In today’s schools, the importance of creating a literate environment has become more urgent than ever before. Building a solid foundation for literacy sets the stage for the higher-level and deeper thinking necessary for students to succeed with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010). We, as educators, must rise to this challenge by preparing our students to be successful now and in the future.
The Top 5 List that I have created is not necessarily in any specific order but merely a reflection of my experiences in the classroom for over 25 years. Each of these elements are essential to success and enacted together will provide a solid foundation to create an amazing learning environment for all students.
1. Start with a positive attitude toward literacy.
Students’ attitudes are often formulated based upon the attitudes of those closest to them. This definitely seems to hold true in the areas of reading and writing. Students who come from homes where reading and writing are valued and encouraged seem to show more confidence and willingness to try when faced with tasks that require these skills. For those students who have not been nurtured in a literacy-rich environment, hope still avails. In the school setting, students closely observe their teachers' attitudes toward literacy. Discussing books you have read and are currently reading with your students provides opportunities for them to become actively engaged in meaningful conversations. For example, recently several of my students began reading historical fiction books. Our class discussions became focused on ways to distinguish truth from fiction in this genre. While discussing some of their favorites, I shared with my students that I was currently reading the nonfiction book, Killing Kennedy by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. (I shared with my students that this was a new adventure for me as I did not normally choose to read nonfiction.) As a result, my students began to uncover the historical facts by exploring the setting and time periods of their own books. This demonstrated to my students that my love of reading is not limited by genre, but instead, reading can always be an adventure waiting to be discovered even if it is an “assignment.”
2. Immerse students in a flood of literature.
Building a classroom library with books across all genres and reading levels is a great place to begin. Allowing students to read a widerange of literature, even while staying within specific reading levels, opens up oppor-tunities to explore topics of interest. Including nonfiction titles in your classroom collection is also important as it provides options for those readers who prefer to read about “real” stuff. Thus, as we allow students to become widely read, they will become better prepared for the increasing amount of academic reading required of them as they advance into middle and high school. Bottom line, students must have books to read if they are going to read. This is especially true for “undernourished readers” (Gallagher, 2009, p. 32).
Create a Literate Environment
by Colleen Shuler
Mrs. Colleen Shuler is a veteran teacher of 25 years who has taught first, second, and third grades over the years. She currently teaches sixth grade reading and writing at the Stockton Middle School in Stockton, MO. She is certified to teach PK-3 and 1st-8th grades. She is currently completing coursework for the special reading certification and will be finished after the Summer 2014 semester. She enjoys scapbooking and all things Crayola.
Top 5 Ways to
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