We started out by talking about being wild readers - those readers that Donalyn Miller talks about in her book Reading in the Wild. There are a lot of wild readers in my schools, which makes my job so much fun! I shared with them my reading habits - reading any time, any place. When I first wake up, while cooking breakfast (sometimes leading to disaster), eating breakfast, waiting for my kids' bus to come, any spare minute I can find at school, waiting to pick up kids at soccer, gymnastics, etc., before bed, with my kids - you get the idea. I challenged students to think about their own wild reading habits and share them at our next library class. I then shared with them my Goodreads account - how I connect with friends and educators to share books, participate in book challenges, and record my reading. They are amazed at my personal goal of 350 books this year. I'll get there. And now they ask every week. They are interested, so I explain next about how I had looked last year for a student version of Goodreads and how I found Biblionasium! Best of all - it is FREE!
The following week when they came to library, we shared some of their wild reading habits on a padlet and then got right to Biblionasium. I always remind them to keep trying if they get stuck and then to ask classmates for help next.
I set some goals for the day: 1) log in 2) change their avatar (this always generates excitement!) 3) add a book to their shelf 4) recommend a book. Most students get hooked right away. They love sharing books with their classmates. I explain that in order to share with kids in other classes, their parents have to join. Some of the students become experts and are wonderful at helping others out. Their excitement grows as they begin sharing with teachers too.
In almost every class, we do have to have a discussion about Digital Citizenship, as inevitably someone shares a book like Elmo and the Potty.
When we come back to library the next week, I reserve most of the class for students to go back on Biblionasium. They love the time to play and learn. After today, they can go on Biblionasium during check out time, in their classroom or at home.
Happy Reading!