Inside the Staffroom
How to encourage a culture
of reading in your school
By Chassie Selouane
students to carry a ‘free’ reading book
of their choice, or a class novel being
read by the class. Include it in your
lesson plan at the beginning of the
lesson or closure for 10 minutes, twice
a week, or simply plan for a weekly full
period. With proper implementation,
DEAR can give teachers structured time
to touch base with each student over
a period of time, assess progress and
target instruction. If you are interested
starting DEAR at your school you can
get all the resources needed at http://
dropeverythingandread.com/
Tip 3: Schedule regular library
visits
Work closely with the school librarian
to schedule regular monthly, fortnightly
or weekly library visits. This exposes
students to a wide variety of reading
material, and could be combined with
DEAR to fully maximize reading potential
and opportunities. Having a set library
time also encourages students to
explore different genres of literature.
Tip 4: Teach students how to
use the library
"The year of reading is the beginning
of a permanent change in the UAE
society to foster a reader generation
conscious of developments, and ready
to lead a new stage of development
in the country.” - Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of
Dubai
I
n January 2016, HH Sheikh Khalifa
Bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared
2016 the Year of Reading for the
UAE. Sheikh Mohammed has
also challenged a million students
in the UAE to read a minimum of 50
Arabic Language books in his reading
challenge.
Developing a culture of reading in
schools is very beneficial for the
development of students. Reading
is one of the most important skills to
develop and prepare students for
academic success in the future. The
following are a few tips to consider.
Tip 1: Get caught reading
Modeling behaviour is a successful and
proven method of instruction. Students
learn by observation. Teachers should
encourage students to read in their free
time. By occasionally carrying a book to
class, the teacher will pique students’
interest, especially if it is a book they
have never seen. They should discuss
the importance of reading at home
and share with students the books
that they enjoy reading. Encourage
your students to create a reading log
and to read at least 30 minutes a week
independently at home.
Tip 2: Encourage D.E.A.R.
(Drop Everything and Read)
DEAR is a great concept that promotes
a culture of reading in a fun way. It
gives students time to read what they
want to read, share what they've read,
and receive the support they need
for further reading explorations and
reflections. With DEAR you encourage
Students should be trained on how
to use the library. Teach them how to
effectively research topics and use
library resources. Give students samples
of informational texts, case studies
or journal articles to practice reading
comprehension skills. Think of creative
and critical thinking activities and
projects that encourage reading and
research. Knowing how to effectively use
the library and its resources can be very
beneficial to students’ future academic
success.
Tip 5: Host a Book Fair
Encourage your school to host a book
fair or fairs throughout the academic
year. This is allows students to shop
and explore new reading material. It
also shows students that reading is so
important that the school has brought
a plethora of new reading opportunities
right into their hands. Book Fairs
provide a great opportunity to engage
students, parents and the community
in encouraging reading outside of the
school.
Class Time
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