In today's fast-paced digital age, where screens have become a ubiquitous presence, fostering a love for reading among high school students might seem like a daunting task. As educators, it's our responsibility to ignite the spark of literary passion within them. One innovative and visually appealing way to achieve this is by creating a classroom bookshelf display where students can share their favorite books or their reading aspirations. This activity not only celebrates the magic of books but also builds a sense of community and promotes reading engagement.
Building a Literary Haven
Step 1: Setting the stage
Start by introducing the idea of a classroom bookshelf display to your students. Explain the purpose behind it: to celebrate the world of literature, share reading experiences, and encourage everyone to explore new literary realms. Emphasize that each book choice, whether it's a well-loved classic or a yet-to-be-discovered gem, contributes to the rich tapestry of reading.
Step 2: Unleashing Creativity
Provide each student with a printout of the bookshelf handout. This will be the canvas upon which they'll express their reading preferences. Encourage them to write down the title and author of their favorite books or books they're eager to read. To add a personal touch, students can decorate their bookshelves with illustrations, quotes, or symbols that represent the essence of their favorite genres or styles. Note that I encourage my students to think about their favorite children’s books alongside YA or adult novels they’ve read and love. I think it’s important to include the foundational favorite that helped shape their learning.
Grab a FREE bookshelf template from the FREEBIE LIBRARY here on the blog to print and use with your students for this activity.
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Step 3: Creating the Bookshelf Display
Designate a prominent area of the classroom to display your students’ shelfies. This display will not only be a testament to the reading choices of your students but also a captivating addition to the classroom decor.
Here are my students bookshelves on display in our classroom! They have really enjoyed coming into class and reading the book titles and talking about reading.
Benefits of the Activity
Fostering a Reading Culture: By openly sharing their reading preferences, students inspire one another to explore new genres and authors, leading to a more diverse reading experience.
Community Building: The bookshelf display cultivates a sense of community within the classroom, showing that everyone's choices are valued and respected.
Ownership and Empowerment: Students feel a sense of ownership over the display as they see their literary selections showcased. This empowerment can extend to other aspects of their learning journey.
Visual Inspiration: The visually appealing display serves as a constant reminder of the magic of reading, encouraging reluctant readers to pick up a book and dive into a new adventure.
Conversation Starter: The bookshelves become a conversation starter, allowing students to discuss their favorite books with peers, exchange recommendations, and even form book clubs based on shared interests.
Creating a classroom bookshelf display is more than just an artistic endeavor; it's a powerful tool to cultivate a love for reading among high school students. This activity transforms the classroom into a literary haven where students can share their literary passions and explore the vast world of books together. As educators, we have the privilege of nurturing this love for reading, and the classroom bookshelf display is a wonderful step towards achieving that goal. So, let's embark on this journey of literary exploration and imagination, one shelfie at a time.
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About the Author
Meredith is the founder and creator of Bespoke ELA and TeachWriting.org. She has taught high school English for 15+ years in Dallas, Chicago, and New York City and holds a M.A. in Literature from Northwestern University. She has always had a connection to the written word-- through songwriting, screenplay writing, and essay writing-- and she enjoys the process of teaching students how to express their ideas. Meredith enjoys life with her sweet daughter and Yorkie.