I Can't Believe I Haven't Blogged in a Month

I'm still here, nothing happened, except for an extremely busy October!!! However, it was a good busy, including a book fair, book character pumpkin contest, book character day, and collaborative lessons every week!

The book fair was an enormous success and tons of our readers were able to purchase books for their personal libraries at home. Plus, the library gets to keep the proceeds to purchase new books, new technology, and other fun things for the students. Last year's book fair proceeds helped me to buy new biography books, 6 new Chromebook laptops, lunch for the Bluebonnet club readers, supplies and materials for the MakerSpace, and breakfast for all the students that read over a million words. This year, I plan on purchasing more books to update the nonfiction section, more Chromebook laptops, and incentives for my super readers again.


One of my goals each year is to teach the students to be independent in the library. I want them to think on their own and know how to search for books on their own. I teach the students early on to self-checkout their books. This past month, students in first grade learned how to use the library catalog to search for books by author, subject, and series.

This year, one of the district's initiative is to help our students be future ready. Librarians play a huge part in this, so all the elementary librarians met with our district library coordinator to write goals to ensure our library programs are future ready. One of the goals I wrote for my library is to provide a flexible schedule in order for more classes to be able to participate in research and for teachers to collaborate with me on what needs to be taught. The first 2 six weeks have passed, and so far this goal is a success! The students love coming to the library for lessons, and the teachers are appreciative of the extra help in teaching the skills. 

One of the third grade teachers recently approached me regarding poetry. This teacher is new to third grade, and didn't feel really comfortable teaching poetry skills. So, we discussed the objectives and what was expected of the students together. Looking through the curriculum, we decided to focus on 4 types of poetry that will be on the 3rd grade state assessment. I found examples of these poems and posted them all around the library. After going over the 4 types of poems in a whole group, the students were put into groups and went on a scavenger hunt around the library for the different types of poems. They had to identify the type of poem, but also tell why they thought it was that type of poem. 

If you cannot tell, I am a HUGE advocate for flexible schedule in the elementary library. I've heard so many people say it cannot be done, but I am proof that it can be done and it can work well. Flexible schedule is better for the students, and the lessons are more meaningful when they are tied in with the curriculum.  

A few weeks ago, fourth grade classes came in to the library after the teacher and I collaborated about teaching Theme in Fables. In September, this same teacher and I taught a lesson together about genres, so we decided we would continue this lesson each month and take it further. This week we focused on fables, and the required skill from the district curriculum was theme. 

The best part of collaborative lessons is that their are 2 teachers helping the students. We are able to give more one-to-one help when there are 2 of us to monitor and check for understanding. For the lesson, the teacher and I took turns explaining theme and how to look for the clues in the story. The students then got on the Chromebook laptops and went to a website I gave them with a list of fables. With their partner, they were able to choose a fable to read, then fill out a graphic organizer with clues to determine the theme. 

So much more to tell you, but my fingers are getting tired and this is turning into a novel. Later this week I will post the Book Character pumpkin patch pictures. It was so hard to decide the winner this year! Also, this week I have second graders coming in for colonial research. 

Genre with 4th Grade

The fourth grade teachers approached me about a reading challenge that they wanted to implement this year. Instead of just reading books, filling out a log, and taking A.R. tests, the teachers want the students to read different types of genres throughout the year. Before beginning the challenge, the teachers asked if I could help them review the genres.

Since our schedules are so tight, the teachers and I mostly communicated through email, with occasional, quick conversations in the library. I began a Google Slide presentation and shared it with the teachers to proof and add to. You can see my presentation below, I was inspired by Nancy Jo Lambert at Reedy H.S.  The posters in the presentation are courtesy of Beth Newingham, who created these for all teachers to use in their classrooms. Feel free to use this presentation if you need to review genres in your library. 

After the review came the fun part! At each table, we had placed books of different genres, and students were given a recording sheet. This recording sheet had the genre, the definition of each genre, and a place for students to write an example. These recording sheets will stay in the students' reading folders this year so they can refer to their notes. 

Students had 5 minutes to look through the books and discuss what genre each book fit in. After time was up, groups would scoot to the next table and do the same, but with a new set of books. Their goal was to find one example of each genre. 

The discussions were very interesting, and the students found that some books fit in more than one genre. 

Country Fact Hunting with 3rd Grade

Collaboration

One of the third grade teachers approached me last week and said that she needed help teaching the students how to properly search for information. The teacher and I collaborated for a couple of days through email, and came up with our ideas. We decided to incorporate Hispanic Heritage month with their assignment, plus the curriculum at the time is learning about countries of the world. We decided to write names of Hispanic countries onto pieces of paper, and the students drew a country out of a bag. The suspense was exciting.

Since this was just learning to search for specific information, I gave the students certain information I wanted them to find about the country. Once they get into projects, students will have more ownership, but for now, I need them to know how to search properly.

Before students got on the computers and tablets, we discussed reliable sources. Students tend to always answer 'Google' for where to look for information. While Google is great, I teach my students they have to be careful and be sure that it is reliable. So, I then asked them if I had a digital resource that we knew for sure was reliable. I was ecstatic that someone answered on the first try! They remembered the Online Encyclopedias. 

I reviewed the features of Britannica, and how to use keywords to search. Since we were specifically looking at countries, I showed them the map view so they could zoom in and see satellite images of the countries. The teacher then went over her expectations for their assignment, and we put the pairs on a computer or a tablet.  

The great thing about the flexible schedule and collaborating is that two teachers are in there to help the students. Both myself and the teacher roamed the library and monitored student success. It also gives great opportunities for mini-lessons. While monitoring students I was able to do a mini lesson on skimming for information with 3 of the groups, as well as a mini lesson on using the headings in articles. 

All of these skills are things I would have taught in the library during fixed schedule last year, but now with my flexible schedule and collaborating with the teachers, it is more meaningful to the students. The students are able to make connections when these skills are taught as needed with the curriculum.

Dot Day Celebrations

This past week we celebrated International Dot Day, which was on September 15th. Dot Day is a day to celebrate creativity and our unique talents. The special day is inspired by the book by Peter H. Reynolds, one of my favorite picture books about perseverance and always doing our best. 

Reynolds, Peter. H. 2003. THE DOT. Candlewick Press.

I collaborated with our art teacher to celebrate the entire week. Our art teacher brought Kinder, 1st, and 2nd grades into the library for art class. The kids were amazed that we were having art in the library! It brought up discussion about illustrations in books and the different medium that the illustrators use. I read the book to the students, and we discussed how we each have different talents. Then the art teacher reviewed types of lines that the students had learned the previous week. Each student then got 1/4 of a dot to fill up with the different lines. Groups worked together to put their pieces together to make dots, and we learned about collaboration. 

This group has 1/2 of a dot completed, so they are drawing things with circles on the "dot" tables.

A group has their dot completed! 

Our art teacher is going over the directions and reviewing the types of lines. 

I love how the dots all turned out different and unique, just like our students.

Our fourth grade teachers wanted in on the Dot Day celebration as well, so they were able to come in for a lesson and short celebration as well. Thank goodness for my flexible schedule!  We discussed our lesson mostly through email, and we decided to focus on text-to-self connections. With the fourth graders, we viewed the digital book through TumbleBooks. We had a great discussion on what it means to 'make your mark'.  

After the discussion, students began to make their connections. Some of them needing a little prompting writing their sentences, so I gave them a sentence frame. Just like Vashti_____________, I _______________. This helped the ones that were having trouble connecting their memory to the story. 

Now, the fun part! On the back of the page with the connection students were instructed to get just one color and make a mark on their paper. Then I said, "Now, see where that mark takes you." So the students had to make their mark into a picture.  We had Pokemon, ponies, pizzas, patterns, and landscapes. It was amazing how many different ideas they had. 

So, that was week 2 of flexible schedule, and I am loving it! The lessons have been so meaningful to the students. Next week there will be lessons on CyberSafety in the library. Also, don't forget to check out the campus website for information on the CyberSafety poster! 

On another note: my new circulation desk arrived this week, and I am in love! It has so much storage room that I am still filling it up and making room in other places. One student came in the following morning and said "WOW! It looks just like a real library!" It is certainly an update from my previous circulation desk from 1970. 

5th Grade U.S. Regions Research

The third week of school is almost complete, and every 2nd - 5th grader knows how to do self-checkout. I still need to review looking for a book in the catalog and placing a book on hold with my younger students.  

Flexible schedule has now started in the Hillside library, and I love it! Today, the fifth grade class came to complete research for a project over U.S. Regions. I had the atlases laying out at each table, as well as the nonfiction books about the states. 

The students had to use the atlas to determine which U.S. states were a part of the region they chose. Students got into groups to find information about major cities, landscape, climate, and produce from each region. 

I enjoyed being a part of this lesson with the 5th grade teacher. Having a flexible schedule and collaborating with the classroom teacher brings about numerous opportunities for mini-lessons. I was able to do a mini-lesson over finding reliable sources and using other sources than Google with a group of students at the computers. Another group of students were having trouble locating information about types of produce from particular regions, so I did a mini-lesson on using a map key.

The students loved searching for the answers to their questions in the library. It was great seeing the excitement on their faces. I cannot wait to see their final products.

My flexible schedule adventure will continue next week with 4th grade genre lessons and collaborating with the art teacher for Dot Day. Stay tuned and follow along with me this year. 

Moving to a Flex Schedule

I am over the moon excited to be moving to a flex schedule this upcoming school year.

Some good things about a flexible schedule:

• students and teachers have access to the library and the librarian at the point of need;
• students and teachers can use the library as a more flexible space than merely a clearing house for circulating books;
• the librarian has the time and opportunity to teach library and research skills and students have the time in the library to learn about and use the resources in the library;
• librarians and teachers have time to collaborate, plan, and teach together, giving students the best opportunity for learning in the library;
• librarians can become more flexible in taking library services out of the library and take some lessons to the classroom (including those classrooms with teachers who do not bring their classes to the library); and
• since the library and the librarian are not tied up with classes all day, it increases library access for everyone.

The first 3 weeks will be scheduled classes with students learning the rules and procedures. The flex schedule will begin the 4th week of school. Please follow along on our new journey! I will be tweeting and blogging the highlights.

@jharrisreads

Book Suggestions: If You Like JUNIE B. JONES

This book suggestion post is for my younger scholars, since the first few were really for my older students. However, even if you are an older student and used to love Junie B. when you were in first grade, you just might find a new book for you to read now.

When I was a classroom teacher, I would read Junie B. books to my first graders often. They loved for me to read aloud, and this encouraged them to start reading chapter books. Yes, Junie B. can be a brat sometimes and is sometimes rude to another classmate, but it is written as funny, not hateful. And, the kids find her to be hilarious, so they read the books! This is what we really want, for kids to pick up a book and read.

So, if you love Junie B., or just want to find an alternative to Junie B. for you children, here are some suggestions:

CLEMENTINE by Sarah Pennypacker is about a super-spunky third grade girl that is having a disastrous week. Nothing seems to be going right for her, and all her teachers keep telling her to pay attention when she is paying attention to the spot on the art teacher's tie. Clementine has a brother, Lima Bean or Brussel Sprouts. His name changes daily, because if Clementine must have a fruit name her brother must have a vegetable name. Clementine is full of fun and creative ideas, some of which get her sent to the principal's office.  This series about third grader Clementine will make you laugh until you cry. This would be a great read aloud for classrooms or a great beginning chapter book series. 

KATIE KAZOO SWITCHEROO by Nancy Krulik is a chapter book series about a third grader named Katie Carew. George, a bully in Katie's class, makes fun of Katie and names her Katie Kazoo. Katie cannot take it anymore, and she wishes on a shooting star that she could be someone else. The next day at school, her wish comes true! She finds herself as the class pet hamster! Katie, being a very smart and resourceful third grader, finds her way out of numerous disasters in this series. She uses her new magical power to learn new things about her classmates, including the reason why George is such a bully. 

 IVY AND BEAN by Annie Barrows is another chapter book series that is good for students beginning to read chapter books and reluctant readers. At first, Bean and Ivy do not like each other. Then, Bean plays a joke on her sister and has to hide quickly. Ivy comes to the rescue and they realize they have more in common than they thought. Ivy and Bean are both very creative and imaginative, creating new games and solving problems. However, they do often stir up more trouble than they mean to. Their silly antics will make you laugh, though. Short chapters and lots of illustrations make this a great series for kids just getting interested in chapter books. 

School will be starting before we know it! I can't wait to hear what all my scholars have been reading this summer. 

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