OUR CLASS LIBRARY PROJECT: The AlQaClass Library #AlQaReading #BookClub

 OUR CLASS LIBRARY PROJECT: Our AlQaClass Library

A good Class Library Project can be a challenging but  excellent way to engage students in reading, promote reading for pleasure, and enhance their learning experience (what we advocate is "reading to learn"). Last year we received a very generous donation from the British Council School in Madrid for which we felt immensely grateful and privileged so we got together in one of our coordination meetings at the beginning of the current academic year 2022-23 to decide what we would make out of this treasure donation. We all came to an agreement that we would design a Class Library Project this year that we would start implementing it next academic year. For that we have followed a slow but sure process of recollection, reordering, organising, classifying and registering all the books received in order to implement our newest project The AlQaClass Library successfully next year. 

First of all, we set some goals and objectives for our AlQaClass Library: Once determined the goals of our project:

• aiming to promote reading habits, 
• improving research skills, 
• catering for high-achievers and early finishers
• fostering a love for literature and books

We evaluated the available resources and space for the class library, asking our headmistress, Mrs. Ana Pérez for some bookshelves to be installed in all four British Council Programme classrooms, a petition which she willingly complied. Once we had the furniture, we took stock of existing books, considering how to optimise the space to create an inviting and functional library environment. For that purpose, we designed some posters.

Then, it was time to organise the collection by categorising and organising the collection, which had been kept in enormous cardboard boxes so far. The literacy teachers agreed on organising different reading levels for each class, taking into account the high achievers so in every class, there would always be literature of a higher level for those students. Next we created signage, and developed a system for cataloguing our books to facilitate easy distribution to every one of the four classrooms and promote easy access and navigation.

Now that everything is organised we have thought of requesting more book donations in order to enlarge the offer.

Most importantly we wanted to involve our students in the process of setting up their AlQaClass Library since we truly believe that encouraging students involvement and ownership of the class library project can help them foster a love for literature and books. Assigning tasks such as organising books, creating displays, designing library cards, or developing book recommendation lists can be a way to enhance their "connection" and "sense of belonging" to the Class Library. 

For next academic year we have planned activities such as the above mentioned, as well as making them can contribute by writing book reviews or suggesting additions to the collection.

Next year the challenge will be implementing voluntary reading programmes: Initiating the Class Library so as to promote reading engagement. We have also planned to set some reading goals/contests, offering incentives or rewards, and tracking students' progress. We are seriously considering implementing reading challenges, apart from our well known #cross-curricular #alqareading book clubs to enhance student participation.

With all the work carried out all this year through, we have realised that collaboration with all the teachers in the British Council Programme is paramount so as to integrate the class library into the curriculum. Next year we need to work together to identify opportunities where students can make use of their library resources for research, project work, or independent reading. Together the project will be richer and more diverse.

Some activities that are now thought of to be organised next academic year are activities to generate excitement and engagement, like conducting a book fair, storytelling sessions, or themed reading weeks. We have planned to host contests, book discussions, and literary quizzes to involve students in interactive learning experiences.

Finally, we cannot forget that in order to evolve we need to assess the effectiveness of the class library project at the end of every academic year to come. We, as teachers should seek feedback from our students, co-teachers, and other members of the British Council programme regarding their experiences and, of course their suggestions for improvement. This feedback will be very useful in order to make necessary adjustments and enhancements to our class libraries.

OUR AlQaCLASS LIBRARIES

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