By Heather Brady, Graduate Assistant
Engaging young readers can be a powerful way to build key reading skills while celebrating their cultural heritage, inspirational experiences and traditions. Here are some ideas.
Self-Publish Your Own Books
Get the entire community invested! The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians created two self-published books in conjunction with their Reading Nation Waterfall program. The first book, shown above, will be joined by a second title later this year.
Incorporate Tradition
Consider pairing a book fair with an oral storytelling night. Celebrate stories of all kinds! Develop themed reading challenges that align with important cultural events or seasons. This can help young readers understand make connections between reading and cultural practices.
Another idea – encourage students to express book concepts through traditional art forms or storytelling methods. This could involve creating beadwork inspired by a story’s themes, retelling a tale through dance, or illustrating scenes using traditional artistic styles.
Celebrate Achievements
Recognize students’ reading accomplishments in culturally appropriate ways in addition to other fun ideas like pizza and ice cream parties. Celebrate reading milestones with supportive community gatherings that involve storytelling and sharing.