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I’ve had a number of questions about the Library Lunch Club I sponsor and how it’s run. It’s really very easy. The top 25 readers in the 5th grade and the top 25 readers in the 4th grade are members. We’re an AR school so it’s easy to pick the top 25 but you could use grades or behavior or whatever worked for you. I also include anyone who makes all As and some special ed students are working hard. Our population is transitory so I also include new students who are go getters when it comes to reading. It’s my club – I get to make the rules. J We have about 100 4th & 100 5th graders so about ¼ are “in the club”. Members get to take their lunch trays from the cafeteria and eat lunch in the library. I have 10 round tables, each with 5 chairs. They can sit with whomever they want – that’s one of the big draws. Students can sit with their friends from previous years or they can sit all boys or all girls. In the cafeteria they have to sit by class. Once they have finished (and cleaned the table) they can get up, use the computers or the iTouches, talk to their friends, read or do pretty much whatever they want (so long as it doesn’t frighten the horses - or the librarian). I have a couple of big trash cans so they can dispose of trays and unwanted food. The kids love it, the teachers love it – it promotes reading with no work on their part. The cafeteria monitors like it because it helps with the overcrowding problem. The only people who aren’t wild about the idea are the custodians who worry about the carpet. My Principal says we can clean the carpet and kids are more important than spots on the rugs. Every month I re-run the AR numbers and the membership changes – I do that on purpose as a life lesson. We know that having a reached a goal you have to set another one and keep working or you call behind but many our students don’t. Our population is ESL, bi-lingual , Title I, 90% Free lunch , you name it, we have it. We spend a great deal of time teaching goal setting. The club runs from 11:30 – 12:30 – so it takes an hour of my time ( I sort of eat my lunch then too.). The kids know it’s a privilege and are very good about not abusing the library or the computers. One nice extra is that I’ve 50 kids who are very computer savvy and they bring that back to the classrooms. The teachers are more willing to try some Web 2.0 products when they know they have some willing helpers. I like it because I really get to know the kids. The students are excited about reading and know the library is a happening place. All in all, it is a win win situation for everyone – well except maybe the carpet. Guusje Moore Librarian Housman Elementary School SBISD Houston TX guusje@mindspring.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. To change your LM_NET status, you send a message 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 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html * LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/ --------------------------------------------------------------------