Students must shelve books for me. I am in a K-4 school with back-to back
scheduled classes. Still teachers send students to change books.
Sometimes I can send those extra students back.
First, I made it simple for the K-1 students. Picture books have just the
Author letter on the book and the same letter on the shelf. I talk with
them about matching the book to the shelf. I have special baskets or a
shelf for large groups of books such as B. Bears, Dr. Seuss.
It is still not perfect but workable. This month I have reviewed
procedures again and assigned two police officers for each period. They
may help students find books and give imaginary tickets if books are put
in the wrong place.
One ideas is to use paint sticks or bookmarks as shelf markers. Sometimes
I pull out books and have them put it away with a shelf marker so I can
identify if it is correct. Some librarians actually put each childs name
on a paint stick so they can know how each child is doing simply by
reading the paint stick.
Get a copy of the Shelf Elf and Shelf Elf Helps Out. Both books include teaching
guides. I believe Highsmith and Amazon both sell the books.
That was the hardest lesson for my Kinders when I was at elementary. We would talk
about the shelves being the books' house. All the books are the children who live
in that house and their parents can't find them if they are out of order and that
they have to go on the right shelf or they are in someone else's house.
I would take them in small groups of about 3 and have them show me how to use the
shelf marker about three times before turning them loose. If they didn't use it
correctly, I corrected them and told them the consequence of not using the shelf
marker was that they would have to take the book, even if it was what they didn't
really want...or not get one at all. It only takes one time of having to take a
book they don't want or not getting one for them to get it. I used to tell them
"If I see you with a book and a shelf marker in your hand then that is your book
and you should be heading to the tables to read your book until I call you for
check out." There might be some tears the first time, but they don't do it again
after that. I know it seems a little harsh for Kinder but it will make your life
and shelves much less messy.
Have you tried the shelf stick Hokey Pokey? I believe the words are
somewhere on the net. I goes something like:
You put your shelf stick in
You pull your book out
You put your book in
You pull your shelf stick out
You do the shelf stick hockey pokey...
Have you tried teaching the 'shelf marker hokey pokey'
When I taught shelving, I would have the kids do various steps. First, they
would sit at tables with 10-12 books on it, and as a group, they would
organize the books in shelf order. Then we'd rotate tables, and do it
again. Then, we'd line up and do shelving relays. Each team had 4-5
students, each student 2-3 books. One student would shelf one book, come
back, tag the next one and go to the back of the line, and keep going until
all books are shelved. I would put colored dots on each book, so I could
quickly go into the shelves and see which team shelved the best. It took
some prep work, and afterward, I'd have to remove the stickers, but it was a
fun way to learn. Finally, each student would get a worksheet with 'spine
labels' on it, and they would have to organize them on the worksheet. That
way I could see if each student was getting the idea. Once they passed the
worksheet, I would give them each an assigned shelf. After finding their
library books each week, they could spend time making their own shelf look
nice. It sure helped keep things in order! Then every once in a while, I'd
bring a little treat to thank them for keeping the shelves looking good.
Good Luck!
just keep reminding them every time they come about alpha order
and reading the call number on the spine label. I really understand and
sympathize, mine get that way as well. Once or twice a year I go
through, (takes a week or less) and put everything back in correct
order. I also use 5th graders or good other grade kids to straighten.
I also teach a song that others have used, I just changed it a little.
Bookie Lookie (tune of Hokie Pokie)
Put your shelf marker in
Take a book out
Leave your shelf marker in
And take a look about
You do the Bookie Lookie
And you turn yourself about (Not really)
That's what it's all about
Bookie Lookie!
I have them cut out the call number labels on a sheet of paper and put them
in order on an a drawn "shelf of books". Allows everyone to practice and me
to check. Helps but I found some who can do it perfectly on paper and not
with books. So I gather piles of books with different call numbers - the
sets can vary according to the objective. They choose a partner and sort
and put each pile in order. I do a quick check. HOWEVER, getting them to
do it in real life is very difficult. They can't be bothered and I find my
sixth graders are much worse than my younger students. I am appalled at how
they stack books on a book cart - backwards, upside down, etc. They know
better. But they are doing a better job of locating books now. I know I
need to stand over them and watch them in the shelves every minute and who
can do that? SIGH!
With first graders, I sit them around the library, on the floor in front of
the bottom shelf and let them look at the books on that shelf to practice
using their shelf markers. It helps some but as they move to 2nd and 3rd
grade I still see a few "forgetting". I really have the hardest time getting
them to "make room for the book' with their hand . They want to shove it
back without even looking - possibly on top of another book or two.
I know I'm a bit late weighing in on this one, but If I were you, to get the
shelving mess under control, I'd first just stress how to use the shelf markers
correctly and drill that in until they get it. Don't even broach the topic of
alphabetical order and how to find where a book belongs yet (at the same time as
shelf marker lessons, I mean). If the students start using shelf markers the way
they're supposed to, then knowing/understanding where the book goes and why doesn't
matter, because the shelf marker shows them where it belongs.
With my youngest students (K), I simply tell them that the library is organized in
a very special way, and that every single book has an exact spot it's supposed to
be in. I tell them that they don't know how it works yet and that's fine because I
don't expect them to; I just expect them to use shelf markers so that the books
stay neat and organized. The other thing I try to stress is that if something
happens that results in a book off the shelf but no shelf marker in the book's
place (such as: they forgot to use their shelf marker, the shelf marker fell out,
or they find a book that someone else didn't put back) it goes IN THE BOOKDROP.
Don't guess!!! It means some extra shelving for me and my aide, but I try to train
them not to put a book back where they "think" it belongs. (Though I know it still
happens a lot...)
I think once the students have shelf markers down, then you can separately address
the idea of how the library is organized.
Well, that's my two cents as far as strategy goes; as for actual lessons, one shelf
marker activity I've done with Kindgergarten is to pair them up and give each pair
one shelf marker and a set of shelves to stand at (in our particular library, this
could mean two, three, or four shelves, because of different shelving heights). I
have the first partner practice removing and replacing three different books;
meanwhile, the other partner is my Shelf Elf Helper who watches their partner to
make sure they do everything right. Then they switch. I have to admit, it's not
very exciting, but I think sometimes kids just need practice, practice, practice.
A library organization lesson I've done with 2nd grade involves them creating their
own oversized spine label on half a sheet of regular printer paper (as if they had
written an E book), then lining themselves up as if they are books on a shelf.
Then I have them find the spot on the actual shelves where their book would go.
Then I have them go on a book scavenger hunt. Each student gets a piece of paper
listing four titles and authors (with the last names in bold), and they have to go
get those books off the shelves. Actually, I have different levels of
difficulty--for some, it just says, "Find a book by _________." Doesn't matter
what title. (I make sure these are authors with lots of books.) The harder ones
have two books that just have to be by the right author, while the other two are
specific titles by an author. Once the students have found all four of their
books, I check them, and they sit quietly and look at their books. This lesson
does mean a bunch of extra shelving, too, but I like the authenticity of the
students actually finding and grabbing the correct books.
Okay, that was a lot more long-winded than I meant to be--sorry! I don't know if
you've posted a HIT yet (or were planning on doing one), but I would love to see
other people's ideas if you're up to it! If you include my response in a HIT,
please don't include my personal info. Thanks, and good luck getting those kids
whipped into shape! :)
Missy Small, Media Coordinator
Moss Hill School
Kinston, NC
msmall@lenoir.k12.nc.us
"This email message may contain confidential information. If the reader of this
message is not the intended recipient, please note that reading, copying or
distributing this message is prohibited. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this message."
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
* LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home