And we're off...

The library has been open for two weeks and I'm stunned at how quickly it has gone by. I'm very pleased with the classes this year and it's nice to be a returning librarian instead of the new kid on the block. It was a lot of fun seeing all the familiar faces this year and getting to know the new ones.

We spent last week getting reoriented in the library and going over the nuts and bolts and rules and regulations. The 1st graders got to hear The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopkins to remind them of library procedures while 2nd -5th had a shortened orientation before checking out books. The Kinders heard Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton, Manners at the Library by Carrie Finn and The New Bear at School by Carrie Weston. We also talked about the way to have good manners in the library and we sang a song called The People in the School. Ask your child if they can sing it for you (hint: it's the same tune as The Wheels on the Bus).

This week I introduced 3rd-5th graders to our "More Perfect Union" Bookshelf and we read Tico and the Golden Wings by Leo Lionni. The 4th and 5th graders had some time to discuss what a "perfect union" might look like and some of the 5th graders wrote down their thoughts so we could record them on the library Wiki.

The 2nd graders heard The Shelf Elf Helps Out by Jackie Mims Hopkins to familiarize themselves with all the different areas of the library. Ask your child what their favorite "neighborhood" is in the library. The 1st graders heard The New Bear at School and Goldisocks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins. We talked about selecting books that are "just right" for them. Hopefully your kiddos can explain the Five Finger Rule to you!

Kinders got their first lesson in using shelf markers in preparation for checking out books. I was amazed at how well they caught on and how quickly they learned the different parts of a book. We sang the shelf marker song over and over again so ask them to teach it to you!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back, Walker Wolves! School started yesterday and it is so nice to have the school full of kids again. I officially start seeing classes in the library on Monday the 16th and I am putting the finishing touches on the library.

We have a lot of fun things planned for this year so watch this space to find out what's happening in the library. I can't wait!

It's coming!

The new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book "The Ugly Truth" is coming out November 9th!

Congratulations!!

Last Friday we had our party to celebrate those 1st-5th graders who reached their 3rd goal in the Bookman's reading challenge! We had ice cream and played on the playground for about an hour. The kids seemed shocked that I knew how to play football and they taught me how to play Three Flags Up. Less surprising was the fact that I no longer know how to hula hoop and that I can be beat by a 1st grader in a foot race! It was so much fun and we ended our afternoon by raffling off two bicycles generously donated by the Masons. Congratulations on your new bikes to Madison M. from Mrs. V/F's class and Nicko H. from Mrs. Martinez's class! Thanks to all the staff members who helped make the party a success and, of course, to Mr. Lansa for letting us have some fun on the last Friday of the school year.

And the winner is....

Walker students picked their favorite book of the 2009-2010 school year and the winner was......

Mr. Pusskins by Sam Lloyd.

A very close 2nd choice was The Secret Science Project that Almost Ate the School by Judy Sierra. Below is the list of winners:

1.Mr. Pusskins by Sam Lloyd
2.The Secret Science Project that Almost Ate the School by Judy Sierra
3. Pinkalicious by Victoria and Elizabeth Kann
4. Shivers in the Fridge by Fran Manushkin
5. Too Many Toys by David Shannon
6. Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
7. Toughest Cowby by John Frank
8. Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman
9. Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio

Summer Reading

The Pima County Public Library program runs from May 27th - July 24th. The theme this year is "Make a Splash - Read!" The program is absolutely free. All you have to do is stop by the library anytime after May 27th and pick up a reading log for your child. They log the time they spend reading and earn prizes for their efforts. While your at the library - this would be a great time to get your child a library card if they don't already have one! For more information on this program, check out the library link: http://www.library.pima.gov/about/news/?id=2481.

Barnes and Noble also has a reading program this summer. Their kickoff is on May 29th at the Foothills Mall location. Kids can pick up their reading logs and track the books they read. Once they read 8 books, Barnes and Noble will give them a free book! For details, see their link:
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3042231



Please help your kids take advantage of these great opportunities to get rewarded for reading. My hope for each of them is that they start off next year reading even better than they do at the end of this school year. The only way to accomplish that is to read, read, read!

Finishing Up the Year

The last two weeks in the library were a little less structured than usual (OK - a lot less structured!). The 1st week of May, the Kinder through 3rd graders all heard the story Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Book by Lauren Child. This book was generously donated by Mrs. Roberts, one of Walker's wonderful substitute teachers. This was the story of a boy who fell into a book. We got to see what might happen if a boy wandered through a book of fairy tales. It seems the boy hadn't treated his book particularly well and he was not very well received by the characters in the book. Ask your child how the boy got his revenge on Goldilocks.


The 4th and 5th graders had a review of the sections in the library and the different call numbers in each section. Then they did a team building exercise to test their understanding of how non-fiction books are ordered on the shelves. This was in preparation for the Library Relay we did the following week. Each class was divided into teams of 4 and each team had a list of 10 questions they had to answer. This required them to find materials in each section of the library and to use the computer for assistance. It was so much fun to sit back and watch the different ways each team accomplished their goal. I was very pleased to see how much they had learned this year about finding their own books and I think they gained a little confidence in getting around the library. The kids had a blast and several classes said it was the most fun they had in the library all year! It was a great way to end the year.


The rest of the grades heard a variety of stories including Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee, Small Brown Dog with a Wet Pink Nose by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Green as a Bean by Karla Kuskin and Hey Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose. Our time together was a little noisier and we had a lot more time for discussion than usual and fit in with the end of the year mood that is upon us.


Next week we'll be watching a movie and saying our goodbyes for the year. I can't believe it's over so soon!