Building Communities of Readers

Abstract

Teachers as Readers: Building Communities of Readers was a UKLA project designed to increase children’s independent reading for pleasure. It achieved this aim by improving teachers’ knowledge and use of children’s literature enabling them to build stronger relationships with families and librarians, so becoming Reading Teachers: teachers who read and readers who teach in the process. The materials provide surveys, questionnaires and advice to support professional development aimed at to extending teachers’ knowledge and love of children’s literature, and enabling them to expand their conceptions of what it means to be a reader in the 21st century. It also supports teachers in enriching their classroom practice, enabling them to build new networks and relationships and increase children’s motivation, enthusiasm and pleasure in reading