Library: Fall 2015 Semester Review
First semester has come and gone already! Wow. It sure went fast! The library has been a busy place this semester, and I love it! I have worked with many of you to help students learn, we have had many successful events and activities, and we have had many classes in to use the available resources.
Events we have hosted this semester...
Fall Book Tasting
This was an event we held to showcase our newest books. We themed it for Teen Read Week: Get Away @Your Library, which was a tropical theme.
Common Read Guest Speaker Mark Randall
This was an event we held to connect with the Common Read Book The Other Wes Moore. Mark Randall, former NBA player and coach, visited us to speak.
Banned Books Week
We held two well-attended events for Banned Books Week at the end of September. We had videos and discussion about banned book and how important it is to enjoy our freedom to read.
NaNoWriMo
November was National Novel Writing Month. We held two events during the month during which we presented information and tips about writing.
Winter Book Tasting
Coming up on Dec. 10, we will host a second book tasting event to help kids and staff get books to read during our Winter Break.
"The Power of One" Project Showcase
Coming up on Dec. 8 and 9, a day to showcase projects from Jen Solt's 12th Grade English classes in which they chose a problem they see in the world and create a campaign to help change it.
Collaborations!
Collaborating is great, isn't it? I love bouncing ideas around and working with someone else to make great lessons and activities for the kids. I have done some cool stuff this semester so far, including:
- Working with Jen Solt's 12th Grade English classes to help them get started reading The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, and to start working on their "Power of One" projects,. I will continue to work with Jen next semester on this unit when she has new 12th Grade English classes.
- Working with Kris Ayers's Leadership class by helping them with their grant work and reading The Other Wes Moore. I have been in her class every other week for the entire semester, and plan to continue working with her next semester.
- Working with Kim Carson to teach her study hall kids reading and writing strategies. I have been in at least three times this semester, and hope to continue next semester to keep helping the kids learn new strategies to be successful in their classes.
- Helping many of you teach research skills to your classes, including teaching the kids how to use the databases effectively, how to do effective searches, citing sources, creating bibliographies, and evaluating sources.
- Helping many of you incorporate the use of effective technology into your classes by making use of the awesome apps in Google. I have helped teachers create class email lists, create and share class folders, create and share class assignments, and help kids create and share assignments.
- Working with classes to find books to read by doing book talks, library scavenger hunts, presenting information about banned books, and encouraging participation in the Common Read.
All of that work gets us closer to be recognized as a Highly Effective School Library Program! To get that recognition, I have to collaborate with 75% of you on a regular and consistent basis. We are moving toward it! And I love to be in classrooms teaching, so keep coming up with cool projects we can work together to create!
Fall Common Read: The Other Wes Moore
This wonderful book is about two men with the name Wes Moore, but they have two very different lives. One becomes a Rhodes Scholar, one goes to jail for killing a police officer. How did their lives turn out so differently?
Guest Speaker
This was an awesome opportunity we had with Mark Randall coming to visit our school! Through my partnership with the Loveland Public Library, we were able to arrange this visit.
The Book in Class...
I have been working with Kris Ayers's Leadership kids to read the book and talk about leadership and how role models impact leadership.
Professional Development
There have been many opportunities for Professional Development this year...
- Book study: Brain Rules by John Medina. This has been a great read, with many applications to our work with kids. We have found many connections between ideas in the book and ways we can improve student learning and engagement.
- Lunch PD with Liza. I have met with seven departments so far this year, with my goal being to meet with every department at least once before the end of the year. When we meet, I provide snacks and tools/information specific to the department. I have provided PD on topics such as newsela.com, the district databases available, The New York Times Learning Network, voice recording online tools, and evaluating sources. I will be contacting departments to set up meetings for second semester.
- Upcoming: Book study: Mindset by Carol Dweck. Looking forward to this one!
- I am also adding to our Professional Development book collection. I have added a few books on Project-Based Learning since that is something we have talked about this year. Come by the Eagles' Den to check out what is available! All books can be checked out to take home.
- What do you all want or need? Please let me know if there is something your department can benefit from!
Library Activity
Classes Served...
There were 371 classes that came through the library to make use of the available resources! And, thanks to Lanny, we now have use of a mobile lab of 40 Chromebooks!
Books In and Out
Here are some stats on book checkout:
- Fiction (including graphic novels and short stories) makes up the biggest circulation: about 63% of books checked out are fiction.
- Non-fiction (including biographies) makes up about 30% of use.
- The sophomores have checked out the most books this year, followed by freshmen, seniors, then juniors. How can we get those kids to make more use of the resources???
- We have added 187 new books so far this year.
Popular Books
Some of the popular book titles:
- The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
- A Child Called It by David Pelzer
- The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne collins
- I Am Number Four series by Pittacus Lore
- Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
- Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Projects...
New Chairs/Work Areas
We have added cafe tables for the kids to use, and we have some new comfy chairs on the way for a new reading area. We keep moving things around in order to best serve the needs of our school community.
Book Displays
We always have ten displays up at a time in order to promote different kinds of books and materials. That's a lot of books to show off and get kids interested in!
Plans...
Next year, we want to continue to add to the seating/reading areas. We want to get a booth seating area to add another element for the kids to use for study.
Library Advisory
I am still hoping to form a small committee that will be like an advisory committee for the library. We will meet infrequently, but I want some staff input for events and activities, resources needed in the library, etc. Please let me know if you are interested. I will look into the possibility of TIC credit for this.