What is Book Nook?

The school runs a unique program called the Book Nook. You may have noticed the Book Nook winners listed every week in the Tualatin Telegraph.  Designed to promote the development of fundamental reading skills and a lifelong love of reading, the Book Nook offers students the opportunity to “shop” for a new or gently used book to add to their home library.

 

Research shows that children who read more have higher reading achievement and that reading at home is correlated to the amount of reading material readily available to them.  Our program offers children the pride of ownership that comes with starting their own home book collection and the chance to develop their reading skills with on-going access to those books. The program is tied to the school wide behavioral support program and students earn a chance to shop when teachers select them as a “Caught Reading” Winner for the class.  Twenty to forty students attend Book Nook each week – either as a weekly winner or to recycle old, outgrown, or low-interest books for newer ones.  

 

Christy Shaver, the school’s Literacy Specialist and the creative force behind this program, sees the Book Nook’s impact every Friday afternoon. Some students use this opportunity to select books to read to or give to younger siblings. Other students select a book that may be a little too advanced for their current reading skills as a bit of private motivation to continue improving.

 

Shaver explains: “For kids who struggle with reading, often the book itself has little value, but to win a book of your own, to shop for a book, to have your name announced as a winner for all to hear – this is of tremendous value.  The hope is that this helps transform that book from a barrier to a treasure.”

 

This program is primarily managed with volunteer hours and books are mostly donated from teachers, libraries, book stores, and the local community.