The Teen Read Week campaign founded by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) began over 20 years ago to encourage teens to become active readers and more frequent library users. Mobile Ed is passionate about inspiring young learners to become readers, and we have a few fun ways that educators can make the most out of Teen Read Week.
One study shows that only 20% of today’s teenagers report reading a book daily for fun. With social media sites now more popular than ever, it’s not surprising that teens are migrating to online spaces for entertainment. Getting in the habit of reading (and finding books that are enjoyable) at a young age has life-long benefits. For teens, consistent reading can:
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- Enhance focus and concentration
- Improve comprehension
- Strengthen writing and analytical skills
- Reduce stress levels
- Advance vocabulary
For Teen Read Week, public libraries typically host events and activities to encourage young adults to pick up a book. Libraries will bring in special guests and host open houses, lock-ins, and more. Librarians are well-versed in books that are age-appropriate and inclusive, making them an excellent resource for teens to find books that are appropriate, engaging, and even educational. Getting students comfortable using their library can improve literacy skills and academic success as well as provide a safe space for students to gather.
But how can other educators help celebrate Teen Read Week with their students? Here are some fun challenges that educators can incorporate into their classes this week.
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- Plan a Library Visit. This may be the most important activity we do during this week. Teaching students the importance of libraries is part of why we designate a week in October as Teen Read Week. Part of encouraging the behavior of reading is equipping the readers with books and knowledge to find them. Plan a visit to your local and school library to learn more about types of books and how to access them.
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- Provide Recommendations. Sometimes, the most challenging part about reading is picking the right book. Providing a list of recommendations would help give students a head start on their reading. You may consider reaching out to trusted colleagues for more recommendations you can count on.
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- Create a Challenge. Nothing is a better motivator than a prize. Start a reading challenge at the beginning of the week to get students excited to read. The more and more they read, the more likely they will find what they enjoy from it.
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- Use Social Media to Your Advantage. Let’s meet students where they’re at and use social media for educational purposes. Use a book review app to rate books and share recommendations with classmates. Students could also use their personal social media accounts to post a written/video review or get more creative by posting a book commercial, a skit, or redesigning a book cover.
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- Find a Free App. Let’s continue to meet students where they’re at: on their phones. Browse different free apps that allow students to read for free. This will make reading more accessible as well as increase the chances of developing a habit of reading.
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- Start a Book Club. Encourage students to start a book club to help them expand their horizons. Sometimes reading with friends is an easy opening to getting students to read.
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- Watch a Movie. Bring in books through a medium they’re comfortable with: movies! Many movies and TV shows are based on books—find a few movies/shows that your students enjoy and trace them back to the original books. They may enjoy them more than the movie!
Young Author’s Day is an assembly program designed to be an engaging and educational way for students to learn about storytelling. We tour the country bringing this program to students and teachers who need an interactive way to learn about story elements. After an exciting assembly about story structure, students are challenged to use what they’ve learned to create their own stories. At the end of the program, student stories are selected to be performed in front of everyone, and students get to laugh and cheer for their peers as they find a new passion for stories.
For more information about Mobile Ed programs, visit our website.