Summer vacation is almost here! I am so excited for vacation because now I will have even more time to read. This is a perfect time for you to catch up on all of your favorite books, too. Please visit the Russell Library or other public library many times this summer. Ask the librarians to help you find books that you love. Don’t forget to check out the summer reading program- Exercise Your Mind: Read! You can also get passes for free or reduced admission to area attractions like the Basketball Hall of Fame, KidCity, Mystic Aquarium, and more. Have a wonderful summer!
We have so many opportunities to learn about great books in the library. Second through fifth graders have just finished voting for their favorite Nutmeg book. Winners will be announced in mid May. Kindergarten through third graders will start reading nominees for the Charter Oak Children’s Book Award, a reading program created by a Connecticut school librarian. Dog Vs. Cat is an early favorite.
Third through fifth graders are wrapping up their book reviews and have shared them on Biblionasium. This project gave students an opportunity to create an authentic product, use technology to produce and publish writing, and interact with others. Happy birthday Beverly Cleary! In honor of Beverly Cleary’s 100th birthday on April 12, I have put her books on display. Many books (including the Ramona series, one of my favorites) have been popular with kids for over 60 years. Check them out! Read Across America is an event that honors Dr. Seuss’s birthday! To celebrate, Ms. Mullen and Mr. Gaudreau have planned a fun-filled night on March 3 with face painting, treats, games, crafts, and, of course, reading!
Kindergarteners will learn that many Dr. Seuss books like Hop on Pop, Green Eggs and Ham, and Dr. Seuss’s ABCs are perfect for practicing to read on their own or with someone else. First graders are reading books by Steve Jenkins and will create their own animal book. Second graders will use the dictionary to help decipher unknown words in the poem, “The Germ” by Ogden Nash. Third through fifth graders are creating and enjoying each others’ book reviews on Biblionasium. Once again, the PTA will hold the Scholastic Book Fair in the library media center during the week of March 7. Stop in before or after your child’s conference and pick out some great books. THANK YOU to the PTA for all the work they do to support literacy in our school! Kindergarteners and first graders will revisit fiction and nonfiction texts related to the February holidays (so many for such a short month)!
Second and third graders will wrap up the Mock Caldecott unit with voting and an awards ceremony. Fourth and fifth graders will publish and share their book reviews on Biblionasium. Looking forward to World Read Aloud Day on February 24th! This month, kindergarteners and first graders will meet some of the most beloved authors (Rosemary Wells, Mo Willems, etc) and characters (Elephant and Piggie, Amelia Bedelia, etc) in children's literature.
It’s award season! In January, the American Library Association (ALA) announces the winners of book and media awards, such as the Caldecott and Newbury Medals. Second and third grade students will read and analyze different picture books and bestow their own award to a winner of their choice. Fourth and fifth graders will write book reviews to share with classmates using Biblionasium, a book-sharing website similar to Goodreads. The cold weather makes it a perfect time to settle in with lots of good books! Hour of Code!
Our school is joining in on the Hour of Code, during the week of Dec. 7-13. This is a world-wide event to introduce students to computer programming. We participated last year, and it was a huge success! During the Hour of Code, students will use critical thinking, logic, persistence, and creativity to solve problems, which are all related to AASL Standards for 21st Century Learners. If you have a computer, tablet, smartphone, or other device with an Internet connection, your child can use the site at home by visiting code.org. This is a very engaging educational activity, and I encourage you to check it out! Last month, second through fifth grade students were introduced to the Follett Destiny online library catalog and circulation system, which enables our library patrons (students, staff, and families) to search for books from any device with an internet connection. There is a link to Destiny from the library home page on the menu to the left. Many students have been able to use the library catalog and their knowledge of how the library is organized to successfully find materials they want. It is very exciting to see students independently meeting their information needs!
This month, we are jumping in to digital publishing. Students in kindergarten and first grade will use Little Bird Tales to share their writing. This is our first time using this program, so it will be a learning experience for us all! Second and third grade students have begun their Mock Caldecott unit and will continue to read and evaluate a variety of picture books to determine which ones they think are award worthy. Interest is high, and opinions are strong! Fourth grade students will also experiment with digital publishing using Comic Creator to share information about character and theme. Fifth grade students are investigating biographies of notable African Americans. During library, they will use the library catalog to locate a biography, use digital resources such as Kids Info Bits to locate additional information, and cite their sources in a simple works cited. There are some exciting changes coming to the library media center. We are now using Follett Destiny as our online library catalog and circulation system. This software system includes more graphics, is student-user friendly, and is accessible from any computer with an Internet connection. This program allows students to search for books independently. Third through fifth graders have been investigating Destiny to see what materials we have in our library and will learn how to search by keyword, title, and author. Learning how to search in Destiny creates a foundation for learning how to conduct searches during the research process.
Kindergarten students will read a variety of seasonal books and learn several songs and chants. First grade students are learning about teeth. Many students begin losing teeth in first grade, and students are very interested in this topic. After observing real animal teeth, they have generated a list of questions and will use different resources to find answers. It’s award season! In January, the American Library Association (ALA) announces the winners of book and media awards, such as the Caldecott and Newbury Medals. Second and third grade students will read and analyze different picture books and bestow their own award to a winner of their choice. During the Hour of Code, students will use critical thinking, logic, persistence, and creativity to complete a task or solve problems, which are all related to AASL Standards for 21st Century Learners. The activities provide an introduction to computer science. If you have a computer or tablet with an Internet connection, you can create accounts for them at home by visiting code.org. This is a very engaging educational activity, and I encourage you to check it out!
The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the Lawrence School Library from December 1 through 5. There will be many great books available for purchase. Thanks to our wonderful PTA for organizing this important event! There are some exciting changes coming to the library media center. We will begin using Follett Destiny as our online library catalog and circulation system. This software system includes more graphics, is student-user friendly, and will be accessible from any computer with an internet connection. This program will allow students to search for books independently. Second through fifth graders have been learning how the library is organized and how to read fiction and non-fiction call numbers so they may locate materials independently. We are all very eager for the conversion to the new system to take place!
The Connecticut Children’s Book Fair will be held at UConn on November 8 and 9. This is a great opportunity to meet many well-known children’s authors and illustrators, purchase books, and participate in other fun activities. http://bookfair.uconn.edu/ The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the Lawrence School Library from December 1 through 5. There will be many great books available for purchase. Please support this event that has such wonderful benefits to our students! |
AuthorKerry Darby Archives
April 2019
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