Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything!

You are sitting in science class when your teacher announces that you are going to do an animal research project. You silently groan as you pull out "naked mole-rat" from the hat; you know nothing about naked mole-rats." You groan out loud when your teacher passes out a grading rubric and you read that you need to use a book, an encyclopedia, and a web site to find information. How are you going to find all that? Where are you going to find all that?

Sure, you can go to the Library but it always seems that the librarian never answers your questions and does not get you what you need. It is almost as if she expects you to learn how to find the information you are looking for.

Robert and Carmen are in your shoes. When their teacher Mr. Dickinson assigns them a predator and prey multimedia product- they go to Mrs Skorupski, their school librarian. Carmen insists that "Our librarian won't tell us anything!" But does she really? Does Mrs. Skorupski not tell the them anything?

How does one explain how Robert becomes a "Library Success Story."

4th graders are going to answer the following question:

How does one become a Library Success story?

Please post your answers under comments.

Search Engines

Currently 5th grade is learning about research strageties. The next few weeks we are going to focus on using the Internet to help us find information. When starting to look on the Internet, one usually starts on a web site called a SEARCH ENGINE. A search engine is a web site that's job is to look for another web sites that best match what we are looking for!

For our activator, please answer the following questions in the comment section of the blog:
What search engine do you like to use? Why do you like to use this search engine?

Please answer in a complete sentence.

At the end of Library today, students may go back and take a look at different classmates answers. To view answers, just click on view comments.

MSLA Conference 2008

On Monday, November 3rd, I will be out for professional development. Read all about my adventures at MSLA this year here: http://mslaconference2008.blogspot.com

Winged Sandals: Challenges in Greek Myths

Currently the 4th Grade is working on a unit on Myths. The past few lessons, students have been taking a look on different Greek Myths, their (the myths) characteristics and the different characters. During the week of October 6th, the students learned about the heroes in Greek Myths and the different challenges they face in the stories. The students watched Winged Sandals: Perseus and Medusa and was presented to do the following:

After watching the following short film- Winged Sandals: Perseus and Medusa (clip from Unitedstreaming), answer the following question:

What was King Polydecte's challenge to Perseus?

Click on comments to post your answer.

Standards addressed: ELA

Grades 3-4
16.6 Acquire knowledge of culturally significant characters and events in Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology and other traditional literature

Birthday Book Club starts

On Wednesday, October 1st, the Birthday Book Club Letter and Form will be going out to all students in grades K-5. Last year, the Library received over 100 books through the BBC. I know this year we will even more successful!

The Birthday Book Club is a program to give families the opportunity to celebrate their child’s birthday by donating a book to the school’s library. Families may donate a book in honor of their child’s birthday or donate money to the library for us to purchase a book their honor. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to recognize their child’s birthday while helping to enhance the library’s collection.

How does the Birthday Book Club work? At the beginning of each month, a sign up form will go home to students whose birthdays are in that month. If you are interested in participating in the Birthday Book Club, please fill out the form and return it to your child’s classroom teacher. Families may donate up to $15.00 for a birthday book or may choose to donate a brand new book of their choice. A bookplate will be placed inside the book to recognize the student’s special day and contribution. At the end of the month, participants will be called to the library to see their donations. A photo will be taken of all the students with their donation and they will be the first to check out their books.

Please help us celebrate our student’s birthdays. If you have any questions about the Birthday Book Club program, please contact Katie Cerasale-Messina, the A.C Whelan School’s Librarian, at 781-388-7510. Copies of the letter and the form can be found on the Library Web Site under the link "Library Documents: Students and Parents.

Book Fair

The Library will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair this week (September 22-25). Students will have an opportunity to shop at the Book Fair during their schedule Library class. The fair will also be opened during Family Game Night on Wednesday, September 24th. If students are not able to shop during their schedule time, their teachers need to contact Mrs. C. to see about scheduling another time. 

Thanks to the generosity of the PTA, the Library will be able to purchase books from the fair. Thank you once again.

Book Check Out

Starting the week of September 8th, students in grades 2-5 will be able to check out books from the Library's collection. Students in 1st grade will start checking out books beginning next month. Classes will have an opportunity this year to check out every week; the last 15 minutes of Library class will be for checking out books and silently reading. Students that will not be checking out are strongly encouraged to read one of our many magazines. Students are allowed to check out one book at a time.

Before they start checking out books, students have a brief lesson on proper book care and resonsiblity. We go over "safe spots" for library books both at school and at home. Every student received a letter from the Library about borrowing from the Library to take home to go over with an adult.

Students are responsible for the books they borrow. If a book gets lost or demaged, they need to let Mrs. C know right away. The student will need to replace or pay for it.

A copy of the letter as well as the Book Check Out Power Point can be found on the Library web site under "Library Documents for Students and Parent."

Library Citizens

Image from the following web site: www.nklibrary.org/Reading/preschool.htm














The Library is not like most classrooms. We may have to share our space with other classes, students that are studying, and others that may be working on something very important. That it is important that we learn how to be a good library citizens. This week the 2nd grade will start the unit about Good Library Citizenship. Students will learn why it is neccessary to follow Library safety and discuss what possible rules citizens can follow in the Library.

The first lesson students will listen to the story Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann. After the story is readed, students will have an opportunity to play Safety Tip Order with Officer Buckle and Gloria off of Library Web Site.



The next week, students will have an opportunity to help create Library rules. Students will break out in groups of five and brainstorm answers for the following questions:
How can we be safe in the Library?
What can be some Library rules?
How can we make the Library a better place?
What would Officer Buckle say if he saw us being Good Library Citizens?


Towards the of class- each group will present their answers and select their best two. Mrs. C will then take the best ideas from each group and create an idea collage. The idea collage will be on display all year in the Library for other grades to see.

1st Week Back!

Welcome back everyone! This week in Library we will be focusing on getting reacquainted with the Library. That is right- the theme is Library Orientation. All grades will go over the rules of the Library and Library procedures, such as what to do during a fire drill and how to sign out a pass. Students will then get familiar with parts of the Library and Library services that they will use and learn more about this year.

1st graders will be given a PowerPoint presentations on areas of the Library will be focusing on this year. They will also get a hands on walking tour of the Library.

2nd grade will get to become Library Tourists. We will be going on a walking tour of the Library with their "cameras."

The 3rd grade will be quized on how much they know about the Library and what they are going to learn this year. They will be playing "Knowing Library Services" Rags to Riches under the "Library Practice Games" on the Library web sites.

And finally- 4th and 5th graders will be going on a Library scavenger hunt to get better familiar with the Library and the Library web site.

Weekly lessons, as well as the lesson's power points, games, and worksheets will be the Library's web site for anyone that misses a lesson or may want some more Library practice.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. C either via email or by posting a comment.

Good luck to everyone this week!

Welcome the newest addition to our Library

We are getting closer to the start of school kids (seven days, but who is counting). The new Library schedule is posted on the Library's web site. New book displays are being put up as I type this. Needless to say, I am excited for the beginning of the school year and seeing all my friends back in the Library.

OK- I have to admit that there is one more reason why I am excited to start the year. It has to do with the new addition to our computer lab area; our new Library SMART Board. We are lucky to have one of the newest models of the SMART Board, the 600i. This model has the projector and speakers built onto it and can work with a wireless lap tops. I enjoy incorporating the SMART Board into Library lessons- students find the lessons more interesting and it blends technology, research skills and literacy together. Missed out on a brainstorming session? Do not worry, we saved our ideas using Smart Notebook. Having trouble seeing the text on the article we found on Kids Infobits? Do not fret- we can magnify it using the tools so you do not need to strain your eyes. Did not get that Power Point on parts of the dictionary? We can play Dictionary Hangman using the interactive SMART Board. Having this tool available in the Library will definitely make Library more interesting this year.

For more information about the 600i, click on the following link:

SMART Board

Summer Reading

With only two weeks left of summer vacation, it is time to start thinking about finishing up your SUMMER READING (cue dramatic music).

"But Ms. C, I did not get a Summer Reading list."
Well do not worry because I included the link to the Summer Reading list in this post:
Elementary Summer Reading List
The list includes many titles and authors for each grade. And such a variety! The list includes fiction, nonfiction, and biographies. There is something for every reader.

Need a suggestion? The Cloud Book (dePaola) and The Principal's New Clothes (Calmenson) are my favorites off the 1st grade list. I adore writers Beverly Cleary and Jon Scieszka and recommend their books for my friends in the 2nd and 3rd grade. And 4th and 5th graders are crazy about Andrew Clement's novels- A School Story, A Week in the Woods, and The Jacket are my favorites by Clement.

"Where can I find copies of the Summer Reading books?"
Our school library is open on Tuesday mornings from 8 to 11 during the Summer. Mrs. Durante will be more than happy to help you find the right book.

The Revere Public Library also has copies of the Summer Reading books. You can see what is available by checking out their OPAC.

If you want to buy your Summer Reading books, Barnes and Nobles in Saugus has the copies of the lists in the Children's Section as well as copies of the books.

Completing Summer Reading ensures you for a great start to the school year. It only takes 20 minutes a day to do Summer Reading. It is great practice for the Fall!