Week 8

"Oh, No!" By Candace Fleming

Read to: Pre-K, Kinder, and Primer

Skills: Retelling the order of events using sequencing words 

This week we decided to use our new puppet theatre and perform a puppet show to the story, "Oh, No!" by Candace Fleming.  The kids loved it. We had to change the story slightly because we were short on one of the animals in the story, but the kids did not seem to notice. Ms. Hagen was my puppet master while I read the slightly altered script. We really do make an awesome team! Before the lesson we discussed sequencing words and told the children to do their best listening so they could help us retell the story. After the performance we asked for helpers to tell us the order of the events that occurred. They did a super job and could pretty much remember the entire story step by step!       

In first grade this week they were done with their Nocturnal animal reports and they invited me to come see them present them to the class. I was so impressed by the wonderful reports that they wrote. They were informative and they did a great job reading them out loud. They also created their animal and stuffed it to look 3D. Boy were they cute and really well done! That evening the entire grade level came back to school and once it was dark out they were to hunt the school grounds to find their animal! The teachers had hid them all around (in that particular animals most likely habitat)  and put glow in the dark tape on them. So before the hunt the kids were handed flashlights and they were ready to go find their animal. How cool is that? I am sure they had fun! 

"Twister" by Darlene Bailey Beard

Read to: 3rd Grade

Skills: Example of a personal narrative 

In 3rd grade they are beginning to write personal narratives in their classes. We discussed that when writing one of the best ways to get a feel for how to write on a certain topic is to read and look at examples of how other writers have written them. These are called mentor texts. Together we read, "Twister" by Darlene Bailey Beard. I had to borrow this book as we currently don't have it in our collection, but it is a super example of an important or scary event that most likely occurred in the author's life. It is filled with great details, imagery, and dialogue. It also begins with a super hook which we discussed is important in order to grab your reader right from the beginning. I hope to read a few more examples of personal narratives with them soon to continue to give them some good writing ideas. 

I hope everyone had a great week! Until next time, Happy Halloween!      

Week 7

The Little Red Hen by Barry Downard

Read to: Pre-K

Skills: Elements of a Folktale

This week with Pre-K we continued discussing different types of stories. Last week we read and talked about nursery rhymes, so this week we read a folktale. This is one of my favorites. I love that the animals throughout the story are dressed in clothes and doing things like playing pool and sunbathing, so that is why they are too busy to help the little red hen. The kids also caught on quickly that one must do their share of the work in order to benefit from the final product. Yay!         

Discover More Dinosaurs

Digging Up Dinosaurs by Aliki

Parts of both books read to Kinder and Primer
Skills: Features of Nonfiction texts

With Kinder and Primer we continued our discussion of different types of texts. This week we focused on Nonfiction texts.  We browsed through these two different books, looked at some of the different features of a nonfiction text, and read a few facts about dinosaurs. I shared these two because I wanted to emphasize that a book can still be nonfiction even if the pictures are drawn. This is sometimes a tough concept for kids to grasp. We then played a game where I passed out both fiction and nonfiction books and together with a partner they had to browse their book and tell the class if it was fiction or nonfiction and why. They did an excellent job with this and had fun with the game.      

Nocturnal Animal Research Project
Collaborative lesson with 1st grade

This week the first graders began working on their nocturnal animal project. The first grade teachers collaborated on this particular lesson because our library has some great research tools we wanted the kids to learn how to use. In class they each chose an animal they wanted to research. Then each class visited the library. Using our books and some of our databases such as Pebble Go, Facts 4 Me, and Encyclopedia Britannica, the kids found and took notes on four different questions about their animal. These questions included where the animal lived, what it ate, what it looked like, and cool facts about their animal. 

It was so neat to watch them be so curious about a topic. I can't wait to see their final product. Overall it was a great success!       

Finally with 3rd and 4th grade we reviewed how to access our library ebooks. Several of this years' Bluebonnet books are accessible as ebooks in our collection so I wanted to review this concept with them.  The kids love knowing that they have access to library books 24/7 and my hope is that they take advantage of it!       

Week 6

Mother Goose Picture Puzzles by Will Hillenbrand

Read to: Pre-K

Skills: Discuss and read a variety of nursery rhymes.  

This week was a busy week in the library! We started off with Pre-K learning all about nursery rhymes. They are currently reading them and discussing them in class, so I wanted to reinforce that learning in the library.  I shared several out of the book, Mother Goose Picture Puzzles by Will Hillenbrand. I like this book because throughout each rhyme it substitutes some of the words with pictures, so it is easy for the kids to read along with me. We got out our felt board and our cool nursery rhyme felt pieces and had fun matching the pieces to the rhyme.  

How do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen 

Read to: Kinder and Primer

Skills: Features of Fiction texts

With the Kinder and Primer classes we focused on the features of fiction texts. We discussed what fiction means and I modeled how one might decide if a book was fiction or not. We then read, How do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen. As we read, we asked questions about whether or not certain things could happen in real life. I think for the most part the children understood, but we will still review this concept several times throughout the year.     

How to pick a "Good Fit" Book

Discussed with 1st and 2nd Grade 

With the First and Second grade classes we focused on what it means to choose a "Good Fit" Book, and I modeled what that might look like using library books and a pretend scenario. We want our students to use the I PICK strategy and choose books that are right for them. They can do this by following the acronym of I PICK.  Often times kids are tempted to want to choose books that are really long or books that their friends are reading, but they sometimes forget to check and see if they are really interested in that topic or book, or if it is going to be a book that they will be able to read independently. However, I am also a big advocate for letting kids choose what they want to read even if sometimes that might mean that they choose a book that is too easy or a little challenging for them. My belief is if they are interested in the book or topic then that is what will keep them reading, and in my opinion that is the most important thing. 

Texas Bluebonnet Reading Program

Discussed with 3rd and 4th grade 

Finally, with the 3rd and 4th grade classes we began discussing the Texas Bluebonnet Reading Program.   

"The Texas Bluebonnet Program is a unique program that encourages reading for pleasure and is aimed at students in grades 3-6. Each year, 20 books are chosen as the “Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List” by the TBA selection committee.

If students read a minimum of five books from the current master list (or have the books read aloud to them), they have the opportunity to vote for their favorite title during the month of January each year. The author of the book receiving the most votes statewide is declared the winner of the Texas Bluebonnet Award."  http://www.txla.org/TBA-about

After discussing the details with the students I showed them a few book trailers to get them excited about reading some of the books, and let me tell you they were more than just excited! They were so ready to get started reading them that there wasn't a single Bluebonnet book left on the shelf at the end of the day!  There are so many great books this year so I can't wait to see which book will be the winner.