Let's Read This Summer!
My Reading Life Door Displays
"If we want our students to read and enjoy it for the rest of their lives, then we must show them what a reading life looks like." Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer
The Literacy Team at Biddeford Intermediate School knows that the more we all talk about books with our students and share our own reading lives with them, the more reading they will actually do! We want to get the book buzzing going right away when school starts and YOU can help!
We would love to have ALL staff members spend some time reading this summer and then create a "My Reading Life" Door Display for the first day of school in September. Your display can include covers of picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, magazines, professional books...basically anything you read over the summer that you could then talk about with 4th or 5th graders. We invite every person in our school community to participate!
We would love to have ALL staff members spend some time reading this summer and then create a "My Reading Life" Door Display for the first day of school in September. Your display can include covers of picture books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, magazines, professional books...basically anything you read over the summer that you could then talk about with 4th or 5th graders. We invite every person in our school community to participate!
Create a "Reading Life" Door Display AND Build YOUR Classroom Library!
All staff members (teachers, specialists, office staff, Title One staff, did we miss anyone?) who create a door display for the beginning of school will be entered into a raffle for a $50 gift certificate to Kennebooks in Kennebunk to help build your classroom library!
"My Reading Life" Door Display Examples
Donalyn Miller
The Book Whisperer 4th/5th Grade Teacher
Catherine Flynn
K-8 Literacy Specialist
Sarah Anderson
High School English Teacher
Why You Should Read Children's Books as an Adult by Jen Robinson
1. It's FUN!
2. It keeps your imagination active.
3. It strenghtens your relationship with the children in your life who read.
4. It sets an example for the children in your life, making them more likely to become readers.
5. It clues you in on cultural references that you may have missed (both current and classical)
6. It's fast. Children's books are usually shorter than adult books, so if you don't think you have time to read, you DO have time to read children's books.
7. It allows you to read across genres. Children's books aren't limited to mystery OR science fiction OR fantasy OR literary fiction. They can have it all.
8. It's like time travel -- it's an easy way to remember the child that you once were, when you first read a book.
9. It's often inspirational -- reading about heroes and bravery and loyalty make you want to be a better person. And couldn't we all do with some of that?
10. Did I mention that it's FUN?
Reprinted with permission from: Jen Robinson's Book Page, 2005
2. It keeps your imagination active.
3. It strenghtens your relationship with the children in your life who read.
4. It sets an example for the children in your life, making them more likely to become readers.
5. It clues you in on cultural references that you may have missed (both current and classical)
6. It's fast. Children's books are usually shorter than adult books, so if you don't think you have time to read, you DO have time to read children's books.
7. It allows you to read across genres. Children's books aren't limited to mystery OR science fiction OR fantasy OR literary fiction. They can have it all.
8. It's like time travel -- it's an easy way to remember the child that you once were, when you first read a book.
9. It's often inspirational -- reading about heroes and bravery and loyalty make you want to be a better person. And couldn't we all do with some of that?
10. Did I mention that it's FUN?
Reprinted with permission from: Jen Robinson's Book Page, 2005
Need some title suggestions?
If you're not sure where to start here are some great lists to help you choose newer middle grade and young adult novels:
Bank Street College: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2013
Nerdy Book Club: 2012 Nerdies Book Awards
ALSC 2013 Notable Children's Books
Kirkus Reviews: 100 Best Children's Books of 2012
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2013
Maine Student Book Award Nominees 2013-2014
Bank Street College: The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2013
Nerdy Book Club: 2012 Nerdies Book Awards
ALSC 2013 Notable Children's Books
Kirkus Reviews: 100 Best Children's Books of 2012
NCTE Orbis Pictus Award 2013
Maine Student Book Award Nominees 2013-2014
#BOOKADAY Challenge
Need some motivation (and lots of title suggestions from trusted readers) to keep you going over the summer? Consider joining Donalyn Miller's #BookaDay Challenge. Learn more by clicking on the link below.
The Fifth Annual #BookaDay Challenge
The Fifth Annual #BookaDay Challenge