School-wide literacy ideas

Most of these ideas can be used in your home.
(Or suggest them to your principal).

Here are some great, inexpensive literacy ideas for teachers from the blog, Choice Literacy.

Currently Reading posters on lockers
Kids post a notice on their locker that says what they’re currently reading, and features a colour photocopy of the bookjacket.

At home, this would be great on the outside of a kid’s bedroom door.

He can be proud of what he’s reading, and the overall effect says that what you’re reading matters to others. Plus, it gives other kids suggestions for good books.

It takes a solitary occupation and makes it shareable with others.

Everyone reads the same book
The Toronto Public Library system did this for the whole city and it can be done in a school, an individual classroom, or with a kid and his friends. You get one great book (“The Mysterious Benedict Society,” for instance) and everyone agrees to read it.

Young kids can have it read to them – older kids can read it themselves.

You can set up a website or a face-to-face forum like a book club to discuss the book.

It’s fun and creates a buzz. There are tons of spin-offs possible, like having the author visit the school or renting the video/movie (for instance for Alice in Wonderland or The Phantom Tollbooth).

READ posters
Remember that awesome poster campaign featuring various celebrities reading, with one word – READ – underneath? How about doing that in your school, featuring local celebrities (the mayor, councilors, teachers, the principal). It sends the message that reading is important.

Reading night
Schools can host a “reading night” once a year. After dinner, kids and parents return to the school where there is an hour or two of fun literacy activities. It could be a readaloud, learning a craft using a how-to book or a book swap. Add baked goods and it could also be a school fundraiser.

For more information on each of these ideas, and other good ideas besides, check out the Choice Literacy website.
I came across Choice Literacy via a tweet from @JensBookPage – thanks Jen!

Image: Barry Lou Polisar.