Library - Bookmarks

This term I've tried to give chapter books a really big push.
I felt like the 'love of reading' was missing in my class, and I wanted to change that.

I was about a third of the way into reading Matilda by Roald Dahl to my class when I began to notice and overhear how many times my class was referencing the book in their personal jokes and conversations.
"She went full Ms Trunchbull"
- Student when talking about how grumpy their Nan had got in the Weekend.
"Is she like Miss Honey Mr?"
- Student in response to when I was explaining how lovely the Kiwi Sport coach is.
They simply loved the book, and were loving the story. I reflected on my guided reading lessons, and how little the learners were engaging with the characters and the stories that we read.
I decided I wanted to therefore make a big push for chapter books and try and recreate that same excitement based on there own reading.

I started simply with a book mark. The idea being that if they had a bookmark, then they would want to have a book to use it in... Seems a bit lame but I remembered how excited I had got when I was a kid, when my Mum bought home a fancy metallic Harry Potter Bookmark from Australia. The first thing I did was grab the nearest book and start reading so that I could use it.
I created a template and let the kids design their bookmarks however they liked. No surprises when half the class made Fortnite themed bookmarks!
It didn't matter though, because as soon as I gave them their laminated bookmarks, the students began begging me to take them to the library. My plan was working!