Quickies

Free Voluntary Reading
Provide time for students to read daily: books, magazines, comics of their choice. Give them access to lots of reading material. This time needs to have NO assessment, record keeping or reward associated with it.

Parties
Organize a party to celebrate the release of a book-to-movie to get kids excited. Shut down the school or library for an afternoon and organize a reading party. Allow students to bring snacks, stuff animals, pillows, and blankets for a faux "sleepover" reading party.



Student Book Recommendations
http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/peer%20recommendations.htm

After reading a good book, students can write book recommendations for their peers to read. Recommended books can be placed in a special basket or add a sticker to make it easy for interested readers to find the books. When books are recommended to others, they often become popular commodities! One solution is to allow students to place the book they are waiting for "on hold" at the library.

Or have a bin labeled grade favourites!

Contests
Sponsor fun contests:
 * Guess the genre of these books displayed.
 * Dress up like your favourite book character.
 * Use photos with faces of the reader covered by a favourite book. Guess who is reading this book.Use staff readers.
 * Hold a staff reading contest
 * Who Read What? Create a display of books teachers read as a child and have students match title to teacher!

Get Caught Reading Photos
Digital cameras are great for catching staff and students reading. Add images to your website (with appropriate permission) or post on school news pages. If you have a digital photo frame, create a slide show of reader photos for your library.

Book Talks


Have a few books on hand for instant **book-talks**. Grab a title and as students are waiting to come in or leave the library or your classroom, book talk the book: give a little bit of a set up...then read from the book...end with a teaser. Hint: don't allow the book to go out during the class, expect that a really interested reader will return for the book.


 * Shelf talking** to a group of students who are hanging around the stacks trying to find a good book. You know the books you like and you know how to select a book by reading the blurb. Even if you haven't read the title share what you think will make it a good read.