'Family Library Night'
You know you are on overload when you fail to notice that you were tagged a week ago for a meme. This one is called “Passion Quilt”.
- Think about what you are passionate about teaching your students.
- Post a picture from a source like FlickrCC or Flickr Creative Commons or make/take your own that captures what YOU are most passionate about for kids to learn about…and give your picture a short title.
- Title your blog post “Meme: Passion Quilt” and link back to this blog entry.
- Include links to 5 folks in your professional learning network or whom you follow on Twitter/Pownce.
I am passionate about bringing families into the library on a regular basis. We recently had two fun events: the first a night of cupstacking. Our PE teacher, that’s her in the coral zippered sweater introduced this in her classes. My assistant has gotten involved and we have cups to stack in the library. It builds great eye-coordination, crosses the midline, and builds confidence in students.
The other night is our annual tribute to Dr. Seuss. This year the hall were packed as students and families came to hear their favorite teacher read a story. We had guest readers as well; our local public librarian and a volunteer from the local Humane Society attended. The night ended with cake and little stuffed Cat in the Hats going home with all children.
I love Family Library Nights because it provides time for families to come to school, choose a book together and read. Students can check out an extra book during the evening.
This is just one of the many things I am passionate about in teaching. What do you love about your job? Thank you Miss Rumphius for tagging me. If you would like to join in, please do.
Happy Reading.
MsMac
March 18th, 2008
It is “Nonfiction Monday.” My nonfiction is all about the nonfiction writing I am doing for the National Boards for Professional Teaching Standards. After March 25, 2008, which is a month from now, I will have my box sent off and will only have the test prep to do for April or May.
I spent the weekend revising the entry entitled, “Fostering an Appreciation for Literature”. This entry is actually cleverly disguised as a reading lesson. I must show a connection to literature, demonstrate that students are inferring, have a curriculum aspect connected to the classroom and show it on a 15 minute tape. A 2 minute video pan of the library with narration is also required. Yesterday I was I school for more than 2 hours taping the pan. But it is completed. Hooray.
I am feeling a bit like the princess in Rumpelstiltskin these days. Two of four entries are near completion but there remains more straw to spin into gold. My last two entries are “integrating technology” and “collaboration with another teacher”. I have been collaborating with a second grade teacher. It has been great to tie in the science of clouds with poetry. The teacher said we could continue with the unit on animals later this spring. This is where I feel so fortunate that my school is small enough that I can work with interested staff beyond the weekly 30 minute requirement.
The prompt at One Deep Breath was “ink”. My haiku for that reflects my life over the last few weeks:
keys click, thoughts race
printer spits another draft
out, revision
entry completed
more straw in the mind waits to
become golden words
Have a great Monday. If you are interested in terrific nonfiction books, visit Picture Book of the Day.
Happy Reading.
MsMac
February 25th, 2008
Tuesday was Family Library Night. Families came in their comfortable clothes and pajamas to spend time reading in the library last night. The library filled with students from all grade levels.
Soon the pages were heard turning. Any child attending receives credit for being there. After four visits, they get to select a book from the “Treasure Trove of Books.” ( A big wooden chest of books).
Five books are given away that evening. Names are place into a basket. I choose the first winner and each winner selects a name as well. Last night, the five winners were:
Ember R., first grade
Sarah E., Second Grade
Kaylin, Kindergarten
Dustin H., Third Grade
Katie H., Fifth Grade
This is such a simple idea; to wear pajamas to school. More families attended than ever. I hope math night will have as many attending in two weeks.
Happy Reading.
MsMac
November 15th, 2007
Family Library Night is not new. What is new is a way to present activities in the library. This short clip is about our “Read to Jessie the Dog.” Jessie is a golden retriever therapy dog. She visit libraries , schools along with hospitals. Jessie and her owner, Joyce come to Silver Star on the first and third Wednesday of the month during school. Students sign up to read to Jessie.
jessie-the-library-dog.wmv
I hope that Jessie will continue to visit Silver Star next year. She is a great addition to our evenings.
Hopefully you will see more slides or video clips here at “Check It Out” in the future. That’s what’s new this Wednesday.
Happy Reading,
MsMac
April 25th, 2007
Taxes are done. Hooray. The other exciting thing was the wonderful shout-out and poem dedication to me by Elaine Magliaro at Wild Rose Reader.
This week begins three weeks of WASL testing (Washington State Assessment of Student Learning). Always a stressful time for everyone!
I make the library a place of respite, especially for third through fifth grade during this time. So here’s what is happening:
Kindergarteners are involved in an author study of Keiko Kasza. Love her work. First graders will be learning about the kinds of books in the 500 section of the library. Second graders get to do poetry things in honor of National Poetry Month.
Now, above I just said that third through fifth will get a respite. I just realized that third grade may not consider learning about Melvil Dewy as a respite. But it reminds me of a funny story. I asked third graders how the library is organized. A third grader said I have the nonfiction in the “yellow”, section, the everybody books in the “blue” section, and the chapter books in the “blue” section. My color system (thanks to Powell’s Bookstore’s colored rooms) is working 
Fourth graders are exploring tall tales. My fifth grades will start designing new place holders for the kindergartners to use next year. (A perfect project for this year’s fifth graders)
I will interview staff and students about books they have read again and again for “Tuesday Tidbits”.
Speaking of reading, am off to read this month’s book-club choice, Waiting for Snow in Havana.
Happy Reading.
MsMac
April 15th, 2007
Mrs. Locascio, Principal, and Mr. Sterling, 3rd grade teacher greeted our guests.
Mrs. Miller read Diary of a Worm while her daughter acted it out with sign language.
Barbra Meisenheimer, Fort Vancouver Regional Librarian, played “Cat in the Hat” trivia with students.
Mrs. Asbridge and Ms. Padden, 3rd grade teachers, read to parents and students in their classrooms.
A birthday cake was served to over 100 students.
Everyone had great fun.
Happy Reading,
MsMac
March 25th, 2007
