Get Your Students in the Library and Reading with Lively Library Programs Jane Lofton Teacher-Librarian Lindero Canyon Middle School Agoura Hills, CA CSLA 2007 Conference November 18, 2007

Fun and educational contests READ Posters Recognizing readers Special events, programs Using your website

Easy-to-create and run contests can: Educate students in library skills Motivate them to read Decorate 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 posters to decorate your library …. but also offer them to students and 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 Certificates, 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:

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.voicethread.com 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 –Work: –Home: My library website: – Get this presentation file & supplementary handouts (READ poster instructions, contest forms, Jeopardy, get acquainted game) from my new wiki: – –You can also contribute to the wiki by using this password: libraries