Classroom peek: Learning our library tastes

Reading is more than choosing a good book — it’s a powerful part of learning.

The Learning Commons at Johannesgatan has been buzzing since the start of term, with students exploring stories, discovering new authors and developing a better understanding of themselves as readers.

For Grades 4 and 5, reading has become an opportunity for reflection and learning. Students have been creating reader profiles, thinking about their interests, hobbies, favourite formats and the books they have enjoyed. They have also been recommending titles to classmates — helping to build a community where students learn from one another as well as from their teachers.

In Grade 1, students are learning the routines and responsibilities of using a library, while also beginning to identify the kinds of stories and genres that capture their imagination. Their colourful “reading hearts” are helping them reflect on what they enjoy and begin to see themselves as readers.

These activities do much more than encourage children to pick up a book. They help students develop reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, critical reflection and the ability to make informed choices about what they read — all essential foundations for learning across the curriculum.

And yes, there is still something special about a physical book. The colourful shelves, the feel of the pages and the excitement of discovering a new story are very much alive in the Learning Commons.

Because when children become confident, curious and enthusiastic readers, they don’t just read more — they learn more.