Dot Day Fun

Dot Day

One of my favorite weeks of the year is when I get to collaborate with our art teacher for DOT DAY. She brings the students into the library during their art time, and we co-teach the lessons. We like to start off the class with a discussion about where we can find art in the library. Then, especially with kinder students, we talk about what an illustrator does. Since Peter Reynolds is both the author and the illustrator, we don't get into collaboration between the two a lot this week, but later in the year we like to do lessons where we discuss how the author and illustrator collaborate on the story. 

I read the book, THE DOT by Peter Reynolds, to the students. We talk about the lesson from the story, then go to dot stations. 

Start with a dot, then see what you can make. 

Her dot, turned into a strawberry seed. 

Collaborative Dot -- students each received 1/4 of a dot, decorated it,
then got in teams and put the puzzle together to create a dot. 

At this station, students used Buncee.com to create a dot masterpiece. 

At another station, students were given a hand lense and sent on a mission.
They were dot-tectives. 

ISH

Since I saw students during their art time, for some of the students I saw them twice this week. The second time I saw the students, I read the book ISH by Peter Reynolds. We weren't for sure, but the students and I decided that this was the boy at the end of THE DOT that Vashti helps out. 

After reading the story, students made their own -ISH drawings. 

Favorite Picture of the Week

This sweet girl was so excited to find all the PUPPY PLACE books. 

Making Connections with Kindergarten

I absolutely cherish my time with kindergarten! They are so eager to learn, read, write, and be at school. We recently started an author study over Mo Willems with the kindergarten classes. In their classroom reading times, they were working on text-to-text and text-to-self connections. So, we worked it into the library time as well.

This week, we read KNUFFLE BUNNY by Mo Willems, and I had the students make a text-to-self connections. We compared Trixie at the beginning of the story, not being able to tell dad what was wrong, to the end of the story when she finally speaks words that are understandable.

Students made connections by thinking of something they could not do when they were as young as Trixie, but that they can do now that they are 'big' kindergartners.

Could not talk, but now can talk

I could not walk, now I can walk. 

Could not walk, but now I can READ! YAY! 

I had enough books written by Mo Willems, that most of the students were able to check one out. They are having a great time finding the pigeon, Piggy, and Elephant in the other books. We are also comparing the books and how Mo Willems uses speech bubbles in his books. 

Shapes in Kinder with Google

If you have been following my blog, you are aware of my Chromebook Academy that the teachers and I teach every year to kinder and first graders. If not, you can read more about it on this previous post.

Kindergarten had started their math unit over shapes.  I had seen an idea on twitter by @MLTumlty where she used the book TRIANGLE by Mac Barnett and had the students sort shapes in a google slide. I loved the idea, and had to try with my students! 

Barnett, Mac. TRIANGLE. illustraed by Jon Klassen. Candlewick Press, 2017.

After reading the book, students logged onto their Chromebooks and then to Google Classroom. They are getting so good at logging in!!! 

We did a quick review over how to open an assignment and how to click and drag, then they got started. They had tons of fun! 

You can get a copy of this activity here. 

It is always nice to be able to incorporate technology into our lessons, and collaborate with the teachers. As an instructional partner, I was able to bring math to life in the library. Students need to be able to learn many different ways: hands on, written, visual, and technology. Putting our heads together, the teachers and I were able to come up with a lesson that students were engaged in and will remember. 

Kindergarten Engineers

Last week in the Hillside library our kindergarten academy scholars were researchers and engineers. Kindergarten is in the middle of our NonFiction unit where students learn the difference between fiction and nonfiction. They also learn how the nonfiction, or dewey, section is organized in the library. My youngest students are not limited to a certain shelf like many other libraries have, but instead learn to make good choices about the right book for them. They learn to use the entire library.

This past week, we went further into our unit and learned how to extract information from nonfiction books. We started with penguins. I mean, who doesn't love penguins?! I read a nonfiction book, and students took turns telling me facts to add to our chart. 

After reading the book and taking down facts, we discussed interesting facts about penguins. The students mostly found the fact that penguins slide on their belly most interesting. I set out different materials at each table, and asked the students to come up with a slide for the penguin. A slide that the penguin could slide on his belly into the water. 

Each table has a different set of materials. I received these materials from a grant recently. 

The penguins are just images I printed out, then taped to a block. The kindergarteners had so much fun sliding their penguins down their slides. 

Hour of Code Week

My first love is BOOKS and READING, but my second is technology, coding, and computer science. I always have a blast teaching students the aspects of coding and watching them problem solve. 

This year, I decided to focus on robots for Hour of Code week, so every grade level had a challenge using the Ozobots. 

5th Grade

5th grade had my favorite challenge of the week! We use ozoblockly.com to program our Ozobots. If you have Ozobot robots and have never used Ozoblockly, you should really check it out! Each group was given an Ozobot, and logged into the website. Using the program, students were given the challenge to choreograph a dance for their Ozobot to dance to Feliz Navidad. 

They had a blast, and there was a lot of collaboration and problem solving going on. The students learned that the Ozobot would not blink colors and move at the same time, so they had to create loops within their program. Lots of learning going on this day! 

4th Grade 

With the fourth graders, I integrated Geography into our coding lesson. Each student recieved a map of the world, then students labeled the continents. It was a great review of the 7 continents. They drew their code to have OzoClause 😊 to visit all the countries. We added some flying tricks in as well. 

2nd and 3rd Grade

For the second and third grade class, we had a Grinch challenge. Students had to fill in the codes for Ozobot, or OzoClause to visit the houses and avoid the Grinch. We also had to be sure to code the robot to stop for milk and cookies. 

Kinder and 1st Grades

This is the first time the kinders used the Ozobot, so we did simply line codes. They had so much fun making their Ozobot move from one end to the other. Then we made the Ozobot go slow, then fast. The giggles in the room were contagious!

Most of the first graders had used the Ozobots the previous year, so we had a more complex activity. First graders had to use turn left or turn right codes to get the robot to the dog. We had fun, made some mistakes, and learned together. 

The Hour of Code is always one of my favorite weeks, even though the students on my campus code most the year. This week is a fun week where I get to see everyone in the library and learn coding.

Family Engagement Month

The month of November is a time to celebrate and encourage Family Engagement in schools. A successful partnership between the family and school is important for our children. While family engagement should be encouraged all year long, we celebrate our accomplishments during the month of November.

To celebrate family engagement in the library, I invited parents of kindergarteners and first graders to the library for story time, an activity, and checkout time. I asked parents to RSVP to their child's library time so that I could have a parent account created for them before that day.

I read aloud I AM NOT A CHAIR by Ross Burach, which had the kids and parents laughing out loud. After the story, parents and their child went to tables where there were different materials set out, plus little toy rabbits. The challenge was for the parent and child to build a chair for the rabbit to sit in instead of sitting on the girraffe.

These kinders built a tower, but it still held the rabbit. 

I adore how this chair looks like the giraffe from the story! 

The parents also had the opportunity to be a part of their child's library choice for the week, plus with their parent account check out up to 5 extra books to read at home.

The turn out was amazing, and the parents loved being a part of library time. 

Kindergarten Check Out

I saw a post on a Library Facebook page that I follow recently asking if librarians allowed K-1 "free rein" of the library stacks, or if they were only allowed a controlled area. I was shocked and saddened at the percentage of librarians that said they only allowed kinder and 1st grades a controlled checkout. They pull books and lay on a table or cart, and students only can choose from those books.

I was curious about this, so I asked many of them that commented how long this "controlled" check out would last. I was again shocked and saddened that for the majority, it lasted all year. Why would we limit our readers like this?  Why is it that so often, we as professionals, underestimate our young learners?

Teach them good choices

In my library, kindergarten is taught how to make good choices so that by week 4 or 5, they have free rein of the library. They can look at any shelves they want and choose their books. Do they get to walk all willy-nilly around the library the first week of school? Goodness, no! They have to be taught how to make their choices. The first week, we learn 'book care', then we move into using the shelf markers. The second and third week, they practice using their shelf markers on a book cart. I pull "good fit" books for them and put them on a cart like they would be on the bookshelves. After 2 weeks of practice, we move to the actual shelves and learn the "bookie lookie" song. 

BOOKIE LOOKIE

(sung to the tune of Hokey Pokey)

You put your shelf marker in,

You pull a book right out, 

You open up the book to see what it's about. 

You do the bookie lookie and

you turn yourself about. 

That's what it's all about!

They always ask to sing it over and over!! 

After they learn using the shelf markers, we discuss choosing "good fit" books. I use examples from the library with books that are too hard, too easy, and just right. The next few weeks, the teacher and I help them make their choices, but by week 5 even my kindergarten students are going to the everybody, nonfiction, and biography sections and making their choices. 

Why do I start them so early?

Our young learners are capable of so much more then we give them credit for. They are curious, observant, and learn quickly! Often times, they are limited by adults around them, simply because our expectations are not high, or we don't want to take the time to teach them. We are doing them a disservice when we don't teach them to be independent and don't teach them to make good choices. 

Starting early, teaching the students to make good choices with their books, actually help grow better readers on your campus. If they learn to make their own choices at kinder and first grade, imagine how well they will be doing when they reach upper grades. 

Every year, I am amazed at how well our little learners do at tasks that many adults say they aren't capable of doing. Believe they can! 

Does it take time to teach them? YES! But it is all worth it to see them get so excited about a book that they picked out for them. It is so much more excitement than that first week when I pull the books out for them.  

I know -- it is hard to let go of that control. Yes, they will make a mess the first few times, but it is a teaching moment. Go over to the shelf and ask, "what could we do better at here?" "Which way do we put the books back?" Isn't it more important that we get kids excited about reading??

Believe they can

For the sake of your young students, set your expectations higher! Believe in them, and teach them to make independent choices. 

I once had a teacher doubt that her students could use Google Apps and the Chromebooks. I asked her to bring them into the library and let me help out. After only 2 sessions in the library, each kindergarten student could independently log in to their Chromebook and access Google Classroom. They can tell if you believe in them or not, and if they know you believe in them they will strive to reach your expectations!! 

Kinder Using Google Slides

One of my favorite days of the week is when the kindergarteners and first graders come to learn in the library. Their excitement over learning something new is contagious! Often times, these little learners are limited by expectations of adults around them. I have heard so many times "They won't be able to use Google Drive" or "It's too hard to teach them how to log in." NOT TRUE! Even though a little learner may not be reading yet does not mean that they cannot create, explore, design, and more using technology.

This year, we started Chromebook Academy with our kinders and firsties. We learned how to take care of the Chromebooks, carry the Chromebooks, and log into the Chromebooks. My little learners now know how to get into Google Classroom and get into their Google Drive.

Believe they can, and they will! 

Learners today, for the most part, have had a device in their hand since they were little. However, that does not mean they know how to use technology for learning, designing, and collaborating. Do not assume just because they play games on their parent's iPad that they can use a computer to complete an assignment. But, don't assume they can't benefit from technology!

Look at these faces! They are completely engaged in their learning and having a great time while doing it.

I suggest you start off with allowing them to explore in Google Drawings and Google Slides. They will learn a lot from exploring on their own. Plus, if you let them get the exploration out of the way, they are more likely to listen and follow along with you when you are giving step by step instructions. 

Kindergarten student exploring in Google Slides. 

After giving them time to explore, the teacher and I give them instructions. On this particular day the teacher was reviewing shapes, so we had them add shapes to their slides.

Why wait until 3rd grade to teach them the basics of Google Apps for Education? Prepare them when they are young, then they are more prepared for the older grades. 

A great blog to follow for ideas on using Google with littles is Learning With Christine Pinto.  Also, follow #gafe4littles on Twitter. 

P. Zonka and Pysanky Eggs with Kindergarten

Paschkis, Julie. P. Zonka Lays an
Egg. Peachtree, 2015.

P. Zonka is a hen who spends her days daydreaming and admiring nature around her. With all the beauty around her, she has never taken the time to lay an egg. The other hens think that P. Zonka is just plain lazy. Finally, P. Zonka decides to give this egg laying a try. To everyone's amazement, her eggs are dazzling!

With Easter coming just around the corner, this book is a perfect read aloud. The illustrations are beautiful, and the rooster, Gloria, makes for a hilarious addition to the story. The kids love it when the reader makes the loud "Cock-a-doodle-doo" sound. 

Psyanky 

After reading the story, I tell the students about the Ukranian tradition of making psyanky, which is a Ukranian Easter Egg. The decorations are always elaborate on, and often depict different aspects of nature. In P. Zonka's egg, you can see the red tulips, yellow sunshine, sky dark blue at midnight, and the green grass that she admired so often. 

Then, students were able to decorate their own eggs. Some students used patterns and geometric shapes, while others used P. Zonka's ideas and drew their favorite flowers and things in nature. 

This student drew here friends and the sun. 

You can find more activities, as well as this one, in this event kit by the publisher.  This download also has a description of psyanky.

Imaginary Pets with Kindergarten

Lehrhaupt, Adam. I WILL NOT EAT YOU.
illustrated by Scott Magoon. Simon & Schuster. 2017.

One of my favorite days of the week is the day that Kindergarten comes to the library. They are so fun and they really are drawn into the books. Today, I read I WILL NOT EAT YOU by Adam Lehrhaupt. This is an amazing read aloud story, so if you don't have it in your library, get it soon!

We started off making a prediction of what the animal is in the cave that we see on the front cover. Most of the kindergarteners thought it was a bear, but we don't find out until the middle of the book.

We find out on the first page that the animal in the cave's name is Theodore. Different animals come to his cave and make sounds at him. The students enjoy making the sounds along with me. The first animal is a little bird, so the kids get to tweet tweet. I think their favorite was the lion. They let out a loud roar for me!

Finally, a litte boy dressed as a knight on a stick horse comes to Theodore's cave. Theodore thinks of eating the little boy, but after the boy pokes him and runs around, the boy begins to laugh. Well you know laughter is contagious, so Theodore also begins to laugh. Instead of eating the boy he plays with the boy.

That brought us to our second skill, fantasy versus realistic. The kids decided that Theodore, being a dragon, was a figment of the little boys imagination. I asked them what made them think this, and it was because the boy was dressed as a knight, so he needed a dragon to fight.

Each kindergartener then drew the animal they would have as their imaginary play pet. I had a few dragons, lots of unicorns, a narwhal, an elephant, and a few lions.

This girl has a pegasus as her imaginary pet. 

This young lady wants Gerald to play with.

Lots of the girls drew unicorns. I love the rainbow this girl added.