Getting Children Engaged with Reading- Traci

                    When I taught preschool I remember how many of the young preschoolers I worked with would seek out adults or peers to read with, while other students would almost never enter the library area or sit to listen to a story. Some of the things I did as a preschool teacher were to make sure that I had books all over the classroom and not just in the ‘library area’. I would place books about signs and construction in the block area and books about restaurants and foods in the kitchen area. I also placed some high preference books on shelves around the room. In preschool many children just needed an adult willing to sit with them and interact with a book to increase their interest. I also would ask every preschool to bring a book to the rug and we would talk about our books as a group, and I would guide them through some discovery. Another favorite was acting out the stories or retelling the stories with props in the sensory table.

                    This is my second year as a first grade teacher and last year I saw a high interest in Mo Williems books and Non-fiction books, so I have added more of these books to my library. I am continually looking for great read aloud books to share with my students. I also have a basket of ‘reading buddies’ (small stuffed animals) that students can read to.  I have found that allowing children time in our classroom library to look at and choose their own books (as well as including some of the just right leveled readers) increases my student’s interest and persistence during independent reading time.  I try to have conversations with students and families about their interest, and use these interests to help students choose books.