Engaging Reluctant Readers

Well, I have begun my first course in the Teacher-Librarianship Diploma, LIBE 477: New Media and New Technologies in the School Library Program. This is my second week of the course and my first blog post (assigned) ever. With a week of weighing all possibilities I have some decisions to make: selecting a topic(s) of interest which will guide my assignments for the next 3 weeks and perhaps create a vision of my future library. That is my aim. To select a topic carefully, so that it may be purposeful in my teaching practise (Kindie .2fte and grade 5/6 .4 fte), and in particular, in the library where I teach K-6 (.4fte).

Initially, I was intrigued by a focus on internet safety and its interconnectivity with digital citizenship. These are topics that I definitely would like to explore more in depth at some point in the near future, as I feel such skills are imperative to our students. I feel this way because I see that the Internet has already become part of our everyday life, and competency in such topics would serve my intermediate students very well. As a T-L however, I feel conflicted, as I believe it's necessary and professionally appropriate to select a topic that will be of immediate relevance to all my students, even those in Kindergarten and the early grades.

I have decided to explore the topic of how to engage reluctant readers. I feel like this topic spans all elementary grades and can be suited to meet the needs of a diverse population and offers benefits to the broadest base of learners in my school library. As a T-L, I would love to see more students accessing library resources with an enthusiasm and newly sparked interest. I want them to love their time in the library and feel connected and excited to be there. There are many tools to do this (I have just begun to research) and I am excited to get started.

Within this topic of engaging reluctant readers, I plan to explore e-readers, interactive fiction, tablets, online stories, and games. I believe that the use of such digital technologies will inspire, engage and enhance learning for all of my students in an elementary library. I would love to see students collaborating and using critical thinking skills through the use of technology and I hope this is a step in the right direction to getting there (I see many grant proposals in my future…$$).

Be well.

Nicole