Final Vision Project Blog Post #3

My future vision

Welcome back to my final post for my Future Vision Project. Below I have incorporated my artifact for this project, which is an infographic I created using Piktochart. I also filmed a video explaining my resource in greater detail, which you can also find below.

https://create.piktochart.com/output/51193176-fostering-a-love-of-reading

CC from my video:

“Hi everyone, Janelle the Island TL back again. This is my final future vision blog/vlog post. I have finished my artifact and printed it out. Ideally it will be bigger when I post it in my library, but this is what I have for now. I will attach it in my blog so you can see it in a bigger version. Here is what I have done, I am quite proud of it. Basically it is all about fostering a love of reading, I have broken it down in five easy tips and steps to follow, in order to create a comfortable and safe environment in your library or your classroom. I will talk a little bit about this, and then I will go into some feedback I received from my staff and fellow educators.

Step One: To Make Reading Comfortable

This is something that is so important. You want to have your pillows, your blankets, your plants. Everything you may need to make it feel like a safe home space. Another thing I included was giving choice for flexible seating. Sometimes kids don’t want to stay in their chair while they’re reading. Even if that doesn’t mean they’re going to the cozy corner, it could mean they are going under their desk, or under a table. It creates a safe cocoon space for them. Some people even have tents in their classroom for reading. A cool, neat, safe, and comfortable reading environment.

Step Two: Strewing

I had a lot of questions about this in my feedback, about what is “Strewing”. Strewing means to leave books along students’ path. The resource that I took this from was a video by Oglesby Ohana youtube channel. She used the word strewing, and I thought that was an interesting word and I really wanted to include it. This basically means to leave books along someone’s path, or to leave things scattered around, so that it motivates the kids to walk passed something, and pick up a book and read it. For example, at home a parents could have not just one bookshelf, but rather different areas in their house that have books. This would motivate their kids at home to read. In my library, or in a classroom this could be, not just having one bookshelf, but having various areas in the classroom so that the kids are easily able to pick something up and read it. In the library, that could look like having new books up on top of the shelf, or in a bin, or somewhere other than just being tucked away on a shelf. It’s for easy access, it gives students the motivation to pick up a book and read it. Kind of like a subtle influence of motivating your students to read.

Step Three: Reading Aloud

This is so important. When I was in the classroom setting, I loved reading aloud to my kids during lunch. It was always my favourite part of the day, and I knew that they felt so calm during that time. They would come in from recess feeling busy, get to sit down to eat their lunch, and listen to me read to them. Now as a Teacher-Librarian, I always make sure to take the time to read to my students (from kindergarten to grade 7). I always have various novels and picture books on the go, at all times. We always take time to brainstorm and remind ourselves what happened the week before. It builds a community in the classroom, as you are all reading the same book, and you’re learning at the same time. Reading aloud is important, because during silent reading we don’t always know if the students are concentrating on their books, and we also don’t know if they are always understanding what they are reading. Reading aloud, and reading with them can really help with this.

Step Four: Give Choice

Let them read what they want to read. It gives them a voice in what they are reading, as well as it encourages them to read for enjoyment, rather than just for academic reasons. If you are allowing them to read what they want to read, they are going to find books they find enjoyment in, thus starting to foster that love of reading.

Step Five: Let Books Be The Answer

This is a really big one, as we often go directly to our phones or the computer when we don’t know an answer. This is fine too, as we don’t know everything, but if you have a book on hand, use that resource to find the answer. It also gives your students to the ability and knowledge to go to a book when they are searching for an answer. To find information and do research out of a book might feel old school, but it is such an important skill to have.

These were the five tips I have put together to foster a love of reading, I am sure there are a lot more, but I liked the idea of keeping it clear and concise. It makes it simple to look at and refer to.

I sent my artifact to my coworkers and educators at different schools to get some feedback on it. The feedback was very positive feedback. (I have posted some of the feedback below). It was really encouraging to hear that this resource I have created could also be helpful for others.

I would love to keep creating these resources. I used Piktochart to create this one, and it was very simple to use. The layout was really straightforward, but still gave me freedom to add my own creativity and my own information. Piktochart could be a helpful resource to use in a classroom, rather than just using powerpoint or poster boards. A simple way to create an aesthetically pleasing resource.

My hope is to continue to share my resource. I have already shared it with my staff, and my next step will be to share it with the other Teacher-Librarians in my district. I am passionate about it, and I know that others are as well. Many are already using these tips in their everyday practice, so having this resource up in their classroom or library will be useful to refer too regularly.

Thanks so much for joining along on my journey!”

Feedback from coworkers and fellow educators:

“This resource is so clear and straight forward, providing simple ways to promote and foster a love of reading in my students, I would definitely utilize it in my class room” -D.F (grade 1/2 teacher)

“With reading being such a foundational skill, these tips to help every child succeed and explore books are so useful and presented in an exciting way!” -M.T (grade 5 teacher)

“This resource is clear and concise. I already use many of these strategies in my classroom already and will absolutely use this resource.” -J.U (grade 2 teacher)

“I love the layout, colours and the images that you have chosen. It is great that you have an image from your library. Looks professional.” -K.M (grade 4/5 teacher)

“Love it! I recognize those bookshelves! Well done, looks like it was a lot of work!” -J.K (Teacher-Librarian)

Janelle, The Island TL

References:

Piktochart Video. “How To Create a Piktochart Infographic Easily.” Youtube, 2014, youtu.be/SzI9RzvnwZA. 

THE OGLESBY OHANA. “Fostering a LOVE for READING in Your Children.” Youtube, 2020, youtu.be/h4B0n4IDbfI.