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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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!