What's Up in 2011

     The new year always forces me to look forward and realize that our current school year is almost half over!  There is so much left to be done, to be taught and to be learned, to read and to experience.  It is enough to raise my anxiety level!  That's what makes it the perfect time of year to change a few things about instruction in the LMC.
     Starting the second week of January, we will move to a more project-based approach to learning through the LMC.  I will be working directly with classroom teachers to create, schedule, and complete projects that support the classroom goals while allowing students to use research and technology to learn and communicate.  An example of this would be a project with Mr. Pederson where students will use LMC resources and the web to learn about the life and discoveries of important scientists.  They will then share this information through podcasts and PowerPoints.  To accomplish this, Mr. Pederson has scheduled time in the LMC and the labs for a number of consecutive days and will use his weekly LMC time for book checkout.  This way, the students will maximize their learning and research with both Mr. Pederson and me to assist but will not lose any time for exploring their own interests through their independent reading.  I hope to complete at least one such project with each class before spring.
     This means that the beginning schedule of weekly lessons will be compacted and changed.  Students will still come to the LMC weekly to exchange books but will not have a lesson planned and taught by me at that time.  If I am available at that time, I will share authors and series with them in an effort to motivate more independent reading.  Instruction in research and technology will occur through the projects.  This approach will actually result in more time with me and in the LMC and the labs than a weekly lesson provides.  The end result, we believe, will be students who are more independent and capable in their use of the LMC and its resources.

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.