April Library Events
NATIONAL LIBRARY MONTH, POETRY MONTH, EARTH DAY, AND TLA
National Library Month
To celebrate National School Library Month we decided to make some teams to read a "shelf" of books. Their goal was to read as many books from one particular shelf as they could. We had several teams take part including: The Graphic Hawaiian Freaks, The Secret Mystery Society, Eye of the Queens, Spinecrackers, Frankenmouse, and the Bio Boys Rule. In addition, several grade levels recorded the books they read on the back of their bookmark. Not every book read was recorded, but among those that documented their reading:
Graphic Hawaiian Freaks read 84 graphic novels
Frankenmouse read 50 Franny K. Stein and Geronimo Stilton books
Spinecrakers read 47 Everybody books from the W shelf
Secret Mystery Society read 12 fiction chapter books
Shelf Challenge Bookmarks
Shelf Challenge Shelf Labels
A Shelf of Books to Read!
April is Poetry month!
We shared poetry in several ways this month. I shared favorite poems from my childhood. I introduced 5th and 6th graders to novels in verse such as Kwame Alexander's Crossover, Mountain Dog, Rhyme Schemer, Where I Live, and Locomotion. Finally, part of our Earth Day celebration involved acrostic poem bookmarks.
Earth Day bookmarks
Student samples
"Found Poems" in Rhyme Schemer
TLA Texas Library Association's yearly conference, April 19-22
Though I hated to be away from school for an entire week, I truly enjoyed attending TLA in Houston. Thanks Arlington ISD Library Services for providing the opportunity for me to attend. I attended some great sessions, was the recipient of some ARCs, and collaborated with librarians across the state. I read with LeVar Burton, learned about further transforming the school library, learned hints for community engagement from Houston Public Library, listened to the author of Goldie Socks & the 3 Libearians talk about creating a "just right" program, reveled in learning some storytelling skills from the Urban Griot Decee Cornish, and listened to the amazing Captain Underpants author, Dave Pilkey, talk about having reading choice allowed him to rise above the childhood issues that he refused to let define him and become the author/illustrator our students love.
LeVar Burton
Playaway Prize basket
"Just Right" Library ideas
5th Six Weeks Stats in the Library
- Added 1062 print books, 21 ebooks
- Attended 10 hours PD (not including a week at TLA)
- 6613 book circulations, 1606 ebook circulations
- 217 classes, 883 drop in visits
- 2 family events
Anderson Library
Email: mresend1@aisd.net
Website: www.andersonlib.weebly.com
Location: 1101 Timberlake Drive, Arlington, TX, United States
Twitter: @anderson_lib