Principal Literacy Series. Marshmallow and Me: A Principal and Her Reading Buddy’s Literacy-Leading Journey

 

I brought them to life. 

I massaged the heart. I promised devotion, loyalty, and allegiance. 

And, I wasn’t alone. 

Students at Bain Elementary School in Cheyenne, Wyoming, gave them a name. “A name gives identity to a person,” said Rosalie in Robyn Dabney’s The Ascenditure (p. 28). The kids named them Marshmallow. 

And, Marshmallow came to life on December 4, 2023. 

Marshmallow has been to school with Bitsy Bat and Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire. 

Marshmallow has danced under the Northern Lights. 

Marshmallow has made friends with students in kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade during monthly read-alouds. 

And, Marshmallow and I have set out on a reading adventure. 

This is just one way I model a love for reading and lead a literacy initiative at my school. 

As a principal literacy leader, a passion for reading should be evident. Share your favorite books, discuss reading with students, encourage teachers and librarians to book talk their favorite age-appropriate reads, and participate in reading-related activities. 

Modeling a love for reading extends to family engagement. Our school’s Academic Action Team hosts quarterly morning literacy celebrations where we offer treats and free books to students and families during morning breakfast. Roll into Reading (with fresh cinnamon rolls from a local bakery!) and Hot Books & Cocoa (with a visit from The Grinch!) have taken place this year. 

The family involvement is amazing! We have 236 students enrolled in grades K-6, and we tallied 169 families at our December event. In October, we had around 114 families, so the excitement and enthusiasm is growing. 

And, it’s growing because of the students. 

Include students as much as you can in your literacy plans. At our school, students named our Reading Buddy. Students hold Marshmallow and his heart (which is how I was able to "breathe life into them" when acquired at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) annual convention). Students can submit books or topics they want to hear for their read-aloud. These actions build a collaborative culture that includes open communication, shared ideas, and a collective responsibility to grow reading at the school. 

This collaboration is empty, though, without the teachers. A principal literacy leader must ensure that teachers receive the support and resources they need to deliver high-quality literacy instruction. Help your teachers stay informed on current research, the hottest books, and ideas on ways to share books in their classroom. 

The work of the teachers, students, and the principal is driven by shared goals. Our goal is focused and clear: grow all students’ reading achievement. Modeling a love of reading, engaging families and students, and supporting teachers as literacy leaders in their classroom will move the needle on student growth in reading. 

I can't wait to hear how you will join Marshmallow and me on this reading journey!

Notes: 

Marshmallow came from Build-A-Bear and First Book First Book Marketplace: Affordable Books for Educators (fbmarketplace.org) at NCTE 2023.

The Ascenditure by Robyn Dabney. Regal House Publishing/Fitzroy Books, Release date: May 13, 2024, #NetGalley, #TheAscenditure. Middle Grades.

Bitsy Bat, School Star (The Bitsy Bat Series) by Kaz Windness (June, 2023), Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman. Ages 5-8.

Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire (The World of Gustavo) by Flavia Z. Drago (September, 2023), Candlewick. Ages 3-7. 

The Lights that Dance in the Night by Yuval Zommer is a title shared through the wonderful Principals’ Clubhouse and Bookelicious. Ages 3-8.