Class libraries in promoting

reading habits in primary classes

An emergent literacy perspective

By Meeta Mohanty
Asst. Product Manager
Oxford University Press
 What are class libraries?

 Class libraries is a concept of

allocating a space within the
classroom for displaying a variety
of literature.
 It provides ready access to

learners and can act as activity

centers to energize classrooms.
 Need of class libraries

NCF’2005 highlights that

the use of library to one
period a week seldom
allows to cultivate a taste
for reading.
 r
fo
e k
we .
a s…
o d i
r i r y
n
pe ibra
e L Insufficient exposure to
O
books

Reading mainly for

reference work

Selection by the teacher

 Role of class libraries

lass libraries promote

Nichols, Rupley, & Rickleman, 2004

Developing print awareness

Literacy development

Reading & writing

 Merits of class libraries

 Orients children to book handling

techniques
 Promotes print awareness
 Ushers them into positive reading
behaviors
 Promotes both aesthetic and efferent
reading
 Is in sync with the active nature of child
 Book Handling
Techniques
The child can:
 locate front and back of book
 discuss cover
 locate author and illustrator names
 discuss author’s job and illustrator’s
job
 find beginning and end of book
 find page numbers
 Print awareness
 Point to where you should begin
reading
 Directionality: know that reading is
left to right and top to bottom
 Know that print tells a story and
pictures support it
 Know that word are made up of
letters
 Knowing word boundaries
 Connect between spoken and written
Reading behaviors
 Skim, preview the text
 Re-read, omit, substitute

and self-correct
 Integrate previous

knowledge
 Integrate different cueing

systems
How reading behaviors
work?
 Our school has good quality t……
 I am Tiny. This red apple is my
house.
For reading, you Pictures

draw inferences Previous Read

from picture clues, Experiences
previous read
Form of writing
experiences, form
of writing and much
more.
 Efferent and Aesthetic
reading
Rosenblatt(1986)
Textbooks Poems
Legal Briefs Stories
Newspapers Narratives
Reports

Efferent Aesthetic
reading reading
Reading for Reading for
purpose, pleasure,
finding facts,
information,
appreciation
 Merits of class libraries

Presents variety of literature

Ready access Appeals to linguistic, visual learners

Authentic Reading &

Writing context
Provides print rich
Environment
 Display

Do not stack books Make it within

Where only spine is visible child’s reach

Display books face up Advertize your

reading corner

Do not hard bound

 Labeling your class library

 Special name to  Fables

reading corner  Magazines
 Book reviews  Reviews
 Fresh arrivals  Newspapers
 Wordless picture  Self made books
books  Pamphlets
 Folktales  Catalogues
 Author’s byte  Posters
 Fairy tales
 Activities for class libraries

 Reading aloud  Talk about author,

 Point to text illustrator, title, sub-
title
 Predict plot
 Point to logos,
 Display sight words publishing firm etc.
 Talk about cover,  Talk about previous
back page text and reading experiences
pictures
icture books on nature
with descriptive &
narrative language

C
O
N
T
E
N
T
 Maths
through
Content
picture
books

Biography

Experie
ntial
story
 Folktale

wonder

Humorous
 Role of librarian
 Emphasize importance of class
libraries
 Procure variety of children’s

literature
 Grade the books into reading

levels
 Re-educate teachers about the

reading process
 Conditions for learning
Example
Brian 4E’s Expectati
Cambourne ons
Engagem
ent
Employm
ent
 Thank you
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