I Love a Great Challenge!

I almost always know what my students are reading. Either they are checking out books from the school's library, my domain, or they're reading books from their classroom libraries. I still know what they are reading. My darlings talk to me about their books! I hear all about the good ones, the bad ones, and the so-so ones. (I can always cheat and look at their Accelerated Reader records.)  I really know what my students are reading. Most teachers and librarians do. It doesn't require super powers. But, do my students know what I'm reading? I feel it's very important for my students to see adults read, especially their teachers. We are all the time asking our students to read and there are some students who believe it's just to keep them quiet (as if that would work...)!

To balance out that reading equation, I've implemented a couple new strategies to promote school-wide reading. The first strategy I'm trying in the library is my currently reading sign. (Click here to read that post.) My teachers are also encouraged to do something similar in their classrooms.

The second strategy came in the form of a reading challenge. The very first day of school I was discussing new books with my 5th graders. I read about 150 books over the summer break. Of course someone asked if I had read every book in the library. No, I haven't. I read one Goosebumps..... Why read another? My brain can only handle so much garbage! Then one of my darlings wanted to know just how many books I've read. I replied honestly, "I don't know." Do you know how hard it is for a librarian to admit not knowing something? AWWW.... Then, "How many books do you read in a year?" Gees! This little big question brought on a challenge. My fifth graders challenged me  to read 300 books during this school year. (They wanted me to read 500 books, but I reminded them I do have a life outside school books. I really do:) Oh course there were rules. I can not count books I've read before August 1, 2013 or any book I read out loud to any of my classes. I do get to read a mix of books. They don't all have to be chapter books. I can count new picture books and non-fiction books that I purchase for the library. Yes, I'm counting any book I read for personal pleasure as long as it's the first time read. I can only count Agatha Christie's if I find one I've not read before. There are a couple out of print I don't own....

In honor of the challenge, I wanted to create a visual for the library. Every year there are various non-profits that post their fund raising goals all over town. My first thought was to create a large poster I could color or add stickers to, but that idea didn't mesh with my library décor. Earlier this summer I had purchased some cute reading clipart from Srappin' Doodles. Time to put it to use! Thus, my School Reading Chart was born.

 

 

I tried to get it finished before the great BTS sale, but I wanted to test it first. If you are interested, it's here in my TPT store. I added a few books to demonstrate in the pictures. No, I'm not already up to 120 books. I need a little sleep. Otherwise my boys insist I'm cranky!

What crazy things do you do to get your students to read?

Keep Reading! I will.....

I'm Just A Meanie!

I'm just plain mean. No, not really. More of a tease. This summer I won this little book from Kit Lit Frenzy  and I've been driving my students crazy.

Otis Dooda: Strange but True  by Ellen Potter, illustrated by David Heatley

I've been seen reading it and reading to them just little tidbits. Now I've had about 20 hold requests for the book. (It also helps that the author signed it "Watch out for subway zombies!")

Some days I'm just plain mean.

Doing whatever it takes to get my students to read,

My Favorite Reading Pins

When I saw this Linky by Just Reed, I had to respond to this one.  Just about everything I pin has something to do with Reading. I just love anything reading related. (Good thing I'm a librarian!)

It's a good thing we are limited to 10. I have found so many great reading ideas on Pinterest  that I use in my library or I share with the teachers in my building.

I repined this from Rachel Lynette's pinterest board. She has a whole board dedicated to inferences. These pictures are great to use to during my literacy centers or to teach inferences.

I found this at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1422991?&cat=12356
I love taking paint chips and finding ways to use them in the library. I adapted this idea by letting students decorated them with black sharpie's instead of using stamps. Since I definitely am concerned about messes in the library, this was my alternative.

I used this idea to teach character traits. I've had students or teachers (at an in-service) stand in front of the board and had students describe the person. It's a lot of fun and I've never had anyone write something inappropriate.

I've used this idea during RTI with students up to sixth grade.

I have lots of literacy activities in my library. I was putting them all in envelopes, but this is cute for those games/activities with larger pieces. This idea was from 4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com (from whom I pin frequently!)

I love Rudees Room! She's got lots of great ideas. (I also shop her store frequently.) This post helped me organize my RTI materials. Yes, I'm the librarian, but when I'm not in the library or computer lab I help teachers with their Reading classes. At my school we all do whatever it takes to help the students learn to read.

I loved these speech bubbles when I saw them! I had a class having a hard time understanding dialogue. I printed some of these up to help them understand anything a character/student says must be placed in quotation marks. 

I love using book order forms during centers. I would have never have thought of using them without Pinterest.

I saw this idea and decided to help my 3rd graders with fact and opinion. I only have one bulletin board in my library so I turned it into an activity. They had to write facts from a couple non-fiction selections onto duck silhouette. They loved it. We're real duck commander fans here in East Tennessee!

I love graphic organizers. This one I got from Scholastic. I have tons several graphic organizers pined.