Re: [LM_NET] TARGET: Students who hate reading

[Donna Steel Cook <donnasteelcook@YAHOO.COM>]

One more thing to add to your list of wonderful things you're already doing:

Show them the Quick Picks from ALA--especially the top ten Quick Picks lists.  Be 
sure you have the books AND THE BOOKS HAVE A QUICK PICKS notation in your on-line 
catalog in the 586 tag.  Teach them to type     quick   and click on Keyword or 
Power and the list of those wonderful books will appear.  Teach them that Quick 
Picks are books that are (1) short (2) have great covers (3) guaranteed to grab 
them in 10 pages (4) not small print.  
 
Donna Steel Cook
Central ISD Library Director
Central High School Librarian
7622 HYW 69 North
Pollok, TX 75969
donnasteelcook@yahoo.com
 
"Books are the holes in the fences of life." --Peg Kehert



----- Original Message ----
From: Shonda Brisco <sbrisco@GMAIL.COM>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2007 10:00:41 PM
Subject: TARGET: Students who hate reading


I'm working with some high school teachers who have students in grades
9-12 who "say" that they "hate to read." The response has been pretty
consistent this week (as I have introduced myself to them and provided
a library orientation to each group).  While the reading scores are
low, I am optimistic that they DO like to read...they just don't know
it yet!

We've added Playaways (the MP3 audio format books) to the
collection--many popular titles are available and I'm adding more to
the collection--- and I'm increasing the fiction materials (in various
areas including the popular series titles, fantasy, science fiction,
realistic fiction, "mean girls" series, etc.).  I'm compiling a list
of graphic novels (manga) to purchase and plan to host a "graphic
novels" club for those interested.  I've suggested a book club...but
for those who don't like to read, this isn't interesting to
anyone...yet!

I have a new list of magazines that I'll be adding ---titles taken
from the suggestions of many of the students --- and we'll be
showcasing them in a project that I'll be doing in about a month.

The students have been told that they can suggest titles and I'll
certainly try to purchase them (if they fit our curriculum guidelines
/ selection policy / etc.----most probably will) and I will allow
anyone who suggests titles to add to the collection to be the first to
check-out the new book.

I will be booktalking (and using movie-book trailers) in the next
couple of weeks.  In the meantime, we are hosting a book fair (after
Labor Day).

Now...with all of this going on (a "coffee shop" project is being
planned for later in the winter and a visiting author is being planned
for later in the spring)....what ELSE should I be doing to get the
students reading?

I "shelf talk" what we now have available while the students are
browsing and I make a "big fuss" over every great book that I've read
and that they touch....I encourage them to "try" something...anything!
However, these kid have just NOT picked up the habit of reading.
(I'm considering a DEAR day to allow some "modeling" of reading...but
is that even something to consider at the high school level?)

Any other ideas?  I'm pretty much convinced that this is a "great
challenge" and I am determined to make readers out of these
kids....there's only about 400 of them!!*grin*

I'll post a HIT of others are interest in this topic for the high school level.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas!

~Shonda



-- 
Shonda Brisco, MLIS
Library Media / Technology Specialist
Digital Bookends wiki / blog:
http://digitalbookends.pbwiki.com
http://shonda.edublogs.org/
sbrisco@gmail.com

Resources for Texas School Librarians:
http://txschoollibrarians.ning.com/
http://txschoollibrarians.wikispaces.com/

"Digital Resources" columnist
School Library Journal

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