If you feed them, will they come?

Well I added a bird feeder right outside the window of our birdhouse in hopes that it would attract lots of birds and hopefully two of them would make a nest, but no nesting has begun.  We are all trying to be patient and wait to see if  this will work.  My theory is that most of the birds have eaten so much, I'm afraid they probably can't get through the birdhouse hole and begin nesting.  But one good thing is that all of the books about birds at this center are checked out! 

We'll continue our wait for nesting birds.  The saga continues!



Waiting for the birdies!!

http://youtu.be/ZaM4K70suHM

 

Bird watching center in the library

 

 

Bird watching center rules

Our new bird watching center is set up and ready to go.  We can hardly wait until the birds discover it and decide to make it their home.  Then, the students who use the center will be able to share what they are learning about this bird habitat.  Nice thing is that the birds will not be able to see us, but we can see them building their nest and laying their eggs.  This is a great springtime activity for students to explore and discover!





 

First and Second Graders got a treat today after hearing the story The Gum-Chewing Rattler by Joe Hayes.  Students learned  that this fiction story is an example of a Tall Tale. Tall tales are stories where the author exaggerates the action and where the main character does something very heroic.  They also learned how the illustrator, Antonio Castro L. used photographs of his family as inspiration for his drawings in the book.

Well it is official!  I have earned the title "Queen of Procrastination" for not keeping current on my blog posts.  I've had plenty to talk about so here is an update on what's been happening in the Crockett Library:

January 

In commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, we learned about the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to him in 1964.  Students in grades K, 1, & 2 made Peace Symbol medallions.  Students in grades 3 through 6 listened to the biography about Alfred Nobel's life titled Alfred Nobel, the man behind the peace prize by Kathy-jo Wargin.  They were able to see pictures of what the medal and diploma look like and also learned about the cash award given to recipients.  They also watched a short video from Nobelprize.org showing the moment that Dr. King received his award to a standing ovation.

February 

As usual, our parent volunteers came and decorated the library in a fiesta theme that got everyone in the mood for our book fair.  Unfortunately this Spring book fair was not without its problems.  The weather played a factor in scheduling that cut into our sales tremendously because of the school being closed. But we will have a BOGO fair in May where everyone can purchase lots of great reads at low costs.  Great time to stock up on summer reading materials!

Reading Blackout Bingo

One 6th grader, Daniel E., has completed Level Purple of his bingo sheets.  There are two other 6th graders and two 5th graders who will complete this level soon.

March 

Target Books for Schools Award

Our local Target store awarded our library $500 to purchase books from First Books Marketplace online.  I was able to get lots of new books for different sections of the library that I just know all of our students and staff are going to enjoy! Thank you Target for your generous contribution to continued reading of our Crockett Roos!

  

  

AHH! The wonderful scent of new library books!

 



Getting new books is always exciting for me.  Parts of my big orders usually include some anticipated books in a series.  Others are on recommended lists for K-3, 4-6 or Young Adult or are recommended by my Librarian buddies in Weatherford ISD.  I just know my students are going to love these.  I have carefully gone through my genrecized Fiction section and purchased books for areas that did not have many books – Scary and Graphic books topping the list.  My Nonfiction section gets a facelift now and again especially when science topics get updated.  Autobiographies stand out more in the Biography section now that I have included spine labels on them.

My biggest dilemma when my books arrive is how to tell my students about all of them and when to put them out so that all of the students will have a chance at first picks (usually those in the 3rd rotation who want to get a new book are out of luck by the time their library visit rolls around

:(.

So I tried book talking some of them during 5th and 6th grade lunch, but this past time that did not work well as they were so excited about other things, they really didn’t listen well.

During their 30-minute Collaboration visit, I decided to pass out book marks with a number on the back of 4 of them.  I did this during each group.  Those lucky enough to have a number on the back of their book mark enjoyed the privilege of being the first reader of a new book.

For one of my centers, I have made QR codes that link to book trailers about many of my books.  During their library time, students in grades 4 – 6 will be able to use the library’s iPad minis to “read” these QR codes and find out about more new books that are in the library. 

I feel good that students will be able to learn about new books in our library that they can check out.  One of the worst things that can happen is for the new books to get put on the shelves without students knowing they are there.  Books that continue or complete a series are always great for those who are following characters, an adventurous story line or a certain author’s work.  The older students log in to Destiny Quest to recommend to their friends just what books in the library they have read that are really good.

So my next big shipment of new books should come in soon.  It’s exciting to go into the front office and see those red and white striped book boxes just waiting to be opened!

Scholastic Book Fair

Reading Oasis

October 24 - November 1, 2013

Much thanks to our two parent volunteers Tracy Dixon and Staci Markwardt for once again decorating the library for our book fair!  As always they did a wonderful job and all of it helps get everyone in the mood to enjoy purchasing lots of great stuff at the fair. 

To top everything off, Mrs. Alicia Ellis, one of our wonderful paras, dug into her costume closet and dressed in costume to advertise during crosswalk duty for the evening Family Night on October 24th.  She was also a wonderful "greeter" for all of our families who came and many of the students enjoyed picture taking with Mrs. Ellis before entering and after exiting the book fair.  Thanks again Alicia for helping out!

In addition to wonderful books on sale, a student will be able to win a $5 gift certificate to spend at the book fair if they guess closest to the correct number of pages in a book that is "mummied" (wrapped in toilet paper). Good Luck Roos!  Hope you are the one who wins!

Lunch with a Loved One is Tuesday, Oct. 29th (for last names beginning A - L) & Wednesday, Oct. 30th (for last names beginning M-Z).  We hope to see all of our families out to enjoy lunch and browse the book fair.

Please visit our Crockett Book Fair homepage.  If you can't make it to the fair, you can shop online by going to this site Online Book Fair 10/23 - 11/12.

Parting Gift

I would like to thank all of the students along with their families who participated in our first Crockett Library Storybook Character Pumpkin Patch.  They were all so well done and one dad commented that he thoroughly enjoyed making this a family project and hopes we will do this again next year.  We had a total of 49 pumpkins in our Pumpkin Patch and each participant received a special pumpkin book mark like this one from Oriental Trading. 

@ the Crockett Library

During the week of October 15th, students are bringing in decorated pumpkins for the Crockett Library Storybook Character Pumpkin display.  This idea was courtesy of Cari Young's blog and the inspiration from fellow librarian Shawna Ford.  See if you can figure out some of the pumpkin characters below.  We are having a great time in the Crockett Library seeing all of the creative ideas that have been put into decorating these pumpkins!





Location! Location! Location!

Students are learning how to locate books in the Crockett Library.

 Kindergarteners worked on how books in the Everybody Section are put on the shelves in ABC order by the author’s last name.  Their challenge was to put a set of letters that each held in ABC order.

 

 

First graders did a great job of writing the first three letters of their last names on a pumpkin cut-out , and taping it to the part of the Everybody section shelves where a book they “authored” would be shelved.

 

Second graders were given Dewey numbers to find a book for check-out.  They learned about Melville Dewey and how books with similar themes are shelved together.        

Third and Fourth graders looked at the call numbers on the spine labels of books from the Dewey section, Biography section, Everybody section and different genres from the Fiction section.  They learned how to use the OPAC (online public access catalog) to search for books and to use the call numbers to locate a book.

 

Fifth and Sixth graders have had plenty of time to get familiar with the genres in the Fiction section so they were given a Genre Challenge test on paper.  This required them to read a description of a Fiction book and decide which genre they felt it would fit under.  Results:  many of them decided to check-out a book from a genre they had not tried before.

 

 

 

Dot Art at Crockett

In preparation for International Dot Day, September 15th, students in grades K-6 listened to the story The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.  Above are just a few of the wonderful, imaginative creations they produced as they "made their mark".  Everyone enjoyed the story, the projects and getting a dot treat at the end of their library time. 

 





Crockett Library Orientation Week –

 September 3 - 6

We’re off to the start of library time at Crockett.

Here is how our lesson frames worked each day.

Students took home parent letters to tell them

about their visit and what is expected of them each

week.  These letters noted their library days so that

parents can help them remember to return books on

time.  All groups learned that RESPONSIBILITY is

the key to taking good care of their books so that

they and others can enjoy using them for a long time.

Kindergarten Lesson Frame

We will:

            Follow a straight line to learn how to sit on the dotted carpet

               Listen to the story “Excuse me, but that is my book” by Lauren Child

            Learn how to use a shelf marker to search for books in the library

            Learn how to find my library card and check out a book

I will:

            Follow the person in front of me to sit on the dotted carpet

            Use my listening skills during story time

            Practice using a shelf marker to find a book

            Find my library card and scan it and my book to check it out

 

First Grade Lesson Frame

We will:

            Review how to walk quietly into the library and sit on the dotted carpet

            Review how to use a shelf marker to find books

            Listen to the story “Bats at the Library” by Brian Lies

            Review finding their library cards to check out a book

I will:

            Walk quietly into the library and sit on the dotted carpet

            Use a shelf marker to find a book

            Use my best listening skills during the read aloud story

            Find my library card and check out my book

 

Second Grade Lesson Frame

 

We will:

            Learn where books are in the library that we can check out

            Review using a shelf marker to find a book

            Hear the story “Stella Louella’s Runaway Book” by Lisa Ernst

            Encourage all second graders to make one of their book choices a leveled book

I will:

            Look for books in my section of the library

            Get a shelf marker before I begin looking for a book

            Listen to the story “Stella Louella’s Runaway Book” by Lisa Ernst

            Choose at least one book from the leveled books section

 

Third Grade through Fifth Grade Lesson Frame

 

We will:

            Learn about the new genre divisions of the Fiction section

            Review getting a shelf marker before searching for books

            Be encouraged to vary genre choices with nonfiction choices

            Learn how to keep a tally of the genres chosen from the Fiction section

I will:

            Listen to learn about the new genre divisions of the Fiction section

            Get a shelf marker before searching for books

            Vary my choices when choosing books  

            Make a tally mark on the back of my library card for the genres I have chosen

Sixth Grade Lesson Frame

 

We will:

            Learn about the YA section that includes books and Playaways that 6^th graders only may check out

            Learn that while listening to a Playaway they must also use the read along book         

            Review using a shelf marker while searching for books

            Learn how to help any new students search for books           

I will:

            Use the YA section if I choose to look for books or Playaways for 6^th graders only

            Use my listening and reading skills together when I have checked out a Playaway

            Use a shelf marker while searching for books

            Help any new 6^th graders learn how to use the library

 

Check out the new library newsletter @ smore.com. 

This  is an easy way to make your own flyer/newsletter.  It is very user-friendly!

Kindergarteners Searching for the Gingerbread Man

On Friday, the Kindergarteners came to the library as part of their unit on learning about different parts of our school.  Since they were also on the hunt for the Gingerbread Boy, I chose to read two stories to them. 

 Kindergarteners are really learning how to use their listening skills.  They were so much fun to share stories with.  I just hope they follow the crumbs and be able to catch the Gingerbread Boy!  Good luck Kindergarteners!



Librarian Self-Challenge Update

 

Not unlike many of my students, I started reading the picture books first.  My Shelfari to the right of this page will show the books I have read.  Most of the time a picture book will win the Texas Bluebonnet Award, but we shall see.

 

Some of the books I enjoyed, and others are taking me a little longer to complete.  But perhaps I will continue to challenge myself throughout the school year and finish all 20 titles.

 

I am anxious to see which Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee books my students enjoy most!

Lights! Camera! Action!   

Well I am in a two week workshop titled 25+ Ways to Use iPads in your Library through ESC Region XI.  Desi Beard, a Library Media/Technology Specialist from Lake Dallas ISD is our instructor.  We are learning really great ways to use iPads in the library.  For my Show and Tell, I made the following iMovie on my iPad.  I know that the more I use this app, the better I will get at it.

This is my first YouTube Video.

Crockett Librarian Reading Self-Challenge



OK, I've put forth this self-challenge as a goal to read as many Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee books before school starts (August 26th)!  After all, I can't really ask my 3rd through 6th graders to "Read 5, Then Decide"  if I haven't at least read some of them.  So I created a Shelfari on this home page that shows the books I will be reading.  I will make comments in the form of a review after reading each book. Wish me luck! 

Something New in the Fiction Section

Google Images: http://pineblufflibrary.org/sites/mainsite/files/pictures/kids-reading-in-library.jpg

 

So excited about the start of the school year!  Just had to share something new that I just know our students are going to love!  The Fiction section of the library has been genre-fied!  That means that the books in the Fiction section are now grouped by genres.  These are the areas that students will be able to search for their favorite books:  Adventure, Classic, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Humor, Mystery, Realistic Fiction, Scary, Science Fiction and Sports.  This was truly a labor of love!  A lot of work, but I can't wait for the students to return to see how they react to this new change.  As students checkout, they will be able to keep a tally on the back of their library card of the different books they choose from each section.  Hopefully, this will encourage them to vary what types of books they choose each week. 

 

I've attached some video clips of the sections: