Hello LM_NETTERS,=3D20
I had a lot of requests for a HIT, so enjoy (there is some great =3D
informaton here!):
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This is my 5th year teaching K-5 and I finally feel like I know what I'm =
=3D
doing!! I will respond later today with some ideas--my first week =3D
activities will be getting to know the students: I will tell K and 1st =
=3D
graders about myself using a scrapbook or things to show to create a =3D
sense of community with them...the 2nd graders will fill out a Wheel of =
=3D
Favorites--identifying some of their interests and then finding someone =
=3D
else in the class that matches an interest...3rd will write (as a table =
=3D
of 4) 4 summer activites on a 3X5--3 will be true, one will be =3D
false--I'll read them aloud and students will try to guess which one is =
=3D
false--4th grade will each write 3 things about themselves--one being =
=3D
false--we'll guess as a class which one is not true. Each year I feel I =
=3D
rushed into the rules and all without taking time to create a =3D
"community" with my students...this is my attempt to do more of that.
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I use the first week to go over library rules(walk
and talk quietly etc...),check out procedures, fire
drill procedures, book care tips (carry book in your
backpack, use a bookmark to mark your place. keep
books away from pets and small children etc...) I give
them time to check out books (1 for K, 1, 2; two books
for 4, 5; third gets to earn the priviledge of taking
two books by returning the book they take each week
for 4 weeks then they've shown me they are responsible
and get to take out 2 books from thenm on. I leave out
precut=3D20
construction paper (2X6) for them to make a bookmark
while after they have checked out a book. I use
library related poems to share with them as well.
As I think of things I will get back in touch.
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=3D20
I suggest you start by working with the teachers, giving them good =3D
service
and then let things fall in to place. Teachers are the doorkeeprs to =
=3D
good
experiences for studetns and key to a good program.
--------------------------------------------
My personal web page has an article OFF TO A CRISP START which might =3D
help
you. Linworth publishing has a book you might like with the title =3D
something on
the order of WHERE DO I START which could be helpful.
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Since I started at a new job this year I totally understand your =3D
concerns! Here's a little advice:=3D20
First of all, take a deep breath! That's the hardest thing to remember! =
=3D
You are oging to do great!=3D20
---------------------------------------------=3D20
For K-5 I would plan an orientation of where things are in the library =
=3D
and how to check out books. You could even have them "practice" doing =
=3D
that. Other than that, I would read them a couple of great books and =
=3D
then you could talk about them. I've found that everyone K-12 loves to =
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be read to.=3D20
------------------------------------------------=3D20
A quick decorating thing I did to spruce up the library was this - I =3D
went to Walmart, got a sponge/stencil type thing, and painted leaves all =
=3D
over the libary up by the ceiling. It spruced it up and made it look a =
=3D
little more welcoming. It took about an hour to do the whole room, but =
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it wasn't hard work!=3D20
------------------------------------------------ =3D20
Another quick suggestion - if you are going to have any staff meetings =
=3D
in your library, keep candy or funny little sayings on hand to have out =
=3D
on the tables. I put candy out for the very first meeting and the =3D
teachers told me that they really appreciated it. I also have a "stash" =
=3D
of candy for them in my office and they come by for a morsel from time =
=3D
to time!=3D20
I'm sure you'll do great!! Hope this helps some!
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Congratulations on your job offer. The first week of school, we usually =
=3D
just review library rules and procedures and set the seating =3D
arrangements. =3D20
This year I plan to read a short story such as Dr. Seuss' Hooray =
for=3D20
Diffendoofer Day (one of my favorites) or A Fine, Fine School (I =
don't=3D20
recall the author). This will take up the entire class period, and may =
=3D
have=3D20
to go into the second day. The next time the students come to the LMC, =
=3D
you=3D20
could plan an easy library skills lesson (such as a Library Scavenger =
=3D
Hunt=3D20
to see what skills the students already have and which skills you need =
=3D
to=3D20
focus on) or read a story. Hope this helps.
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Kim, start with the Linworth book, Where do I start?=3D20
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From someone who has been there before and will be with even less=3D20
time this year, the first thing to do is -- Take a de-e-ep breath! Do =
=3D
not=3D20
panic! No one is expecting miracles this week. Leave the decor changes =
=3D
for after school next week so that the library will look fresh for =
open=3D20
house the second or third week of school. If you really are having a =
=3D
hard=3D20
time getting in to find resources (books, journals,etc) use what you =3D
have=3D20
available from your current library. I am sure that you have=3D20
"back-to-school" and "welcome to the library" books you have used as =
a=3D20
children's librarian. You also have journals and ideas you have =
used=3D20
before in your current job. If you are not going to feel ready to begin =
=3D
check out next week most teachers will understand. Use the first week =
=3D
to=3D20
explain library routines, rules, etc. and read aloud a story or two =3D
about=3D20
the library and what it has to offer. Borrow these from your =
current=3D20
library until you can get time to inspect your new collection. As for =
=3D
the=3D20
decor, do spend some time at the nearest Teacher's Store this =
weekend=3D20
looking for things you can use. Make this a Tuesday or Wednesday=3D20
after-school or before-school, if you are a morning person (I'm =
not)=3D20
project. Between classes take time to learn what is in your collection, =
=3D
starting with your picture books, reference, non-fiction, and =
finally=3D20
fiction. If you are replacing a certified professional things are =3D
probably=3D20
in good order, if not you probably have a principal like the ones I have =
=3D
had who basically are happy if the books are standing straight on =
the=3D20
shelves and you fill empty spaces on top of and in shelves with books =
=3D
stood=3D20
up sideways. Yes, you will want to get things in order ASAP. But the =
=3D
ASAP=3D20
is defined by you. Starting open circulation during week two will =
help=3D20
this because you will be able to weed as things come back in, and =
shelf=3D20
read the shelf you are replacing a book on. Of course this is =
assuming=3D20
that you don't already have an able paraprofessional. In that case =
you=3D20
have even less to panic about. Just try to touch base with her and =3D
start=3D20
with things the way your predecessor did things and gently suggest =3D
changes=3D20
during the first quarter. Use your lunch and prep times to get around =
=3D
to=3D20
meet the classroom teachers in the staff room, lunch room, or those =3D
having=3D20
prep in their classrooms at the same time as you. It is important that =
=3D
you=3D20
get out of the library during these times and make these=3D20
contacts. Co-operation and collaboration will grow from these =
early=3D20
contacts. Once you have projects going you may not be as able to get =
=3D
out=3D20
to meet others but the fact that you are open to making the contacts =3D
will=3D20
bring the other teachers in. Also talk to the principal and get =3D
yourself=3D20
on the faculty meeting agenda ASAP.
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-------------------------
If you have fixed classes I would start with thinking of assigned seats, =
=3D
at
least for the older kids. Make it easy on yourself to learn names. Find =
=3D
a
good book or two to read aloud and discuss with kids, at least lower =3D
grades.
Then allow time to go over 3-5 rules of behavior. Maybe read a short =3D
story
or two, or booktalk, with upper grades then rules. Then allow time for =
=3D
book
check out or start that the next time you see them.
Take care of yourself and kids first, then try and get what teachers =
=3D
want,
then worry about everything else as the year goes on. (decorating, =3D
ordering,
changing things). Find a friendly library using teacher in your school =
=3D
and
find out the good things that were done, how they were done, etc.
If you don't have an aide, in a month or two, get some fifth graders =
=3D
to
volunteer shelving, checking out books, etc. They will love it.
Good Luck.
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-----------------------
Congratulations! I have certainly enjoyed my years working with the =3D
little ones, although I work with "big ones" now. The following =3D
suggestions come to mind for the first visit...
Read about about a new school, new teacher, new student...etc. First Day =
=3D
Jitters?=3D20
Tell the kids what to expect as far as your requirements for behavior, =
=3D
how many books they can check out at first, what sort of things they'll =
=3D
learn.
Most of time with K spent in storytime, especially the first visit
You might want to take digital pictures or polaroids of each class (in =
=3D
small groups so you can zoom in) to help you learn names quickly.
You might find a fiction book that the 4th and 5th graders would like =
=3D
and read the first chapter.
Whether or not you ckeck out books the first visit might depend on age =
=3D
and how independent the students are, as well as how long the visits =3D
will last.
Depending on the size of the library, you might do a quick scavenger =3D
hunt for grades 3-5 to refresh them on the locations of various dewey =
=3D
sections, reference, etc.
just random thoughts....hope some of them help. Have a great year!
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----------------------
Does your library have a copy of Mr. Wiggle's Book (available from =3D
Demco)?
I would use it with going over library rules/expectations for the =3D
primary
kids; doesn't hurt to review this info with the older ones as well. =3D
Just a
starter idea. Good luck!
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=3D
------------------
I, too, am new at this, and I am now in the second week of school. I am =
=3D
in a somewhat unique situation, in that I work with Pre-K through HS =3D
seniors, and my total number of students is 54 (when everyone is here). =
=3D
Also, these kids have not had a school library before this year (before =
=3D
now, they had a "room with books on shelves" as I like to call it, but =
=3D
there was no order to the books, no catalog, no accountability if you =
=3D
took a book out, etc.)
That being said, I think what I've done so far could work anywhere. So, =
=3D
I'll just let you know what I've done so far, and you can decide if any =
=3D
of it would work for you. The first week, I had each class for 40-50 =
=3D
min. (except the littlest ones) and I talked about library =3D
citizenship/manners and proper book care. I had examples from their =3D
very own library of books with ripped pages, dirty pages, severe water =
=3D
damage (had to pull it out of the discard bin), broken bindings, etc., =
=3D
and we talked about how that could have happened and how they could =3D
prevent it. I also had one book that had been fatally wounded last =3D
year: someone had glued the first 25 pages together. So we talked about =
=3D
how most book damages were accidents, and so they needed to pay =3D
attention to what they were doing when reading so those accidents =3D
wouldn't happen to them, and we talked about why they shouldn't destroy =
=3D
books on purpose... bookd are expensive, some aren't even available any =
=3D
more (including the glued book, sadly), etc.
Also, I introduced the program that I've thrown together to help get =3D
them used to their library. We will be having the "Library Olympics" at =
=3D
the end of the quarter, which will be my way of testing them on what =3D
I've taught them. So, up until the end of the quarter, they are in =3D
training for the Library Olympics. I split them up into teams of 4 =3D
(using playing cards). The idea here was that teammates will =3D
(hopefully) encourage each other to pay attention during the quarter so =
=3D
that they will have a better chance in the Library Olympics. =3D20
One of the "events" in the L.O. will be the "Reading All-Stars." This =
=3D
is the only event that starts at the beginning of the year (the rest =3D
will take place on the same day at the end of the quarter). I gave them =
=3D
a list of book types that I would like them to read (3 Caldecott books, =
=3D
a Newberry book, an encyclopedia article, a biography, etc.) Because =
=3D
the quarter is only 9 weeks long, I don't expect that many (if any) of =
=3D
them will read everything on the list. However, since the team that =3D
averages the most books by the end of the quarter will start the =3D
Olympics with an advantage over the other teams (they will start the day =
=3D
having already won an event), they are encouraging each other to read as =
=3D
much as they can. I have a chart up on my bulletin board to have a =3D
visual representation of how much has been read. I can send you copies =
=3D
of my documents for this if you are interested (their reading logs, the =
=3D
list of books to read, etc.)
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---------------------------
I started with the little ones (the Montessori school, Pre-K & K) this =
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week. I visit their classroom every morning for about 20 min. Usually, =
=3D
I read a story first, then move on to my lesson for the day. The first =
=3D
2 days we talked about library manners & book care. Today we talked =3D
about how the books in the library are in ABC order, and then I had them =
=3D
pretend to be books and get into ABC order. We just used the first =3D
letter of their first name, since most of them know what that is. I =3D
happen to have some 12" wooden tracing letters, so I had each one hold =
=3D
their letter, which helped them visualize who should go next on the =3D
"shelf." You could also use ABC blocks, or just pieces of paper with a =
=3D
letter written on it...
I hope some of this is helpful. If you want more details on any of the =
=3D
things I'm doing, I would be happy to share.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kim Monaco
Library Media Specialist
Bellerose Ave. School
East Northport, NY=20
www.northport.k12.ny.us
http://home.att.net/~kimberleym
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