Week of February 23rd

Easing back into the school week was not an easy task, but our brave Tigers handled it well!  Thanks to all
the friendly smiles, hugs and welcoming attitudes, we were able to kick start our week.  We had a lot to accomplish here in the Library, take a look at our busy days...

First and Third Graders:
"Everyone knows, Sharks eat Minnows"!  Kids thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest addition to our WCCPBA (Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Awards) book of the week.  We delved into this delightful and somewhat unconventional tale of friendship.  My little first grade friends were really concerned about how Fang (our trusty and true shark) would feel after Nugget (yes, our main minnow) halted their friendship.  Third Graders thought about this on a deeper level and asked themselves, what would they have done if in Nugget/Fang's "fins".  We also utilized a "Fin" (Venn) Diagram to look at the similarities and differences these two characters hold.  Check out this cute clip of other "unlikely" friends:

Unlikely Friends - It's OK To Be Different

Fourth Graders:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, Edmoto, the list goes on and on and on for the Social Media sites that your children have been introduced to.  As part of the Librarian's Digital Citizenship (which Fourth Graders completed several weeks ago), I wanted to culminate the research on our kid-friendly databases here at school with a real-world scenario.  Kids used their notes and ideas from our last class (digging deep as it was before mid-winter break) and created a "fakebook" (yes, that reads FAKE BOOK) page for their historical individual.  Using a printed page, students utilized their notes and the Pebble Go database.  We discussed the power of sharing information from their chosen innovator and what they might share/post.  Still a work in progress, will share the final result as we complete our "profiles".

Up next week:
We will be celebrating Read Across America and the birthday of Dr. Seuss.  Monday (and Tuesday) will prove to be fun, exciting and busy days here in the Library!  Stay tuned to see some Sneeches, Lorax and perhaps even the Cat himself!

Have a great week!
-Mrs. Bethel

Week of February 9th

The week before a break is always fast and furious, especially with a holiday approaching.  We'll be on Mid-Winter Break as of Friday @ 3:26...kicking it off with Valentine's Day this upcoming Saturday!  At any rate, my kiddos maintained their focus and interest all day Monday (I was at a Professional Development Tuesday -- more on that later).

First Grade:
My little friends were over the moon to read yet another WCCPBA story (as we are nearing the voting deadline end of March).  "The Yuckiest Stinkiest Best Valentine Ever" is a hilarious and goofy story, with a great author's message and story.  I made sure to ask some deeper thinking questions, asking kiddos to infer while they enjoyed the silliness.  Each week I spend with my First grade friends puts a smile on my face, I love hearing their ideas, stories, point of view and (most of all) giggles!


Third Grade/Fourth Grade:

This week was our second installment of our Biography series.  Students reviewed biographies and the WCCPBA "Hoop Genius" and how to search for innovators  using one of our databases, Pebble Go!  Third and Fourth graders spent time reading and researching individuals online.  As they closed the activity, I asked them to complete an Exit Ticket sharing how this innovator is worthy of a biography and how they felt after learning more about his/her life.  When we return from break, kids will get a chance to incorporate the 21st century and a special historical innovator!

Professional Development:
I was lucky to participate in a locale PD (thanks to my principal, school and district) on Tuesday.  The presenter was fantastic, kept a great pace and had great enthusiasm for using technology in the Library!  I am walking away with several (ok, more than a DOZEN) new ideas, apps, tools and websites to implement as a Teacher Librarian.  I'm really excited to bring this back to school and show my students!   One of my favorite "techie" tool that I love to create and use is a QR code.   For those of you reading my blog, let's see if this QR code works:

(It's a link to the ALA Youth Media Awards just recently announced).  Using an app like 'Qrafter' will help you scan any QR code!  

Enjoy Valentine's Day!
-Mrs. Bethel

Week of February 2nd

As always, a jam-packed busy week here in the Library.  We started off our Monday with a new Virtue for the month of February:  Self-Discipline.  Kids had great insight and examples of how to demonstrate this Virtue.  As we connected to many emotions from the Sunday game, I know I had to show self discipline!!  Stay tuned for more updates and findings about our Virtues curriculum, now onto the status of this week's learning!


First Grade:

Students were giggling and cackling over the latest Read Aloud:  Outfoxed, written by Mike Twohy and is yet another Washington Children's Choice Award nominee!  Kids love the humor in this hilarious picture book.  As we're trying to connect with self-discipline and finishing our January Virtue of Optimism, we reviewed a short (very short) story:  "Good News/Bad News" - check out the cute trailer here:
Good News, Bad News Trailer

As a closing activity, students voted on whether or not the Groundhog would see his shadow.  Overwhelmingly, the kids voted for six more weeks of Winter.  And it looks like Groundhog Day produced that very outcome, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow! 


Third & Fourth Grade:
I'm very excited about the upcoming Non-Fiction text focus (biographies and autobiographies) which will include a 3 week session (with a break for Mid Winter holiday).  We jumped in with a Read Aloud:  "Hoop Genius", yet another amazing Washington Children's Choice Award book written by Jon Coy and illustrated by Joe Morse.  Students were enthralled with incredible illustrations, and discussed how it was difficult to determine between F/NF with such picturesque drawings.  Up next week, we will use our database and utilize PEBBLE GO to research innovators and leaders. 

Fifth Grade:
We briefly met  to check out books and recommendations. Last week I introduced eBooks to Fifth Graders and how excited was I to find them utilizing the program (at school and even home)!!!  Here's a tip for you Fantasy readers:  check out the GRAPHIC NOVEL for Wrinkle In Time (one of my all time favorite books from childhood)

It's been a busy three days in the Library (what a treat to have an extra day to work with the Amazing Ms. Arika)!  Also, Thanks to my Fourth Grade friend for a wonderful Biography recommendation - The Family Romanov, cannot WAIT to dig in!

As we closed the first month of the year (is it February already?), here's a little check in for my READolutions: 

• Finished my first autobiography book of the year (my goal is 1-2 biographies per month)
• Just uploaded my most recent review onto My Quest

Have a great week!
-Mrs. Bethel