Mount Vernon STEAM Academy teacher promotes literacy with Parisian book café

Two to three times a year, Ashley Wallace’s ninth grade English class transforms into a café that you would typically see in Paris, as students read and enjoy the ambiance. The Parisian book café is designed to excite students about reading and establish a familiarity with the classroom library. 

Public School Review recently ranked Mount Vernon STEAM Academy as the #22 public high school in Westchester County. To celebrate this ranking, we are taking a deeper look at the innovative programming at the STEAM Academy in a series of articles.

Piles of books of various genres are stacked at each group’s table in Ms. Wallace’s classroom before the book cafe opens. While sipping fresh hot chocolate or tea and enjoying a cookie or two, students explore the variety of genres by completing a book brochure that gives a general picture of the books they are pursuing.

The vibe of the Parisian café is completed with table lamps on, overhead lights off, and a melody of French cafe hits playing quietly in the background. 

“This has proven to me over the years that when I do this activity, students are more excited about reading independently and less nervous about new books,” said Ms. Wallace. “They associate a feeling of contentment and happiness (and fun!) with our classroom library.”