Year Long - Reading for Enjoyment

 

Year Long - Reading for Enjoyment

Grade Level: 6th - 8th 

Standard(s):

AASL A.V.1 - Reading widely and deeply in multiple formats and write and create for a variety of purposes.

AASL A.V.3 - Engaging in inquiry-based processes for personal growth. 

Planning:

1. Identify goals of the program.

1. One goal of this program is to create a student engagement program that exposes readers to different formats of books. 

2. To promote books from peer and staff recommendations.

3. To help facilitate an intrinsic reward for reading and a love of reading for enjoyment.
   
   

2. Determine the selection of books.

1. Since this is geared towards grades 6-8, we will push books that are listed on the 2023 Lone Star Texas Reading List. Books include the following:

1. Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi

2. Iveliz Explains it All by Andrea Arrango

3. The Swag is in the Socks by Kelly Baptist

4. The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird

5. The Life and Crimes of Hoodie Rosen by Isaac Blum

6. Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

7. The Girl in the Lake by India Brown

8. Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

9. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton

10. Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie

11. Yusuf Azeem is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqi

12. Rules for Vampires by Alex Foulkes

13. Concealed by Christina Gonzalez

14. The Last Cuentista by Donna Higuerra

15. Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coati by Julie Kagawa

16. Jennifer Chan is Not Alone by Tae Keller

17. Linked by Gordon Korman

18. One for All by Lillie Lainoff

19. Flip the Script by Lyla Lee

20. Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd

21. Battle Dragons: City of Thieves by Alex London

22. A Forgery of Roses by Jessica Olson

23. Black Bird, Blue Road by Sofiya Pasternack

24. Tumble by Celia Perez

25. Children of the Fox by Kevin Sands

26. The Clackity by Lora Senf

27. I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys

28. Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A.F. Steadman

29. The Language of Seabirds by Will Taylor

30. Dust & Grin by Chuck Wendig
    
    

3. Determine and decide on a policy of allowing alternative books.

1. One goal for the campus and library is to help promote the freedom to read what the patron wants to read. Therefore, if a student is hesitant to read something on the list, the librarian will provide a “If you liked this book (from the list), then you may like these books,” to help open up more options for reluctant readers.

2. This will be a preset list of at least three books per each one listed above to offer more options.
   
   

4. Determine how tracking of books read will take place.

1. Tracking for the student:

1. Google Form will be created allowing students to enter their information as well as a 1-2 line review of the book read.

2. Tracking for the librarian:

1. Upon receipt of the Google Form, the librarian will call students to the library to capture their picture with the book in hand, or an image of the book on the iPad if it was an ebook or audiobook.

2. Librarian will then add the student's photo and 1-2 line review over the book to the display.
   
   

5. Determine a timeline for completion of the program.

1. Program will start September 1st (this will allow three weeks of August to get students acquainted with the library/school, policies/procedures, and to advertise for the program).

2. The program will run from September 1st through April 31st.

3. The program will allow for monthly events to encourage student participation in the program.

1. August - Set-up

2. September - Highlight the program, flyers, announcements, activities in the library highlighting the books from the list.

3. October - Focus on the books from the list that fall under horror and fantasy. Create a display enticing those that love to read scary stories.

4. November - Focus on the books from the list that fall under adventure and sports. Create a display to spark new interest in the program highlighting these books.

5. December - Focus on promotion of having a book to read over the holidays from the list. Highlight a few books that appear to have winter weather on the cover.

6. January - Focus on the books from the list that cover historical fiction. Create a display that not only helps support historical individuals but also promotes the historical fiction books from the list.

7. February - Focus on the romance books listed on the list to tie in with the month of love.

8. March - Focus on the bulk of the list of books left because they fall under the realistic fiction category. Create a display highlighting some of these books.

9. April - For the National Month of Poetry - focus on tying in the poetry books from the list. As well as highlighting aspects of poetry. Wrap up the program and recognize those students who participated as well as those top readers.

Promotion:

1. Promotion will start in August by the 2nd week of school. 

2. Continued promotion will occur through library visits/discussions, classroom discussions, flyers, and posted information on the library website.

3. Displays outside the library will continue to grow throughout the school year with added photos and reviews made by students.

4. Every Friday, pick one of the books from the list to use as a “First Chapter Friday” book helping to hook readers by only reading the first chapter to them.

Preparations:

1. Prior to the school year:

1. Over the summer, order additional copies of the books listed on the Lone Star 2023 list. Make sure to have duplicates of the physical book, ebooks available, and a few audiobooks.

2. Begin setting up a display area that will showcase/highlight the books from the list.

3. Create the Google Form for students to submit upon completion of reading one of the books.

Procedures:

1. The entire program will be voluntary and is geared towards promoting the enjoyment of reading.

2. Teachers in classrooms should help encourage students to have a book from the list handy for any down time, encourage students to read together with books from the list.

3. For each book a student completes from the list (or the alternative list), the student will complete a Google Form giving their name, grade, and a 1-2 line review of the book. Once the librarian receives the form, he/she will call the student down to take a picture with the book and/or the image of the book to add to the display outside the library.

4. In the display, it will house the pictures and the 1-2 line review from the student to encourage other peers to read the book.

Payoff:

1. Students will be exposed to award winning books as well as encouraged to read a wide variety of books. Having students leave 1-2 line reviews will hopefully encourage peers or even reluctant readers to participate and find reading topics that they enjoy. 

Possible Additions: 

If the school is 1:1, the display could also become a digital display by using programs such as Padlet or JamBoard to allow students to leave 1-2 line reviews for other students to see.

Possibility of having “guest” readers from the district for the First Chapter Fridays to help promote engagement in the program.