This document provides information and strategies for teachers to get the most from class library visits. It discusses the importance of reading for pleasure and its positive impact on student success. Suggestions are given for activities during class library visits such as checking out books, discussing book genres and selection strategies. Extra library sessions could focus on skills like using the catalog and Dewey Decimal System. The librarian can support teachers through curriculum resources, readers' advisory and helping promote reading, especially for boys and reluctant readers.

1. Love your Library
How teachers can get the most from
their class library visits

2. • Why the library is crucial to students' academic
success
• Things you can do in your class visits to the library
• What to teach during extra sessions in the library
• What your librarian can do for you

3. • Latest research from University of London's Institute of
Education (September 2013)
• Children who read for pleasure are likely to do
significantly better at school than their peers
• The influence of reading for pleasure is four times
greater than the advantage of having a universityeducated parent

4. • Competent Children, Competent Learners project
(NZ research, partly funded by the Ministry of Education)
• Enjoyment of reading is a key indicator for
competency levels in learning
• "...it is not enough just to learn to read - one of the
strongest indicators of positive engagement in school
and learning was the enjoyment of reading".

5. Library = Reading for pleasure

6. Class Visits
• Overdues management
• Peer recommendations
• Read a picture book
• New book display
• Topic of the week
• Check the reserves box
• Book selection
• Return/issue books
• Tidy up

7. Overdues management

8. Peer recommendations

9. Read a picture book

10. New book display

11. Topic of the week

12. Reserves box

13. Reserves

14. Book selection

15. Return/issue books

16. Tidy up

17. Extra Sessions
• Terminology
• Library layout
• Library policies
• Library staff
• Care of books
• Genres
• Book selection strategies
• Introduction to Dewey system
• Using the catalog
• Promote summer reading

18. Stretchy

19. Book 1
Book 2

20. Terminology
• The difference between fiction and non-fiction (Stretchy,
pg.27)
• The names of the parts of a book e.g. title,spine, blurb
(Stretchy, pg.43)
• The main features of a non-fiction book e.g. contents, chapter
headings, glossary, index (Book 1, pgs.29-31, Book 2,
pgs.29-31)
• Understand the different kinds of books in the library e.g.
graphic novels, sophisticated picture books, readers (Book 1,
pg.55)

21. Library layout
• Where everything is in the library
• What the spine labels mean
• Also, where the public library is
Stretchy, pg.23-25

22. Library policies
• How many books students can borrow
• How long books are issued for
• The requirement for a book bag
• How to reserve and renew books
• How to return a book to the shelves
Book 2, pg.11

23. Library staff
• Who we are
• What we do
Book 1, pg.8.

24. Care of books
• Handle gently
• Turn pages from top right-hand corner
• Use bookmarks
• Keep away from animals, younger siblings, food and
drink
• Examples of damaged books
Stretchy, pg.33.

25. Genre
• How are these categories defined?
• Examples - Animal stories, adventure, mysteries,
science fiction, historical fiction, fantasy
• Try to choose a range of genres for your class library, as
well as formats e.g. graphic novels, sophisticated picture
books
Stretchy, pg.9.

26. Book selection strategies
• Questions students can ask themselves to help them think
about their reading preferences:
• Which books are my favourites?
• Do I like books by certain authors?
• What topics or subjects interest me?
• Do I prefer fiction or non-fiction (or both)?
• What genres do I enjoy reading?
Book 1, pg.33,
Book 2, pg.14
Stretchy, pgs.31-32

29. Book selection strategies
• How to browse the shelves and find a book:
• Choose which shelves to get your book from
• Skim your eyes over the books and let an interesting cover or title catch your
eye
• Read the summary on the back of the book or inside the book jacket - does it
make you want to read more?
• Does the first sentence or paragraph make you want to keep reading?
• Flip through the pages, look at the pictures, the size of the words and the space
around the words. Does it feel good to you?
• Use the five finger rule to find out if the book is at the right level for you

30. Book selection strategies
• The five finger rule:
• Children choose a book they might like to read.
• They read one page in the middle of the book and start
with a closed fist.
• They hold up one finger for each word they don't know.
• If they get all five fingers up then the book is probably too
challenging for them to read independently. They could
ask an adult to read it with them, or choose a different
book.

33. Book selection strategies

34. Book selection strategies
• "A recent survey showed that the primary factor in
choosing a book for 7- to 12-year-olds was a familiar
character or series" - What do children's book
consumers want? Publishers' Weekly Survey 2010

35. Introduction to Dewey Decimal System
Book 2, pg.27,
Stretchy, pgs.38-40

36. Using the catalogue
• Show students how to find books using a title, subject or
author search
• Encourage them to:
• Find books that help them with research questions
• See if an author they like has written any more books
• Check if there are any books about topics that
interest them
Book 1, pg.34, 36,
Book 2, pg.34, 36

37. Promote summer reading
• Significant summer reading loss is a well known effect in
NZ and worldwide
• During the school holidays, and the long summer holiday
especially, students can lose ground if they don't
maintain the reading habit
• In particular this has a huge impact on struggling readers
who lose momentum, habits and confidence

38. What your librarian
can do for you
• Curriculum Support
• Books and digital resources
• Livebinders
• Information literacy
• Readers' Advisory
• Reluctant readers
• Advanced readers
• Books to help with social situations
• Help for parents
• Books for boys
• Teachers' reading

39. Books for boys
"In New Zealand, like in many countries, girls perform
better in reading literacy than boys by a statistically
significant amount."
- National Library, Services to Schools website

40. Books for boys
• Studies reveal boys often prefer:
• Non-fiction
• Graphic novels
• Fun facts books
• Fast-paced fiction with plenty of action
• Series books
• Humourous books

41. Teachers as readers
"Research in the UK & US suggests many teachers
depend on their own childhood reading, their children's
reading, and perennial favourites such as Roald Dahl and
Paul Jennings."
- National Library, Services to Schools website

42. How you can help me
• Please let me know:
• If a student is about to leave school. Try and have a
conversation with them about bringing their books
and readers back before they go.
• What books you'd like me to buy, or your students
would like me to buy.

43. Action plan
• Teach some library skills in the library
• Think about whether I could help you with students who
are not yet reading for pleasure
• Have an overdue book blitz