Summer drift, otherwise known as loss of reading comprehension skills or reading achievement, has been a well-known and well-documented phenomenon of public education for decades. Studies from the late twentieth century to the present have demonstrated a slowdown in summer drift attributed to specific summer reading programs addressing motivation…

The use of graphic novels to engage students has increased steadily in recent years. School librarians and teachers throughout elementary, middle, and secondary schools are integrating graphic novels into English language arts learning and across the curriculum. The growing acceptance of graphic novels in teaching and learning activities is due in…

Because they're quick and fun to read, riddles can "hook" even reluctant readers and keep them coming back for more. Riddles also improve vocabulary, comprehension, and oral reading; enhance deductive and inductive thinking skills; and promote libraries as places for fun. Drawing on her work with children in schools and public libraries, Dee…

In this brief article, the author suggests that in this age of accountability, teacher-librarians sometimes become so engulfed by their role in teaching the school curriculum and standards that they forget the power of story. The author stresses, that in her opinion, the power of story is undeniable.

Presents three activities to promote participation in group discussions about books. Activity one involves displaying pictures of characters and having students describe them, citing specific actions from the book as proof. Activity two entails listing a story's actions into a flow chart. Activity three involves making a line graph indicating the…

Illustrates through examples how elementary and secondary students can be motivated to enjoy books by making a connection to reading through listening to audiobooks. Sidebars include comments from fifth-grade English-as-a-Second-Language students about audiobooks, selection/usage tips for librarians, and a list of selected audiobook publishers.…

Promoting reading through a library program does not have to mean a major offensive involving the latest in technology. Little, engaging activities--storytelling, book talking, book displays, puppetry, games, author visits, songs and chants, readers' theater, hands-on centers, and special event celebrations--can have the same effect. This author,…