News from the Media Center
Read, Renew, Return, Repeat!
What Can I Do For You?
This year, thanks to an alternating A/B schedule, the library (and the librarian) will be able to be booked with some advance notice for any of the following sessions, and more! Some of the topics I can work with you and/or your students on are:
Research
- How to use all the amazing Discus resources
- How to web search effectively
- How to critically evaluate web and print resources
- How to effectively synthesize information (note taking, etc)
Digital Literacy:
- Familiarizing students with desktop computers
- Working with Google tools
- Finding and using awesome educational apps
- Cybersafety
Curriculum Enhancement:
- Reading aloud to your class
- Working with your class on a specific skill, like finding a just right book or using reference materials
- Pulling books off our shelves on specific subjects or requesting books from other schools when needed
- Adding books you use repeatedly to book orders when possible
- Pulling together class sets of books
- Accessing the professional resource library
- Accessing the educational gaming library
And, I'd love to collaborate on projects in the classroom, the library or the computer lab that integrate the curriculum with any of above and more!
Where am I?
Below is my teaching schedule, with my A week marked in blue and my B week in green. The chart on the bottom lists the A/B schedule for the entire year.
What do students learn in your class?
In each class, students exchange books, hear books read aloud, and work on the skills they need to be 21st Century learners: http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards/learning
The lessons build on each other through the grade levels, so while kindergartners are learning about how to take care of books and are just falling in love with the written word, fifth graders can navigate the library with ease and are working on their research skills in preparation for middle school. All students are taught cybersafety and digital literacy lessons through out the year.
No matter the grade level, students are exposed to a wide range of literature as we do author and illustrator studies, prepare for the Battle of the Books, and read the nominees for the South Carolina Picture Books Award.
What are we celebrating this year?
Literacy and Library Events:
- International Dot Day Sept 15
- Ebenezer Summer Reading Red Carpet Celebration (to be scheduled)
- Read Your Way to the Big Game (entries due) Nov 10
- Fall Book Fair Nov 6-10
- Computer Science Education Week, Hour of Code Dec 4-10
- The Charlotte Hornet's Reading Bus March 1 (1pm) (All School Assembly)
- Read Across America Week Feb 26 - March 2
- CBA and PBA Book Voting by March 2
- Spring Book Fair Feb 26 - March 2
- Battle of the Books March 24
- District Read In March 29
- Summer Reading BOGO Book Fair April 23-27
- Summer Reading Kick Off
- Read-a-Thon Fundraiser (to be scheduled)
Read Your Way to the Big Game!
Scholastic Book Fair
Charlotte Hornet's Reading Bus
What do you do besides teach?
I administer the library, which is just the official way to say that I run things and make sure that we meet the state standards for school libraries. Those lay out requirements for the library, including the number of books per student and their age (the material's age, not the student's), the number of periodical subscriptions, the variety and currency of reference materials, and more. This means weeding materials that are damaged, out of date, or contain misinformation, as well as using our budget to best of my ability to order both replacement and new materials. I also catalog new materials to prepare them for shelving, inventory our current holdings and collect and analyze circulation data to assess areas of greatest interest and need. In addition, we circulate around 800 books a week, so a significant amount of time is spent putting books back on shelves in their correct "driveway," as we explain it to the kids, so students can find them again.
So basically, I do a lot of paperwork, number crunching, research and dealing with the books hands on, but my favorite part of the job, and what I think is most important, is facilitating reading! I get to find those books that turn reluctant readers into avid page turners and help kids who love to read discover new books and authors. As I work with students throughout the year and develop relationships, I can match books to their interests. Not every kid comes in to the library excited about reading, but I want them all to be excited when they leave, whether it's with a graphic novel or a nonfiction book on snakes or a new dystopian fantasy--there is something for everyone in here!
Do you do anything else?
- Plan literacy related events and activities, working with an awesome Literacy PLC
- Serve as Co-Chair of the SC Children's Book Award Committee
- Serve on the District Media Specialist Advisory Council
- Attend the State Library Supervisor Meetings as a District Representative
Who am I?
Email: cevans@rhmail.org
Website: http://ea.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/
Location: 242 Ebenezer Avenue, Rock Hill, SC, United States
Phone: (803) 981-1444
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EbenezerAvenueLeadershipAcademy
Twitter: @CEvansLibrarian