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MTRSD Elementary Libraries- December 2023
Sanderson Library Update
December 2023
The 3rd Grade Library Storyline Project is progressing wonderfully. Storyline is a method of teaching and learning that uses an ongoing story, shaped by students, to integrate teacher learning goals with student interests and hands-on learning. The third grade Storyline is called (no surprise here) “The Library.” It is about a school without a library that decides to build one after an anonymous donor gives the school a large sum of money. In the story, third graders play the role of the committee in charge of planning, designing, and building the new library. First, students created the people of the library to understand who the library is for. They even presented their people at our all-school meeting! Students then worked together to create a mission statement for their library, which they are currently finishing. Next, and most exciting, students will begin to create their own mini-library within the Sanderson Library. Third grade is overflowing with creative ideas, so stay tuned!
In other library news, first through sixth graders will be taking part in a variety of offline and online coding activities in the library throughout the month of December as we celebrate the worldwide Hour of Code! We will be experimenting with programs from Code.org as well as Scratch. Coding was a very compelling topic last year, and it will make for an exciting end of the year in the library. See below for the books we will use to kick off the Hour of Code!
I’ll wrap up with a few photos of some other recent highlights from the library. From left to right: 5th graders decoded a secret message with post-its found in library books that they located in a call-number scavenger hunt; 6th graders competed to build the tallest tower with notecards on which they had written things they were thankful for; Pre-K read to library “Reading Buddies;” 3rd grade presented their Storyline characters at our all school meeting. Happy holidays to all!
News from the BSE Library!
November was a busy month! Check out the sampling of books below that were enjoyed in honor of Native American Heritage Month here at the the BSE library.
Looking back at November, the theme of the month in our digital citizenship curriculum was privacy & security. This included everything from second graders learning about which kinds of information they should keep to themselves when they use the internet, to fifth graders learning how to avoid clickbait. Kids have been asking great questions along the way, and have engaged in lively discussions about these topics.
Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter! December is already off to a busy start with our third annual ‘Month of Code’ at BSE. Students are getting introduced to computer science concepts and coding through a variety of hands-on activities. We can’t wait to share our learning with you in next month’s newsletter!
News from the Colrain Central School Library!
Over the past year, we’ve worked hard to update our library. We’ve gotten many new books and grants; created a classroom space; and incorporated numerous ideas from the students about what books, art, and comfortable seating would help everyone feel like they belong in the library. When we began, most of our books were not entered into the digital catalog. Recently, we crossed another huge milestone when the last batch of picture books was entered into the system. All of our picture books and nonfiction books can now be found online (chapter books are still in the works). There are almost 4,000 books in the catalog so far! In the coming weeks, students will learn how to use the online catalog to search for books and how to check out books themselves with our new self checkout station. These steps will help students find favorite books and discover new books to try!
Robotics
Fourth and fifth graders wrapped up their robotics unit with an introduction to creating their own code using block coding. Younger students began learning about coding with easy to program Bee Bots and third and sixth graders finally got a chance to use the Sphero Bolts. Everyone learned new things about coding, technology, sharing, and patience!
Logic and Games
By applying their own logical thinking to playing board games, fifth graders are now using backwards design to learn how computers work and how computer scientists design code. Winning at Guess Who or Connect Four requires the same kind of algorithmic thinking that a computer programmer uses when designing code. The fifth graders will use the Flip website to record what they learned so other students can become better algorithmic thinkers, too.
International Project
Our librarian, Talia Miller, was selected to participate in the Rural School’s International Teacher Reciprocity Project. The details are still unfolding, but what we know so far is that our fourth graders have been paired up with two rural schools in Wales. Our students have recorded introduction videos and seen videos from their new international friends. In the coming months, we will work on a local landmarks project to share with our partner schools.
Local events!
Upcoming Events at Buckland Public Library!
LGBTQ Friendly Playgroup All ages, unstructured time together 1st and 3rd Saturdays monthly 10-11 a.m.
Word Play Writing Group Tuesdays 10:30 – 12:30 Free, but registration required. Call 413-625-9412
Crafternoons Every Tuesday 4:30-6:30 Self directed time with other children and caretakers to use the crafts in the Community Room.
Free Puzzles Every 4th Saturday, all day
Events at the ARMS Library!
LEGOs Play Time - Ongoing Weekly
There are miniature cities, fast cars, and intricate inventions being created every Wednesday at the Arms. We have lots of LEGOs, of all sorts.
Our LEGO builders tend to meet at around 5 p.m. downstairs.
Upcoming Events at the Colrain Public Library!
Ms. Betty's December Craft