New Book Month (also September)

7 - Letter Writing Day

10 - Dewey Decimal System Day

16 - Jane Austen's birthday

21 - Crossword Puzzle Day

21 - National Short Story Day

24 - Jolabokaflod, Iceland's Yule Book Flood

Please note that there's conflicting information online about some of these dates, but we've tried our best to verify and validate everything. Please let us know if you have a correction or clarification.

Have we missed anything? If you know of a holiday or occasion that should be on this calendar but isn't, tell us in a comment. We'll continually update this as needed. Thanks!

Get more helpful free book marketing information in the "Build Book Buzz" e-mail newsletter.

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2022 literary calendar has 149 opportunities for celebrating all things books - Build Book Buzz

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The new year brings so many special days, weeks, and months for celebrating books and reading that you need a year-long literary calendar to keep track of all of them. Whether you want to celebrate the importance of grammar, support indie bookstores, or dig into the dictionary, there's an occasion you can you can celebrate and enjoy.

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Provide access to the school library for summer school program participants.

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Will your middle schooler read this summer? How about 5 summer reading activities for your middle schooler? Here's how to get past "hoping" your child will read some great books this summer. None of them require magic.

Well, maybe just a little...

Why kids should read over the summer

Before I get into the summer reading activities for your middle schooler, perhaps I should give you some excellent reasons why they should be reading outside of school.

Reading:

builds empathy for others

extends vocabulary exponentially - 20 minutes per day equals millions of words per year

increases brain activity and function

creates intrinsic motivation to learn

broadens what is possible in your child's mind

makes your child a more creative problem solver

As promised, here are 5 summer reading activities for your middle schooler:

Activity 1. Read the same book as your middle schooler.

Yes, you heard that right. Read the same book. This was one of my favorite reading activities that I did with my son when he was a middle schooler.

Take your son or daughter to the local library and hit up the teen section. I've been reading teen books for years to help give my students some wonderful suggestions. Guess what I found out? I actually love their books! They are shorter, take less time to read, and they are often well crafted because the authors must keep a preteen's or teen's attention.

Another reason you should read the same book as your child is because you can discuss it with them. It will bring you both closer together. For example, when my middle school son wanted to see the movie series based on The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, I told him that he had to read the book first. So, we went to the library and picked up two copies.

We spent several nights reading the book to each other. Then, he was off reading it on his own. I had not read the book in years. So, I continued reading as well. Six years later, we still talk about how the book is different from the movie series - what we liked about Bilbo and didn't like about goblins. This brought us closer together in so many ways, and my son now has read every book by Tolkien.

This year, my son had to read The Catcher in the Rye. He asked to read the book in my office while I worked, so he wouldn't be distracted by his computer games or fall asleep in his bed. (He's a teenager after all.) So, he would read and ask me questions about the book or just comment on what was going on with the characters. We would discuss the author's choices as well as the character's motivations. When he had to write his paper for the book, he'd already bounced ideas off of me, so it was a breeze for him. (By the way, he earned a 98% on his paper).

Activity 2. Play Vocabulary Games.

As your child is reading a summer book, give him/her index cards. On each index card, they should write a new word they have learned from their summer reading books. Then, on the back of the card, they write a sentence and draw a picture to illustrate the word.

Next, sit down with your child with a timer (iPhone has a great stopwatch setting.) See how many new vocabulary words your child remembers the definitions for and note the time. Challenge your child to remember more words and their definitions within less time. The more you repeat it, the more likely, your child will retain this new vocabulary.

Click for more ideas about Word Games.

Activity 3. Act out a scene in the book.

You could have your child act out a scene in the book. Have him/her find a favorite scene or even one they might not quite understand. Role play the scene. What would happen if the main character did or said something differently? How would that change the story?

Another way a child could act out a scene from a book is to use puppets. The easiest puppets to make are finger puppets. They could draw characters, cut them out and you attach paper rings to each of them. They could even film the puppet show.

Another idea for a reading activity this summer, your child could create a PowToons video of their summer reading book. As they read each chapter, they can add another slide to their PowToons video. This is a great incentive to keep them reading and provide some practice with technology.

Activity 4. Write a new chapter.

Another summer reading activity for your middle schooler is writing more of the story. Perhaps your child wants to find out what happens next to his/her favorite character. Give them some paper or time on the computer to compose the next chapter in that character's life.

Maybe your child did not like the way the author wrote something in the book. What if he/she could write a different scene where the characters do or say something different? How would that change the story or make it better?

Your child might even be able to email the author and submit their ideas. I've actually done this before, and the author wrote back to me! It was a very nice and surprising email!

Activity 5. Make a Reading Journal.

Additionally, your middle schooler could also keep a reading journal as a summer reading activity. In their journal they could draw pictures of the characters and the settings, draw maps of the places their characters visit, and keep notes about important events in the book.

Use a simple composition book or a spiral notebook and allow your middle schooler to fill it up with his/her wonderings about the books he/she is reading.

Click here for more great learning ideas on summer reading activities for middle schoolers.

More Summer Reading Activities for your Middle Schooler in my TPT store.h

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Summer Reading Activities for your Middle Schooler - www.teach2write.com

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Will your middle schooler read this summer? How about 5 summer reading activities for your middle schooler? Here's how to get past "hoping" your child will read some great books this summer. None of them require magic. Well, maybe just a little...

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Weekly student book club meetings with discussion in the library.

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Setting Up a Book Club in School
Reading groups and book clubs are a hugely popular way of engaging readers and are a way into opening the box of reading delights. If you belong to a book group yourself, you will know that the pleasure of reading is multiplied when we share our ideas, explore differences of opinion and find common interests. You will need little convincing that setting up a book club in school is a good thing. But what is the best way of going about it?

Who is it for?
It is likely that this is the first question you asked yourself when you decided to set up your group. Here are some things to think about:

Is it going to be an open group with members self-selecting?

Do you have a target age group in mind?

Do you have a particular group in mind, e.g. 'reluctant readers', high attaining readers, mother and daughter reading group (or fathers and sons), transition reading group for children going to secondary school, teachers' reading group.

What limit will you put on numbers? Chatterbooks recommends a maximum of 15 but 8 -10 might feel like a more manageable number for younger children and will allow everyone to contribute without breaking into smaller groups. It also means that if there are some absences, the group won't feel too small.

Answering this first question will help you with the answers to some of the following questions. For instance, if you want to run a mother and daughter reading group, it may be likely that this happens: a self-selected group might run as a club after school or during the lunch break; a mother and daughter reading group may need to run outside regular school hours; a teachers book club could replace a staff meeting once every half term.

Are you sitting comfortably?
The next question focuses on where you are going to hold your book club. If you have a school library, this may be the most obvious place. For that 'book club' feel, you will want to create an atmosphere that doesn't feel like a lesson.

Is the area cosy and welcoming?

What seating arrangement is going to suit you, around a table, informal soft seating? Will you need to have access to materials for drawing, writing etc.?

Will you provide refreshments? Books and food complement each other perfectly, even if it's simply juice and biscuits. For the occasional special treat, you might theme a snack to accompany the book that you are reading e.g. jam tarts for Alice in Wonderland.

Choices, choices - what will you read?
How you approach this will be determined to some extent by the type of group you are setting up. For instance, for a group of high attaining readers, you may have the goal of developing greater breadth, or offering choices that they may not select themselves. For a group of 'reluctant readers', you may want to develop greater independence and build in an element of member choice. For special groups like mother and daughter reading groups, you might choose a book that allows a discussion about a shared experience.

Most book clubs involve all members reading the same book so that there is a shared context for discussion, but it is also possible that members choose different books which they review and bring to the group, thus widening the reading repertoire through peer recommendation.

The time is right
How often should you meet? You need to allow readers enough time to read the book but you also want to keep the momentum going, so once a fortnight, or once a month may be frequent enough. Keep the meetings regular, e.g. the second and fourth Tuesday every month, so that the meeting pattern is established and schedule dates in your diary. The group may lose interest if there are too many cancellations and postponements through lack of planning.

Ready, steady, go
A book club shouldn't feel like a lesson, so you need to guard against working towards a set of outcomes and allow the discussion to follow the interest of the group. Nevertheless it can help to have some prepared questions or statements to kick start the discussion. Some generic question starters are given in my full guide 'How to Set up a Book Club in your School'. You can tailor them for the book you are reading.

Be prepared to offer your own thoughts and responses without railroading the group into agreeing with you. If you use a tentative, think aloud style this will encourage shier children to participate. Let the group know that you can change your mind by listening to what others say by modelling this: 'I used to think... but when xxx said that made me think again'.
Find more advice on starting your book club in Nikki's guide: 'How to set up a Book Club in your School', including ideas for key questions for your discussion. Read the guide.
You can get monthly book recommendations and FREE teaching notes as part of our Oxford Education Book Club. Search for #oxfordeducationbookclub.
Nikki Gamble is the founder and director of Just Imagine Story Centre and Education Consultancy. Formerly a teacher and lecturer in teacher education, she is a consultant on the independent reading series TreeTops, and advised on the Oxford BookMatch book recommendation tool. Nikki is an associate at the London Institute of Education and serves on the National Committee of the UKLA. Reading support is available on Oxford Owl including free eBooks, set up class logins, teaching notes and Oxford BookMatch to find the next book for your book club

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Your guide to starting a book club in your school

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Setting Up a Book Club in School Reading groups and book clubs are a hugely popular way of engaging readers and are a way into opening the box of reading delights. If you belong to a book group yourself, you will know that the pleasure of reading is multiplied when we share our ideas, explore differences of opinion and find common interests.

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At family engagement events throughout the year, the school will provide opportunities for family reading time in the library.

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PTO Today’s free event planning kit includes everything your PTO or PTA needs to plan a fun Family Reading Night that families will love!
Your free download includes: Step-by-step planning guidelines
Invitation flyer to send home to parents
Facebook graphics to promote your event
Activities and sna…

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During the month of April, school library services will be promoted in the building and community

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American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

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Description and History

School Library Month is the American Association of School Librarians' celebration of school librarians and school libraries. Every April school librarians are encouraged to host activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school libraries play in transforming learning.The AASL efforts for a national School Library Month were spearheaded by Lucille Thomas, chair of the School Library Media Month Committee. Thomas was appointed by President Judy King in 1983. Their work came to fruition on April 1, 1985, when AASL officials, local and national dignitaries got the first School Library Month off to a rousing start with a ceremony on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol. Learn more about the history of School Library Month.

Related Events

Promotional & Advocacy Tools

Administrator Toolkit

Use the materials below as conversation starters with your administrator.

Librarians not only craft their instruction to meet state standards and expectations, but also look to the National School Library Standards as a foundation for learning. This four page guide is an overview of the Standards for Learners.

Want to hear from administrators on what they think of school libraries? AASL has an entire YouTube playlist of videos like the one below:

This research-based infographic about the positive impact of school librarians also indicates eight characteristics of libraries with high student achievement.Share with your administrator to discuss how administrator support of school librarians greatens their impact on student learning.

This 23 page impact study from the Northeast Comprehensive Center takes a deep look at the four main roles of a school librarian and how they empower student learning and success.

Top Two Issues School Librarians Wish their Administrators Knew examines the impact increased technology responsibilities and "other duties as assigned" have on student learning and library programs. This Knowledge Quest blog post is authored by the School Library Journal's 2021 Librarian of the Year, Amanda Jones.

Spread the Word

Invite Observation
Provide your administrator with your own observation checklist. This checklist inspired by middle school librarian, Linda Mitchell, asks an administrator to quickly notice what is happening in the library space on impromptu visits. You may wish to post a request to "Observe Me" outside of your door with a scannable QR code to a feedback form. Merge this idea with "Pineapple Charts" and you may wish to post a Pineapple Invitation (Canva template) at your doors.

Invite Fellow Librarians to Celebrate
Host a School Library Pal name exchange for the month.Carolyn Vibbert shares her tips and Google Form questions for others to execute their own Secret Librarian exchange.

Proclamation Templates
Ask your school and elected officials and request they proclaim the month of April as School Library Month! The following samples are based on actual proclamations shared with AASL by its members. They are presented here as templates that can be downloaded and modified to fit your needs.

Governor 1 | Governor 2 | Governor 3 | Mayor 1 | Mayor 2 | Town Council | Board of Education 1 | Board of Education 2

Graphics and Presentation Templates
Click an image below to download a zip file containing graphics, a PowerPoint template, and a poster you can use to create your own School Library Month celebration! Graphics are freely available for use provided no alterations are made and that the posting is for education, noncommercial purposes only.

Spokespeople Videos
Embed these videos from School Library Month Spokespeople on your library website or share across social media to spread the word on the importance of school libraries.

Professional Learning Resources

Empowering Next Gens With Media Literacy
Archived Webinar
AASL and the Getting Better Foundation host a panel discussion on the importance of media literacy in education and the need for school librarians as the educators who teach this foundational skill.

"Trust Me" Guides: Student Notebook | Collegiate Guide | Guide for Educators | Guide for Parents

AASL "Trust Me" Documentary Watch Party
Supplement the Empowering Next Gens With Media Literacy panel discussion by watching a special School Library Month viewing of the documentary, Trust Me. Produced by the Getting Better Foundation, Trust Me explores how media technology is influencing society and what can be done about it. The film uses compelling human stories, facts, and experts to show empirical realities and the right way to consume media. Proceeds from viewings will be split between AASL and the Getting Better Foundation.

AASL Town Hall | Supporting Equity, Choice, and Student Voice in the Library
Archived Webinar
There is no better time than School Library Month to talk about providing equity for our students and providing student voice and choice in the library. How do we equitably provide services to our students? How do we provide them choice in the library? How can we include their voice in our services? AASL President Kathy Lester and AASL member panelists discuss our amazing students and how to provide them equity, choice, and voice in our libraries.

Artificial Intelligence in the School Library
Archived Webinar
Presented by the AASL Independent Schools Section, this webinar will explore how AI-enabled search and Open AI will change how school librarians craft library instruction and work with faculty and students.

Our Brave Communities: Embracing School Librarians
ALA Connect Live: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. Central
There are many challenges facing the school library profession including equity of access to certified school librarians for students across the nation and an unprecedented number of book challenges and censorship efforts. You're invited to join ALA President Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada and AASL President Kathy Lester to learn how everyone in the library ecosystem can support school librarians and their students as they face these challenges.

AASL Town Hall | Celebrate School Library Month
Archived Webinar
AASL President Kathy Lester and members of the AASL School Library Event Promotion Committee to explore ways school librarians can celebrate the essential role they and their school libraries play in transforming learning.

Celebrate School Library Month Webinar
Archived Webinar
Hear from six school librarians as they share ways to celebrate School Library Month for grades Pre-K to 12.

Learner Engagement Resources

Be Creative!
Browse the resources curated to celebrate Crayola Creativity Week and let them inspire you and your learners.

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Description and History School Library Month is the American Association of School Librarians' celebration of school librarians and school libraries. Every April school librarians are encouraged to host activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school libraries play in transforming learning.The AASL efforts for a national School Library Month were spearheaded by Lucille Thomas, chair of the School Library Media Month Committee.

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Literary calendar will be posted in the library and used as discussion point for library patrons.

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imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Ever have a hard time keeping track of those hard-to-remember literary dates? Need a theme for your party, but don't know what to celebrate? Want to know which famous author died on your birthday? If you have any of these common concerns, relax. Flavorwire has come to your rescue with an enormous infographical literary calendar, complete with a literary event for every day. Even the random ones. So without any further ado, behold the epic Flavorwire literary calendar - and never go without a literary event to celebrate again.

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Flavorwire's Ultimate Literary Calendar: A Bookish Event for Every Day of the Year

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Ever have a hard time keeping track of those hard-to-remember literary dates? Need a theme for your party, but don't know what to celebrate? Want to know which famous author died on your birthday? If you have any of these common concerns, relax....

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Advisory class reading competition at Quincy Middle School to see which class reads the most in various categories.

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Ready to host a reading challenge with your class? Whether you want your students to read 4 or 40 books this year, here are some ideas that will help you be successful.

The Problem with a Reading Challenge

It's no secret that middle school students aren't spending as much time reading as they are on their phones or playing video games. Add to that the other activities that students are involved in...and reading for pleasure certainly takes a back seat.

But there are more great books than ever for this age group! (I've given up reading adult fiction because I think that YA books are better written!!)

With the busy lives our students lead, they need incentives to read. And one way to do that is to host a reading challenge with your class.

You want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

Before Starting a Reading Challenge

Think about what you, as an educator, want your students to gain from a reading challenge.

You want students to read, yes. But more than that, you want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

We don't want students to think of it as a punishment - one more requirement they have to complete. A reading challenge shouldn't make students feel dread. The last thing you want students to do is to lie about what they've read (or haven't read).

Keep the ultimate goal of your reading challenge at the top of your mind - and the minds of your students.

At the end of the year, you want students to tell you, "I used to not like to read, but I love reading now!"

So how do you get there? Read on!

How to Implement a Successful Reading Challenge

1. Join the challenge yourself.
Read right along with your students! This tip is number 1 for a reason.

Show that you value independent reading by modeling it. Take that one better by reading the books your students are reading and ask them for recommendations on what to read next. When you are excited about reading and can talk to your students about books they are reading, you add value to the challenge.
2. Determine what is right for your students.
You may want to use the 40 book challenge, which means students read about one book a week during a school year.

However, be sure to determine what is appropriate for your students.

Meet with them and allow them to set their own goals. Of course, a reading challenge isn't a challenge unless students are working toward something ... challenging!

But keep in mind your goal for this challenge. If a student read zero books last year, reading ten this year would be a challenge!

3. Rejoice in the accomplishments.
Keep a class tally of the number of books your class has read ( you can find one here). This is a powerful tool!

Update it weekly and post it on your classroom door - or better yet, in the hall for the world to see.
4. What about long books?
Should they count as two books? One of my team teachers allowed students to count books that were over 300 pages as two books.

The advantage of this is that it takes pressure off students who want to reader longer, more challenging texts.
5. Book reports...
Should you require students to write a report for each book?

Look back at your ultimate goal for the reading challenge. If it's to create a community of passionate readers, a book report might not be quite what you're looking for. Not to mention, you'll be grading them.

And let's be real here. Would you join a book club that required you to write a book report? Me neither.

Alternatives? You could just have students record the title of the book and give it a star review. Or you might want to have students give a monthly book talk.

6. Create a reading frenzy!
You will know you are on the right track when a book makes its way around your classroom like wildfire! And book talks are a great way to do this. It is so exciting when students start passing books to each other!

We know our students are much more likely to take the recommendations of their peers over ours. With book talks, students are taking turns recommending titles to each other. Golden!

Plus, book talks provide opportunities to reach the listening and speaking standards - not just once, but several times a year.

Schedule books talks monthly or once a grading period.

7. Requirements?
What should you require?

If you look online, you'll see school requirements for a 40 book reading challenge that specify a certain number of books for particular genres or topics.

I am not at all behind that idea for the simple reason that it doesn't align with my goal for a reading challenge: instilling the love of reading in my students.

Requiring students to read 5 biographies feel more like jumping through hoops than developing a love of reading.

You might be wondering how can you get students to read biographies or... anything besides fantasy? Here's how:

8. Meet with your students
When you meet with your students regularly, you'll be able to adjust and fine-tune their challenge.

If a students is reading just fantasy, the challenge might be to read a biography. Talking over your students' book choices can lead to interesting conversations and real connections with your students! This is where the two of you can create and set challenges.
9. Build community
Provide simple ways for students to share what they're reading. You can do with a quick weekly "turn and talk" as students tell another student what they are reading and what the book is about.
10. Keep a running list
Create a graffiti wall for students' suggestions. Just hang a big piece of paper on the wall with the title, "What are you reading?" and allow students to write out titles. They can give a star review next to the title as well.

This simple graffiti wall is helpful when students ask, "What should I read next?"

11. Easy record keeping
Make recording what books students are reading painless for both the students and you. Use a "status of the class" or book log.

You can also have students keep a reading log that has the title, author, date finished, and star review.
12. Reduce needless competition
Assure students that they are "running their own race." That means they are just competing with themselves. They've set their own goals and are working toward meeting them.
13. Return to your student's goals
Support your students by revisiting their goals and expectations often.

Check in with them regularly to assess how they are doing. Are they meeting their goals? Do they need to reset them? Are they challenging themselves or is the goal they set unattainable?
14. Off limit books?
Are there books your students aren't allowed to read or that shouldn't "count" toward their goal?

In my opinion, no! Let's not go there!

I tell my students that there are "candy" books. Books that are fun to eat, super easy to enjoy, but probably not really great for me. Books like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are wonderful books, but maybe not for a middle school student. Or maybe not all the time.

It's okay to read The Twits. But for a student who only wants to read "candy" books...there is an opportunity for discussion and growth!

Of course, we want our students to read "nutritious" books, but even adults will read a book that isn't high literature every once in awhile (right?? right?).

And again, go back to your goals! Use reading choices as a topic for the conferences you have with your students.
15. Celebrate all the successes
Make sure to celebrate what your students achieve!

Here's to a great reading challenge!

Ready to host a reading challenge with your class? Whether you want your students to read 4 or 40 books this year, here are some ideas that will help you be successful.

The Problem with a Reading Challenge

It's no secret that middle school students aren't spending as much time reading as they are on their phones or playing video games. Add to that the other activities that students are involved in...and reading for pleasure certainly takes a back seat.

But there are more great books than ever for this age group! (I've given up reading adult fiction because I think that YA books are better written!!)

With the busy lives our students lead, they need incentives to read. And one way to do that is to host a reading challenge with your class.

You want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

Before Starting a Reading Challenge

Think about what you, as an educator, want your students to gain from a reading challenge.

You want students to read, yes. But more than that, you want to create a vibrant community of readers who LOVE to read and WANT to read.

We don't want students to think of it as a punishment - one more requirement they have to complete. A reading challenge shouldn't make students feel dread. The last thing you want students to do is to lie about what they've read (or haven't read).

Keep the ultimate goal of your reading challenge at the top of your mind - and the minds of your students.

At the end of the year, you want students to tell you, "I used to not like to read, but I love reading now!"

So how do you get there? Read on!

How to Implement a Successful Reading Challenge

1. Join the challenge yourself.
Read right along with your students! This tip is number 1 for a reason.

Show that you value independent reading by modeling it. Take that one better by reading the books your students are reading and ask them for recommendations on what to read next. When you are excited about reading and can talk to your students about books they are reading, you add value to the challenge.
2. Determine what is right for your students.
You may want to use the 40 book challenge, which means students read about one book a week during a school year.

However, be sure to determine what is appropriate for your students.

Meet with them and allow them to set their own goals. Of course, a reading challenge isn't a challenge unless students are working toward something ... challenging!

But keep in mind your goal for this challenge. If a student read zero books last year, reading ten this year would be a challenge!

3. Rejoice in the accomplishments.
Keep a class tally of the number of books your class has read ( you can find one here). This is a powerful tool!

Update it weekly and post it on your classroom door - or better yet, in the hall for the world to see.
4. What about long books?
Should they count as two books? One of my team teachers allowed students to count books that were over 300 pages as two books.

The advantage of this is that it takes pressure off students who want to reader longer, more challenging texts.
5. Book reports...
Should you require students to write a report for each book?

Look back at your ultimate goal for the reading challenge. If it's to create a community of passionate readers, a book report might not be quite what you're looking for. Not to mention, you'll be grading them.

And let's be real here. Would you join a book club that required you to write a book report? Me neither.

Alternatives? You could just have students record the title of the book and give it a star review. Or you might want to have students give a monthly book talk.

6. Create a reading frenzy!
You will know you are on the right track when a book makes its way around your classroom like wildfire! And book talks are a great way to do this. It is so exciting when students start passing books to each other!

We know our students are much more likely to take the recommendations of their peers over ours. With book talks, students are taking turns recommending titles to each other. Golden!

Plus, book talks provide opportunities to reach the listening and speaking standards - not just once, but several times a year.

Schedule books talks monthly or once a grading period.

7. Requirements?
What should you require?

If you look online, you'll see school requirements for a 40 book reading challenge that specify a certain number of books for particular genres or topics.

I am not at all behind that idea for the simple reason that it doesn't align with my goal for a reading challenge: instilling the love of reading in my students.

Requiring students to read 5 biographies feel more like jumping through hoops than developing a love of reading.

You might be wondering how can you get students to read biographies or... anything besides fantasy? Here's how:

8. Meet with your students
When you meet with your students regularly, you'll be able to adjust and fine-tune their challenge.

If a students is reading just fantasy, the challenge might be to read a biography. Talking over your students' book choices can lead to interesting conversations and real connections with your students! This is where the two of you can create and set challenges.
9. Build community
Provide simple ways for students to share what they're reading. You can do with a quick weekly "turn and talk" as students tell another student what they are reading and what the book is about.
10. Keep a running list
Create a graffiti wall for students' suggestions. Just hang a big piece of paper on the wall with the title, "What are you reading?" and allow students to write out titles. They can give a star review next to the title as well.

This simple graffiti wall is helpful when students ask, "What should I read next?"

11. Easy record keeping
Make recording what books students are reading painless for both the students and you. Use a "status of the class" or book log.

You can also have students keep a reading log that has the title, author, date finished, and star review.
12. Reduce needless competition
Assure students that they are "running their own race." That means they are just competing with themselves. They've set their own goals and are working toward meeting them.
13. Return to your student's goals
Support your students by revisiting their goals and expectations often.

Check in with them regularly to assess how they are doing. Are they meeting their goals? Do they need to reset them? Are they challenging themselves or is the goal they set unattainable?
14. Off limit books?
Are there books your students aren't allowed to read or that shouldn't "count" toward their goal?

In my opinion, no! Let's not go there!

I tell my students that there are "candy" books. Books that are fun to eat, super easy to enjoy, but probably not really great for me. Books like Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are wonderful books, but maybe not for a middle school student. Or maybe not all the time.

It's okay to read The Twits. But for a student who only wants to read "candy" books...there is an opportunity for discussion and growth!

Of course, we want our students to read "nutritious" books, but even adults will read a book that isn't high literature every once in awhile (right?? right?).

And again, go back to your goals! Use reading choices as a topic for the conferences you have with your students.
15. Celebrate all the successes
Make sure to celebrate what your students achieve!

Here's to a great reading challenge!

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15 Tips for a Reading Challenge - Just Add Students

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Ready to host a reading challenge with your class? Whether you want your students to read 4 or 40 books this year, here are some ideas that will help you be successful. It's no secret that middle school students aren't spending as much time reading as they are on their phones or playing video games.

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Literary calendar will be posted in the library and used as discussion point for library patrons.

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One of the ways you can easily up your nerd cred is to be able to celebrate every book-themed holiday throughout the year. Of course, it can be tough to do just that when you don't know when things like Book Lovers Day or Coloring Book Day might fall. Find here your guide to all of the book holidays your heart can desire, allowing you the opportunity to celebrate fully and appropriately all year long.

Not included on this calendar are author and book specific dates. You can find many of those on the Flavorwire Literary Calendar, which has some sort of event for each and every day of the year. This calendar instead focuses on those events you see passing by on social media each year and wishing you'd known about it sooner. Note that "National," unless otherwise noted, means United States. Of course, no one says that those outside the U.S. can't celebrate them, too.

Note that some dates shift year-to-year.

Book Holidays Calendar For Literary Event Planning

January

Beginning Second Sunday of January: Universal Letter Writing Week

2: National Science Fiction Day

18: National Thesaurus Day

Fourth Wednesday in January: Library Shelfie Day

February

National Library Lovers Month

First week of February: Children's Authors and Illustrators Week

14: Library Lovers Day

Second week of February: Freelance Writers Appreciation Week

March

First Full Week of March: Read an Ebook Week

First Full Week of March: Return Borrowed Books Week

1: Read Across America Day

2: World Book Day

4: National Grammar Day

14: National Write Your Story Day

16: National Freedom of Information Day

21: World Poetry Day

25: National Tolkien Reading Day

April

National Poetry Month

2: Children's Book Day

4: National School Librarian Day

5: National Read A Roadmap Day

Second Week of April: National Library Week

Tuesday of National Library Week: National Library Workers Day

10: Encourage a Young Writer Day

Wednesday of National Library Week: National Bookmobile Day

12: D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Day (Runs all April)

13: National Scrabble day

16: National Librarian Day

17: National Haiku Poetry Day

18: National Columnists' Day

23: National Talk Like Shakespeare Day

23: World Book and Copyright Day

25: National Poem In Your Pocket Day (this date shifts slightly every year)

27: National Tell A Story Day

Last Saturday in April: Independent Bookstore Day

28: National Great Poetry Reading Day

May

National Get Caught Reading Month

Free Comic Book Day: First Saturday

5: National Cartoonists' Day

12: National Limerick Day

Second Week of May: Reading Is Fun Week

31: National Speak in Sentences Day

June

Audiobook Appreciation Month

10: National Ball Point Pen Day

19: National Garfield The Cat Day

July

Read an Almanac Month

30: Paperback Book Day

August

Romance Awareness Month

2: National Coloring Book Day

9: National Book Lovers Day

18: Bad Poetry Day

September

National Library Card Signup Month

Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month

6: National Read A Book Day

8: International Literacy Day

8: National Ampersand Day

22: Dear Diary Day

22: Hobbit Day

24: National Punctuation Day

25: National Comic Book Day

October

Children's Magazine Month

Church Library Month

National Book Month

National Cookbook Month

Medical Librarian Month

National Reading Group Month

First Full Week of October: Mystery Series Week

6: National Poetry Day (UK and Ireland)

6: Mad Hatter Day

Second Week of October: National Newspaper Week

16: Dictionary Day

Third Week of October: Teen Read Week

Third Week of October: Friends of Libraries Week

Last Friday of the month: National Frankenstein Day

November

National Novel Writing Month

National Life Writing Month

National Family Literacy Month

Picture Book Month

First Saturday of November: Book Lovers Day

1: National Authors Day

1: National Family Literacy Day

6: National Nonfiction Day

12: National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day

Third Full Week: National Young Readers Week

Third Full Week: National Book Award Week

18: High Five a Librarian Day

Week Varies During November: World Nursery Rhyme Week

December

Read a New Book Month

7: Letter Writing Day

10: Dewey Decimal System Day

21: Crossword Puzzle Day

24: Jolabokaflod, also known as the Christmas Book Flood (Iceland)

25: A'phabet Day or No L Day (Pun Day)
Eager to celebrate any or all of these book holidays? You might also like these literary quotes for every month of the year-perfect for sharing while you celebrate a life well read.

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Book Holidays To Mark On Your Calendar For Celebrating All Year Long

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One of the ways you can easily up your nerd cred is to be able to celebrate every book-themed holiday throughout the year. Of course, it can be tough to do just that when you don't know when things like Book Lovers Day or Coloring Book Day might fall.

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English Language Arts lessons on accessing school library e-books for reading through the Destiny Discover program

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Destiny Discover Login and E-Book checkout.docx

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During the month of April, poetry is promoted in the school library and English Language Arts classes.

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National Poetry Month

Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month is a special occasion that celebrates poets' integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and-of course-poets, marking poetry's important place in our lives.

In April 2023, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón selected twenty new poems by contemporary poets to be featured in the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day series as part of a collaboration with the Library of Congress.

Thanks in part to our National Poetry Month partners and sponsors, each April the Academy is able to offer activities, initiatives, and resources so that anyone can join the celebration:

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National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry's vital place in our culture.

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Posters and morning announcements of what library books teachers are currently reading.

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As a teacher, you are responsible for developing students' literacy skills and ensuring that they accomplish Common Core ELA standards. But does your job as a literacy teacher end there? Of course not!

As a teacher, you should also convince your students about the joy and value of reading. Motivated readers become successful readers, and a teacher's personal relationship to books can profoundly influence students' attitudes towards reading.

It is essential that students perceive you as a reader, too. Do you often use classroom silent reading time to take care of other teacher tasks? As much as it's tempting to grade papers or tidy your desk during quiet reading time, busying yourself with other errands implicitly tells your students that "reading is just for kids." If you also sit down and read with the students, you demonstrate that reading time is important for you, too.

Treat your books with respect. Are you guilty of using books for a doorstop or a writing surface? Do you flip its pages with chalky hands? Children are incredibly observant, and small actions like these can shape a child's perception of how valuable (or invaluable) books are. Make sure to treat all your books with the respect they deserve!

Actively recommend books to your students. Allowing children the freedom to choose books boosts their enthusiasm, but that doesn't mean that you can't make recommendations.

Try not to talk from a literacy teacher's perspective, like "You should try reading the Underwater Encounter series because it's just right for your reading level." Instead, make a recommendation as a fellow reader: "I just finished reading Scuba School and it reminded me of when you told me you wanted to visit Hawaii. Do you want to borrow my copy of the book?"

Personal recommendations convey that you value the student's identity as a reader. Moreover, students will have the opportunity to share their reactions with you-when children know that they'll be able to share their thoughts about reading with someone else, they're much more likely to finish the book. Thus, recommendations tells students that a mutual love of reading can strengthen relationships with other people.

A teacher should model enthusiasm and dedication for reading.If students believe that you genuinely like to read (and you're not just teaching them because it's your job), they'll be much more likely to read with you!

~~~
Click the left image below to visit the website for Underwater Encounters, which was mentioned in this blogpost. Click the right image to download a fact sheet about the series.

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As a teacher, you are responsible for developing students' literacy skills and ensuring that they accomplish Common Core ELA standards. But does your job as a literacy teacher end there? Of course not! As a teacher, you should also convince your students about the joy and value of reading.