The Road to Reading Joy

Click here to watch the informational Zoom session held about the Road to Reading Joy on 10/14/2022.

What if every student in your school loved to read? What if every classroom teacher allowed for choice reading and curated curriculum based upon diverse, contemporary, high-interest literature? What if Teacher-Librarians and classroom teachers joined forces to build campus-wide reading joy and lifelong learners? Join a cohort of like-minded educators determined to reimagine reading. This deep-dive into Donalyn Miller and Teri S. Lesesne’s new book The Joy of Reading will help educators ignite students’ reading joy. Learn practical strategies for collaboration and implementation, including helping students find right-fit books, creating standards-based curriculum around independent reading, and writing grants to bolster classroom libraries. Teacher-Librarians are encouraged to participate with a site team comprised of themselves and classroom teachers, but all are welcome!

Participants will spend five asynchronous hours reading the book and collaborating with their site team. Participants will spend six synchronous Zoom sessions connecting, brainstorming, and problem-solving with colleagues across the state, culminating in a live Q&A with author Donalyn Miller! A total of 12 Clock Hours will be awarded for participation between November 2022 and May 2023. The Washington State Library will provide free copies of The Joy of Reading for participants, while supplies last. 

Supported by funding provided by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

Learning Objectives:

Teacher-Librarian and Classroom Teacher Collaboration:

1. Increase collaboration between Teacher-Librarians and ELA and other content area teachers in your school.

2. Learn strategies for actively partnering with Teacher-Librarians to positively impact student literacy and learning.

3. Connect with Teacher-Librarians and classroom teachers across Washington State to idea-share, collaborate, problem-solve, and overcome barriers.

4. Increase the visibility and leadership skills of Teacher-Librarians on school campuses and throughout the district through literacy initiatives.

Reading Joy:

1. Reflect on and improve campus-wide reading practices.

2. Learn to support the development of a student-driven reading culture and curriculum on school campuses.

3. Learn strategies for building lifelong reading joy in students.

4. Write grants to bolster student access to classroom libraries filled with exciting, diverse books that bring reading joy. 

NBTS Library Media Standards Fulfilled:

I: Knowledge of Students
II: Teaching and Learning
III: Knowledge of Library and Information Studies
IV: Leadership
V: Administration
VII: Access, Equity, and Diversity
IX: Outreach and Advocacy
X: Reflective Practice

Sara White
Youth Services Consultant
Washington State Library
sara.white@sos.wa.gov
360-570-5585