Reflection
In an effort to increase reading among students we must use a variety of strategies to promote leisure reading and model personal enjoyment of reading in order to promote habits of creative expression and lifelong reading. I created a promotion plan called “The Summer Scoop” to invite 3rd and 4th grade students to join a summer book club to prevent the summer slide. During the summer they would be introduced to four different authors during an author study and participate in book talks. They would choose a book to read by the author and choose a way to promote it. It could be as simple as take a picture with a book or record a “commercial” for the book. For every three books read, students would receive an ice cream scoop on a bulletin board display to show their progress.
I believe the summer reading program would work because it is great way to keep students actively involved in reading in a fun and engaging way. Statistics show that students who read over the summer are able to retain what they have been taught during the school year. Incorporating technology as part of the plan allows students to learn another set of skills and gets them excited about learning. The student promotions would then be shared with other students once the school year begins. As an added bonus they receive an ice cream coupon for each ice cream scoop they receive on the bulletin board. Watching their ice cream grow is a visual confirmation of their progress.
A weakness of the program would be getting students to attend regularly in the summer. We require parents to escort students to the library. Many parents may work or may be sleeping after working all night. One way to solve this problem is finding parents would could accompany small groups of students to the library. The program would also offer lunch to students who attend. I was unable to try out the summer scoop idea because the county discontinued having the school libraries open in the summer due to low attendance.
Encouraging students to read is one of my top priorities. Getting them to connect to books in one way or another is an ongoing journey. This year I have done more author studies, book talks, and have taught students how to write and record book reviews using an avatar. I think that the Summer Scoop would be effective as students use technology skills to promote books. I will continue to use a variety of strategies to promote leisure reading and model personal enjoyment of reading in order to promote habits lifelong reading.
I believe the summer reading program would work because it is great way to keep students actively involved in reading in a fun and engaging way. Statistics show that students who read over the summer are able to retain what they have been taught during the school year. Incorporating technology as part of the plan allows students to learn another set of skills and gets them excited about learning. The student promotions would then be shared with other students once the school year begins. As an added bonus they receive an ice cream coupon for each ice cream scoop they receive on the bulletin board. Watching their ice cream grow is a visual confirmation of their progress.
A weakness of the program would be getting students to attend regularly in the summer. We require parents to escort students to the library. Many parents may work or may be sleeping after working all night. One way to solve this problem is finding parents would could accompany small groups of students to the library. The program would also offer lunch to students who attend. I was unable to try out the summer scoop idea because the county discontinued having the school libraries open in the summer due to low attendance.
Encouraging students to read is one of my top priorities. Getting them to connect to books in one way or another is an ongoing journey. This year I have done more author studies, book talks, and have taught students how to write and record book reviews using an avatar. I think that the Summer Scoop would be effective as students use technology skills to promote books. I will continue to use a variety of strategies to promote leisure reading and model personal enjoyment of reading in order to promote habits lifelong reading.
This website was designed by Gina Deal. Comments can sent to [email protected].This page was last updated October 2015.
The images on these pages were photographed by Gina Deal unless otherwise cited. Word clouds created at wordle.net or tagxedo.com.
The images on these pages were photographed by Gina Deal unless otherwise cited. Word clouds created at wordle.net or tagxedo.com.