Facilitating Buddy Reading

Buddy Reading between older and younger students is a fun and engaging activity that promotes literacy, but scheduling it can be a challenge for busy teachers. To make it easier for all, our librarians have facilitated matches between older and younger classes for the past couple of years. 

To do this, our ECC (preschool) librarian shares her schedule in a Google Doc, indicating the day and time of her library classes. This Google Doc is sent out schoolwide so that teachers of older students can sign up for the slot that works with their schedule. Some teachers sign up for one visit at a time, while others go ahead and sign up for Buddy Reading dates throughout the school year. Once a teacher has signed up for a specific date, the ECC librarian sends a Google calendar invite to help everyone remember when the actual date rolls around (it helps to include classroom assistants, individualized learning specialists / shadow teachers, etc. in the invite as well as a backup reminder!). 

This simple yet engaging activity helps our youngest Bulldogs practice important literacy skills such as using and appreciating books and interacting during read-alouds and book conversations, while the older Bulldogs practice reading fluency and model proper book-handling. We are always very appreciative of the teachers who participate and make the hike up to our ECC building with their students! If you’d like to try this at your school, here’s a template for the Buddy Reading sign-up for you to add your own days, times, etc.

Contact library director Laura Fiallos lfiallos@seishn.com with any questions. Happy reading!

By: Laura Wylie de Fiallos, MLIS, MEd, Escuela Internacional Sampedrana