Arctic Blast

The kindergarteners, first and second graders have been busy doing research about polar region animals.  The kindergarteners learned about four different kinds of penguins.  First graders learned about polar bears.  Second graders learned about a variety of arctic animals. 

First, I shared the signed copy of the book, One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo with the kindergarteners. While a small group of students learned about a penguin, the rest of the class was able to practice sight words and math skills with penguin themed activities.  Life-sized penguins took over the media center so students were able to get a better idea of the actual size of these “proper” birds.  They were able to use nonstandard measurement to compare the height of the five types of penguins displayed. Students loved doing yoga with Pedro the Penguin.  After groups of 4-5 students learned about one penguin, using PebbleGo,  they typed what they learned in an Animoto.  Some students displayed what they learned beside the life-sized penguin. Students also labeled a penguin. Thanks to Kindergarten Crayons.

Letter Match/Alphabetical Order -Cricut Create a Critter

Polar bears were the topic for the first graders.  First we talked about the Super 3 research process.  For the planning step, they used an ARE, CAN, HAVE graphic organizer to take notes.  Students used the links on the K-2 Symbaloo that I created for them, PebbleGo, and information that we learned from the book Knut: How OneLittle Polar Bear Captivated the World by by Craig Hatkoff and others.  Some students were able to dig a little deeper using QR codes to find the answers to questions about polar bears. Look for the Polar Bear QR Code Webquest at Emily Gibbons Teachers Pay Teachers store.   While students used their notes to do a report, one student at a time experimented with blubber.  One sentence from the completed reports was chosen for the student to type into an Animoto video.  Some students will present their information in a ChatterPix.  The students viewed the presentations and we discussed what we learned and how we felt about each presentation.  The review concluded our Super 3 process.  Students were excited to tell their teachers what they learned.

Polar Bear at NC Zoo

The second graders learned about some interesting animals in arctic regions.  Using library books, magazines, links from our K-2 Symbaloo.  Students found as much information as possible to share with the class.  We did the same experiment as the first graders.  It was “cool” to see how blubber keeps the arctic animals warm.  One second grade class used the ARE, CAN, HAVE graphic organizer, while one class used a graphic organizer by Tiffany Reed, that required them to explain the anatomy (size, color, and appearance), habitat, diet, and interesting facts.  Some students used Animoto or Chatter Pix to present their information.  Others will present their information with a lapbook.   

Blubber Experiment

I might use the life-sized penguins and lapbooks in combination with the Animoto videos and ChatterPix via QR codes for Digital Learning Day.  What are you doing for Digital Learning Day?

Batman Returns...His Books

After learning that Bat Girl was a librarian, I decided to change the name of my "dwelling" to the Bat Cave.  For Halloween, I dressed up as Bat Girl.  Pinterest has inspired the bulletin board pictured below.  It has caught the eye of students and teachers.

Data! Data! Data! Data! Batman!

I quickly put up the data because I didn't want it to look unfinished.  I plan to display an updated infographic each month. There are some things that I need to figure out first.

The Weeding Has Begun

After getting some training, I am tackling my first weeding project.  While doing inventory, I noticed some really old and/or worn books.  I started wondering if these books were being checked out.  While helping a friend weed her library, I learned that by running a shelf list for the last three to four years, I could get a good idea of which books are being circulated.

When I got to the Hardy Boys series, I was stumped.  Because I don't remember ever checking out any of the series to students, I assumed nobody was reading the series.  I didn't even look to see if Hardy Boys was being circulated.  Since I hate to get rid of classics, I decided to keep them.  After someone on Twitter asked me if students are reading them, I reviewed the shelf list again.  A few titles were checked out at least one time.  When I looked at the history of those titles, I saw that students were checking out the books more than once.  That tells me that the students are reading the books.  The Nancy Drew series had the same stats.

The Hardy Boys Stay

In order to generate a renewed interest in the series, I will do a "Detective" display.  I will also get the students who have already shown an interest in the books do Book Talks.  I think I will use some of the skills, that I learned in my Media Production class this summer, to make the Book Talks fun by using green screen and props.

Other series that are not getting much attention are the American Girl, The Baby-Sitters Club,  Boxcar Children, and Little House...  There are multiple copies of some the titles in these series.  I will keep one of each.  One goal is to put all the American Girl books together.  I will gradually weed the Baby-Sitters Club as I purchase the updated Baby-Sitters Club and  graphic novels.  I haven't decided what to do with the Boxcar Children, and Little House...

I hope to see students checking out some of the Ol' School books more. They need to know that there was life before Greg Hefley.

Updated Library Centers

Among my many projects this summer, one is to update some Library Centers that a good friend gave me.  She is hanging up her Librarian Hat and gave me some goodies.  Some of the goodies were some that she created or bought, but some were created long before she became a librarian.  After going through the goodies, I realized that some of the activities are very helpful, but they would not appeal to today's elementary students. 

So far, I have updated two versions of the Alphabetizing Author's Names.  I updated one for the Easy section and one for the Fiction section.   I want the students to be familiar with the alphabetical order of their favorite authors, so they can find books on the shelves.

Inside the folder

Oldies, but Goodies

Updated List of Authors

 

 

I also updated the list of author names.  Students will recognize the new authors. 

21st Century Answer Key

I added a QR code answer key, but I also included the traditional answer key. You never know when the wifi might be down. Another reason for including the traditional answer key is currently we have one iPod for the students to use.  That leads me to another project that I will be working on - a Donors Choose project for an iPad.  Hopefully my first book fair will allow me to purchase one or two iPads also.

Get A Job, Chicken Little!

I am still here!  Grad school, Book Fair, Disney, Testing, Inventory, and a Leadership Institute have kept me busy, busy, busy.

One of my favorite things that I do is collaborate with the other specialists.  We did a Career unit after realizing that students really do not know enough about careers.  The art teacher helped students explore careers that involve art.  They also learned about some famous artists.  The music teacher and PE teacher also explored careers in their fields. We explored a variety of careers in the library. We made an ABC book and a "When I Grow Up" book about careers.

When I Grow Up

The most awesome thing we did, was produce a career program for PTA night.  The kindergarteners did a Community Workers skit.  The first graders did a Career Day skit.  Originally, I wanted each grade level to do an adaptation of a fairy tale.  I wanted lumberjacks, construction workers, masons, interior decorators, and insurance adjusters to be new characters in The Three Little Pigs.  You get the idea.  All the snow days made planning difficult.  I insisted that we do at least one fairy tale with a fox in it.  I think you see where this is going.  The second graders did Get a Job, Chicken Little.  Okay!  I modified a skit that I bought on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Chicken Little was a pizza delivery person, Henny Penny was a florist, Ducky Lucky was a landscaper, Goosey Loosey was a farmer, Turkey Lurkey was a billboard installer, and Foxy Loxy was a police officer. While delivering pizza to the school secretary, "something" fell on Chicken Little's head.  She needed to let the mayor know.  As she is joined by the other characters, they get pulled over by Foxy Loxy.   The principal came in at the end as the mayor.  The program ended with the cast and audience dancing to "What Does the Fox Say?"

Each specialist contributed to the program.  The music teacher provided music and songs.  The art teacher made most of the props.  The PE teacher taught the dance to every grade level.  I became a screenwriter and editor for a few weeks.  Each specialist played the role of director at some point. The students amazed us by learning the songs and lines in such a short time.  The only disappointment is that nobody recorded the program.