Get Your Students Get Your Students in the Library in the Library and Reading and Reading

with Lively Library with Lively Library ProgramsPrograms

Jane LoftonJane LoftonTeacher-LibrarianTeacher-Librarian

Lindero Canyon Middle SchoolLindero Canyon Middle SchoolAgoura Hills, CAAgoura Hills, CA

CSLA 2007 ConferenceCSLA 2007 ConferenceNovember 18, 2007November 18, 2007

Fun and educational contestsREAD PostersRecognizing readersSpecial events, programsUsing your website

Easy-to-create and run contests can:Educate students in library skillsMotivate them to readDecorate your library

“Answer the

questions” contests

(I’ve posted some examples you can

adapt online.)

Use an “I’ve Got a Secret” treasure hunt contest

Some CYRM contest ideas…

•Hold a drawing for all individual participants

•Offer treats for classes with 100 % participation

•Jeopardy game to promote the books (I’ve posted an example online.)

Book posters…with a Book Poster Contest

• Kids love seeing their teachers

• Kids love seeing themselves

• Kids love seeing each other

Use the Use the posters to posters to decorate decorate your library your library …. but also …. but also offer them to offer them to students and students and teachers.teachers.

• You don’t need Photoshop• You can use Corel Paint Shop Pro or

Photoshop Elements (PSP instructions on my wiki)

• Do both individual and group photos• Get as many teachers to participate

as possible – kids love seeing the teachers they know

1. Photograph against a plain background.2. Upload your photo to your computer and

open in your graphics program.3. Delete the background around the person.4. Copy the image to your clipboard.5. Choose and open a READ template.6. Paste the person’s image as a new layer

on top of the READ template.7. Add a READ heading if it’s not already on

the template.8. Add the person’s name and the book title.

Some reward ideas:• Recognize top school readers of

the month• Recognize top readers in each

class• Recognize high achieving

readers at the end of the year• Have a field trip as a reward for

readers

You can recognize Top Readers with You can recognize Top Readers with Certificates, Small Prizes, READ PostersCertificates, Small Prizes, READ Posters

The kids love these bookworms…

Some other prize ideas…• Store coupons for ice cream

cones, etc.• Pencils, pens, bookmarks, cookie

packets• Homemade personalized

bookmarks• Certificates• Any kind of fun trinkets from

companies Positive Promotions

Wendelin Van Draanen,

May 2007

Author visits are great motivators.

Gives students a place to “belong” and gives you a “core” support group for feedback, ideas, and help.

Kids like games, book talks, not just book discussions. (I’ve posted an example get acquainted game online.)

“Turn key” kits are available from Highsmith for about $40.

Some destination ideas…

• Libraries• Universities• Newspapers

Market these especially to the students who need to hear reading aloud the most.

In addition to research and information literacy tools, use your library web page to:

• Recognize readers• Publicize library activities• Promote books

My web page:

www.lvusd.org/lcms/library

Take advantage of …• Wikis…• Blogs…• and more…

My next projects…• Use voicethread.com to record

CYRM and other book talks, as well as a library orientation.

• Convert the front page of my web page to a cartoon picture.

• Don’t be disappointed by small turnouts.

• Don’t let failure get you down – just try something different next time.

• My email: – Work: jlofton@lvusd.org– Home: jane@lofton.com

• My library website: – www.lvusd.org/lcms/library

• Get this presentation file & supplementary handouts (READ poster

instructions, contest forms, Jeopardy, get acquainted game) from my new wiki:– http://weloveschoollibraries.pbwiki.com– You can also contribute to the wiki by

using this password: libraries