September Review!

What a fantastically productive month we've had in the elementary schools! Here's what we've done so far:

Kindergarten through Second Grade

1. We read D.W.'s Library Card by Marc Brown!

Click the picture to find this book in the Stevens Memorial Library Catalog!

This is a great book that illustrates the way young kids learn to use libraries and library materials. D.W. learns how to get a library card, and how to take care of her library books. We use it in the library to talk about some anxieties younger kids might have about borrowing books - 

especially older books.  

2. We talked about what we already know about libraries!

I find sometimes younger children have expectations of the library experience that aren't necessarily in line with what actually happens in the library, so it's good to make sure we're all on the same page as we start out in the library together. For example, we talk about how some libraries have rules about how quiet you have to be, but that because our library is also a classroom, the same classroom rules apply: raise your hand, talk in a normal "inside" voice.

3. We learned "The Secret Code" for Picture Books

Part of the library program curriculum this year is talking about how to find books in the library. We introduce the concept of "the secret code of libraries" this week, and kids learn that Picture books are for EVERYBODY, so their secret code is the letter E!

4. We learned "The Watermelon Song"

This is my absolute favorite song to sing with younger children. I'll be including a YouTube video of it soon so you can sing it at home!

Third through Fifth Grade

1. We busted some "Library Myths"!

With the older grades, who may have had negative experiences in different libraries in the past, I think it's important to start out with a re-invigorated sense of excitement for libraries. We talk about some "myth-conceptions" that people have about libraries, and talk about whether they're true or false:

Myth #1: Librarians are old and mean and will yell at you. FALSE!

Myth #2: If you damage a book, you're banned forever. FALSE!

Myth #3: You must be super-duper quiet when you're in our library. FALSE!

*we talk a bit about how other libraries do follow that rule, but because we're a classroom as well,

we want to feel comfortable using normal inside voices. 

Myth #4: The library is JUST for books. FALSE!

Myth #5: All librarians love cats. TRUE!

2. We read The Librarian from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

Click the picture to find this book in the Stevens Memorial Library catalog!

We use this book to start a discussion about the differences between fiction and nonfiction: how do you know this is fiction? What information is on the cover? The spine?

3. We took a look at That's Our Librarian by Ann Morris

Click the picture to find this book in the MVLC catalog!

Usually at this point in the lesson we just don't have time to read another book, so we look at That's Our Librarian and talk about the differences between this book (a nonfiction title) and the one we've just read: how can we tell this is fiction? What's the Dewey number for this title?

4. Exit Tickets

One way for me to gauge whether or not the students have absorbed the material we've been discussing is by passing out "exit tickets" at the end of the lesson. They are usually either multiple choice or open-ended questions, they are completely anonymous, and they aren't graded. I collect them, and analyze how many students were able to answer the question correctly - if too many kids don't quite understand the concept, I'll know to refresh and re-teach the next time they're in the library. So far, the average comprehension rate is a wonderful 93%!

See you in October, Library Detectives!