This morning’s session on book talking early readers blew me away. Katie O’Dell’s presentation on Multcolib’s early reader work highlighted so many things you can do with early readers. They bring books to children in the classroom. They book talk early readers and they bring energy and excitement about reading to students. Yet, the presenters shared an important perspective: librarians are not the experts on teaching kids to read. We are here to support educators and parents teach their kids to read. Librarians know this. However I know, as a young librarian, I have a lot of hubris about my role with literacy development. A little grounding is important every once in a while.
I love doing storytimes, giving early literacy presentations, and disseminating the Every Child Ready to Read activities. I see my role as being fundamental to early literacy development. While this isn’t incorrect, I needed the reminder that I am not a trained educator. Thus, it’s crucial to build lasting and proactive relationships with schools and caregivers.
Katie shared that teachers reported that children struggled more with reading. She also stated that parents had more anxiety about teaching their kids to read than years before. So, Multco started a program where they brought paperback early readers into the classroom. Library staff book talked early readers to younger students, and shared new titles with children and teachers. The program currently serves first graders throughout the county. Staff leave paperback early reader collections in the classrooms for the year, and then switch them out before the new year begins.
Multco staff also created levels for their early readers. These levels reflect literacy development stages rather than Accelerated Reading, publisher, or other systems of leveling. They are currently working to level their entire early reader collection throughout the district. This project will help parents find appropriately leveled books for their children.
Each of these programs demonstrates the valuable and unique role libraries play to help educators and parents. These are the people actually teaching kids to read. Every project a library takes on, be it outreach, adding or changing collections, or whatever, should be done with these groups in mind. Librarians and library staff need to share what resources and expertise they have, but also ensure that the projects they do are sustainable and assist the primary educators.
I was a little astounded that I needed to hear this, but I did. I’m lucky that I started working at a library where a similar leveling system had begun, so I was able to complete leveling all my early readers. I have created great collaborative relationships with my school district. I can offer storytimes and a new, positive energy about books and learning to kids and teachers. However, my role is a supportive one. I need to remember that everything I do should make the difficult job parents and educators have, teaching kids to read, easier.