trying to develop a cool program to bring kids 6-12 into the library. please help me?

Question

i want to draw kids that aren't really readers, particularly boys. i'm hoping to develop programs that will be cool and interesting to that age group. i have been considering photo journalism and bringing in speakers as well as readers theatre. any thoughts?

Answer 1

Kids, unfortunately, work well with bribery. Do a reading program that rewards them with tickets to sporting events, movies, theme parks etc. Most of those organizations will be more than willing to donate tickets for a reading program. I really like your idea about photo journalism! Why not take a group out and have them take their pics (see if a development company or WalMart or Walgreens will donate the processing or printing of the pics) and have them write their own story. When all pics and stories are done, bind and print it as a book that can be checked out at the library or purchased by the families? I commend what you are doing! Good luck! I wish more people would get involved with developing our kids into well rounded, productive adults.

Answer 2

In my town we had a comic book/book illustrator visit and give drawing lessons. At the library. It was amazing!!! It was all almost boys and while there they were told that these comic book/books were available for taking out of the library! - they still go back to see what other stuff there is.

Also here are some other ideas off the top of my head:
1 - theme nights ie hockey/baseball. Pull every book on the theme, have a drawing contest with a prize, etc

2- interesting guest speakers. A hockey player signing cards and reading to the kids.

3 - games night. Have videogames set up, free drop in and books all over for the kids to look at while waiting their turn. I KNOW every library has Pokemon book collections [chapter books for that age group]

4 - internet scavenger hunts with prizes. Time it, have 6 pcs setup with teams of 2. Prizes for the winners [ie a GOOD book with candy, or something equally neat]. Questions like : who was the first hockey player to wear a visor, name the original NHL teams, etc etc. All things they can find using google.

You get the idea. You need to make it cool or all you will get are the kids already hanging around the library. And you're trying to bring in the other kids right?

Answer 3

A few possibilities:
1. Reading (storytelling) as you have planned, yes.
2. Diorama where the series of depictions become more and more interesting and intriguing until the concluding presentations are left blank with the instruction that "these could be read in so and so book."
3. Film showing using the technique in #2 except that you make sure that the film is not commercially available anymore (i.e., the film is relatively dated--say 1980s or 70s) and that there is, indeed a book with the complete story.
4. Coordinate with teachers to require their pupils to do spot researches in the library (you will need a hawkeye for those who will tear a page off an encyclopedia or other materials, though). The method involves telling the children to go to the library for say 15 minutes, look up this or that, then return to the classroom to write about it for the next 30 minutes.

Specifically targeted for boys will be any form of display, including miniature tableaus of war or action-adventures that are really closer to their interests. These should be attractive enough to intrigue them and make them read about it while in the library.

How about a natural museum tour with tour-guide side-comments that if the children wanted to learn more deeper about the displays and exhibits, these could be found in your school library?

The basic starting point is to prick and tickle the imagination, sustain the interest and the rest will be a matter of habit.

Answer 4

Having a Boys' Breakfast Club twice monthly would really help you bring these guys to the library, especially if they are "at risk". They could come in for muffins and juice during homeroom and discuss the book assigned from the previous two weeks. Ask teachers to identify students who would really benefit. If you divide them into age groups, and make the book pertinent to their classwork (maybe make it an accelerated reader) they will be likely to see the benefit of the book. They may talk more openly about the book without girls present.

Also, try placing Scavenger Hunt sheets at the door. Have students locate books by DD number or write a title and author of a specific subject. Have them write a headline from the daily paper. Ask them to write the title of the biography of a great American woman. Maybe six items. Have a grade level hunt for each grade. Award a small prize for correct hunts (a magnet or candy or even a fresh apple). Do one hunt per day, second grade on Tuesday, fifth grade on Wednesday etc...so you and your aide aren't overwhelmed. Having them go all over the library gets them out of their comfort zone, so that they will see other selections. Maybe they aren't reading nonfiction or biographys because they have never looked through the section.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Photo journalism sounds alittle progressive for children ages 6 to 12. Unless you mean children in grades 6 to 12 - it might peak their interest - but I doubt it! How about some kind of contest - pick an interest in your city/county/state - and play on that - maybe have the students find out something in their interest and have them learn and read from that!@

Answer 7

I have 3 children (11yo girl, 10yo boy and 7yo boy). They love going to the library, and were very interested in a "writing program" that went on. They had a local author speak about writing a book and gave them tips on character development, etc. My sons love Goosebumps and were very interested in being able to write stories that would scare others, LOL.

Long story short: If you had a "Comic Book Writing Program" my boys and their friends would be knocking the door down.

My daughter loved her writing program, they were encouraged to bring in stories they had written or started to write and were helped in developing them.

So maybe a series of classes, 1st. they bring in their ideas for a story and create a story plan 2nd and subsequent classes continue development, sharing stories, illustrating (perhaps bring in an "expert" to help with illustrations) etc.. The final class could be the printing and publishing of the stories. This could work with boys (comic books, horror, etc...) and girls.

Good Luck and thanks for what you are doing!

Answer 8

Try getting a reward system going where the kids can share the books they read to the group once a week and get rewarded for how many books they read! So many points per book! They will get others excited about what they read plus they will be rewarded in the process. Best wishes!

Answer 9

Use storytelling.

Pick a theme. Horror. Tragedy. Comedy. Autobiography. And from a selection of books, pick one and weave it into a story. If they enjoyed the stories, show them the books that are most like the story they've just heard, and lend it to them to read. Ask them if any of them would like to come back and tell the story that they really liked.

You could liven up the stories with mini sets, puppets, funny voices..guest storytellers etc.

Answer 10

The speaker idea may not work as 6 to 12 years old (especially boys) are very hands on. You need to get them doing stuff and experiencing first hand to keep their interest.