Springbrook Elementary spotlights social reading programs to boost student motivation

Springbrook Elementary staff presented a school spotlight on Sept. 8 highlighting programs they use to motivate students to read for pleasure and to strengthen family engagement in literacy.

The presentation, delivered by school staff, described a mix of social and hands-on activities intended to make reading a shared, visible habit. Signature events include "snuggle up and read" (a pajama-themed gathering before winter break), glow-reading sessions under black lights, a "camp read" experience with LED tea-light tunnels and an end-of-year STEAM challenge tied to a Monarch Children's Choice title where students design boats or similar projects after a shared read-aloud.

Why it matters: district presenters noted that national studies have documented a decline in reading for pleasure but said Springbrook has successfully leveraged social reading events, author visits, book clubs and awards participation to create peer-driven motivation. Staff emphasized that reading activities connect to the district's Portrait of a Graduate competencies such as creativity, problem solving and teamwork.

Other programs and supports: Springbrook participates in the Monarch (children's choice) and Bluestem lists, runs Chalk About Books (student-created sidewalk book recommendations used as a summer reading list) and produces short student videos promoting books. Staff credited the PTA, volunteers and a part-time LMC assistant for sustaining the initiatives and said family reading nights and book clubs reinforce the social nature of reading.

Quotes: School staff: "Reading is a social activity. It's not something you do in isolation in a corner, and we're trying to capitalize on that." (Presentation remarks.)

Ending note: staff invited board members and community members to upcoming events and said the programs aim to build long-term reading motivation by combining choice, social engagement and classroom-to-home links.