Connections
Orange Avenue Media Center - September 2015
From the Media Specialist's Desk
Welcome or welcome back! It's time to begin writing the story of another school year in the Media Center! A huge amount of work was done in the Media Center this summer, so I'd like to begin by helping you get to know the "new and improved" OAS Media Center. The Media Center is staffed by myself and a media aide. I'm excited to announce that our Media Aide, Mrs. Tracy Kerzner, will be with us full time this year! We are both here to help and support you and your students in any way that we can. As you read through this newsletter, you will learn about what your Media Specialist can do for you, basic library procedures, special features of the Media Center, and a sneak peak at the my instructional model. Come visit the Media Center, see what we have to offer, and hear the sounds of reading, writing, research and collaboration!
What Your Media Specialist Can Do For You
- Be an instructional partner
- Share the newest tech tools and trends
- Connect readers to books
- Match technology tools with projects and lessons
- Put together collections of books and other resources
- Provide technology training on Google Classroom, apps, web 2.0 tools, etc.
- Collaborate
Checking Out Books
All students, Prek-Grade 5, will borrow library books as part of their weekly library lesson. All preschool, kindergarten and first grade students may borrow one book each week. All second, third, fourth and fifth graders may borrow two books and one magazine each week. If a student does not return a book, he/she is not able to check out a new book. Throughout the year, exceptions will be made for projects and book clubs. Students may also earn a bonus book for exemplary behavior.
Genrefying Fiction
One of many projects this summer was to reorganize our fiction section by genre. I chose eight genre: realistic fiction, adventure, animal stories, fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, science fiction and sports stories. Each fiction book has a label on the spine denoting its genre. Within each genre, books are shelved in alphabetical order by the author's last name. Some of the most popular series are shelved in baskets labeled with the series name. Please note that the genre is not yet listed in records for fiction books within Destiny.
Centers in the Library
When you visit the library, you will often see children working together and hear the sounds of collaboration. I use lots of learning centers to to teach skills and give the children opportunities to independently practice skills or complete a reading response. For example, during a lesson on digital citizenship, you may see a group of students on computers using a typing program to practice keyboarding skills while another group is at the smartboard watching and responding to a video about Internet safety practices. I also use centers to structure book selection time. Expect to hear the bustling sounds of learning when you visit the Media Center!
Resources
Book Bytes
In this section, I will share everything about books including recommendations and new titles. Don't forget to talk about summer reading with your students. Hand in all reading logs and bingo boards as soon as possible!
Tech Tidbits
In this section I'll share technology tips and tricks. One of my goals this year is to regularly share tech tools with you. I'll share tools I'm using with kids as well as for teacher productivity and show examples of how I'm using each tool.