December 20, 2017

  

In last week's library classes we learned about three major holidays happening this December - Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.  Feel free to engage your learner by asking them to share some newfound understandings about each holiday.  They should have some insight to share.  

For many, the nonfiction and fiction mentor texts provided a window into (a) holiday(s) they knew little about previously.  What we discovered together in this lesson was that each of these holidays have so much in common (ex. light, candles, family, friends, food, music, dance, and joy - to name a few connections)!   A reminder to all, that we too - like the aforementioned holidays - have more in common with each other than we often realize.  

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season filled with light, love, wonderment, and books!     

    

December 13, 2017

Coyote Moon

By Maria Gianferrari

Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

(From SATEC Student’s Choice Award)

Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari (text) and Bagram Ibatoulline (art) was this week's featured mentor text for all classes. This stunningly beautiful and compelling look into a "night in the life" of a coyote mother provided a window for all of us to learn about the often misunderstood and miscast mammal. Also, this wonderful story happens to be a nominee for this year's SATEC Student Choice Award.

In addition to Coyote Moon, learners were also treated to a more traditional nonfiction text with North American Animals: Coyotes. By comparing and contrasting both nonfiction stories, learners were able to see and experience how nonfiction stories can be constructed and created differently. Coyote Moon is best described as narrative nonfiction; a story that reveals facts and details about a subject within the framework of a story (fiction-like). Whereas North American Animals: Coyotes begins with a table of contents and ultimately reads more like an encyclopedia. The contrasting nonfiction titles led to a great discussion and reflection on how different books may be, even within the same genre.

December 6, 2017

A Colorful Week in Library!

Crayons stole the show in last week's library classes - adding a *cough* colorful touch.  Learners were treated to Michael Hall's funny, thought provoking, and uplifting crayon-centric stories, Frankencrayon and Red: A Crayon's Story.  

In addition to being highly entertaining, Frankencrayon also happens to be one of the ten nominees for this year's Red Clover book award.  For those of you keeping score at home, this was our third Red Clover read aloud of the school year.  Learners loved how the crayons spoke directly to them, the audience.  This clever construct led to a discussion on "breaking the fourth wall" - when actors, or characters, speak directly to their audience.  After the story, learners were able to create their own paper Frankencrayons to keep! 

While also starring crayons, Red: A Crayon's Story is delivered with a more serious and sincere tenor than Frankencrayon.  Red, as his crayon label indicates, struggles to find his place as everything he colors comes out blue.  His teacher, mother, grandparents, and even other art supplies (scissors, tape dispenser, etc) all attempt to intervene and help Red to no avail.  

     Red: A Crayon's Story provoked a discussion on symbolism, and how stories often contain a deeper meaning beyond the words and art in a particular book.  One third grader said it best - reminding his class and me, "It doesn't matter what we look like on the outside.  What really matters is who we are on the inside."  Like the Grinch, my heart grew three sizes in that moment.

Curious what learners had to say about Frankencrayon?  Give a listen to the latest RCR (link below).

Red Clover Reflections Vol 3:  https://soundcloud.com/user-561982472/red-clover-reflections-vol-3     

       

November 19, 2017

"Each and every day, carry yourself with an attitude of gratitude."

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Happy Thanksgiving!  

This week's library class was focused on living with "an attitude of gratitude."  Before our featured stories, I spoke about how from time to time we all lose sight of the many blessings and opportunities that present themselves in our lives.  With Thanksgiving on the horizon, I thought it apropos to reflect on this idea, and to remind us all that we have much to be thankful for.  

After reading the stories pictured above, a visit to our PebbleGo database to learn the origin of Thanksgiving, students were treated to a silly and festive song on guitar.  "Except For the Turkey" got most involved singing and joining in the fun.  Next, Mrs. Allerton added her crafty skills to the lesson by leading students in grades k-2 with creating a turkey of their very own.  It was a great ending to an all around fun and festive lesson!       

  

November 7, 2017

Our “Wild West” Book Fair 2017

Monday, November 6th:  8 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 7th:  8 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 8th:  8 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 9th:  8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Friday, November 10th:  8 a.m. -  6:00 p.m.

October 16, 2017

Dragon Was Terrible ----------------------- By: Kelly DiPucchio Pictures by: Greg Pizzoli

We all know dragons are terrible, but this one is especially terrible.   He scribbles in books. He steals candy from baby unicorns. He even burps in church.  Seriously, who does that? Dragon, that’s who.

We all struggle with how best to express ourselves from time to time... but this dragon?  Simply terrible!  Or, at least he was before an unexpected hero emerges to help change dragon's terrible ways.  

In this hilariously creative and beautifully illustrated story by Ms. DiPucchio and Mr. Pizzoli, we are reminded that sometimes all we need to "get back on track" is a good story.  A lesson that this librarian can certainly get behind!  

Curious what students had to say about our second Red Clover book of the school year?  Check out the latest volume of Red Clover Reflections here:  Red Clover Reflections Vol. 2 (Dragon Was Terrible)       

October 10, 2017

Ada’s Violin:

The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

“The world sends us garbage…

We send back music.”

-Favio Chavez

Written by: Susan Hood

Illustrated by: Sally Wern Compart

This week we read our first Red Clover story of the school year: Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay. This beautifully written and illustrated TRUE story inspired us all! Ada's Violin tells the story of Cateura, a town built on and around a landfill, in Paraguay. As you can image, life there can be quite difficult for its citizens - devoid of hope even. All of this changes when local choir director Favio Chavez gets the ingenious idea to use items of trash from the landfill to make recycled instruments! This idea transforms the town and the lives of all it's inhabitants... including Ada.

To find out student reflections on this week's story, click the link below. It'll take you to a podcast I've started called Red Clover Reflections. This podcast wouldn't be possible without the help of Mr. Rousselle and Mr. Galle. Each week we read a Red Clover book in class I'll add a new pod to the blog.

Give a listen: Red Clover Reflections: Volume 1 (Ada's Violin)

October 2, 2017

A Bunny, a Bear, and a Unicorn

This week's library classes focused on and celebrated one of my favorite contemporary children's authors; Ms. Ame Dyckman.  Ame is a hardworking, hilarious, and entertaining storyteller whose books really appeal to kids - and adults too ;-).  And when Ame's words get paired up with Mr. Zachariah OHora's art... the combination is simply magical!

Wolfie The Bunny reminded us all that family comes in all shapes and sizes, and that while a particular member may get under your skin from time to time - we still need to come to their rescue when in need.

In Horrible Bear, we witness an accident with a kite that leads THE GIRL to unjustly blame BEAR for what happened.  When he stomps down the mountain to finally give her a piece of his mind she greets him at the door with a hearty, "I'm sorry."  Suddenly the horrible seeps right out of bear - reinforcing the idea that when we make a mistake or hurt someone's feelings (which we all do) it's important to make it right by apologizing. 

And our last story, You Don't Want A Unicorn (Liz Climo illustrations) was simply a hilarious take on being careful what you wish for.  Unicorns may seem wonderful in theory, but prove to be quite a handful in actuality.  This one led to a lot of belly laughs.  Next week we will begin with our first Red Clover book of the school year!       

    

September 25, 2017

The Power of Story!

"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is YOU.  Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision.  So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only YOU can."
-Neil Gaiman

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This week's library classes focused on the magical and transcendent power of storytelling, and how it has evolved and progressed through the ages with the help of technology during many historical eras.  

Beginning with the "Oral Tradition" of storytelling by cave people, on through symbols soon added to their walls, and the "Written Tradition" of clay tablets, hieroglyphics, and ink and woodblocks (to name a few) that followed, the art of story and storytelling has been evolving and growing ever since.  Dan Yaccarino's I Am A Story beautifully reinforced this concept and acted as a perfect mentor text to depict my favorite method of storytelling; art and text woven together in picture book form.

Next, I read Kate Messner (text) and Mark Siegal's (art) How To Read A Story, which outlines ten steps for optimal storybook reading enjoyment.  It also was the perfect text to enjoy before we made our selections for the week.  

Most learners seemed to really enjoy the lesson's focus and new understandings; a few of my own stories told with guitar; and the chance to select their own books to borrow for the week despite the sweltering heat we've been experiencing as of late.  Stay cool, everybody!  

September 16, 2017

Action, Adventure, and Mystery... in the Refrigerator!

The selected texts for this week's library lesson were filled with a dash of creativity, a pinch of humor, a dollop of breakfast food deliciousness... and maple syrup!

  

Josh Funk's Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast and The Case of the Stinky Stench acted as a great way to introduce K-4 learners to the concept(s) of CHARACTER, SETTING, and PROBLEM inherent in all stories (links to Josh's website and book trailers above).  Everyone, students and adults, seemed to enjoy the humor, rhyming, and wonderful illustrations in these two creative tales.  

After the stories, learners were given time to choose their own book(s) to borrow for the week, to color a picture of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, or to complete a few enriching activities from the stories (pictures below).  All in all, it was another great week in the library! 

        

September 8, 2017

Back to School!

"Whatever is worth doing, is worth doing well." - Philip Dormer Stanhope

School is back in session, students are smiling, and the library media center is abuzz with activity!  It has been such a joy to reconnect with returning students, meet and get to know new students, and return to the routine of the school day.  I really feel like one of the luckiest people alive to be back in the library for year two!

 This week's library classes centered around the beginning of a new school year - a walking tour of the library, how to use the OPAC (online public access catalog), class expectations, getting to know each other and of course... selecting BOOKS!  

There are some new staff additions to the library this year - and we are truly excited about them.  Mrs. Allerton has joined our library media team as an assistant.  Her knowledge of cataloging, love of literature, and kindness toward all who enter the LMC have been on full display.  She comes to us from the public library, and we are lucky to have her at SATEC!  Also, Mr. Galle, the new tech-integrationist is off to a smashing start.  His expertise on technology and art will really benefit SATEC learners coming into the LMC. Also, it's great having him here; as we have known each other a long time and are excited about finally getting to work together!  

   

June 9, 2017

Summer!

"Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August."   — Jenny Han

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As hard to believe as it is, we are winding down library classes for the year.  Students are now returning books (thank you!) and no longer checking them out.  But not to worry, we will be open and ready for the first day of school in August!  

I want to thank everyone (students, staff, administration, and the SATEC community) from the bottom of my heart for working together to make this such a memorable and inspiring first year in the library!  I especially want to thank and bid farewell to Mrs. Good, library assistant, and Mrs. Gallagher, technology integrationist.  Both of these amazing teammates and colleagues are moving on to other adventures after next week.  Their support and presence has been felt all year, and it will be difficult to replace them.  

I hope everyone has a wonderful summer of adventure, learning, fun, and reading!

June 2, 2017

Citizenship & Activism

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

-Margaret Mead

After the extended Memorial Day weekend, and reflecting on the impact so many brave American armed-service men and women (relatives, friends, and strangers) have had on all of us and our country, I wanted to impress upon students how each of us can individually contribute to making our school, community, and world a better place too.  After a brief video on Citizenship in the Community - we then shifted into our three mentor texts (depicted above).  

We learned that some engaged citizens go above and beyond, and maintain an active involvement in various ways in their local community and around the world.  Many students were surprised that "American ideals and values" are not shared in each community, or state, around the world.  Malala: A Brave Girl From Pakistan certainly opened our eyes about how lucky we are to live in a free nation that provides a public education to all of it's citizens (grades k-12).  Malala's unwavering courage and resolve to bring change to her community in Swat Valley, despite violent threats and eventual physical harm, serve as an inspiration that we are all capable of making our voices heard.  As she proclaimed in a famous speech to world leaders on her 16th birthday, "They thought that bullets would silence us, but they failed... One child, one teacher, one book, one pen, can change the world."              

May 26, 2017

Oliver Jeffers:  Painter, Writer, Reader, Creator!

                     

"Henry loved books.  But not like you and I love books, no.  Not quite..."

-Oliver Jeffers

It had been awhile since library classes conducted an "author study."  So, this week we narrowed in on the tremendously talented, hilarious and just plain cool, Oliver Jeffers.  Hailing from Northern Ireland, young Oliver grew up loving drawing and art.  It's no surprise that he went on to become a wildly successful children's picture book creator (among other things).  

He had his first book published when he was in college - a reminder to all that if you work hard at something you're passionate about, age is no factor!  Along those lines, the imbedded inspiration for learners this week was that it is never too early to get started on a lifelong passion - and it just may be the hobby or endeavor that leads to a fulfilling career... just like Mr. Jeffers.  

   

Who is Oliver Jeffers?

May 19, 2017

Curiouser and Curiouser

 

“It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”

-Alice, from Alice in Wonderland

Building off of last week's lesson on the Beatles, I decided it made sense to create a fantastical, magical, mystery class of our own. 😉 Lewis Carroll's 152 year-old fantasy on Alice, and her adventures in Wonderland seemed to be the perfect fit. It also worked well as a version of this classic story was this year's theatre production here at SATEC.

The history and origin of Alice in Wonderland also reinforced our year-long theme on storytelling; and the myriad ways stories are told and shared. Therefore, prior to diving into this week's mentor texts we looked at a few other examples of how this story has been told and expressed through the years.

May 12, 2017

Beatlemania Hits the SATEC LMC!

"The Sun is up,

the sky is blue,

it's beautiful,

and so are YOU."

-The Beatles (from "Dear Prudence")

I joked with the students that after last week's class about gardens, insects, and spiders I'd forgotten to cover beetles.  So, this week's class was based on that accidental omission.  Well, as you can imagine they thought my wordplay was a tad funny.  This week was all about the (arguably) greatest rock and roll band of all time; the Beatles!

After listening to the quote of the class (listed above), I reminded learners that we are all beautiful and make our class, school & community, and planet a better place because we are here.  Todd Parr's Be Who You Are perfectly extended this "pep talk."

After our first book, we ventured back to Liverpool, England in 1960 to learn about the early days of the Beatles and their meteoric rise to fame and fortune.  The mentor text for this lesson was Kathleen Krull & Paul Brewer's The Beatles Were Fab (and They Were Funny).  This picture book really gives readers the feeling and sense of what Beatlemania was like (for those of us that weren't alive yet).  In addition to the story, I also blended in various Beatle songs (and a few videos) that were cited in the text.  Based on the "twisting and shouting" that ensued, I'd say it was another successful class for all!   

May 8, 2017

Nature, Gardens, & Spiders (oh, my!)

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees." - Frederick William Faber

After being at home for April vacation and having the chance to slow my usual "work pace," my children and I took delight in watching the plants, flowers, and large maple tree in our backyard come to life over the course of three days of sun.  As if the universe was speaking directly to us, I realized what to focus on for my first week back; nature, gardens, and spiders!   For our first title, I chose local author Kate Messner's Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt.  This beautifully illustrated (Christopher Silas Neal) nonfiction story highlights how there is as much happening below the surface of a garden as there is above.  

For our next title, I wanted to remind the learners that while we have an amazing book collection in the SATEC library, we also have access to thousands of more titles on our Tumble Book digital collection.  For this offering, we shifted to the inspirational fiction story Rose's Garden by Peter H. Reynolds.  It was an entertaining Tumble experience for all!  

Last, but not least, I wanted to inject a bit of "Mr. Flanagan humor" into the week.  I found the perfect title for this in Bethany Barton's I'm Trying to Love Spiders (It Isn't Easy).  This book was enjoyed by all, resulting in almost everyone LOL'ing!  

April 20, 2017

Out of the Woods, Red Clover Voting, and Samo!

"...Antonio never forgot the time when he watched the distance between people and animals disappear."   -Rebecca Bond

We have reached the end of our Red Clover books journey!  And, what an amazing journey it has been.  Everyone really seemed to enjoy and appreciate the variety of fiction and non-fiction, humor and life lessons contained in each of the ten titles.  

After completing Out of the Woods by Vermont-born author Rebecca Bond, learners then watched a slide show I created to review the list before voting on their favorite title.  Many expressed how difficult it was to pick just one!  A sign that this year's list was truly special.  

Some groups this week (depending on time and missed classes) also got to listen to the recent Caldecott Medal winning title, Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe.  This book beautifully tells the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat and his rise to fame in the 1980's art scene of New York City.  This story was another reminder to us all to never abandon your dreams - and to work even harder than you think you can to accomplish them.                     

April 7, 2017

An Unexpected Friendship and Baseball

"When it comes to being glamorous, less is sometimes more, but when it comes to having friends... you can never have too many."  -Glamourpuss

We just completed our ninth Red Clover book together!  It's amazing to think that we only have one more to go before voting. 

  Glamourpuss, by Sarah Weeks, tells the story of a luxurious (and spoiled) cat whose easy life is interrupted by the arrival of a trick wielding chihuahua named Bluebelle.  This visitor/intruder throws Glamourpuss into the unexpected headspace of doubting just how special she really is.  But before all is lost, something happens that changes Glamourpuss's perspective and unites the two together.  It's a great reminder that we all have more in common than often meets the eye.  

       

                    

In addition to reading another wonderful Red Clover title, I also wanted to share my favorite "sign of spring" with the students - baseball!  And when I think of great baseball picture books I immediately think of Matt Tavares.  Matt is an amazing author/illustrator, and makes his love of story telling and baseball obvious to all lucky enough to read his books.  As usual, it was another great week here in the SATEC library!  

March 29, 2017

Focusing on Family

"Together, we make a family."

 

This week's selection of stories was intended to guide our collective focus on the concept of family - in its numerous shapes and forms.  The people you go home to every night, relatives or friends near and far, and even the family of learners that we become here at SATEC all add to our understanding of family.  The inspiration for this lesson came from our eighth Red Clover nominee for the 2016-17, Mango, Abuela, and Me.  In addition to this beautiful story, learners also heard titles like: My Wild Family, Wolfie the Bunny, and Salt in His Shoes.          

March 23, 2017

The Water Cycle

 How fortuitous to be able to support this month's Four Winds theme AND complete our seventh Red Clover book of the year!  It's hard to believe that we are winding down this incredible and inspiring Vermont reading program for the 2016-17 school year.  

 April Pulley Sayre's Raindrops Roll matches a beautiful collection of photographs with poetic text to create a unique, and well received, nonfiction story.  To enhance the experience, we listened to some rain sounds while reading the story aloud.

After watching a short clip on the three stages of the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation) we then read Miranda Paul's Water is Water to see the cycle in action over the course of a year.  By the end of the lesson we were all dripping with new knowledge on the water cycle!       

        

March 9, 2017

Jon Agee - Author, Illustrator, & Lover of Words

"Sit on a potato pan, Otis!"

This week's mentor texts:

 
   

With returning to school after a lengthy vacation, I thought it would be fun to conduct another "author study week" - and decided to focus on the very talented, creative, and hilarious children's bookmaker  Jon Agee.  Learners discovered what led Mr. Agee to pursue a career as an author/illustrator extraordinaire here; experienced his love of creating wacky, off-the-wall stories (titles above); and listened to his take on poetry, oxymorons, and palindromes as well.  

For those that would like to know more about Jon, here is an interview from 2011.  I'm very much looking forward to another great month in the library with all of SATEC's curious and excited learners!