How we support young readers

National Young Readers Week is celebrated every November. It’s a great time to encourage students to open a book and find content that interests them. Reading is a lifelong skill that ensures you never stop learning and strengthens your mind. That’s why it is essential to instill positive reading habits in children. CEF promotes reading for students by funding grants that will build reading comprehension and encourage a love of reading in students. Here are just a few of the literary grants in action in Collierville Schools!

Book Vending Machine 

At Bailey Station Elementary School, over 800 students can select books from the Book Vending Machine. Students show up to school excited to engage with the machine and independently select a book that piques their interest. With the help of CEF, 372 new books were added to the machine. Students practice their independent choice by selecting from paper back or hard back and a variety of subjects. 

Women’s Literature

Last school year was the first year of Collierville High School’s Women’s Literature class. Nearly 60 students signed up for the initial class, and interest in the subject has skyrocketed since. With classwide sets of two novels provided through CEF grant funding, economic barriers are removed for students interested in women’s literature. Students are reading classics like “Jane Eyre” and newer novels like “I am Malala.” With a class focused solely on women’s literature, students can explore a more specialized English subject and dive deeper into the materials.

Graphic novels

For students who may be reluctant to pick up a traditional book, graphic novels are a great stepping stone. At Schilling Farms Elementary, teacher Jennifer Conti uses graphic novels to support literary growth for students. She found graphic novels help improve visual literacy, which is essential to 21st century learners who must learn to interpret a variety of media. Graphic novels can foster creativity, enhance social and emotional learning, support readers who may otherwise be disinterested and teach literary themes. 

If you want to learn more about grants like these, please visit this page. We highlight many of the incredible teachers and grants in Collierville Schools!