Books of Wonder

a shelf of adventurea map to explorea vacationa magician’s spella car that takes you anywherea hole that you fall intoa magic paradise filled withwordsa potion that transforms youa trapa meeting placea shark swallowing you upan ocean of ideasa game of hero versus villiana jumpropea battlea romancea good friend

by Andrea Kerr@andCreative

11 Ways to SupportLiteracy

Magical Metaphors by 3/4K

From book selection to self-assessment, the goal is toimprove - continuously.Literate learners are life-longlearners.

GROWTH

01:

Literacy is understanding thereasons why we communicate.Empower students to draw,write, photograph, or recordtheir learning. Who will theiraudience be? Share theirstories and voices for a realpurpose.

STORYTELLING

02:

Literate learners are usingtechnology, and usingtechnology effectively meansdoing more than consumingand lurking about. Studentsand teachers need to get messyand make stuff.

CREATION

03:

Real people read and write inthe real world. Observe yourpublic library or photodocument the many exampleswithin walking distance. Invite an author, blogger,news editor, graphic designer,or guest reader to share inperson or via Skype.

CONNECTIONS

04:

Observe and reflect on theways in which your studentsdemonstrate literacy. Recordwhat they learn, how theygrow, and what they arewondering about. Promoteliteracy using positiveexamples of what they can do.

DOCUMENTATION

05:

Do all of the books need to beon shelves? Think of unusualplaces to display and sharebooks: beside the photocopier,in the principal's office, alongside the milk line... Make apoint of taking studentsoutside with their books, orwherever they find joy.

PLACES TO READ

06:

Literate learners areconstantly seeking the answersto their questions. Supportstudents with the research andcritical thinking skills theyneed to uncover relevant anduseful information.

INQUIRY

07:

When students find a book orresource they love, encouragethem to pass it on. When agroup of students share apassion or interest, help themcollaborate and build on theirknowledge. Book reviews,trailers, chats, and clubs areperfect forums for sharing.

COLLABORATION

08:

Your enthusiasm and passionfor literacy and learning is acritical motivator for students.Model and be transparentabout your own reading andwriting habits and challenges.Be inclusive of a wide rangeof abilities and interests. Besure to tell your students howthey have inspired you.

INSPIRATION

09:

Think multi-literacies.Support and engage learnerswith a diverse range ofresources - from comics andmemes to stop-motion andYoutube. Don't replace thebooks, of course, just makeroom for alternate ways ofcommunicating.

EXPANSION

10:

Make your classroom andschool library a place forliteracy to flourish. Highlightthe reading and writing inevery subject. Chooseunforgettable picture books and mentor texts to readaloud to your students, displaythem, and circle back to theirthemes and impactthroughout the year.

INTERIOR DESIGN

11:

Photos by Andrea Kerr

http://blogs.hpedsb.on.ca/qvic/akerr/2012/09/22/magical-metaphors/

http://www.teachthought.com/featured/25-ways-schools-can-promote-literacy-independent-reading/

Sources