Bookmarks...

NMS Library Newsletter- October/November 2018

Greetings...

Fall has been a very busy season in the NMS library. Reading for the Book Challenge and March Book Madness is well underway, and multiple copies of each title on those lists are now available for checkout. Current book displays include a selection of recently acquired nonfiction titles, as well as a seasonal display featuring some of the National Book Award Finalists, and student recommendations.

First Chapter Friday read alouds continue each week in the library, and I'm so pleased by the interest in the program. Each week we are happy to be visited by students who attend regularly, and look forward to seeing some new faces. Read alouds begin at 7:10 and all are welcome!

Overdue book notices will be sent to students in the coming days. Please encourage students to return their overdue materials to the library by December 12th.

Fall Circulation Statistics...

We have had many students visit the library during the first few months of the school year, and have seen a large increase in circulation numbers as compared to previous years. We are thrilled to have students stop by for a visit and encourage them to do so on a regular basis. As a reminder, students are welcome to visit the library before and after school, during flex time, and during directed studies. Thank you to all the teachers who have brought their classes to check out books!

September 2017- 159 checkouts

September 2018- 424 checkouts

October 2017- 84 checkouts

October 2018- 534 checkouts

November 2017- 142 checkouts

November 2018- 452 checkouts

Audio Supports and Reading Aloud to Students...

Research suggests that there are a variety of academic and emotional benefits to students when they are read to by teachers and parents. Although students are able to read independently in middle school, it is important to remember that for many children, their reading level does not catch up to their listening level until about eighth grade. Because of this, parents and educators should continue to model reading aloud to aid in vocabulary acquisition as well as to foster a love of reading for pleasure.

In addition to traditional read alouds, use of audio is a wonderful way to further support the development of literacy skills. NMS offers a variety of audio titles through OverDrive and will continue to further develop this format in our collection. The following audio titles were recently acquired and are available through OverDrive. If you would like help using this lending format, or if you would like me to provide a tutorial for your classes, please let me know.

New Audio Titles Available Through the NMS Library...

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed
For Everyone by Jason Reynolds
Front Desk by Kelly Yang
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Restart by Gordon Korman
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
The Best Man by Richard Peck
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
The Epic Fail or Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
The Inventors at No. 8 by A.M. Morgen
The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
The Starts Beneath Our Feet by David Barclay Moore
The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

"Why We Should All Be Reading Aloud To Children..."

In the following TED talk, Columbia University professor Rebecca Bellingham further explains the ways in which students of all ages benefit from being read to. In her presentation, Bellingham reflects on her time as a teacher in the New York City schools and describes why students connect with read alouds, even once they are independent readers.