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.