Parent Night Info - 701 Library

I hope to help the students answer these main questions:

How can I find books that I love to read?
How can I find information that I need?

• Some of what we do in the library is related to the classroom curriculum. Some is meant to teach kids how to be independent researchers. Some is just to instill a love of books and stories.

• We always want the children to be checking out books and reading things that inspire, amuse and excite. Encourage your child to take books from the library and ask them about what they are reading. Encourage them to ask for recommendations from their friends, teachers and librarians. Learn with them how to login to the library system and write reviews or recommendations for their friends.

• We believe all reading is valuable and do not value one type of book over another – graphic novels, fiction, nonfiction, picture books, easy readers are all wonderful ways to spend time, expand vocabulary and work on reading and comprehension skills.

• Even though certain phases of your child’s reading life may drive you crazy or leave you bored, try to ride it out. The phase really will pass.

• If you find that your morals or your sanity cannot take any more of a particular series or title, please talk to your child first and foremost. It is better for your child to hear your honest assessment than for me to suddenly cut them off and create negative feelings toward the library or librarians. You should also talk to me, because I may be able to help gently guide your child toward something similar but new.

• Know that your child may grow up to be a very different kind of reader than you are.


Policies (though nothing is ever set in stone)
• Second, Third and Fourth grade students may check out two books at a time. If they regularly bring books back on time, their limit may be increased to three, four or five books.
• Books are due in two weeks but may be renewed as long as no other student is waiting to take them.
• Students can return books or check out books at any time (they don’t need to wait for their library day) and I don’t need to be at the circulation desk (they know how to check out on their own).
• Children should be responsible for their own books, knowing what they have checked out of the library and when they need to bring it back. This information is available to the students at any time in the library or by logging in from home.
• Students may only take out one comic book at a time. This is because there is high demand for them and we want them available for as many students as possible. Generally, comics may not be renewed as there is almost always a student waiting.
• Parents are always welcome to bring their children to read and select books in the library after school.

LIBRARY DAYS 2009-10
Monday: 1/2 Umstatter, Patel, 1/2 Ellis, Pike
Tuesday: Vaccaro, 1/2 McKay, 1/2 Oberstein
Wednesday: Forsman
Thursday: 1/2 Mireles, 1/2 Umstatter, 1/2 Oberstein, 1/2 McKay
Friday: 1/2 Ellis, 1/2 Mireles


SECOND GRADE
Second Graders will hear lots of stories and begin to learn how to locate materials in the library. We will also think about how a library serves the community as part of their classroom study. In the second half of the year they will help the library stay organized by keeping the series carts in order.

THIRD GRADE
Third Graders will become expert alphabetizers and do some light community service by keeping our fiction collection in order. We will hold our annual Third Grade Mock Caldecott Awards in January after spending a couple of months carefully investigating the picture book offerings of 2009. We will also think about How Stories Travel as part of their immigration study.

FOURTH GRADE
The Fourth Grade is responsible for keeping the nonfiction collection in order this year, each student taking charge of one shelf of books. Fourth Grade Library class is combine with Computer so that research may be taught in both print and online mediums. We will spend several weeks on evaluation of websites, learning how to tell if a site is reputable and accurate. We will work closely with classroom teachers so that we can assist students with class research. Students will continue with keyboarding skills and will be allowed to come to the library for book checkout whenever they need something new to read.