You will have things to talk about at parties.
Reading more books will enable you to say the sentence, “Did you know ________?” more often, making it easier to start conversations with strangers (or, as I like to say, “People who aren’t my friends yet”).
You will improve your vocabulary.
The more words you’re capable of using, the better you will become at expressing your thoughts and feelings. I couldn’t imagine how I would write articles like this if I didn’t actively aim to expand my vocabulary, because using the same few words to express myself would get awfully boring in a hurry (don’t you agree?).
You will immerse yourself in a new world.
Sometimes our daily life can start to feel dull, dry or depressing — I know it, you know it, we all know it. At times like this, I like to dive into a good fiction book for a much-needed escape into another world, where I can forget about whatever problems are stressing me out. Whether you want to travel to the land of the Hobbits, a galaxy far away or a tropical destination in a steamy romance novel is up to you. You’ll come back refreshed after your mini-vacation to a fresh and exciting place in the world of words.
12 Compelling Reasons to Read More Books: Reason #2
You will increase your odds of success.
The more books you read, the more knowledge you will have, the more strategies and resources your brain will store, the more likely you will succeed.
12 Compelling Reasons to Read More Books
1. You will optimize your brain power.
This shouldn’t come as a shock, but studies suggest reading makes you smart. Unlike watching television, which requires no thought process, reading is an active learning experience that will keep your mind sharp (even in old age).
There should be other adults in the lives of our students who are role models when it comes to reading. Sadly, for many of the kids in our schools, there may not be any adults who demonstrate the value of reading in everyday life. It is essential that teachers show our students that reading is a vital aspect of what it means to be a lifelong learner.
From Donalyn Miller’s Four Steps to Creating A School-Wide Reading Culture:
We hope that children have reading role models at home, but many don’t. We must surround children with reading role models throughout the school day – not just in Language Arts class.
Showing children that adults choose to read a wide range of texts for a variety of purposes sends a strong message that reading is important after formal schooling ends. Sharing your own reading life with your students and staff reinforces that you believe reading enriches your life. As much as possible, you should participate in the reading initiatives at your school, not only as a school leader, but also as a reader! Ask students what they are reading… take their book suggestions and share what you enjoy about the books you read.
For many of us, SSR is the best opportunity for us to demonstrate that we are readers. Teachers need to put away the marking and pick up books, magazines or other reading materials to show that reading isn’t just we do to pass tests or assignments at school.
Reading is its own reward. But from time to time we like to give a little something more to those students who demonstrate a love of reading to the rest of the class during SSR. Teachers select students for Reading Rewards tickets, which earn them trips to the school library during class for warm beverages, some tasty treats, and some bonus silent reading in a warm, comfortable and festive atmosphere!
![IMG_0109[1]](https://tweedsmuirlibrary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/img_01091.jpg)
![IMG_0110[1]](https://tweedsmuirlibrary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/img_01101.jpg)
![IMG_0111[1]](https://tweedsmuirlibrary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/img_01111.jpg)
![IMG_0112[1]](https://tweedsmuirlibrary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/img_01121.jpg)
![IMG_0113[1]](https://tweedsmuirlibrary.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/img_01131.jpg)
Do you love reading and do you demonstrate that each day during SSR? Ask your teacher about Christmas Reading Rewards! You might be lucky enough to come down to the library this week for some tasty Holiday Treats, a warm drink, some Christmas music, and, best of all, some silent reading time!
(Reason #2 of 3,487,659) Many students do not have a regular time in a quiet space at home for uninterrupted reading. SSR may be the only time and place in the day for many students to have the chance to focus on reading a good book, without all the usual noise, distractions and interruptions. Hopefully many more students have that opportunity at home, too. But for those that don’t, we need to be sure to give them that opportunity at school!
Drop Everything & Read is just eleven days away! National School Library Day is Monday, October 28.
As part of the celebration of school libraries, the BCTLA and the BCTF have issued the “DEAR Challenge” to EVERY PERSON in BRITISH COLUMBIA. All over the province, people are challenged to put down the work, turn off the TV, set aside the iPad,iPod or iPhone, pause the video games– you get the idea– and just read!
October is International School Library Month and Canadian Library Month. October 28 is National School Library Day. Be sure to stay posted for news and special events happening to celebrate your school library!
“Reading is a beautiful thing. Today.
Every day.
Read for twenty minutes.”
October is International School Library Month and Canadian Library Month. October 28 is National School Library Day and the day for the DEAR Challenge: Drop Everything and Read.
Check out the following for more info:
DEAR: Drop Everything and Read. The BCTLA and BCTF challenge everyone around the province of British Columbia to “Drop Everything and Read” on Monday, October 28.
At Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School we students and teachers read every day during SSR. On the 28th we are challenging everyone in the building, including administrators, clerks, custodians, education assistants and visitors, to join with people from all over British Columbia to read for twenty minutes.
Even better, find twenty minutes to read every day!
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 