Good Times in the Library

These guys look very happy to be taking turns on the beanbag chairs and reading their books during "booklook" time in Library Class. Considering that they are 4th grade boys, I'm thrilled to see them still enjoying these times - they've been coming since Kindergarten!

During Library Class, I feel that students deserve to find a "free-choice" book that they are happy to read. Studies have shown that reading what you want to read is a great incentive to do more reading - and that's so important to all of us. If a child is reading, then it does not have to be a chapter book or other challenging reading each time. I do want to see rigor that encourages them to challenge and grow their reading skills. Also, perhaps they may just discover a new chapter book that really gets them hooked on reading. But my feeling is that we all want some lighter reading sometimes and I hope the library helps our students find their interests.

Confession time - Although I love a good, challenging chapter book, I still love to pick up a magazine and enjoy some less-taxing reading. And . . . as an elementary student many years ago, my favorite reading was comic books. Who would have guessed I would become a librarian?!!!