How teacher librarians boost student literacy

January 8, 2020

Teacher librarians are some of my favourite people – their passion for literacy and knowledge of books/authors/genres should be applauded. Let’s look at some reasons why the presence of qualified library staff in school libraries is associated with better student performance in literacy.

Every Australian school constantly aims to lift the literacy outcomes of their students. Supporting literacy improvement for struggling readers is particularly critical because these readers have their disadvantage worsen: capable readers continue to improve through their continued exposure to reading texts, and the gap widens between them and the struggling readers.

Latest international data shows that our “low performers” in reading literacy has risen. Add to this the fact that the percentage of “high performers” is lessening – nearly one in four adolescents are in the low performer category.

How do teacher librarians help in boosting student literacy outcomes?

Teacher librarians bring together the skills and knowledge of an educator and librarian. They have a good idea of the curriculum and they understand how the library works and what resources are there to support students. Here are some ways that your school librarian helps your child:

1) They provide age and skill-appropriate materials for struggling readers.

Teacher librarians match students with age-appropriate materials they can manage and topics they prefer. The more a student enjoys and is interested in reading, the more likely they are to keep it up!

2) Teaching students how to select the books they like

Both primary and secondary students have commented that they would read more if it were easier to choose books that appeal to them. Teacher librarians are the best human resource for suggesting similar authors, genres and styles of books that appeal to a student’s reading taste.

3) Matching struggling readers to books at their skill level

Research frequently indicates that struggling readers will be more persistent, invested and use more cognitive skills if they are matched with books that mirror their ability level and personal interest. Teacher librarians are very skilful in making good matches.

4) Making reading more socially acceptable

If young people believe that books are socially acceptable, they’re more likely to read and have a positive attitude toward reading. Reading frequency is associated with improved literacy so this is ideal. Teacher librarians use a host of strategies to promote how books are viewed socially in schools for e.g. peer recommendations.

5) Using online information effectively

Another role of teacher librarians is teaching information literacy. Learning how to locate information online and how to judge its value and relevance to the topic at hand are skills that can best be taught by teacher librarians. They can also show students how to avoid plagiarism and demonstrate note-taking skills in order to become independent researchers.

As we commence the new year, don’t forget to seek out your school librarian. You will be surprised at how much support they can offer you and how much time they can save you!