FEATURED POST READING THE WORLD by Beverley Brenna

Original Post Date: November 19, 2019
Source: https://www.literacyworldwide.org/blog/literacy-daily/2019/11/19/reading-the-world

Offering stories that reflect our contemporary communities is important for our children. “Let’s read the world” is a goal to champion! As a classroom and special education teacher, and now a university professor in curriculum, I’m interested in the opportunities we have in schools and libraries to teach so much more than literacy when we’re teaching the language arts.

In my role as a researcher in children’s literature, I’ve been exploring patterns and trends that should be concerning to educators. How many of the titles we share in our classrooms reflect people with exceptionalities? Are we representing gender in diverse, nonstereotypical ways? Could we do better in messages that help save our planet, that inspire children to care for each other and themselves, that break down barriers? 

I think of some amazing teachers I had in my own classroom contexts. Mrs. Gaston read aloud from Meindert deJong’s House of Sixty Fathers (HarperCollins) and—even today, almost 50 years later—I can recall everything about the way this exceptional story motivated discussions that we would not have initiated on our own. Mrs. Nichols shared Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time (Macmillan) and Paul Zindel’s The Pigman (HarperTeen), two books I occasionally reread today for the courage they bring. But these teachers were the exception rather than the rule, and I continue to see classrooms where reading to students is not a key activity. 

Some titles I share with my undergraduate students that bring currency and engagement to their preservice teaching experiences are Kai Cheng Thom’s From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea (Arsenal Pulp Press), Sara Leach’s Penguin Days (Pajama Press), Sara Cassidy’s A Boy Named Queen (Groundwood Books), Beth Goobie’s Jason’s Why (Red Deer Press), Pamela Porter’s The Crazy Man (Groundwood Books), Kate DiCamillo’s The Tiger Rising (Candlewick), Cynthia Lord’s Rules (Scholastic), Kenneth Oppel’s Darkwing (HarperCollins), Arthur Slade’s Dust(Random House), Mariko and Jillian Tamaki’s Skim (Groundwood Books), and Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse (Douglas &McIntyre).

If you are a teacher who shares great literature with your students, or a teacher educator who models readalouds, I am grateful. You truly make a difference!

LIBRARIES AND LITERACY by Jane Rustin

The public library has served and continues to serve the interest of the reading community.  The library offers a collection of material in a variety of formats, but the essence of a library is its books.  Throughout history, countless people have testified to the significant role the availability of books has played in their lives.  And, just imagine, at the local public library, it’s free!  Reading is the key to enrichment and enlightenment.

But what of the non-readers in a community?  For a non-reader, entering the library building itself may be formidable.  To serve the non-reader, library staff need to be warm and welcoming and eager to offer assistance.  The library may offer a collection of books for the beginning adult reader, but how in the world can they be found without the help of a compassionate librarian?  Additionally, digital literacy is critical for success in the modern world, and libraries do a good job in providing this training.  But again, how in the world is a non-reader expected to navigate the digital world without help?

At the Wayne County Public Library, the staff understand the needs and anxieties of the non-reader and recognizes the library can offer a safe space for literacy tutoring, and this is a good way to become comfortable in a new environment.  Another way to break the cycle of illiteracy is for a young child to attend story time at the local library.  There is magic during these programs, and they can be the start of loving books.  And it’s all free!

The Friends of the Library annually provide support for the mission of the library and to support literacy in the community through the Friends Annual Book Sale.  Thousands of volumes, including children’s books, and all sorts of adult titles are sold for nominal sums.  Low pricing is intentional.  The Friends do like the revenue generated from the sale, but the greater purpose is to get books into people’s homes.

FEATURED POST by Valerie Wallace

You’ve heard it said -

“Children are made readers on the laps of 

their parents”, this statement is so true.  

The love of books and reading starts at an early age in the 
stories parents read to us.  Parents spending time with their children and reading stories to them will help them learn to read and comprehend stories on their own.  When they are read to frequently, children will learn to love reading and will begin to read more on their own.  Parents are also exposing their children to a rich vocabulary. 

A love for books is timeless and shared across all
generations.  Nothing beats curling up with a good book, having your child beside you and exploring the wonderful world of their imagination as you read to them. 

Here are a few ways to promote literacy.

~ Set aside time each day to read. ~

~ Visit the local library. ~  

(Did you know that infants can now receive a library card?)

~ Keep a variety of books available around the house. ~

~ Have older siblings read to their younger siblings. ~

~ Have a planned reading night. ~ 

(i.e. Read Going on a Bear Hunt and make a bear cave out of blankets and chairs.)  

~ Read with friends through FaceTime or using Skype. ~

~Read “popcorn” style.~  

(Each family member take a turn reading a page or two.  

For younger children, have them describe the page.)

By reading together, learning happens and most 

importantly memories are made that last a lifetime.

READ ON!