Everyday, all across the world, adults get together and talk about what kids should be reading. They review children's books for each other, create book trailers to show to their students, and invent crazy ways to convince kids to read new and exciting (and sometimes not so exciting) books.
The funny thing is all these adults know deep down in their heart that even though they might be respected and loved and some of these fabulous recommendations are beyond excellent...something isn't working.
Enter, student recommendations and reviews. And here at Ashley...enter, the "Review Wall"
The funny thing is all these adults know deep down in their heart that even though they might be respected and loved and some of these fabulous recommendations are beyond excellent...something isn't working.
Enter, student recommendations and reviews. And here at Ashley...enter, the "Review Wall"
The Review Wall was created by my Library Crew members. I explained that I would love to know which books they thought were great, funny, or even terrible! They picked out the wall, the fonts, and decided which colors matched their chosen words. I can truly tell you they rock. Totally creative and ready to just kick it into gear.
They weren't finished either - they then contributed out first reviews! They said they wanted to show the others what the wall was for. This was my first true step in letting the kids lead...and man, do they lead.
After three weeks, the Review Wall has turned into the "Review Column" which I love. The Crew and I talked about how funny it is that in the newspapers they actually call the movie/book/etc section the Review Column! Students from first to fifth have covered the column with their voices, both encouraging and discouraging others to pick up a book.
They weren't finished either - they then contributed out first reviews! They said they wanted to show the others what the wall was for. This was my first true step in letting the kids lead...and man, do they lead.
After three weeks, the Review Wall has turned into the "Review Column" which I love. The Crew and I talked about how funny it is that in the newspapers they actually call the movie/book/etc section the Review Column! Students from first to fifth have covered the column with their voices, both encouraging and discouraging others to pick up a book.
So what have we learned? We learned that giving kids a voice matters. Some of the books the kids reviewed were already high circulators, but some were fairly unknown. They are unknown no more. Those books needed the right voice to sing their praises and that voice was not mine.
So come and review your favorite book. Grab a carefully chosen yellow Post-it and some tape and add your voice to the chorus!
So come and review your favorite book. Grab a carefully chosen yellow Post-it and some tape and add your voice to the chorus!
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