Smith Library News
What are you reading Smith Elementary?
"And all at once, summer collapsed into fall" – Oscar Wilde
"As the nights draw longer and the days get colder, most people start mourning the end of summer — except for book-lovers. Because book-lovers know something that the rest of the world doesn't: fall is the best season for reading. So instead of feeling sad that the hot weather is coming to an end, prepare to welcome fall in style — with a house full of books."
Emma Oulton Oct. 10, 2017
Fall is three months of glorious, uninterrupted reading time — so go enjoy it!
Happy fall! 🍂
Mrs. Shepherd
Beanstack Challenges!
If you have been at Smith you know about Beanstack Challenges. We started Beanstack last year as a reading incentive for our students. Beanstack is a web-based reading challenge software! You can track your reading minutes, write book reviews, and participate in fun activities to earn digital tickets and badges! Students have learned how to log in to Beanstack through our Clever application. Many of our classes have practiced logging in during library skills class.
Plus there is an app for all you smart phone users! Go to your device’s app store, search for "Beanstack Tracker," or scan the QR code on the back, and follow these steps:
1. Search for SCHOOL.
2. Click on our school.
3. Follow the steps to register an individual or family!
Last Spring we created a tandem account with Lewis & Clark Library so students can now participate in both location's challenges! Reading opportunities abound!
Are you logging your reading?
Please take a minute to log your reading pages including reading for pleasure, work, assignments, audiobooks, and e-books.
Logging minutes is easy!
It doesn't take much time to log minutes. Students can log minutes of books they are reading, books you are reading to them, or audiobooks they listen to!
New Challenges Every Month!
Every month there is a new challenge. The monthly challenges are 600 minutes. That sounds like a lot but it breaks down to just 20 minutes per day. Research shows children who read for just 20 minutes per day see 1.8 million words each year and have scores on standardized tests in the 90th percentile (because they have experienced so many words!).
New Year Long Challenge
We are challenging our students to read One Million Minutes this school year! When they log their minutes monthly they should also log their minutes in the Soar to New Heights Challenge and earn even more badges! This challenge is also asking students to write at least 3 engaging reviews of books they have read.
Have you looked through our library catalog yet?
We've got a great selection of graphic novels, everybody picture books, fiction and non-fiction books! Click the button above and explore! Choose Smith School! Students can decide which books they want before they come in for their check-out day!
More Books?
Can't find what you want at our library? Try the Lewis & Clark Public Library, they have books, ebooks, and audiobooks! Click the button above. Don't have a library card yet? Now is a great time to get one!
Wait, don't 🍁 yet! Here's a fun video students enjoyed this week . . .
Kid Snippets: "Library" (Imagined by Kids)