ABC Order in the Library

Our first graders at Dallas Center Elementary have been talking about using ABC order in the library. For several cycles we've been reading ABC books, talking about the arrangement of books in the library, and practicing using ABC order.

We began with ABC books like Bad Kitty, Superhero ABC, and LMNO Peas.

         

After talking about spine labels and their connection to ABC order and the arrangement of library books, students created their own spine labels, using themselves as the authors of the books. They then stood themselves in alphabetical order so we could put their "books" on our hallway "bookcase."

Even with the book fair in our space, first graders were able to continue their ABC work by using different apps on the iPad to practice ABC order.

And we wrapped up our work with ABC order in stations: 1) LEGO station, 2) coloring sheet, 3) magnetic words, 4) book characters, 5) seasonal items & animals, 6) book spines, and 7) cup stacking.

Our assessment for this work was to create a short video on ChatterPix. Students took one another's pictures, then used the app to tell why ABC order is important in the library. They could also edit the project as they wished. A few of their videos appear below:

Celebrating Dot Day

September 15 is International Dot Day, so we celebrated for several days around the day itself. At every grade level we read a complementary book along with The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. Our conversations about using our imaginations carried over from a previous lesson, and students carried The Dot forward with suggestions as to how the boy could turn his squiggle into different pictures. Then our dot fun began!

Kindergarteners listened to Patricia Intriago's book Dot before reading The Dot.

These students created large dots in table groups, and each group's dot was matched to another class's dot. Now their dots are stuffed and hanging along the long wall in the library!

First grade students listened to and participated in an activity related to Hervé Tullet's Press Here. Then they designed dots and made their marks on paper plates that we've grouped together into a display.

Second graders read another Hervé Tullet book--Mix it Up!--before working on their dots, which now hang in a display in the hallway.

Our third grade students read the book 10 Black Dots and talked about the things they could make with black dots. Then they worked on their dots for display--dots designed on coffee filters and then sprayed with water to give a watercolor effect. These now hang above the library doors.

Fourth grade students read and talked about the book Lots of Dots before working on buddy dots. They designed dots, cut them into fourths, and then we reassembled them into a display that features all students' dots.

Finally, students in fifth grade listened to Andrew Clements' book A Million Dots and then created dots that were attached front-to-back with others and then hung in a mobile-like fashion around the library.

After celebrating Dot Day for the first time, we know that it will become a yearly event for us! We made our mark that week--how did you make your  mark?

New Library Displays

I am fortunate enough to be in only one building this year. It is a wonderful thing to be able to focus on one space, one group of teachers, one group of kids, and one program. I have been weeding books, adding technology sessions to my day, and starting to collaborate with teachers. One other thing I've had time to do is add some new decor and displays in the library. Below are a few I've been working on.

I added two window displays to the back wall. I purchased curtains, rods and command hooks. Then, made the clouds and characters out of paper. I think it turned out whimsical! Kids love finding the characters.

I cannot take credit for these. The wonderful art teacher at our 8/9 building painted these for me. The colors are so bright and the characters pop off the canvas!

In a k-2 building, we do a lot of modeling. What better way to model a love of reading, than by having a readbox for teachers? I added this shelf and invited teachers to add or take books and magazines.

New Year. . . New Theme!

Students at DC Elementary and South Prairie will see a new theme for the year reflected throughout the buildings, and we in the library joined right in the fun! A quick search on Pinterest helped us find some great decorating and lesson ideas, and throughout the summer we've been working on getting things ready for the new year. Check out some of our work below!

The first thing to go up was a collection of paper lanterns with a superhero look:

Next, new curtains were added to the library office windows, along with a superhero alphabet set:

Be on the lookout, too, for new library shelf signs that feature different superhero art:

Stay tuned for more superhero ideas, including book displays and bulletin boards. You might even see a librarian sporting a superhero t-shirt!

Promoting Summer Reading

With just a little more than 3 weeks left in the school year (yay!), it's time to think about and promote summer reading! Check out the new display at DC Elementary:

Students from kindergarten through 5th grade can see book recommendations, but be careful--you might lose a turn for reading past your bedtime or having overdue books! :)

You Wouldn't Want to Be…Research Projects

Fourth and fifth grade students have recently begun work on a long-term research project that begins with the book series You Wouldn't Want to Be. . . 

Our first day of work focused on reinforcing the 5W's lesson students had in their grade-level classrooms. Their task? Read only the introduction page of their book and complete a 5W's index card.

As a ticket out--and as a way to encourage students to browse further in the books--groups wrote about a Handy Hint found in their books. They were encouraged to find a Handy Hint that they thought was especially funny, grotesque, interesting, informative, etc. These tickets out then became part of a library display. Check out the progression of the board!

Next steps in the process include looking at the books' text features and completing a note-taking page. We'll also be talking about main ideas and related search terms before heading to Wonderopolis to find out more! Stay tuned!

Iowa Goldfinch Award Lesson Two- Chicks Gone Wild and Cows Love Cookies!

For our first week of Goldfinch reading, we paired together two books about animals doing some surprising things! Before reading, I reminded the kids that we were starting to read books that were in the running for the Goldfinch Award.

For Cows Love Cookies by Karma Wilson and Marcellus Hall, we talked about how a farmer takes care of  his animals. One way is by feeding them food. We brainstormed some ideas about what different animals eat. Next, we talked about making a prediction based on the title and the cover of the book. We made some predictions about why the cow loves cookies and whether or not the farmer wanted his cow to eat cookies! We read the book and kids loved the rhyming, the surprise about why the cow loves cookies, and (my favorite) the last page.

Next, we read Chicks Run Wild by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Ward Jenkins. Again we made predictions about what we thought the book would be about. I told them that in the last book, we had a surprise. I told them that this book had a fun surprise at the end, as well. Kids loved the details of the pictures. They loved the rhyming and the ending. I love their reaction to the ending.

Finally, we made our own chicks running wild. I asked the kids to think of how they would  run wild after bed time and see below for what we came up with.

Supplies Needed

A Wild Chick! 

 

 See below for my hallway and my BB display.

BB display of two classes of chicks

Some first grade Chicks

 Hallway Display Waiting for Some Chicks