encouraging students to become competent 21st Century learners
As a member of the ALA (American Library Association) and their subdivision the AASL (School Libraries) I have the opportunity to attend the AASL annual conference in Minneapolis Minnesota. I will be heading to the Twin cities next Wednesday with Edwin and Mr. W in tow. I can't leave my baby, he depends on me for... Continue Reading →
Today, kindergarten is checking out books for the first time. They have spent the past month learning about the library. They know to use their whisper voices, not to run in the library and to treat the books with respect.I love to see them carefully turning each page and gently setting the books on the counter. Of... Continue Reading →
It is always such an adventure teaching the 1st grade classes to use Destiny Quest, our cataloging system. After teaching this particular lesson for three years now I think I finally have it figured out. Divide the class into the smallest possible groups. DUH. I have tried teaching as a whole group but we don't have a projector in... Continue Reading →
It is time for one of my favorite library lessons. I love it so much that this is my second blog posting on it. Last year I wrote about the 4th grade classes learning the Dewey Decimal System and one of the harder sections, Philosophy, Psychology and Ethics. You can read the posting Here. A year... Continue Reading →
I am starting to introduce the Kindergarten classes to the difference between Author and Illustrator. I make it a habit of reading the Title, Author and Illustrator before I start reading a book. Most times the children love repeating back the names to me. It seem that people who write books don't have common names.... Continue Reading →
It hit me the other day that the first kindergarten class to be in the new library is getting very big. I still have a tendency to think the library is a fledgling, hardly able to fly. But that is not the case. Those kindergartner's are now in third grade. They can use the library computers to look up books and... Continue Reading →
I love writing this blog and sharing the St. Philips Library and School experience with you. I am constantly looking for inspiration and stories I think you would find interesting. But sometimes it gets lonely over here! Are you out there? Are you listening?I would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Maybe you have... Continue Reading →
I like to start every new school year by reading a book about libraries to the students. This year I choose The Library by Sarah Stewart. I am often discovering library books that I didn't know we had. This is one such book. After reading it I was charmed by the sweet and engaging pictures as... Continue Reading →
Some websites with inspirational paper crane's from around the world...Paper Cranes in Hiroshima's Peace ParkHow to fold paper cranes and an inspirational project!Paper Cranes for Japan from Students Rebuild .Org
There once lived a little girl named Sadako Sasaki. She called Hiroshima, Japan home. She was two years old in 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped to end World War Two. It took an instant to destroy the city and kill 140,000 citizens. A mile away, Sadako, her mother and father managed to survive.... Continue Reading →
I can't believe another school year is here and I am starting my third year as the St. Philip Librarian. I am so grateful to share my passion for reading with the St. Philip community. We have some exciting things planned for the school year. First and foremost, we have decided that since library for grades K-5... Continue Reading →
First let me apologize for the lack of posts lately. Now that I work part time I find my other library duties make it difficult to find time to blog. On top of that Drama Club is preparing for our spring musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. I am knee deep in costumes, sets and props. Not to... Continue Reading →
The Falcon's Fables 