Week of September 21, 2015

Here's what went down in the land of books this week:

First Grade:
For only our second week together, these little darlings are just trucking along!  They come each Monday excited and ready to learn more about the Library.  This week we read aloud a WCCPBA text, "10 Rules Of Being a Superhero" by Deb Pilutti.  We brainstormed all the characteristics of a HERO and then related to our own lives and chose a personal HERO of our own!  Check out our vine of some of the lovely illustrations!

First Grade Super Hero




Third Grade: 
It's time to start CODE!

Well, let's say we're dipping our toes in, just for a start!  This week we began our coding journey with an "unplugged" activity.  Students were challenged to use "paper programming" to find the correct algorithm.  (Ask your child what an algorithm means in CODE terms)!  Third graders worked as teams to determine which direction our "Flurbs" (character in our coding) should travel, North, South, East or West! Up n


ext on the coding docket:  "Move it Move it!", an activity where the students will write a program using spacial awareness and coding direction.

Fourth Grade:
"Tell me more, tell me more..." Yes, that's right, I want to learn more about YOU, my students!  This week my Fourth grade friends finished a survey sharing their own personal interests/goals/outside of school hobbies.  Thanks to my teaching partner, Ms. Arika, (credit to her for the survey questions), kiddos were able to ask burning questions of us, the Librarians!  My favorite so far:  "how old are you" and "what was the most disgusting thing you've ever eaten".  Tough call on that one!

Fifth Grade
Continuing with our focus on digital citizenship this week, students agreed and signed our Code of Conduct.  I will continue to work with our Fifth grade friends (even though we only have a precious 15-20 minutes once per week) to help support and prepare them for the opportunities and challenges of using social media as well as navigating the technology in school.  Looking ahead next week:  Reviewing Destiny and My Quest!

A Note From Mrs. Bethel
Hard to believe that we just finished our 4th week of school!  Where does the time go?  I'm excited to be working on new projects in school and at home, which tomorrow are colliding!  I've had the sheer pleasure and opportunity to volunteer with the Ready Set Read program of Tacoma (through the Communities in Schools program) since last winter.  Recently, I was asked to partner with the coordinator and present several STEM lessons at the Washington State Library "All Aboard Kindergarten Advisory Committee" board meeting held in Spokane.  Flattered, honored and a little nervous, I'll prepare to present one special lesson I wrote supporting STEM learning for preschoolers! Stay tuned to hear how it goes!

Here's wishing you have a wonderful week!

-Mrs. Bethel

Welcome Back!!

Welcome to a brand new school year full of learning, laughter and of course, BOOKS!  I'm very excited to be back in the Library, gettin' down with the new literature and new students!

While my weekly blog posting will mostly be about my current adventures teaching 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Library classes, I will also share my trials and tribulations of new goals and challenges.  Because I feel as though when you put it in writing, you HAVE to do it, here are some year goals for me in the Library:

• Read as many books (kid lit) as possible
• Start CODING (teaching CODE) to my 3rd, 4th and 5th graders
• Participate in WLMA, SLJ and more professional development
• Start (really, my fingers are crossed) a Library Media Endorsement
• Read ALL the WCCPBA text
• Read MOST of the Sasquatch Awards
• Laugh (as much as possible) in the Library
• Make our Library a place where every kid (teacher and parent) wants to come visit

The list could go on and on, right?

This was our third week back in school, but first time meeting several of my classes... so happy to have seen all of the curious faces now in the Library!  Here's a quick snapshot of what went down here this week:

First Grade:

Read Aloud "Shh, We Have a Plan" written by Chris Haughten.  A budding designer and well known author ("Oh No George" and "A Bit Lost", shows us a beautiful and funny story about four friends creeping in the woods trying to catch a bird.  Students made predictions based on the repetition of the story plot, and enjoyed a different style of design and illustration!  

Third Grade:

I met many of my 3rd graders for the first time today.  Reviewed Library policies and expectations and the current WCCPBA text for 2015-2016.  Students took a look at all the titles, we've read Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio (ask your child to tell you about Fi Fi, Foo Foo, Oh La La and Gaston)!!  Up next week:  Superhero!  

Fourth Grade:

What a stellar start to they year we've had with these super citizens!  Keeping with the Super Hero Theme, our 4th graders will be digging deeper into what it means to be a Super DIGITAL Citizen!  Ideas shared and taken from the Common Sense Media, we will be discussing how to stay safe online and how to best take on the power and responsibility.  To quote Spiderman: "With great power comes great responsibility!"  

Fifth Grade:

Although I only have a mere 15-20 minutes with my beloved 5th graders, we are jamming as much as we can into our time together.  Before checking out books ranging from Wonderstruck to Non Fiction about Queen Elizabeth and the Tudors, we intro'd CODE and what our first steps would look like when we begin our Coding.  5th graders have some "Library Homework" and will be exploring the CODE website:  www.code.org 

A Note From Mrs. Bethel:

As always, I love sharing new books, chatting about new series or simply enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee!  Come on by the Library anytime and we'll have a chat!  

-Mrs. Bethel