This document provides guidance from experts on creating an independent reading culture in the classroom. It outlines five basic principles: 1. Don't judge students based on their reading choices. Encourage them to read what interests them. 2. Offer a wide range of reading materials in different formats, including ebooks, graphic novels, magazines, audiobooks, and tools to find book recommendations. 3. Provide opportunities for student dialogue about books through book clubs, online discussions, and promoting a reading life both in and out of school. 4. Give students a reading toolkit to build reading skills and stamina, including designated reading time, vocabulary support, and rewards to reinforce reading habits.

1. What are you already doing to
create an independent reading
culture in your classroom?
Take Time To Share

2. Basic Principles
for Creating a
Reading Culture
Dr. Robert Furman, Principal South Park Elementary School in South Park, PA
edweb.net webinar: “Motivating the Reluctant Reader Through Technology: 25 Tools”, February 27, 2013

3. 1. Don’t judge the reader.

4. “ Ever wanted to read
something different but didn’t
want the world to judge you by
the cover of the book?”

5. Dan Gutman, Author of the My Weird School Series:
I think the answer to the question “What should kids be
reading? is ‘Whatever they want.’ Just like some people
like to eat meat, and others prefer vegetables, there are
different kinds of readers.”
Jeff Kenney, Author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series:
“As parents, my wife and I are just along for the
ride…The way I see it, our goal as parents is to respond
to their interests without judgment and to be ready with
a new book in hand.”

6. Reading Doors, Windows, Walls
in your classroom to show you
are proud of what you read too.

7. 2. Offer a range of materials
and resources.

8. eBooks
• School library collection
• Click on Destiny - http://destiny.kershaw.k12.sc.us/
• Choose your school
• Quest – type in the title; if an “e” appears on the book result, it is
available in ebook format.
• Catalog – type in the title, choose material type (electronic book) OR
choose material type (electronic book) and click keyword. A list of all
the ebooks available at your school will appear.

9. How to access ebooks from KCSD
middle and high schools
http://www.kershaw.k12.sc.us/read/documents/KCSD_eBook_Instructions-Students.pdf

10. Graphic Novels
• Available in print
• Available in Tumble Books and Tumble Cloud
• Tumble Book – KCPL –
• http://www.kershawcountylibrary.org/ - one on one use
• Tumble Cloud – high school subscriptions – check with your librarian

11. Magazines
• Online - DISCUS - www.scdiscus.org
• Print

12. Audio books
• Playaways
• CDs
• Tumble Books – KCPL – disclaimer – one on one use at home
• Tumble Cloud – high schools

13. DISCUS - Novelist
• www.scdiscus.org
• A – Z list
• NoveList K-8 Plus
• NoveList Plus
• On campus no user name or password is needed
• Off campus – get the user name & password from your librarian

19. Book Wizard
• www.scholastic.com/bookwizard
•Books by grade level, Lexile, guided
reading
•More for elementary level
•Ebooks available for purchase

21. Nonfiction – online tools
•Tween Tribune –
www.tweentribune.com
•Smithsonian epals -
http://journalism.epals.com

24. Recommendations
• Ask your library media specialist create book lists
• Students recommend to each other – bookmarks, white boards
• Goodreads – www.goodreads.com

25. 3. Provide time for dialogue
“To be able to talk to your heart’s content about a book you like with someone who feels the
same way about it is one of the greatest joys that life can offer.”
― Haruki Murakami

26. Book Clubs

28. EdmodoBookDiscussions

30. Biblionasium

31. Promoting a “Reading Life”

32. Mrs. Long: Reader & Writer
Mrs. Long & Her Reading Life

33. Book Buddies

34. Author “Connections”

35. PR and Promotion

37. Real Men Read

38. 4. Give Readers a Tool-Kit
Reading Toolkit “sets students up for success.”
• Designated and Honored School-wide reading time
SSR: Sustained Silent Reading; DEAR: Drop Everything and Read:
FRED: Free Reading Every Day
• Let them read at their comfort level; students need to read at their
independent level for enjoyment
• Value browsing and re-reading

39. 4. Give Readers a Tool-Kit
Reading Toolkit “sets students up for success.”
• Build reading stamina (reading logs);
• Word Walls with vocabulary they will encounter
• Questions to think about as they read
• Rewards reinforce good reading habits; use reading time
as a reward

40. 4. Give Readers a Tool-Kit
Reading Toolkit “sets students up for success.”
• Rewards reinforce good reading habits
Literary Luncheon (CHS)/Bulldogs Read/Caught Reading
Teen Read Week (Oct)
National Library Week (April)
Read Across America Day (KCSD)
Read-In (April 14, 2015 at S.C. State House)
Camp-Read-A Lot (DME)
Real Men Read (CHS/DME)

41. 5.Teach students to curate their own reading
lives.
CURATE
•to take charge of
•to organize
•to pull together, sift through and select for
presentation

43. What will YOU do to create an
independent learning environment
in your classroom?
Have a great year!