Did you know that November is National Family Literacy Month? We’re excited to celebrate all the literary adventures we have embarked on at our school! This school year has already been filled with incredible literacy experiences that have inspired our students to be lifelong readers and writers.
One of the cornerstones of our literacy program is the ongoing efforts with our reading buddies. By pairing older students with younger ones, we create opportunities for mentorship, skill development, and social-emotional learning. This intergenerational connection inspires older students to take on a mentorship role and develop leadership skills while providing positive role models and increased confidence for our younger students. Reading aloud helps both older and younger students improve their fluency and comprehension. Reading buddies can build friendships and strengthen social skills across multiple grades.
In the Bobcat Treehouse Library, we were thrilled to host celebrated children’s author Deborah Hopkinson, who engaged each class in fun literacy activities surrounding her work, and then planned a family literacy activity after school where she shared choral reading, tips for parents, and a special writing and drawing activity. Families left the Bobcat Treehouse with a renewed love of reading – and a memorable family story to share! In preparation for Ms. Hopkinson’s visit, our fourth-grade class delved into the depths of history by reading her captivating book, Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. To further enhance their learning experience, they even had the opportunity to see the actual Titanic bell in real life as a tangible connection to the historical event that they had read about.
To celebrate Halloween this year, six of our young talented writers were recognized for being in the top nine winning submissions for the Washoe County Library Shivery Stories contest – including our own Lily in 5th grade winning first place with her short story, “The Doll.” Other finalists included Celeste in 7th grade with “Shadows,” Kai and Maiia with “Haunting Pip,” Phoenix with “The Hidden Book,” and Mavrik with “Home Alone on Halloween.” This achievement highlights the incredible writing skills of our students. You can watch the Shivery Stories episodes here, where the top scary stories are read aloud with special spooky effects!
In addition to efforts within the school, our community has also been buzzing with excitement about Inclined 2 Read, a community-wide family book club where families come together to discuss a book, participate in fun activities, and forge new connections. This book club started last year with our librarian Aly Nugent’s vision and the help of other librarians in the community, kicking off the book club with Katherine Applegate’s Ivan & Friends series. Just a few weeks ago, families gathered to discuss Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot, now a popular movie. This month, the club will be delving into the sequel, The Wild Robot Escapes. This community-wide initiative continues to inspire literacy for all ages.
As we continue to celebrate National Literacy Month, we’re committed to instilling a love of reading and writing in every student. By providing engaging experiences, inspiring role models, and supportive communities, we empower our students to develop a positive relationship with reading and with one another. We hope that we’ve given you some ideas on how to celebrate literacy – this month and every day!
