Free voluntary reading helps everyone by instilling a love of reading through modeling reading enjoyment, recommending books, and allowing students to choose their own reading material. Studies show students who participate in free voluntary reading programs perform as well or better on reading assessments compared to non-participants and enjoy reading more both during and after programs. Teachers can encourage free reading through classroom book collections, literature circles, reading challenges and signage in school libraries.

1. Free Voluntary Reading
Helps Everyone
Everyone should love to read
Middle School
Teacher-Librarian
A younger and thinner
J.K. – Gr. 5 Teacher-Librarian

2. Welcome to
Session 1222

3. Presented by
Leslie Holwerda
& Brenda Roberts
Teacher-Librarians
Peel District School Board
For OLA Superconference 2013

4. We believe that as teacher-
librarians our main goal…
 is to instill a love of reading
 by modeling a love of reading
 by reading many books and reviews
 by recommending books

5. Try this:
What are you currently reading
(ebook, internet, magazine, print, professional)?
Why did you select this?
Share something interesting?
Will you finish it?
Would you pass it on to a friend?

6. Free Voluntary Reading is:
 reading because you want to
 reading what you want
 reading when you want
 what most adults do daily
 is often called SSR or USSR or DEAR
in school settings

7. DANIEL PENNAC AND
QUENTIN BLAKE
Sum it up!

8. Stephen Krashen is:
 professor emeritus at the University of
Southern California
 a linguist, educator and activist
 has published more than 350 papers and
books
 believes that FVR is the most powerful
tool we have in language education

9. Krashen summarizes:
(students involved in FVR compared to those who aren’t)
 do as well or better at reading comprehension
 do better on tests of writing, writing fluency,
spelling, vocabulary, grammar
 read more (both during and after the program
ends)
 show an improved attitude towards reading

10. And a few bonuses:
 teachers report fewer discipline problems
 this works just as well with second language
learners
 increased general knowledge
 for older adults, less memory loss

11. Donalyn Miller is:
 a grade 6 Language Arts and Social Studies
teacher
 the author of The Book Whisperer
 a Blogger: The Book Whisperer Education
Week Teacher
 a Contributor: The Nerdy Book Club Blog
 on Twitter @donalynbooks
 a champion of free reading

12. The Book Whisperer site

13. Grade 4 and 5
Mercy Pilkington, goodereader.com

14. Reading Inventory
 Reading Interest-a-lyzer © (based on the Interest-A-Lyzer by J.S. Renzulli, adapted from D. Miller)
 Name: ____________________ Teacher _______________ Age _______
 Please circle your answers.
 Are you currently reading a book for pleasure? Yes No
 Do you ever read a book for pleasure? Yes No
 What do you like to read for pleasure? (circle all that apply)
 chapter books history books picture books newspapers sports books mystery books poetry books
fantasy books science books biographies funny books scary books non-fiction books magazines
cartoons comics manga other ________
 I am more likely to read a book for pleasure if:
 A teacher suggests it A friend suggests it A librarian suggests it
 It’s won an award It’s by an author I know The cover is
interesting
 I see a book trailer for it I find out about it on the internet
 5) My 3 favorite books are:
 1)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
 2)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
 3)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
 6) In the last week, I have read for at least half an hour (30 minutes):
 Every day 3-5 days 1-2 days 0 days

15. The 40 Book Challenge wiki

16. TL Example

17. Grade 4

18. Grade 4

19. Grade 5

20. Grade 5

21. Grade 5

22. Grade 5

23. Building Community through
Comments

24. Challenges
 teacher support
 access to computers
 student engagement
 time
 misunderstandings, e.g. “Done!”

25. MIDDLE SCHOOL
Class and Library programs

26. Advertising in the Library

27. Library Sign up

28. Library Challenge Log

29. Library Edmodo conversations

30. Class Challenge
Classroom Book Carts

31. Results: Grade 8 Genre Quiz

32. You may need to add some new
spine (classification) labels

33. In the classroom
 Literature Circles
◦ grouping
◦ real discussions
 Assessment
◦ co-creating rubric
 Silver Birch Blitz
 Success!

34. Student Comments
I read 27 so far!
I'll read poetry now
I've learned I like historical fiction
You`ve gotta read this!
When do we find out who wins?
When is reading today?

35. Link to Free Voluntary Reading
Helps Everyone LiveBinder
for all resources

36. Questions
And
Answers