Making Yourself Visible as a Reader

Recently a colleague pointed out that she was impressed by the many ways I make myself visible as a reader.  At first, I thought, do I? Then I started to think about how many little things can be done to share our reading lives with others.

Email signature

Several years ago, I noticed a currently reading list as part of the person’s signature in an email I received. I love this idea and now list YA books, adult books and professional books I am currently reading in my email address. (I apologize for stealing this and I wish I could remember who originated this brilliant idea.)

Currently reading bubble on office door

At one of my schools the office door is very visible, so I started listing what I am currently reading on a vinyl cling bubble. I have seen teachers share this in several different ways in classrooms, too. One teacher has her name, her co-teacher’s name and her principal’s name on her whiteboard. Under each is the title of the book they are currently reading. Two teachers (one teaches 9th grade Social Studies) have a big Post-it in the classroom where all of the books the teacher has read this quarter are listed. Another teacher has an image of each book cover on her door representing each of the books she has a read this year.

Goodreads

Goodreads is a social media site for book nerds. This site allows you to share with other readers what you are currently reading and then rate and share reviews of books as they are finished. One of my favorite parts of Goodreads is seeing what my friends are reading and building my to-read list.  Goodreads also allows you to automatically share reviews and ratings of books read to Twitter and Facebook making your reading even more visible.

I am always surprised by how many people – teachers, students, and administrators – engage in conversations with me about books after receiving an email or walking past my door or friending me on Goodreads.  Some ask if I am enjoying a certain book or if I would recommend a title or how I find time to read so many books.  These conversations have helped me to meet teachers I may never interact with otherwise, reconnect with former students and share new learning.

Being a reader is definitely a big part of who I am as an educator and a person.  These three small things help me make being a reader visible to those around me and also help me to hold myself accountable to reading goals I set for myself.  How can you make yourself more visible as a reader to those around you?