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WOW.. I can'tbelieve how many responses I got! Thank you to all who responded I got some great ideas. Here they are... I had a problem with this at one of my schools this year, which seemed to have been "made worse" by the standing practice of having students go look at the magazines if they'd forgotten their books. Now I actually *like* giving students a chance to read the magazines when there's time. However, after the fourth or fifth time I heard someone joyously exclaim that they'd forgotten books, so that meant they got to read magazines I decided I needed to try something else. After a few weeks with a no magazines during media rule (to transition them, and make them think, I hoped), I came up with a new idea that seems to have worked fairly well in that school. We've a reading desk that is not used during classes. I put some of the easier new books (mostly non-fiction, but not all) out on it. The new rule for my classes is that if they've forgotten their books they can either read at the table, or take a book from it to the floor nearby to read. *If* they have remembered their books, after they've found a new book and checked it out, they've the option of reading a magazine for the remainder of the class. I don't have quite as many magazine readers as before, but some. And a few habitual "forgetters" seemed to start remembering at least a little more often. If a student gets interested in the book that they're reading and wants to check it out, we will hold onto it for a day or two to allow them the chance to remember their book the next day and exchange it. Oh, and yes, any student looking for a book to check out is allowed to check out the books on the reading table, as well as from elsewhere in the media center. -Elisabeth Herman Library Media Specialist Hollifield Station and Forest Ridge Elementary Schools Howard County, MD When I have “repeat offenders” I send them down (with a library pass) to the office to call home. I have an arrangement with the school secretary and she supports me even though it is a bother for her. Kids figure out pretty quick they DON’T want to go to the office for something negative. If you have an outside line in the library, you could do it from there; when I had one at a previous site, it worked very well. I made the kids dial home (or parents’ work place) and speak themselves. Of course the first thing they will tell you (before calling) is that nobody’s home. Too bad! Send them anyway. Half the time, there IS someone at home. Boy, are they surprised! And if not, most people have an answering service/message machine of some sort. I tell them to call and leave a message for themselves. “Hi, this is a reminder for John to put my library book(s) in my backpack as soon as I get home and return them to the school library tomorrow.” Sometimes I have the kids wear a strip of construction paper around their left wrist marked “Library.” I stress to them that this is NOT a punishment to embarrass them, but rather like the proverbial “string around their finger” to remind them. I tell them NOT to remove it until they are at home and they have found the book and placed it in their backpack. If they really fuss, I tell them they do not have to wear it but they really MUST remember their books the following day. We start off at Orientation and we all learn our library “mantra” which I came up with about 5 years ago. The idea is that their book(s) can only be in one of three places. I ask them: “What are the only three places your library books can be?” “My library book is in my hand, (raise and extend right hand forward as if holding a book to read) In my back pack, (bring up hand and over shoulder to indicate backpack) Or in my desk AT SCHOOL!” (bring hand down, then forward, as if placing book in desk). We emphasize the AT SCHOOL part so they don’t confuse it with a desk or bookcase at home. I have them repeat this with me several times WITH HAND MOTIONS – EVERYBODY! at orientation, then occasionally throughout the year. Because we have a very transitory population (lots of kids move during our school year), I also tell them that they may take only 1 book home at a time – the other(s) must remain in their desk at school. They can then switch the books the next day if they wish. This works pretty well, except for the kids who ignore it and take home 2 or 3 books, and then forget all or part of them on library day. I emphasize that this is not to restrict them, but to help them avoid losing expensive books (nearly all of ours are newer hardbounds – so they are very expensive for our low-income families to replace). For the really die-hard loser/forgetters, I limit them to ONE paperback (most of ours are old and ratty) or magazine per checkout, and only if they remember to bring in the previous item. They stay on this policy for at least a month until they have established a perfect track record, but understand they immediately go back if they slip up again. My automation program even alerts me with a special signal whenever they check out, so I’m on top of it. They don’t like this but “tough toenails!” I reiterate that I did warn them and that this is the result of THEIR choice and action (or lack thereof). These are all the same kids who forget homework, etc. so at some point they need to understand that their lack of responsibility has negative consequences. If the teacher says they must have a hardbound for a report, I check it out to the teacher and they keep it at their desk except when the student uses it. This has worked out well. Joanne Ladewig (A.K.A. "Library Lady") Library Media Tech Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD Garden Grove, California For K-2 I have a selection of paperback books(very short like Wright Group materials or things from old reading series)that I hand them to look/read while everyone else may get up to select a new library book. 3-5 I put magazines, Kid's Almanac, or other reference books out on the table. They may not get up, but must use what is available. Jean Bartlett Springfield Elementary Panama City, FL bartlj@comcast.net What I do (inherited from my predecessor) is I have the students who have forgotten books read ones from our to-be-shelved carts or from on top of the shelving (I select books from each section to display). If there are none because all have been shelved, I give them less than a minute to go grab one from the shelf, grab a magazine from our baskets, or grab an encyclopedia. They don't get much choice since they have to quickly select from what is readily available, and they don't get away with doing nothing. Like you, I found that if I let them get on the computers to explore the databases (which we encourage them to use and become familiar with), they don't regret leaving their books at home (or not paying for ones for which they have been charged). I am glad to know it's not just me!! I am confident that when we go back in August that the kids' habits will be no different than in the past. Thinking about this ahead of time is good practice!! I have the same issues with students, and anything else is a reward to them, computer, magazines, etc. Sometimes when I have gotten really irritated with a student I have even tried punishment, writing library rules during check out for repeat offenders (especially if they have "forgotten" their books 3 or more times in a row) but that sometimes gets them bad attention that they like. I also have found out the hard way that these are usually the students whose home lives are a lot of the reason they are having so much trouble being responsible and that makes them feel worse, so what I have done is let them participate in any lesson and then at check out time I tell them to go to the shelves and select the books they would pick out if they had brought the books back. We usually allow 2, one AR book and one "fun" any type of book. When it is time for them to leave, I put the books on a special on hold shelf, get them to fill out a sticky note with name and class and tell them it is only on hold for a couple of days. They are to come at recess or before school to do the exchange. This way they can read and participate like the rest and are not as disruptive. I do have to make a special effort to remind them not to leave with them but I check them out as usual so if they accidently do, I still know where my books are. This has worked the best of all of the things I have tried so far. Good luck. Bonnie Martiny Media Specialist St. Charles Elementary Thibodaux, LA bmartiny@bellsouth.net bmartiny@lafourche.k12.la.us One year, I set up five stations. They were work on a puzzle, do a word find, work with pattern blocks, color, look at old magazines, etc. Nothing I needed to put a lot of time in maintaining, but not a great reward like playing on the computer. Not only did the "forgetters" get to go to these stations, but those that were quick in selection. (Like the kid who was renewing a chapter book). There were rules regarding who went to which station and how many students could be at a station at one time. Students did not get to pick their station and once there couldn't leave. If you library is physically too small to accomplish this, then put the material in a plastic basket and place it on their table. Good luck Karen Manassa-Walstein Teacher-Librarian Old Bridge High School - Grade Nine Center Old Bridge, NJ mets53@comcast.net I can sympathize with you -- I have the same problem. What I do is require students to bring a book with them to library class. Now in K, 1st and 2nd grade, if they do not have their books, they help pass out paper and crayons to the tables while other students are selecting books. In grades 3-5, students must walk in the door with a book in their hand. (Sometimes the teachers will allow students to bring a book from their classroom -- just so that students have a book !!) Last year I had a big problem with 2nd grade classes remembering their books. -- and the ones that always forgot were the troublemakers! I will often require a student to take a book from the library shelves to look at while other students are selecting. (And they have to stay in their seat to look at it.) Another thing: students books are not due every week. I give them a 2 week check-out. However, I stress that even if they are keeping their book, they still must bring it to library class. (If I do not see the book for 3 weeks, the next thing you know it is "lost".) Selection amounts: K -- 1 book a week. 1st grade - 1 book, as they become more responsible @ January, they are allowed to take out two. (One book stays in their desk and one book may go home.) 2nd grade starts with 2, @ mid-year they are allowed to take 3. Grades 3, 4, and 5, are allowed to take out 3. Well, that was certainly long winded!! Hope it helps! Betty Lewis, Librarian Allard and Hyde Elem. Schools Moon Area School District blewis@masd.k12.pa.us In the school district where I worked this past year each elementary school had either old magazines or paperback everybody books for the "forgetters" to read while the rest of the class did book selection and checkout -- this was used whether the child was in Kindergarten or in 5th. At the end of the lesson before starting selection/checkout we had to remind the forgetters that they could ONLY look at/read the materials set aside for them and they could not go to the shelves with their friends. Also, if the child was a forgetter he/she was not able to sit in a bean bag chair -- those where ONLY for students who had returned their books on time. This "guideline" was not in the district's Library Policies and Procedures manual but was a strictly enforced unwritten rule. Since I was assigned to several different schools as a second media specialist I had no say in how forgetters were singled out at each school. I personally disliked this policy -- I thought it ranked right up there with announcing to the whole class who had forgotten their books (this was from my student teaching days). I would definitely have some paperback everybody books and easy chapter books in a special place so that students who had forgotten their books would have something to read during selection/checkout. However, I would not make a big deal about it or announce it to the whole group, just talk to the forgettors individually when selection begins. When you post a hit PLEASE DO NOT include this response as many of the media specialists in my now-former district are LM_NET subscribers. Thanks and good luck, Gail Wilhelm currently unemployed, but interviewing librarydragonlady@yahoo.com After some 33 years in the "Ed biz" in IL, CA, Japan and Canada, I'm increasingly agree with the opinion my elder brother holds to solve America's increasing education problems. It will never happen . . or at least not in my lifetime, as there are too many fat cats in the Dept. of Ed, in the private sector who are trying to privatize ed via NCLB and other entrenched elements that will never give up their turf. My brother says the ultimate answer to the discipline problems, the illiteracy problem, the "borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring" proglem is to repeal all state mandatory education laws and pass a federal law allowing anyone of any age to be eligible for free public education period; and to permit all others who do NOT want to learn, to get on with their lives . . . somewhere outside the school system. In the meantime, what are the chances of initiating a policy whereby students who "forget" to return their library books forego their privilege of visiting the library with their classes? My guess is that the hostility that would engender on the part of classroom teachers who use the library time as prep period would be harder to manage than putting up with the cherubs running amok in the LMC. Maybe you could invite the school district's jazz band to play in the LMC to get the attention of those who forget their books? I'm not trying to be flip as I know you're facing a serious problem. When I was an ele. librarian near Tokyo for 18 yrs., I guess I simply had those who "forgot," sit on the carpet while the rest of the class found books. That was a Pre-K thru 6 school. Best of luck. Larry "Library" Retzack, BA, MM, MA, Ph.D. candidate, Librarian-Media Teacher, Colton (CA) High School, 777 W Valley BLVD, I have a puzzle table that I update with new ones monthly, 4 magnetic poetry cookie sheets with an edge, a felt board where I change the accessories monthly, 2 sets of pentominoes, multitudes of puppets that change weekly, magnetic letters on a file cabinet and a couch area where non borrowers are expected to utilize their time wisely. If they can't find anything from those choices I MAKE them get a book or magazine to browse. No problems so far. Mary Tichey-Staack, LMS Branchville Elementary Ridgefield, CT I've struggles with this for several years. I have Follett circ/cat at one school and Destiny at another. At both schools, K-5, I print out a list of who has what books and put the date due at the top in big black letters and put it in the teacher mailboxes - I never thought of e-mailing it, but may give it a try this year! For those who forget their books, I have a "story wheel" from one of the teacher stores. I can give a wheel to a student and set the wheel for them to write a story. They have the choice of writing the story, or drawing the story and telling it to me (half my students are ESL). These students soon learn that they will be writing something if they have not fulfilled the responsibility of bringing their books back. I also allow students who have returned their books and have once again checked out the choice of reading quietly or going to the computers to work on writing, math, or keyboarding. This is a double wammie for the "forgetters" as they don't get to go to the computers while others do. I usually find that the kids enjoy sharing their story with you, so it ends up being a win win situation. Joy What if they still looked for books, but put them on a "Save Shelf," rubber-banded together with a form that includes their name and the day of the week? Then, when they return their overdue books within the next few days (2-3, you decide), they don't have to spend time on book selection, but can pick their books up from the Save Shelf, check them out, and go on their way. Works for me. I have to add that I'm fairly lenient with overdues. I'm not perfect and don't expect the kids to be either. My philosophy is that everybody should always have something to read, even if they have overdue books. A lot of kids live in homes that are terribly disorganized. I still want them to be excited about coming to the library. Yes, there are the habitual offenders, and we do send home overdue notices, and make phone calls, but I try not to stress myself or to stress the kids over overdues. Hella Rumschlag Library Media Specialist / Tech Coordinator Mohawk Trails Elementary School Carmel, Indiana Rumschlag4@insightbb.com I have baskets of paperback books (very easy ones plus some like jokes, Ripley's, books of facts, etc.) on the tables. Students have to read quietly during check-out time. I use the book fair to get new ones. They are labeled "MELIC read" on the front and can't be checked out. Jeni While other students checkout books, those students who have overdue books can either read magazines placed in containers at student tables or choose to read a book from the paperback/donated book bins Someone suggested this rule to me: If you weren't choosing or checking out a book, you were sitting at a library table with a magazine or book that you wanted to look at and possibly place on hold. NO running around, goofing off, whatever. They have to sit! They hate it, so they bring back their books. My caveat would be, make sure you have a place they can sit within your sight. I never had the time or gumption to implement the rule so I can't speak to how well it works. Thought it was a great idea; I'm now at a secondary school so I won't need it anymore (flex schedule, hooray!) although I will probably implement a variation of it for when teachers schedule their classes. Lizanell Boman Secondary Library Media Specialist (7-12) American Leadership Academy Spanish Fork, UT lboman@americanleadership.net or lizanellb@msn.com don't know what would work at the secondary level, but at the elementary level I like to make it a little uncomfortable. Children who have forgotten their books are not allowed to browse the shelves during the check out time. If they are very young, then I have a supply of books on a specific that the children browse while others check out. Older children do work for me: alphabetize books on the return carts or face the shelves...sometimes I might have other jobs. This eliminates "roaming around disrupting others" behavior as well as make it a little less fun to forget library books. My first years in the library if a child only forgot one book I let them get a new book. I cut down on lost books when I stopped doing that. Often the book that did not come back was a lost book. Mary Croix Ludwick, Librarian K-5 Thomas Haley Elem, Irving, Texas (near Dallas) ludwick@swbell.net (home address) mludwick@irvingisd.net (school address) I used to keep coloring sheets, pig in a pen (connect the dots into squares), word searches, the 24 Game (a great math game for grades 3 and up if you're not familiar with it), puzzles, and feather dusters for those students. Not a perfect solution because some of them preferred doing those things. It wasn't choice--it was today you will do this. The person in charge of the computer lab in the elementary school I was in last year got the latest math practice sheets from their teachers--if they didn't follow the computer rules, they HAD to do math worksheets for the entire class period. You don't want them to dread coming, but you do want them to follow the rules....no really good answer. Yes, it is a real struggle. Here is my policy: Forget your books once, and you can check out one this time. If you forget next time, you'll not check out books. You can tell who has exceeded your patience because they will have three books out--or one more than the limit, whatever your limit is. But the solution is in your magazine display. Students who aren't checking out must select a magazine, and sit and read while the others check out books. However, don't let them walk around. The magazines should be in a clear, plastic magazine file ON THE TABLE in front of them. Once a day or once a week, clean out the files on the table. Put new magazines in and take out the ones that are not in the right season. (You don't want Sept magazines in the box in December.) Just get one file per table, keep them current, put them out when a class is coming for circulation. On rare occasions I've moved kids around who couldn't check out, so that there is only one or two kids per table who aren't checking out. Most of the time it just works out. This simple solution takes care of negligent kids. They can read magazines. They DON"T walk around. If you look up from helping your check outers, and someone is walking around who is supposed to be sitting and reading, send him or her to the corner, the office or the hall (whatever works in your school). It also makes your magazine collection valuable, useful, and popular. After students check out books, they can turn to the magazine files also. Eventually you'll want to work out system where kids can check out magazines as a reward for getting all their books in or reading your state award books or something. Oh, another detail: always say "read a magazine." Resist saying "look at a magazine." We are reading cheerleaders, not "looking at magazine" cheerleaders. I have tried many of the ideas you had done, but I ended up with this: they choose the books too, I hold them, and they swap them the next morning before class or before lunch. Sometimes teachers would allow them other times too-- if I had a class going on, they'd know where to go to find their selections, take them and return the old ones. I'd have checked the new ones out beforehand, but would check them back in and reshelve them if the other books did not come back as promised. I had a "hold cart" and sometimes had some tears of the books were reshelved already, but that was only if the books were not brought in when they were supposed to... hth, Kim I struggled with this issue also this year. But I do believe I made some headway. First the library has some really neat reading places (treehouse, bathtub, rocking chairs) If you bring your book back you get to read in one of those places. If you don't bring your books back I made them read magazines on the storytime rug. This kept them from roaming around the library and I could keep an eye on them and help others. The magazines kept their interests. Also I would give recognition to classes that brought their books back. (ie. put a note on their door, gave them box tops, told their teacher, bragged on the announcements) For the younger kids I would sporadically give stickers to those that brought their books back (I think I bought them from Upstart and they say "I brought my book back") Denise Mozingo Frost Elementary Georgetown, TX ----- Original Message ----- From: "Karen Wondergem" <karenwondergem@HOTMAIL.COM> Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 4:26 PM Subject: Target: What to do with "I forgot my books" After the lesson, I release the students who will be getting a book first. The remainder, still in their seats, are given specific reminders to quiet while others search for a book. I have them select a book or magazine and read quietly during check out. The younger students have a "Think About It" chair if behavior is a problem. Older kids are harder, but they are more accustomed to library expectations. I also have choices of Sudoku puzzles or mazes sometimes. Rebecca Richardson You are not alone in this dilemma. I haven't found the silver bullet but here are a few ways I have handled it. First, I keep those kids close to me at the circulation desk. My library is carpeted and the can sit on the floor. Then I let them read the magazines, or books from the kindergarten tubs. Since these are usually off limits, they seem to think it is a privilege. Or I have them read from the books on the returned cart. Occasionally I have them run errands or water my plants (usually when I only have two or three) As the chronic ones progress through the year, I just have them stand behind my desk area or in a line from the doorway. I also have a "reminder letter" that I have them copy. I didn't use it this year, but probably will next year. The funny thing is they don't see it as a punishment......they like copying. Go figure. Mostly what happens is they get loud. Not in too much trouble. I only allow a ten minute checkout time. Then when the teacher comes to pick them up, those classes that have a significant number are lined up with the children "missing" books first and I remind them and the teacher. To be honest, it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference but at least I tried. Also, I have observed that classes on Mondays and Fridays, and second graders are the worst offenders. I get the Friday group.....too many Fridays off. Monday...it's right after the weekend and with my kids much happens that has nothing to do with school thoughts. But the second graders? Haven't figured those reasons out at all. am glad that I am not the only one with this problem. If you get any ideas, let me know. I have the same problem especially with K - 5th grades. I have tried everything, wish we had flexible scheduling as they would not come if they did not have their books. I have tried standing the ones that didn't bring back their books in a line in front of my desk while I check out the rest of the class but that doesn't work when half the class forgets the books. This year I thought I would make little coins out of paper and they would get one every time they brought back a book. When they have ten maybe have them turn them in for a prize, if they lose the paper coins than that would also help them to learn to keep track of not only the coins but the books too. Another thing I want to try is having their books returned the day before library and if they forget them than they have their library day to remember... I am not sure if anything will work with some of these kids. I also want to get the plastic book bags this year from Upstart and I put their names and room number on them, this has helped me out in my previous school, especially for K, 1 & 2 Just some thoughts I am having this summer... I had different color shelf markers for the students who were readers, not able to checkout. They were expected to follow the same procedures as the other students, finding something to sit quietly and read. Their books then went back on the shelf instead of being checked out. They were also expected to sit near their shelf marker so it was easy to return their book when time to go. Friends had to come to them! Usually only had one or two students who wouldn't have their books. Even a first grader can quickly learn what day is library day. Jean The issue is that you are dealing with elementary children! Instead of negative consequences, why don't you try some sort of reward system for classes that return all of their books on time. That will put peer pressure on the kids rather than your having to "nag" them or the teachers. You can have tickets for the classes that return all of their books, put the teacher's name on the back of the ticket, and then pull one ticket every two weeks or so for the winning class to get a special story time, popcorn, or special bookmarks for the entire class. With elementary, it doesn't have to be expensive. Shirley Lukenbill, Librarian Wooldridge Elementary, Austin (TX) ISD and Lecturer, School of Information University of Texas at Austin sluken@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu Here are several ideas that you may use: Set up a table with a puzzle and allow students to work on it. (This year I had a 500 piece puzzle. It didn't get finished but the students really enjoyed working on it.) If your school has a theme for the year, the puzzle can be based on the theme. Coloring sheets relevant to the literature of the week Crossword puzzles that are related to literature Blank copy paper that they can draw a picture of their favorite story Blank paper so they can create their own story Bookmark sized paper so they can create their own bookmarks April Reitnauer Librarian Spring City Elementary School Spring City, PA 19475 School: areit@spring-ford.net Home: aprilreitnauer@hotmail.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. 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