Final Vision Project Blog Post #3

Posted on By janelletenhave

My future vision

Welcome back to my final post for my Future Vision Project. Below I have incorporated my artifact for this project, which is an infographic I created using Piktochart. I also filmed a video explaining my resource in greater detail, which you can also find below.

https://create.piktochart.com/output/51193176-fostering-a-love-of-reading

CC from my video:

“Hi everyone, Janelle the Island TL back again. This is my final future vision blog/vlog post. I have finished my artifact and printed it out. Ideally it will be bigger when I post it in my library, but this is what I have for now. I will attach it in my blog so you can see it in a bigger version. Here is what I have done, I am quite proud of it. Basically it is all about fostering a love of reading, I have broken it down in five easy tips and steps to follow, in order to create a comfortable and safe environment in your library or your classroom. I will talk a little bit about this, and then I will go into some feedback I received from my staff and fellow educators.

Step One: To Make Reading Comfortable

This is something that is so important. You want to have your pillows, your blankets, your plants. Everything you may need to make it feel like a safe home space. Another thing I included was giving choice for flexible seating. Sometimes kids don’t want to stay in their chair while they’re reading. Even if that doesn’t mean they’re going to the cozy corner, it could mean they are going under their desk, or under a table. It creates a safe cocoon space for them. Some people even have tents in their classroom for reading. A cool, neat, safe, and comfortable reading environment.

Step Two: Strewing

I had a lot of questions about this in my feedback, about what is “Strewing”. Strewing means to leave books along students’ path. The resource that I took this from was a video by Oglesby Ohana youtube channel. She used the word strewing, and I thought that was an interesting word and I really wanted to include it. This basically means to leave books along someone’s path, or to leave things scattered around, so that it motivates the kids to walk passed something, and pick up a book and read it. For example, at home a parents could have not just one bookshelf, but rather different areas in their house that have books. This would motivate their kids at home to read. In my library, or in a classroom this could be, not just having one bookshelf, but having various areas in the classroom so that the kids are easily able to pick something up and read it. In the library, that could look like having new books up on top of the shelf, or in a bin, or somewhere other than just being tucked away on a shelf. It’s for easy access, it gives students the motivation to pick up a book and read it. Kind of like a subtle influence of motivating your students to read.

Step Three: Reading Aloud

This is so important. When I was in the classroom setting, I loved reading aloud to my kids during lunch. It was always my favourite part of the day, and I knew that they felt so calm during that time. They would come in from recess feeling busy, get to sit down to eat their lunch, and listen to me read to them. Now as a Teacher-Librarian, I always make sure to take the time to read to my students (from kindergarten to grade 7). I always have various novels and picture books on the go, at all times. We always take time to brainstorm and remind ourselves what happened the week before. It builds a community in the classroom, as you are all reading the same book, and you’re learning at the same time. Reading aloud is important, because during silent reading we don’t always know if the students are concentrating on their books, and we also don’t know if they are always understanding what they are reading. Reading aloud, and reading with them can really help with this.

Step Four: Give Choice

Let them read what they want to read. It gives them a voice in what they are reading, as well as it encourages them to read for enjoyment, rather than just for academic reasons. If you are allowing them to read what they want to read, they are going to find books they find enjoyment in, thus starting to foster that love of reading.

Step Five: Let Books Be The Answer

This is a really big one, as we often go directly to our phones or the computer when we don’t know an answer. This is fine too, as we don’t know everything, but if you have a book on hand, use that resource to find the answer. It also gives your students to the ability and knowledge to go to a book when they are searching for an answer. To find information and do research out of a book might feel old school, but it is such an important skill to have.

These were the five tips I have put together to foster a love of reading, I am sure there are a lot more, but I liked the idea of keeping it clear and concise. It makes it simple to look at and refer to.

I sent my artifact to my coworkers and educators at different schools to get some feedback on it. The feedback was very positive feedback. (I have posted some of the feedback below). It was really encouraging to hear that this resource I have created could also be helpful for others.

I would love to keep creating these resources. I used Piktochart to create this one, and it was very simple to use. The layout was really straightforward, but still gave me freedom to add my own creativity and my own information. Piktochart could be a helpful resource to use in a classroom, rather than just using powerpoint or poster boards. A simple way to create an aesthetically pleasing resource.

My hope is to continue to share my resource. I have already shared it with my staff, and my next step will be to share it with the other Teacher-Librarians in my district. I am passionate about it, and I know that others are as well. Many are already using these tips in their everyday practice, so having this resource up in their classroom or library will be useful to refer too regularly.

Thanks so much for joining along on my journey!”

Feedback from coworkers and fellow educators:

“This resource is so clear and straight forward, providing simple ways to promote and foster a love of reading in my students, I would definitely utilize it in my class room” -D.F (grade 1/2 teacher)

“With reading being such a foundational skill, these tips to help every child succeed and explore books are so useful and presented in an exciting way!” -M.T (grade 5 teacher)

“This resource is clear and concise. I already use many of these strategies in my classroom already and will absolutely use this resource.” -J.U (grade 2 teacher)

“I love the layout, colours and the images that you have chosen. It is great that you have an image from your library. Looks professional.” -K.M (grade 4/5 teacher)

“Love it! I recognize those bookshelves! Well done, looks like it was a lot of work!” -J.K (Teacher-Librarian)

Janelle, The Island TL

References:

Piktochart Video. “How To Create a Piktochart Infographic Easily.” Youtube, 2014, youtu.be/SzI9RzvnwZA. 

THE OGLESBY OHANA. “Fostering a LOVE for READING in Your Children.” Youtube, 2020, youtu.be/h4B0n4IDbfI. 

Final Vision Project: Learner Consideration

Posted on By janelletenhave

I am really enjoying creating these videos for my final vision project. I am a verbal thinker, so being able to freely speak aloud about my ideas and my process has been a great brainstorming activity. I find myself filming the same video three or four times before my words start to make sense, and my idea comes to light. I really appreciated the positive feedback on my last post. I have created another video, but this time with a clearer focus, and the idea of who this artifact I am creating is for.

CC for my video:

“Hi everyone, I’m back! Janelle the Island TL. Today I’m going to be talking about who I am creating my artifact for. My topic is “Fostering a Love of Reading”. This is a topic I am passionate about, want to pursue, continue to implement, to do research on, and continue to grow in this area. What I know so far is that I am going to be creating an infographic. It will be able to be used as a printable poster, or a PDF, or however else you see fit. I am picturing it as a printable poster that can be put up on a wall, so it can be used or referred to. It will be really clear, with clear titles and descriptions, as well as clear graphics. The person that this is for, or the people that this is geared towards is Teachers and Teacher-Librarians. Could even be for admin to pass along to their staff, or people who work in the education field. That’s who I have in mind while creating this. It’s not really meant for the purpose of handing it out to children, or to be sent out in an email to parents, it’s not for that. It’s for in the classroom setting and in the library, to help keep the focus on “How are we fostering a love of reading”, “ What steps are we taking”, “What are we doing well”, “What could we change”. I will be creating this infographic of what I know so far, what I hope to continue doing, and what I’m already implementing. Maybe there are some cool ideas in there that others haven’t thought of. Things that I am doing that others might think “That’s a really neat idea, and I haven’t thought of that”. That’s my hope. Not to do anything revolutionary, I’m sure, but just to spark some ideas. I am passionate about this and I hope to create something that other people may be passionate about as well. 

When I was in the classroom setting, I created a cozy corner in my classroom. I used things like pillows, a bench, and plants in my cozy corner. We made it a really sacred spot, it wasn’t a spot to sit at during lunch, or to hang out with friends. It was for reading, to give them a quiet spot, or to give them a spot to take a break. It was special, and a cool area for kids to read with a friend or read independently. My intention, as I have said, is to create something like that in my library. To create a really awesome space for kids to come and read (when I can open my library again). I will include some pictures of the benches that I have. I am dreaming of the day when I can use them to their full potential. Right now, sometimes I sit on them myself. I’m excited to be able to implement those in the future. This is what I have a vision and a passion for, so this will be part of my infographic. As well as other ways to foster a love of reading in the classroom or in the library. 

Another idea I have is to include reading aloud. Kids love when someone reads to them. It gives them a break, to relax, and have words put over them like a blanket. I remember as a kid being so excited for lunch time everyday to have my teacher read to me. To have that calming voice, of someone I know and trust, telling me a story. I still love being read to. I now get to be that person for kids, which I think is quite neat. I have other steps and ideas that I will be including into the infographic/poster/PDF. I will disperse this to my staff, as well as I hope to share it with the other Teacher-Librarians in my district. If they wish to share that with their teachers, they can do that. That is the purpose behind it. It’s not created for parents, the students, or the community, but it will be an open resource if someone wants to use it for that. My vision and idea behind creating it is more for people in the education world to create that space, that cozy home feel at school. As well as to make reading comfortable, a happy thing, and to foster a love of reading.”

I will be using Piktochart to create my infographic. I used it once before in my education degree, and I remember it being fairly straightforward and easy to use. I have done a bit of research of some helpful tips and tricks that will help me along the way as well. Here is a video I found that helps lay out the basics of Piktochart, to start me on the correct path. My goal is to make it clear and concise, as well as visually pleasing, so that it catches the eye.

Thanks for following along on this journey as I continue to learn and grow in new areas.

Janelle, The Island TL

References:

“Create Infographics, Presentations & Reports.” Piktochart, piktochart.com/. 

The Island TL, Janelle. “Final Vision Project Learner Consideration.” Youtube, 2020, youtu.be/EvFKIt0A_d4. 

Piktochart Video. “How To Create a Piktochart Infographic Easily.” Youtube, 2014, youtu.be/SzI9RzvnwZA.