Massachusetts School Library Association
            MEMBER PORTAL                
​Join or Renew     Member Directory​
  • Home
  • About Us
    • MSLA Leadership 2022-23
    • Executive Board Meetings
    • Joint Statements: MLA, MassCUE
    • Spotlight Archive
    • Strategic Plan 2016-22
    • MSLA Constitution
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Join or Renew Your Membership
    • Members Map
    • Email List
    • Regions >
      • Boston
      • Northeast
      • Metrowest
      • Southeast
      • Central
      • West
  • Conference
    • MSLA and PDPs
  • Resources
    • DESE Rubric
    • Certification & Licensure
    • Program Standards & Rubrics
    • Job Description: School Librarian
    • Job Listings
    • MLS Strategic Planning
    • Intellectual Freedom
  • Advocacy
    • MA School Library Study for Equity & Access
    • Everyday Advocacy
    • ESSA
    • Exemplary Programs
  • Newsletter
    • 2023 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2023
    • 2022 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2022
      • May 2022
      • October 2022
    • 2021 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2021
      • May 2021
      • October 2021
    • 2020 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2020
      • May 2020
      • October 2020
    • 2019 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2019
      • May 2019
      • October 2019
    • 2018 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2018
      • May 2018
      • October 2018
    • 2017 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2017
      • May 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
    • 2016 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2016
      • May 2016
      • October 2016
    • 2015 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • April 2015
      • November 2015
    • MSLA Forum 2002-2013
  • Awards
    • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant
    • Archive: History of Awards
    • 2019 Awards Pictures
    • 2018 Awards Pictures
    • 2017 Awards Pictures
    • 2016 Awards Pictures
    • 2015 Awards Pictures
  • Bookmark Contest
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 and 2018 Winners
    • 2016 and 2017 Winners
    • 2012 to 2015 Winners
    • 2009 to 2011 Winners
    • 2004 to 2008 Winners
    • Bookmark Judges

Building a Culture of Reading with a School-Wide Reading Challenge

2/11/2020

4 Comments

 
Lynda Moylan is the Library Media Specialist at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in Peabody, MA ​and a recipient of a 2019 MSLA President's Award​.

Stepping into the role(s) of a Library Media Specialist after someone else can be daunting, especially if that person was in their position for a long time. When I started at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School I was coming from the elementary level into a school that was just starting to rollout a 1:1 Chromebook program. The previous library media specialist was retiring and I was excited to be a part of this unique time of change in the Library and in the school.

One thing I noticed about my new school was that the culture was very different from the elementary level. Teachers mostly kept to their own departments and there wasn’t much of a collaborative culture. I wanted the library to be the heart of the school so I focused on ways that I could create a positive culture in the library that would hopefully influence other areas of the school. I started
Instagram and Twitter accounts for the library and took advantage of our new switch to Google Apps for Education to make a new library website. Once I created an online space for the library, I wanted to update the physical space. I painted over the existing brown cork boards with chalkboard paint and put out colorful chalk to encourage students and staff to write down their current reads right in the library entrance. A Special Education teacher was running a free “store” in her classroom where students could take clothes that were donated but since her room was being used most of the day as a classroom I offered to move it to the back corner of the library so it would be accessible to everyone throughout the day. The IT specialist for our school moved his office to the library so we could be a one stop shop for tech support.

As I got to know teachers I was included on what started as a lighthearted email chain. During winter break one of the English teachers sent out the latest bookriot.com “read harder challenge” joking that this would be an ambitious reading challenge for us as co-workers to personally complete. I was still getting to know my new school community (about 1,400 students in grades 9-12 that includes 45% high needs, 30% economically disadvantaged, and 29% whose first language is not English) and I knew that I wanted to do more to create an overall reading culture at the school. This quick email inspired me to start the PVMHS Reading Challenge!

A couple of English teachers and I came up with our own 10 categories;


  • a Morris award winner/nominee
  • a book from the PVMHS summer reading list
  • a book that was made into a movie or TV show 
  • any banned book
  • a collection of short stories
  • a book about or written by an LGBTQ+ person
  • a genre you don’t usually read
  • a book that has been on your #TBR (to be read list)
  • any book from a series
  • and a format you don’t usually read (graphic novel, e/audiobook, book in verse, etc.).
I covered another gigantic bulletin board with 10 neon posters (one for each category). I put out notecards, markers, and thumbtacks and simple instructions; fill out a notecard with your name and the book you read (since the summer) that fits that category. Read a different book for every category by a date in early June and get on the Wall of Fame!

I put up my own notecards and encouraged my library regulars (students and teachers) to do the same. If someone was stuck on a category they could look at the notecards to see what their peers read for it. Some English teachers who visit the library monthly with their classes to get independent reading books offered some extra credit points to anyone who completed the challenge. The walls began to get so covered in notecards that it was hard to see the first layer. The Reading Challenge operates on the honor system; I’m not out to “catch” students with an assessment. I just want them to proudly share all the different books they’ve read this school year.
Picture
PVMHS Reading Challenge 2018-19, photo taken in March 2019.
Students let me know when they’ve completed the challenge (I created a tracking worksheet for those who want it or for those teachers who are using it for extra credit) and I print out a certificate and hang it above the reading challenge poster boards on the Wall of Fame. I also put their name on a Google slideshow that plays throughout the TVs in the school. Everyone who completes the challenge is invited to a pizza party in the library during their lunch at the end of June.

The biggest joy for me was seeing kids smile and genuinely get excited about the books they were reading. Since building a positive culture was my overall goal I am very flexible with what people can put within the categories. I’ve changed the categories a little bit each year (let me know if you have any suggestions!). In my mind the real “challenge” is to read 10 books which for most of my students is very daunting. For that reason it is that much more rewarding at the end to see their huge accomplishment, and to contribute to an overall culture of positivity in my school. The PVMHS Reading Challenge has created a way for students and staff to come together over a common success.
Picture
One of three lunch pizza parties.

Works Cited

“Massachusetts School and District Profiles.” Contact Information - Peabody Veterans Memorial High (02290510), profiles.doe.mass.edu/general/general.aspx?topNavID=1&leftNavId=100&orgcode=0229 0510&orgtypecode=6.

4 Comments
Pamela Vallee
2/11/2020 06:01:08 pm

I love this idea! I might need to "borrow" it to use at my middle-high school next year :-)

Reply
Laura Gardner
2/12/2020 11:48:47 am

Awesome idea! How many kids completed the challenge?

Reply
Lynda Moylan
2/14/2020 09:44:06 am

Thank you! The first year 23 people completed the challenge, so far this year 9 are already done (and they have until June 5th).

Reply
Barbara Gogan
3/11/2020 10:00:59 am

This sounds great! The MCBA works well for this for my 4th & 5th graders, but I can see adapting this for the younger grades.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Forum Newsletter

    Co-Editors
    Reba Tierney and
    ​Luke Steere

    Reba is the School Librarian at Waltham High School; Luke is School Librarian at  Wilson Middle in Natick

    Click to set custom HTML

    Categories

    All
    AASL
    Academic
    Advocacy
    ALA
    Authors
    Book Bans
    Book Challenges
    Book Trailers
    Cataloging
    Censorship
    Column
    Conference
    Copyright
    Culture
    Databases
    Dewey
    Digital Citizenship
    E Books
    E-books
    Elementary
    ESSA
    Ethics
    Evaluation
    Graphic Books
    Graphic Novels
    Inquiry
    Leadership
    Learning Commons
    Legislation
    Literacy
    Maker Space
    Nonfiction
    Orientation
    Planning
    PLN
    President's Remarks
    Professional Development
    Reading
    Research
    Science
    Secondary
    Standards
    Technology
    Union
    Volunteers
    Weeding

    Archives

    February 2023
    October 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    April 2015

    MSLA Forum Past Issues:
    January 2015
    April 2015
    ​
    2002-2015 MSLA Forum
The Massachusetts School Library Association  works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA

Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
ekristofek@maschoolibraries.org
​
508-276-1697 

Massachusetts School Library Association. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2023.