Reigniting Passion for Reading in General Shafter’s New Literacy Room 

General Shafter Elementary School has devised an innovative way to improve literacy rates while inspiring a passion for reading among students. The small school transformed its traditional library into a cozy “Bobcat Den” where kids can relax and enjoy a good book. 

“We wanted to create a space where they’re excited,” said General Shafter Principal Brittany Harer. “It’s a privilege to go in there. It feels like an experience.” 

The newly transformed literacy room, which opened in January, is a kid-friendly space with soft, modular furniture that students can rearrange to be more comfortable while reading. Books ranging from picture books to multi-chapter stories are available to read in the room or to check out. Displays are set up according to different themes and continuously updated to provide fresh stories to read. 

“Traditionally, you’d go into a school library, and you would have books stacked up that had maybe been there for decades,” said Superintendent Chris Salyards. “Having an approach like this, it’s organized, it’s clean, it’s simplified.”

The library transformation came at the end of last year when the school was evaluating its programs. Officials noticed that reading scores had somewhat declined and immediately took action to prioritize literacy. Harer said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, everything took place online, including reading, but kids weren’t enjoying it anymore. 

“We asked: how can we bring back that love for reading and really inspire them,” Harer said. “It was students having a book in their hand again.”

A prominent feature in the Bobcat Den is a book vending machine, which allows students to spend tokens to choose their own book to take home. This system also helps reinforce good behavior and achievement on campus. When kids do good things at school, reach academic milestones, or even participate, they are rewarded with tokens for the book vending machine. 

“Anybody that participated in our spelling bee got a token, and I think we had the greatest participation that we’ve ever had,” Harer said. “We didn’t want it to be linked just to academics.”

School officials say that with the previous library system, students would check out a book and then leave. With the literacy room, they can stay where they’re comfortable and read on site. The Bobcat Den is open during recess and lunch breaks, plus before and after school, so students can spend their downtime reading. It’s also a safe space to go if students get stressed or overstimulated and need a place to calm down and relax their minds.

“This is their space if they need a space before or after school,” Harer said. “Some of them don’t love doing activities at recess, so we can open it up during that time and just inspire them to be here reading.”

The literacy room is designed specifically for the younger kids in the TK-5 grades, but Harer says the older students seem to like it, too.

“Our idea was to design this space and have a different environment for our sixth through eighth grade,” she explained. “However, we’re seeing the sixth through eighth graders saying: we want to go in there, we want to visit too.” 

While it’s too early to tell if the Bobcat Den has impacted literacy scores, Harer says she is already seeing a difference in the number of kids reading and how often they’re reading. 

“They’re just devouring book after book,” she said. “I’m excited to see what it’s going to look like for their future.”

Salyards hopes this program will mark a new chapter in General Shafter’s literacy program and pay dividends for its students. 

“This is just the beginning,” he said. “What a great seed that’s been planted, and to watch it grow over the next couple of years is going to be exciting.” 

A Student uses a token to choose a book.