Holiday Favorites

With the holidays rapidly approaching, my thoughts always turn to good books to share or give as gifts.  So, here are a few of my current favorites.

1. Mr. Willoughby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry -- a wonderful little read-aloud fantasy about one tree and the many, many homes it graces.
2. The Little Fir Tree  by Margaret Wise Brown -- a lonely little tree and a lonely little boy come together in this heart-warming story.
3. Wombat Divine by Mem Fox -- there's room for everyone in the Christmas play.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss -- you can't go wrong with a classic!
5. The Polar Express by Chris VanAllsburg -- the magic  of Christmas sings through every page.
6. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomy by Susan Wojciechowski -- a little boy helps a lonely widower rediscover the joy of living.
7. When Santa Fell to Earth by Cornelia Funke -- an entirely different, and completely irreverent, take on Santa and elves that is highly entertaining.
8. Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Menotti -- just who were the Magi, anyway?
9. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson -- the worst kids in the school take over the seasonal pageant.

10. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett -- Another classic tale of a seemingly abandoned child and her search for her father.

Those are a few of my favorites, many of which I read every year at this time.  They have become part of my holiday tradition.  Here's hoping you find a few to make your holidays brighter.

What Have We Learned So Far?

     Both grades do more in the LMC than check books out to read.  The overall goal for 4th grade is to become efficient users of the LMC.  Towards that end, we have worked on learning the locations and signage through a mapping activity.  Now, we have been introduced to the catalog and learned how to complete a search and how to hold or recommend a book.  Along the way, students have been introduced to the concept of genre, with many classes assigning a specific genre for students to explore during the month of October.
     Fifth grade has a slightly different goal: to become capable finders and users of information.  We have been attacking this goal by breaking down the research process into small steps and moving slowly through them.  With each step, students have had to learn and practice new skills.  For example, students reviewed how to locate information in an encyclopedia while they were gathering some basic background knowledge on the topic they have chosen.  So far, they are on step 3 of a 6 step process and are working on using key words to find information electronically.  Soon, they will be reading and taking notes.
     A lot of learning is taking place while students are in the LMC.  Feel free to stop by and see us in action some time.

Back in the Swing

     The first full week of school is almost over, and we are definitely back in the swing here in the Library Media Center.  All students had an opportunity to get into the LMC the very first week of school and get some books checked out and start reading.  Regular weekly classroom visits started the second week with a quick review for the 5th graders and and orientation activity for the 4th graders. 5th grade has started a research project, and 4th grade is currently working on getting to know this library with a mapping activity.  We will continue with those weekly lessons for the 1st trimester; weekly checkout visits will continue throughout the year.
     Students often ask if they get graded on what we do in the LMC.  The short answer is, "Yes!"  While students don't receive a separate library grade, I do track their progress and update the teachers on how they are doing.  Many of the classroom teachers will roll the scores for LMC activities into a subject area grade.  After the first trimester, I try to work with the classroom teacher as much as possible to support what is being done in the classroom with what we are doing in the LMC, mainly through cooperative projects.  When that happens, I do grade part of the project, as well.
     One thing I am really trying to stress this year is that students are not limited to one visit to the LMC per week.  All students are welcome to come to the LMC individually, with a pass from their teacher.  Many teachers provide time in their schedules for students to come down independently and get new books.  Here at Meadowview, we really want to see students become increasingly more independent in their LMC use, so if your son or daughter is feeling they can only get here once a week, please just have them ask their classroom teacher when a good time would be for them to come down on their own.
     We have had a great start so far.  We look for that to continue throughout the year.

Virtual Tour

Here is a podcast that some of the students put together to show off the LMC and all it offers.

Ahhh, Summer!

Here we are, almost halfway through the summer, and I am not halfway through my reading list or my to do list!  As usual, the casual living of summer has taken me out of routine and into the moment, which means that my best-laid plans are out the window as soon as a better opportunity comes along!  Still, I have devoted part of every day to reading.  Sounds easy for a librarian, right?  Well, I should clarify.  I have devoted part of every day to reading something adult and/or professional -- which is not always what I want to read.  As I tell students and their parents, reading every day is the best way to keep the skills we have, but the only way to strengthen those skills is to read things that challenge us.  So, this summer I am practicing what I preach.  No, it isn't easy, and no, I don't really like it, but it is doable and I know it will pay off, because I already have a list of ideas to implement in the coming year.

I wonder how many of my students and fellow colleagues are practicing what we all preach -- to read throughout the summer?  We all agree it is the best academic activity, yet so few actually follow through and do it.  I know why -- because it is easier to do other, more fun, activities.  It is easier to watch TV or to play video games than to put the time and effort into reading.  So, I have made my reading a part of something I love to do -- which is sit on my deck in the cool of the morning, sipping some really wonderful coffee or tea, and enjoying the fresh air.  Rather than taking my current novel, I take my current professional book or magazine outside with me.  Here's hoping all my students and fellow teachers can find a way to make reading part of what is undoubtedly their favorite time of year -- summer.

Winding Down to Summer

I dislike this time of the year in the LMC.  After months spent working with students to get them reading, encouraging them to try new books and check out multiple materials, I have to switch gears and try to get them to return materials and limit the number of items they can take.  It is a frustrating change for me.

Still, the fact remains that I am responsible for inventorying all these materials, making sure they are back on the shelves, and preparing the collection for use by the summer school students.  Towards that end, I have instituted a couple of new practices.

1. A maximum checkout of 4 materials per student.  Hopefully, this will lessen the number of outstanding overdues and help the students keep track of what they have more efficiently.
2. Any overdue material means that only one book for reading practice can be checked out.  It must stay in the classroom.
3. May 20 has been set as the final due date.  All LMC materials need to be returned by then, and no new checkouts will be allowed for students after that date.

As we continue working toward the summer, the LMC staff will complete an inventory of the fiction, nonfiction, magazine, reference, and audiobook sections of the LMC.  Students will receive more frequent notices of overdue materials.  Letters will be sent outlining long overdue materials and requesting payment for all lost items.  With some hard work, the collection will be ready for summer school.

If We Didn't Have a Library...

As we enter National Library Week, it is time to reflect on just how the school library enriches the lives of our students.  Without the library here at Meadowview Intermediate, our students would not have such a wide variety of materials to read for pleasure and for information.  They would not have access to computers every day.  They would not have magazines to read that support their interests.  They would not have audiobooks and specialized reference materials, like the encyclopedias of the Native Americans, Mammals, and The Civil War.  They would not have expert help while learning to navigate the Internet.   They would not all be taught the same process for accessing and using information.  They would not all have the opportunity to explore and create using the available technology.  The gap between the haves and the have nots would only widen.  There would be no safe and comfortable place to work alone or in a group.  Their exposure to the vast and ever-increasing amount of information available to them would be dependent on the knowledge, interest, and comfort-level of their classroom teacher.  They would never know the joy and wonder of browsing through a large order of new books and deciding what to read first.  Without libraries, their learning would progress...but it would lack the depth and variety offered here at the Meadowview Intermediate LMC.

Announcing the First Annual Book Swap

Mrs. Lamon's class and I are working together to organize an all-school book swap.  The idea is simple:  bring in up to three of your no-longer-needed books (appropriate for grades 4 through 6) and trade them in.  You will receive a coupon for each book.  On April 12, you bring your coupons to the LMC, look through the books that have been brought in, and choose new-to-you titles to take home.  It's a great way to recycle those older books and get something new to read at the same time.  No cash required, but students will need a signed permission slip before they can be issued any coupons.  If you have any questions, contact me at the LMC or your classroom teacher.

The Future of Libraries

Currently, I am working with my 5th graders to create podcasts that advertise a book they have read and liked.  As I struggle through this process with each successive class, I can't help but think back to the coursework I took to become a school library media specialist and wonder at how much the job has changed since then.  I mean, podcasting didn't even exist!  Now, it seems almost second nature for my students to go to technology first when producing something.  The last time I tried to get them to create a poster by hand, it was a disaster, but introduce them to Glogster, and I get interesting results.  The ability to use technology is replacing the ability to create by hand in many of my students.

Will it be the same for books, I wonder?  I introduced Playaways (which are basically audiobooks on MP3 players) this year, and they have been in continuous use.  While I cannot deny their popularity, I wonder if students are getting from them what they can get from text.  Do they listen once and move on?  Are they actively involved or passively accepting the story?  What happens when they don't understand something?  Do they use the same strategies we teach them to use with the written word?  Maybe, hearing the words actually leads to better understanding, since the reader can add all the inflections and emotions, but is that making them better readers or just better listeners?

So, what is the compromise between text and technology?  Is it readers like the Kindle or the Nook?  I have to admit, I am intrigued by those machines and by the idea that I could carry hundreds of books in my pocket. If that is the direction we head, what should the library of the future look like?  I imagine there will still be some  actual books, but we wouldn't need as much shelving.  More machines, maybe?  More space for students to work independently and in groups?

I see the library as becoming the center of all exploration, so it would need to include all types of technology, be they paper, machine, or something yet to be imagined.  It would need to be a flexible space, where shelves and tables can be moved to create large and small group areas.  Whatever it looks like, it needs to be a place of activity, where students are constantly interacting with others in their quest for understanding and entertainment.  If a library is not a center of active learning, if it remains a place where students are expected to be silent and work alone or where their access to and use of technology is limited and controlled, its place as part of the future is in question.

Swing On In -- It's Spring!

Many thanks to all the students and parents who made our recent book fair a huge success!  We made over $2000.00 for our LMC and trade book collections!  The teachers and I will be busily looking through the Scholastic catalog to find just the right titles to help us teach reading and inspire students to read more.

Now that the book fair is over and I am done counting money and keeping accounts, I needed to indulge the creative side of my nature.  Luckily for me, we are having a spring door decorating contest in our building! I got inspired with the theme "Swing On In" and hung vines with animals swinging in them.  Since it is spring, I had to add tissue paper flowers, a sun, and some butterflies.  I think it is a real winner, but we will see what the judges decide.

Next on our schedule for the year is an all-school book swap.  This is a first for us, so we will learn as we go.  A memo should go our next week to all the students explaining the process.  Students can bring up to three used books in good condition.  On the swap day, they can pick up three new-to-them books.  Donations are due Wednesday, April 7.  The book swap will occur on Monday, April 12.

The Book Fair is Here!

The spring book fair is set up and ready to go.  We will be open during the lunch recess every day next week (March 8-12) and during conferences on Tuesday and Thursday evening.  Teachers will have a chance for a sneak peek and to create a wish list on Monday after school.  Proceeds from the fair will go towards reading promotions, LMC materials, and class sets of books to be used for instruction.  Anyone who can spare some time on Tuesday or Thursday from 2:30 to 7:00 to help should contact the school and ask for Ms. Koll.  Please stop by and check us out.

Reading Olympics!

We are in the middle of an all-school reading competition here at Meadowview Intermediate.  Students and staff have been challenged to log as many minutes reading as they possibly can during the same time as the Winter Olympic Games.  Classes have chosen team names and created their own mascots...some of which are very creative and artistic.  Our original goal was to read 100,000 minutes, but we have already surpassed that and are working on going over 200,000!  Individual readers will have a chance to medal in overall performance and best improvement; classes will win based on the average number of minutes read per student.  It is certainly making for an interesting race, and our readers are definitely going for the gold! 

Speaking of reading, I have been doing quite a bit of it myself as I try to help the staff team, the Mighty Muskies, remain competitive.  We are struggling to stay in 5th place right now, so we need all the minutes we can get!  Here, briefly, are some of the books I have read with a short review of each.

The Highway Cats by Janet Taylor Lisle is a nice little story about some mysterious kittens, some stray cats, and a road project that threatens their forest homw.  It has some good characterization and a satisfactory, if mysterious, ending.  While adults may find it charming, it will be of interest mostly to those young girls who love cats...and there are plenty of those!

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale was a delightful surprise.  It has been on my to-read list ever since it was a Newbery Honor winner, and I enjoyed it.  It is not really a book about princesses; it is more about belonging -- knowing who you are, where you belong, and what you were meant to do with your life.  Of course, it does have a prince in search of a bride, a mean teacher, some mountain magic, and some very nasty bandits to move the story along.  With just the right touch of romance, an unforgettable main character, and beautiful writing, it is worthy of the Newbery attention.

Sahara Special by Esme Raji Codell would make an excellent read-aloud.  This story provides an interesting look into the inner life of a former special needs student whose parent makes the decision to pull her out of the extra program and send her into the 5th grade classroom.  Not everyone knows that Sahara has a dream and a goal for her life that she is keeping secret, but her new -- very unconventional -- teacher is determined to get to the heart of things with all of her students.  Through journals and some very frank discussions, Miss Pointy and her students begin a journey of self-discovery and acceptance of each other.  It is not all sunlight and roses, but there is light and there is hope and Sahara learns to -- well, you will just have to read it yourself to find out what Sahara learns.

I have a couple more to talk about, but I will save those for later.  Meanwhile, the Reading Olympics continue.  I can't wait to see who will earn their medal at these Winter Reading Games!

Girls Book Club

Shortly before Christmas break, I invited any interested fifth grade girls to come together once a week in the LMC and form a book club.  The girls bring their lunches to the LMC and read and talk about what they have read and share ideas and suggestions for books.  I took the original group into our tradebook room and let them choose a title or two that they and a partner would read.  A handful of fifth grade girls have lasted through at least one book and lived to blog about it.

If you are interested in what they are reading and how they feel about it, try this link: http://mvisgirlsclub.blogspot.com/  Other interested girls are welcome to join at any time.  We meet on Wednesdays during lunch in the LMC.

What about the boys?  I intend to invite them to start their own book club and will make that announcement next week.  It will be interesting to see how their choices and opinions differ from the girls.

A New Decade of Reading

Welcome to 2010!  I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but this year, I do have one to share:  I resolve to spend more time reading.  I know, I know...it seems strange that a librarian would need more time to read, but that is one of the ironies of this position.  The more time I spend doing my job -- teaching students and teachers, managing the collection, selecting materials, writing curriculum, planning promotions, and yes, writing blog updates -- the less time I have to actually read.  There's a ton of wonderful literature out there to be discovered.  I can (and do) rely on professional reviews to help me choose what I add to this collection, but there is nothing that can match a personal recommendation when it comes to putting a book into the hands of the right student.  So, this year, I want to spend more time actually reading the many titles I purchase.

Towards that end, I devoured two books over our recent holiday break: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  While Gaiman's book won the Newbery Award, I have to admit that I preferred Collins' sequel to The Hunger Games.  Gaiman's tale of Bod, the boy raised in the graveyard, was well-crafted and superbly paced, but it was, in many ways, predictable.  Collins' tale, however, has left me longing for more.  I never once doubted that Bod would win out over the forces against him, but the fate of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale in their unexpected rebellion against the Capital is still too close to call.  It will be interesting to see if my students agree with me.