ILO 2: Innovation and Creativity: Construct a novel or unique idea, question, format, or product.
ILO 3: Civic Engagement: Describe insights gained from engaging physically and/or intellectually with activities of personal and public concern that are both individually life enriching and socially beneficial to the community.
The Library and Literacy Reflection Paper offers students the opportunity to reflect upon the purposes of libraries in nurturing literacy.
This 6-8 page paper (not including title or reference pages) should be formatted in APA format, and include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference page.
Section 1: Rationale for Library CreationReferring back to the library that you created in your Piktochart, write 3-4 pages describing the rationale for your designs.
Briefly describe the choices you made for the library, but more importantly, focus on the WHY and HOW.
Why did you design the library as you did? What purpose do your design elements serve?
How is this library different from the libraries you have visited?
How is this library designed to meet the needs of all people, including those from diverse backgrounds (cultural, linguistic, and physical abilities)? Provide examples of how this would work.
In addition to the rationale for design, connect your library design to child development (How does the library design meet the needs of both a childs physical, socioemotional and cognitive development?)
How does your library design focus on what children need (at every age) in order to feel welcomed and nurtured in a library environment?
What 3 things did you learn, or insights did you gain, from thinking about and designing your library?
Section 2: Developing LiteracyOne of the most important roles of teachers and those who work with children is to encourage and nurture literacy. Frederick Douglass said, Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. Encouraging and nurturing literacy, however, is easier said than done.
In 3-4 pages, reflect upon how your library will encourage and nurture literacy in your visitors. Address the following prompts:
What role does the library play in encouraging and nurturing literacy in our communities?
What are the roles of teachers, parents, librarians and community members in encouraging and nurturing literacy? Discuss the roles of each stakeholder, then address what will/could YOU do to encourage literacy in your family, school, and community? What programs (i.e. picture book read-alouds) and support services (i.e. tutoring to build literacy skills) will your library offer to nurture and encourage young readers, and those who work with them? Why is it important to offer these programs and support services?What research supports your ideas, particularly concerning the importance of literacy, the roles of teachers, classrooms, and libraries in terms of community literacy support, as well as best practices in providing support for literacy activities?
