Fourth Library Time Sept 2012

As of next Wednesday, all students at Sycamore Park will have had four library classes this year. It seems like school just started and it is almost October.  The Book Fair will be here October 5 - 12.

The story pit has another new look.  In addition to the Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar rug, Mrs. Barredo's ten year old daughter made a wonderful banner, and it really makes the story pit stand out:

"I'm hungry for a good book!" banner by Mrs. Barredo's daughter.

All of the students at Sycamore Park are checking out books now, and the Pre-K classes will start this week. Mrs. Barredo and I are seeing many, many students in the library in the mornings because they are finishing their books and wanting more to read before their next library day.  We are very happy about this. I am very impressed with how many wonderful readers there are at Sycamore Park.

The Sycamore Park library is the very lucky recipient of a $500 grant from Target to order books for the library.  With this grant, we will be able to purchase more copies of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (we can't keep enough copies in the library!) among many other books and a new 2012 Brittanica Student encyclopedia set for the reference section.  The students will be spending some time signing a "thank you" page for us to send to Target to thank them for this very needed and very appreciated grant so that we can buy more books. Each class will have a page to sign and we will put these together to make a thank you book.

"READING ACROSS AMERICA" reading incentive 2012-2013

Read Across America Reading Incentive Program at Sycamore Park

The reading specialists are working on a wonderful reading incentive program for this year.  We are calling it "Read Across America" and it will not only spark interest in reading, but teach students about the famous landmarks and people from different states.

Stay tuned for more information about "Read Across America" at Sycamore Park.

CHECKING OUT BOOKS

The most popular fiction series in the Sycamore Park Library!

Grades K-5 are now checking out books.  I am new to Sycamore Park, but I think the school has done an amazing job creating enthusiastic readers.  In all classes, only very few students are claiming that they don't like to read. I can say without a doubt that the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is the number one draw, followed by series fiction such as Babymouse and Captain Underpants. I think the library budget will be wisely spent on purchasing even more Diary of a Wimpy Kid books because they are checked out as soon as they are returned - there is not even time to reshelve them before they are gone again.

It is critical that students in elementary grades learn that reading is fun and worthwhile - maybe even fun enough to compete with video games.    

Books that make reading fun....

 I found an interesting article online about the importance of reading.  I couldn't say this any better, so I will show it to you. It said:

Why is reading important?

It is how we discover new things. Reading is vital in developing a good self image.

Being able to read is a crucial skill in being able to function in today's society. It is important because it develops the mind and develops the imagination.

A person who knows how to read can educate themselves in any area of life they are interested in.

Non readers or poor readers often have low opinions of themselves and their abilities. They feel isolated and behaviour problems can surface. As we live in an age overflowing with information, reading is the main way to take advantage of it.

"Reading, like no other medium, can transform your life in a flash, and you never know which book, at which time in your life, might be the one that rocks your world and inspires you to grow in ways you never thought possible."
---Burke Hedges.

 

You can check out this article here:  http://www.squidoo.com/why-reading-is-important

 

Books should be returned on their next Library resource day so that they may check out a new book(s) at that time.  Students in Grades 2-5 can check out 2 books at a time, while grades PreK-1 may check out one.

In the past several weeks, all grades have been working on taking care of books, being responsible with books, and the importance of keeping the library in order (always use shelfmarkers!)  Now the older grades (3-5) are beginning to learn about the library catalog.  Library catalogs are almost always accessible online from anywhere - home or school.  Learning how to effectively use library catalogs is a necessary skill, especially now in this information age.  For research papers and homework while in school to life outside of school, knowing how to access credible information is very important. With e-books and online databases, learning what is available through a library's website and catalog means the difference literally between being "information literate" or being illiterate when it comes to the wide world of information that is pressing in on all sides. 

You can access Sycamore Park's library catalog from anywhere - any place you have internet access.  You can google "Sycamore Park Elementary School" or go to Culpeper County's website and go to Sycamore Park's website from there. Once on Sycamore Park's website, just click on "library" on the left side of the page.   You can choose the "home" tab or the "catalog" tab.

The 2nd library resource day: caterpillars, hedgehogs and elves

The new Eric Carle The Very Hungry Caterpillar rug is finally in and is creating  a new look in the story pit.  In honor of the new rug, the Pre-K classes heard and saw a super large version of the book. Then, we read Read It, Don't Eat It by Ian Schoenherr to learn about taking care of books. 




The 4th and 5th grades started checking out books during this cycle of resource days, and all other classes will be checking out books on their next library day. Pre-K through 1st grade can check out one book while grades 2 through 5 may check out two.  Parents, please ask your student what books they chose and discuss their books with them.  Students should be encouraged to read on a daily basis! 

In addition to checking out books, 4th and 5th grade students were reacquainted with library rules and policies and the use of "shelf markers." Students created their own shelf marker, along with a "library folder" that they can keep all of their library work in for the year. 

Students in K-2 heard What happened to Marion's book by Brook Berg, with illustrations by Nathan Alberg. This book is about a hedgehog who LOVES books - but has an unfortunate experience with one that teaches her about book care.  She learns, in particular, not to eat around books or put them in the bathtub or washing machine.  After discussing book care, the classes colored and cut out bookmarks featuring Marion in anticipation of checking out books during their next library resource day.  Using a bookmark, rather than bending and creasing pages, is another form of proper book care.

Marion, the hedgehog
 

Third grade students also discussed book care after reading The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopikins and they created library folders. 

K through 5 classes also reviewed the use of shelf markers and keeping their library in order by watching a youtube video about "Sammy the Shelfmarker".  The video was a hit with all of the grade levels. 

BOOK FAIR

The Sycamore Park Book Fair begins on Friday, October 5 and ends Friday, October 12, 2012.

Beginning the 2012-13 school year at Sycamore Park

The 2012-13 school year has officially begun in the Sycamore Park Elementary School library.  During the first 6 day cycle of classes, Miss Jennifer and I have seen every class, Pre-K through 5th.  After practicing procedures (to save time and maximize efficiency) for entering the story pit, we read The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White, and discussed how the library belongs to everyone who uses it.  



After discussing how we are all responsible for taking care of the library and making sure everyone, ourselves included, have a fun, successful library experience, every student signed a "link" promising to respect everyone and everything in the library.  We made a HUGE paper chain of these "links" and hung them all around the library.

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"If you want to find your happy place,

just go to the library."  

Lizzie K. Foley, author