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Weekly Update

October 4, 2019

Weekly UpdateOctober 4, 2019

Highlight on Reading!

This week, we expanded our library to include a brand new Reading Room in 208. This is a bright and airy space that now welcomes our students and gives them the opportunity to explore great books and read them in comfort! Through donations of time, resources, and money, this room was transformed in just one weekend. Thank you to all of our donors for creating this incredible space!

This is just Phase 1 of our library expansion project. If you are at all interested in donating to this project, please email Dr. Rogers at deborah.rogers@slps.org! We would love to have you on board with our reading ambitions!

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Reading Required

This section of the room is dedicated to providing flexible, comfortable seating options to our students so they can curl up with a good book and enjoy it to its fullest potential!
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Books on Display

Inspired by Amazon's physical store in Chicago, this section of the Reading Room has every book on display so that students are drawn in by the look of the book. In this case, we allow our students to judge a book by its cover!
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Room Renovation

This room is slowly but surely turning into a comfortable, warm space for reading and relaxation! Flexible seating and rugs have warmed it up!
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Students at Work

The library was in use from the moment students entered the Reading Room!
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Flexible Seating

Thank you to our donors for sending us to Ikea with the funds to buy the famous Ikea chair - in kid size!
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Snuggle Buddies

Allowing students to curl up with a good book and a stuffed animal has given them a sense of security and comfort while they read.
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Partner Tent Reading

Students are awesome at reading with their peers when they feel comfortable!
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More Technology Needed!

Our emerging readers love listening to books read aloud to them. That is a challenge when you have 24 students in your class at one time. We are currently borrowing iPads to use in the Reading Room, but we would love to see permanent technology placed in this room so that it is available to every class that comes through!
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Circus Reading

What else do you need to enjoy reading other than a good book and a comfy rug? Of course you also need a circus tent!

Library Expansion Phase 2: Donations Needed!

In our next phase of development, we would like to creatively use each part of the Reading Room to get our students excited about books and give them better access to them. We are seeking donations for the following items: iPads with headphones for a listening station for emerging readers, computers for research and reading apps, poetry corner, wall decor, wall murals painted directly on the walls (any artists willing to work over the weekend?), an exciting piece hanging from the ceiling, book advertisements, non-florescent lighting, more rugs, more flexible seating options, more bookshelves, and of course, more books!
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Technology + Writing Corner

We have the computer tables, but we need computers! We are also looking for iPads with headphones. We want to turn the tan table into a poetry writing station. We need writing materials (specialty paper, pens, markers), books of poetry, and decor that includes inspirational poetry!
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Our walls could use some TLC

We have several bulletin boards and empty walls that need to be filled with exciting advertisements for books! Fabric donations, border donations, book posters, and movie posters for films that were inspired by books would all be welcome!
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Guided Reading Corner

We have a guided reading lesson every day where students are reading in small groups a book on their level. In the Reading Room, we are trying to encourage the JOY of reading. We could use some sets of popular books that kids would love to read in a small group that are not necessarily on their level, but they could access with the help of their teacher. Think Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants!