By Todd Nesloney and Travis Crowder
We are living, teaching and leading in unusual times. Many of us have already re-entered the classroom, while others of us are still sitting on the periphery of the school year. There’s a deep sense of unrest among educators, and while we continue our work in school or prepare for the upcoming year, so many unknowns still exist. And quite frankly, they are exhausting.
One of the things that has grounded us during this time is reading. Keeping an academic focus right now is difficult—and we get it. More than anything we are concerned about the well-being of students and educators, of everyone who works with students across a school year. While living in the midst of trying times, we have both found story— fiction, nonfiction and poetry— to offer solace and hope. Grafted into the fabric of the books, articles, and poems we reach for is the essence of humanity. It proves, again and again, the power of literacy and how critical it is, even in times such as these.
As you think about the school year, and the ways to continue using literacy as a campuswide initiative, you may want to consider the following:
Use picture books.
Picture books are essential reading for all ages, from kids to adults. They offer space to think about issues, discuss problems, and provide connection between children and adults. Reading and talking are helpful in navigating tough issues, ones that students face, as well as ones that they have yet to encounter. Find time in the day to read to students or encourage teachers to read picture books aloud.
Incorporate poetry into your school day, possibly shared early in the morning during announcements or shared in individual classrooms.
Poetry is a special genre. It is the genre that touches all others, but the thing that separates poetry from other types of writing is its succinct nature. Poems push us beyond surface-level thinking. They look at an issue and plunge beneath it, giving us more to consider once we read the end. Poetry also provides comfort. Finding poems by poets such as Pablo Neruda, Jason Reynolds, Mary Oliver, Jaki Shelton Green, Tanner Olson or any others at poets.org and reading them aloud to students provides a sense of comfort. It also gives them a chance to hear a fluent reader navigate a text.
If possible, engage students and faculty in online book clubs.
We know this one may be difficult, but if possible (please ensure safety first), encourage students and teachers to form book clubs. We have found that talk around books helps us find balance. Coming together in a virtual space, such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Documents, Skype, or virtual chat rooms, will give participants a chance to share their thinking. This type of format—reading and talking—is what helps readers grow. We evolve as readers, writers, and thinkers when we engage with a text, and when we talk about it—even as adults.
We have a lot on our plates right now and a lot of emotions are swirling around. Let us use literature as a means of bringing us together and helping us sort through these emotions.
Todd Nesloney is TEPSA’s Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership. He is an award-winning educator, author and international speaker.
Travis Crowder, a National Board Certified Teacher, teaches middle school students in North Carolina. He co-hosts the popular podcast series “Sparks in the Dark” and is co-author of Sparks in the Dark.
TEPSA News, September/October 2020, Vol 77, No 5
Copyright © 2020 by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. No part of articles in TEPSA publications or on the website may be reproduced in any medium without the permission of the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association.
