Making Connections
The Rockwood Library Newsletter - April 2018
Bestselling Young Adult Author Visits LSMS

Best-selling author Ally Carter visited LaSalle Springs Middle School on April 11 as part of a promotional tour for the release of her new book, Not if I Save You First, an adventure/thriller set in Alaska. Carter's books are popular with LSMS students as two of them, Heist Society and All Fall Down, are past Truman Award nominees. Carter told students about her new book and shared her experiences as a writer. Explaining that writing is a messy process often done in pieces, she encouraged students not to be discouraged with their own writing, saying, "To be a writer, you have to get started."
Carter's presentation was a hit with the LSMS community. According to Language Arts teacher Maggie Flavin, "Our students and teachers were delighted by [Ally Carter's] talent, humor, and inspiration." Librarian Carol Bauer arranged the visit through the generosity of The Novel Neighbor Bookstore in Webster Groves.
Literature-Inspired Field Trip

Fairway students who participated in 2018 Mark Twain Readers' Award voting went on a field trip to Meramec Caverns on April 9. The trip was inspired by two of this year's nominated titles: Beneath and The Worst Class Trip Ever. Maddie, a student who went on the field trip, said, "It was an exciting experience and had many interesting natural wonders." The trip was organized by Fairway librarian Jason Sinden.
Sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Librarians, the Mark Twain Readers' Award Program is open to Missouri students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. In order to vote, a student must read four or more of the twelve nominated books. This year, nearly 14,000 students across the state participated in the program.
World's Fair Inventions

Poem in Your Pocket Day

Students and staff at Green Pines had a wonderful time celebrating Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 26. Throughout the month, librarian Theresa Swoboda prepared classes for the big day during library lessons that focused on types of poetry, poetic elements, and, best of all, reading poetry. Every student decorated a poem pocket and filled it with poetry to be shared on Poem in Your Pocket Day. On the actual day, students, staff, and visitors were greeted with poems chalked on the sidewalk, poetry banners hanging in the foyer, and poetry displayed in halls. Teachers took their classes on poetry scavenger hunts. Scheduled library classes and other library visitors classes completed poetry-themed centers which included online interactive poetry writing, writing acrostic and color poems, creating Poem in Your Pocket bookmarks for friends, and design stores for Alliteration Avenue. Of course, the major focus of the day was sharing pocket poems with each other. Students and staff read poetry in their classrooms, with buddy classes, and even at recess! Poem in Your Pocket Day is definitely a favorite at Green Pines!
More Poetry Celebrations
Writing Poetry During the month of April, students at Kellison learned about different types of poetry during library time with librarian Jody Hartwig. At the end of their lesson, 2nd grade students created their favorite type of poem. | Poetry Slam In celebration of Poetry Month, 4th grade students at Woerther practiced public speaking skills by reciting their favorite poems in a beatnik-style cafe Poetry Reading. The event was part of their library time with librarian Laura Clar. | Sharing PoetryFor National Poetry Month, third through fifth grade students at Bowles wrote "I Wonder" or "I Am" poems during their library time with librarian Lori Countryman. On Thursday, April 26, poetry was read over the morning announcements and all students spent time enjoying poetry for "Poem in Your Pocket Day." |
Writing Poetry
Poetry Slam
Sharing Poetry
For National Poetry Month, third through fifth grade students at Bowles wrote "I Wonder" or "I Am" poems during their library time with librarian Lori Countryman. On Thursday, April 26, poetry was read over the morning announcements and all students spent time enjoying poetry for "Poem in Your Pocket Day."
Book Talk Thursdays

Students Explore Library Centers

Analyzing Psychological Disorders in Fiction

Other Library Lessons & Events in April
Foods III Students Breakout LHS librarians Melissa Twombly and Nicci Ballard-Long worked with Foods III teacher Becky Lawrence to create a breakout activity on Spanish cuisine. The students loved it! | Battle of the Books Six members of the RSHS Gateway Book Club participated in Parkway's High School Battle of the Books on April 5. It's obvious from their smiles they had a good time. The club is sponsored by librarian Margaret Sullivan and ELA teacher Greg Baum. | Summer Reading Because the books nominated for the 2018-19 MASL Readers' Awards make for great summer reading, librarians are already promoting them. Jim Miller's "Sneak Peek" display in the Selvidge Library is an example. |