Forget flying solo — literacy is a team sport. This session explores
how librarians and teachers can co-navigate the shift from passive reading to genuine student agency, using Berthoud High School (~750 students, Northern Colorado) as a case study.
Participants will learn how Berthoud's library partners with ELA and cross-curricular teachers to build reading skills through independent choice books tied to required themes; how student reading surveys generate data that– with AI support– drives personalized book talks and "love notes from the library" tailored to individual classes; and how a schoolwide reading continuum gives students varied, scaffolded experiences across all four years of high school.
The session also spotlights a standout partnership model featuring ongoing reading conferences and close librarian-student interactions — moving the librarian from "one-and-done classroom visitor" to a consistent, meaningful presence in students' academic lives.
All strategies are practical, repeatable, and scalable for a range of school sizes and populations.
Slide deck
