Riveting Reads: Boys into Books 11-14

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< But what about the girls? Which activities work? >

Who else can help me get them reading?

Most librarians, and very many teachers, are women. Female librarians do exceptional work in engaging with boys, as well as fulfilling valuable social roles in the school community – boys will frequently confide in librarians rather than teachers or parents.

What boys also need, however, are male role models. Many of them lack this even in their own families, and it’s even more important that they experience such models at school. When male role models are known to read, are seen reading, talk about reading, and enthuse about reading, boys take notice.

Make the most of any male role models you can, from school and the wider community – either in real life, on posters, on video, or through quotations of their words. Involve men in library activities (the co-host of a reading group, for example), and encourage them to talk about reading throughout the school. Celebrities, well-liked teachers, older boys, and peers all have a role to play.

Anyone too shy to talk, or too busy to visit the library can at least contribute information on what they’re reading at the moment; a picture of themselves when a boy, with their favourite book then; anecdotes about what their parents caught them reading; their favourite place to read, and so on. The web lets you create an ideal showcase of who’s reading what and why around the school. Try these ideas:

Encourage male teachers to visit the library – a male presence at lunch and break times is particularly useful.
A male Head Teacher can model the importance of reading at the highest level – can he regularly talk about reading, or share his book choices? Can he visit staff and student reading groups? He can also talk about reading at staff meetings, and invite others’ book choices.
Involve other men in the school – caretakers and administrators, for example.
Make use of male school governors, to talk about their reading, and what reading means to them.
Invite fathers, grandfathers and uncles into school.
If you have parent volunteers to help with reading, is there a fair balance of men involved? In the North of England and the Midlands, Reading Matters for Life (http://www.readingmattersforlife.org.uk/) can support this.
When choosing authors, illustrators or storytellers to visit, feature men regularly.
Male poets and poetry rappers may be especially effective.
Invite other kinds of guests (cartoonists, songwriters, sportsmen, DJs, graffiti artists).
Don’t forget community figures (local policemen, firemen, chefs, business leaders). Seemingly non-book related guests are valuable a) because the visit happens in the library, and b) because you can pull out library materials to link in, and for follow-up.

Riveting Reads: Boys into Books 11-14

Start | Foreword | Introduction | Browse Booklist | Download PDF | Appendices

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< But what about the girls? Which activities work? >

Who else can help me get them reading?

< But what about the girls? Which activities work? >

Boys Into Books

Introduction Overview