Maaike from Snaaskerke is Best Book Teacher

The prize for Best Book Teacher wants to give appreciation to teachers who show a concrete commitment to promoting reading and working with children’s books in the classroom. This year, 61 book teachers and masters were registered by pupils, parents and colleagues. Based on the motivations of the entries, the jury chose six schools for a first selection.

Promote reading pleasure

Maaike Verstraete, fifth grade teacher and policy support officer at municipal primary school De Horizon in Snaaskerke, was elected Book Teacher 2023. She tries to boost reading comprehension and promote reading pleasure with broad projects. “In my class I look for balance and integration. A reading excerpt can form the basis for a word package. And a book about infographics is perfect for discussing medians and averages. This is how reading is discussed every day,” says the laureate.

In addition, two other teachers also won prizes: Lieselot Vannieuwenhuyse from De Ooievaar free primary school in Poelkapelle and Natalie Van Den Bergh from Sint-Antonius free primary school in Liedekerke (Flemish Brabant). They were also rewarded with a selection of books for the school library.

Reading offensive

The Best Book Teacher award is part of the activities of the Reading Offensive, a partnership between the departments of Education and Training, Culture, Youth and Media, and Welfare that aims to encourage both committed readers and non-readers to enjoy reading.