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Showing posts from November, 2013

Reading, Writing, Exploring

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RES scholars spent their week in the library exploring and reading new books and magazines. Second graders are becoming more independent readers every day...this scholar couldn't wait to read aloud to me. Kindergartners explored the library's magazines. The library subscribes to  Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, Sports Illustrated for Kids , and  American Girl  magazines. Scholars can check out magazine issues for a week just like books...the kindergartners thought that was great! In connection with their classroom learning, first graders have been looking at the beginning, middle, and ends of stories. We all enjoyed Marc Simont's picture book  The Stray Dog. Fourth graders finished filming commercials as part of a media literacy unit in their enrichment library classes. Look for the finished commercials in the next few weeks on the  ThinkCreateCollaborate  blog. And third graders finished writing their informational books in Writers Workshop in the

Read With Someone

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Most kindergarten, first, and second grade library classes follow the same pattern. The first half of class is time for a whole-group activity like a readaloud or a lesson. The second half of class is time for "book shopping" and checkouts, followed by a chance for scholars to read their books alone or with others. In the library I use the same language as scholars use in their classrooms: this is time for "read to self" or "read with someone." "Read with someone" can look like scholars reading to an adult, like in the picture above; scholars reading to each other; or adults reading to small groups of scholars. The RES library is lucky to have many older scholars, adult volunteers, and staff members who share their love of reading with our younger scholars every week. If you're interested in volunteering, please let me know! On Friday I got to enjoy lunch with the kindergartners in Mrs. Kent's fabulous cafeteria. Th

Readers and Research, Ads and Art

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student mobile artwork Starting this week, fourth grade artwork will be on display in the library. Under the direction of RES art teacher Joanna Elliott, fourth grade scholars have been teaching each other how to make different types of artwork. The large mobile now hanging in the back room of the library is a project from one of these student-run lessons. Come enjoy the work of our talented scholars! The library has added over 140 new nonfiction titles so far this year, some in the regular nonfiction collection and some in the Early Reader (pink dot) collection. These levelled nonfiction titles have been a hit with third graders doing research, as well as scholars just  looking for good books about animals, space, weather, and more. first graders like the new Early Reader nonfiction Third graders have continued their research on organisms using World Book Online, a web-based encyclopedia that includes video clips and a readaloud feature as well as text articles. You ca