Book Week: Read Your Way

Ms Odette HOLWEG , Teacher Librarian, Junior School & DUCKS

Book Week has just been celebrated at DCSZ, and we recognize the vital role that reading plays in our lives, extending beyond academic learning. Reading not only helps our students thrive but also allows them to explore worlds, real and imagined, and enhances their knowledge, understanding and empathy.

This year, the theme for Book Week was "Read Your Way," aligning with the theme of World Book Day. Reading for pleasure is known to have a positive impact on social, educational, and overall well-being. We wholeheartedly encourage every student to embrace reading by exploring books of their choice, delivered in the mode of their choice - finding their own comfortable and enjoyable way to read. By empowering students to read what they love, how they choose, we aim to ignite a passion for reading within them.

At DCSZ, we celebrate and support each student's unique reading preferences. We understand that reading is not limited to traditional print books alone. Some students may prefer audiobooks, e-books or tactile experiences. Everyone has their own preferred way to take in stories, build and absorb knowledge. In line with the theme, we have designed various activities to encourage and support our students in developing their love for reading.

Here is a highlight of our activities during Book Week:

Book Fair

We invited book sellers to set up a Book Fair on campus. Students and parents had the opportunity to visit the Book Fair and choose the books they would like to purchase.

Book Character Dress-Up Parade

To add fun and excitement, we organised a Book Character Dress-Up Parade on Friday. Students selected a character from a book and dressed up as that character.

Library Up Late

On Thursday, we held "Libraries Up Late," where DCSZ families were welcomed into the DUCKS/JS Library. This event aimed to foster reading by tapping into the parent/child relationships.

Such an activity provides opportunity for parents and children to talk about their reading preferences, to model reading and to share book related experiences one with another. It encouraged children's reading interests and served as a positive example, showing them that their parents value reading. Additionally, by participating in reading sessions with their children, parents could observe the types of books their children enjoy and encourage them to explore the many options available, and to speak about their own reading preferences.  Additionally, all were able to borrow books, have a cookie and a hot chocolate.

The Black Book of Colors

This year, we introduced our students to "The Black Book of Colours." In the Junior School, students learned about and created a book designed for the blind. This lesson provided students with an opportunity to understand different ways of reading and fostered a sense of compassion.

Extreme Reading Challenge

Do you push the boundaries of reading? This activity encouraged students to try new and unconventional ways of reading. However, safety remained a top priority.

Shelfie

A "Shelfie" involved taking a photograph of your bookshelf or displaying your favourite books. It provided students with a chance to showcase their personal reading collections whether physical or digital.

Multilingual stories

Students in Year 6 created a padlet where staff and students were able to share a story read and recorded on the padlet.  Following this input, students across campus were able to view stories in many tongues – perhaps their own preferred language, or another unknown language - another opportunity for the DCSZ community to read their own way.

Roll Character & Spine Poem

Senior School Librarian Ms Nancy Zhang has organised this wonderful activity for my students. Students were making a book character out of the toilet rolls and doing spine poem. It was a wonderful time celebrating the Book Week! 

Overall, our Book Week has been a resounding success, and we hope that a seed of love for reading has been planted in the hearts of our students. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the teachers, staff, and community members who actively participated in Book Week and contributed to instilling a passion for reading in our students.  Without you, this wouldn’t happen.