Back-to-School from the Library
Ruth Witter, WNPS Library Media Specialist
Welcome Back
Welcome back to the 2018-2019 school year! Anne and I look forward to partnering with you this year for your reading, information literacy, and technology needs for your classroom. We consider it a great honor to be here for you, your students, and this school community. First and foremost, we are here to help you in any way that we can. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. As soon as the meeting is over today you may come and checkout any technology that you need for your classroom.
Reminders
- If you are a returning teacher you should have your technology equipment from last year and you are good to go
- If you changed classrooms, you should have taken your technology equipment with you. (Document Camera, Mimio, Listening Center) Any questions on this, just ask!
- Redcats will be given to the ESE pods and to classrooms that need it for an accommodation first. If you are in a pod, you may go ahead and get your Redcat. The rest will be given out at a later time after we know who needs them for an accommodation.
- If you are new, welcome and please stop in and see us so that we can help you what you need!
- Your class will get their bag/library card on their very first library day! Kindergarten we will wait on flexible circulation, meaning they only get books on the library day. 1st and 2nd, they may come after their first library visit.
How can we help?
The number 1 thing we do for you and your students is teach classes. (By number 1 I mean we spend majority of our time and efforts making this fun, relevant, and meaningful for our kiddos.) We also operate on an open circulation policy for 1st and 2nd grade. This means that your students can come as they need to to get new books. They do not need to wait until their next library class day. In addition to teaching our students the 21st century and library skills they need and library circulation, we are here to partner with you on:
- Accelerated Reader
- Library books and other materials. If you need books pulled for your classroom, please email Anne Caruthers with a description of what your classroom needs are. Please allow a 3 day turn around for any request.
- Classlink questions (or Claire Broussard)
- Your technology checked out from the Media Center that needs troubleshooting
Top 5 from the Library
- Tuesday Nights @Your Library--We have a schedule for the year and we do many fun and exciting things! Please advertise to your families. (More to come)
- Lego Lab--Lots of fun and constructive learning goes on in here. We use the Lego Lab in the Library Curriculum for all of the grades at least once per quarter. However, there will also be a calendar by the door to sign up for a time. Thank you to our gifted teacher Susan Julio for making all of the Lego Story bins that have full lessons, implementation ideas, as well as the book and other material for the lesson.
- Get Epic Books! This one of the coolest free resources out there. I have used it myself this past year for some stations and lessons! The best part is that it is FREE for educators. You can create an account with and access code for your class. **Reminder, do not put any student personal information into a program.
- SSYRA, Jr. The Sunshine State Young Reader Awards began a "Jr." list for K-2 a couple of years ago. The books on this list are amazing. They are chosen not only for quality but also with the interest of the readers in mind. In other words, these books are amazing and your kids will love them! Watch a short trailer here.
- Cantata Learning-Cantata Learning hardcover and eBook titles offer a uniquely engaging
learning experience by combining reading with singing. This approach
supports young learners by building literacy skills and promoting
21st Century learning while having fun.
Library Cards and Circulation Policy
How do I get a library card/bag for my student?
When the card/bag is ready we will place it in your box or give it to the student if it happens to be their library day. Please note that it often takes around three days for them to be in the library program.
What about sending students?
If you have a research, book report, or other project, please get with me to schedule a time for your class to come in and choose books with combined assistance of you and one of us from the library.