Fostering a Culture of Literacy!

Developing a culture of literacy takes place both in school and in the community. Making reading a visible, celebrated activity in a child's life supports increased student engagement in reading.

Begin by informally assessing your community's strengths, weaknesses, and overall student attitudes toward reading. This information will help you to map out where you would like to go and eventually evaluate how far you have traveled. The following are a few suggestions for getting started.

Within Your School

In the limelight – Sometimes finding the right book is all about knowing it exists, and publicity can help that! Think about creating a bulletin board conveniently located outside the library that displays covers of recently purchased, high-interest books or colorful photographs of kids and school staff “caught reading.” You can also encourage students to develop book commercials for school announcement time on the public address system or closed circuit television. Many students enjoy the opportunity to recommend their favorite books to others.

Get out and read – Provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their newfound fluency and love of literature in your school's kindergarten or Head Start classrooms, local libraries, nursing homes, or day care centers. With a little planning and practice, you can promote your students' literacy and build their self-esteem.

And the envelope, please – Get your school involved with book awards! For example, each year the state of Connecticut sponsors The Nutmeg Awards. Young people are encouraged to read the nominated books and then vote for their favorite selection. The winning book from the state-wide voting ceremony is announced in the spring. For more information about The Nutmeg Award or similar programs in other states, visit
http://www.carr.org/read/stateAwardbks.htm

Another option – inspired by the frequency of Hollywood award shows – is to invite students in a particular grade (or the whole school) to nominate and vote for their favorite books in a variety of categories (i.e., nail biting plot, meanest villain, best setting, most interesting character, etc.). Students can plan an awards ceremony complete with a master of ceremonies, acceptance speeches, and local celebrities like the principal and superintendent.

Within Your Community

Befriend your local children's librarian – The local public library is an oft-overlooked resource in a community, but most public librarians would be eager to help support a culture of literacy! Take your students on a field trip to the library for a tour and update them about educational program offerings (often free or inexpensive). Develop a professional bond with the children's librarian by sharing information about your reading curriculum and inviting him or her to attend school meetings or events. PTO meetings, back-to-school nights, or faculty meetings are all excellent times for your librarian to promote the literacy services and expertise offered right in your own backyard.

Throw a party – Host a family literacy evening for your students and their families! Find a venue that allows a variety of family-friendly activities like games, storytelling, and crafts. Invite local celebrities to share their favorite books with your students.

Encourage a home/school connection – Inform families and curious community members about the SEM-R. Students who develop a growing love of reading may need additional support at home to locate inviting books or to continue tackling challenging reading material – especially during the summer. Providing parents and guardians with an understanding of your literacy goals and their child's accomplishments will go a long way toward establishing a culture of literacy in the home.