Tuesday, December 6, 2011

November Genre Challenge Winners

We had quite the battle this month!  Congratulations to Mrs. Canady's class for winning in November.  However, all 12 books were read by ONE student!  This calls for a slight rule change.  Because I want this to be a class competition the new rule is on top of earning one point for each book read, the class also gets one point for each participant.  This rule goes into affect for the December challenge.  Due to the close race I have awarded popcorn parties to both 4th grade classes.  December's genre is non-fiction.
All results:
3R - 8
3S - 4
4C - 12 (1 participant)
4H -11 (5 participants)
5P - 0
5T - 0
6H - 1
6S - 1

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Scholastic Book Fair

We have a Scholastic Book Fair going on right now!  If you missed it, you can still access it online at http://onlinebookfairs.scholastic.com
Choose Iowa, Cedar Falls, Orchard Hill School
Want to support the library?  You can view the library wish list by clicking Classroom Wishlists (button on the left hand side) and choosing Media Specialist/Librarian
All books purchased for the library are available for all students to check out!
You can preview the wishlist here
Thanks for your continued support for the library!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Genre Challenge - October

Congratulations to Mr. Halvorson's 6th grade class for reading the most Mystery/Suspense/Horror books in October!!  This was the second month of the genre challenge.  Their class will receive a popcorn party in library!  It was such a close race!
November's genre is Historical Fiction.
All results:
3R - 2
3S - 1
4C - 3
4H -1
5P - 0
5T - 0
6H - 9 (6 participants)
6S - 9 (5 participants)
Wow!  What a close call!  My tie breaker is the amount of participants, so Mr. Halvorson's class won by one participant.  I hope to see this much excitement in November!

We saw decreasing numbers this month due to Iowa Children's Choice, I hope to see more participation in November!

Monday, October 31, 2011

October Top Ten

Here are the top ten books for October.  No surprise that most of them are Iowa Children's Choice books!

1. Smile by Raina Telgemeier

2. Oggie Cooder by Sarah Weeks

3. Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff

4. Powerless by Matthew Cody

5. 100 Cupboards by Nathan Wilson

6. Baseball Great by Tim Green

7. Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis

8. Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin

9. The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures

10. Tentacles by Roland Smith

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Library Update

We are having a lot of fun in the library!

Kindergarten - Grade 2 are working on finding a "just right" book.  We've practiced the 5 Finger Method (ask Grade 1 & 2 students to teach you our song!).  We also are learning the I PICK rap (http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=194724&title=I_Pick_Just_Right_Books_&vpkey=) this week!  It's a fun way to review how to choose a "good fit" book.  We'll be working on this for a while, so make sure you're asking your students why they chose the library book they did!

Kindergarten has been learning about "just right" books most recently by going on a Book Hunt.  We had a lot of fun going on a bear hunt and going on a ghost hunt too!

First grade has been reading a lot of books by Margie Palatini. She writes humorous books but they are ones that are best shared with an older reader.

Second Grade read a few funny books about a witch.  We worked on making comparisons between books and finding the rhyming words.

Third grade has graduated from Netbook 101!  They learned how to use the netbooks and how to access the information they need.  We worked on search techniques and how to find books that interest them.

Fourth grade has been working very hard on their Wax Museum projects.  If you haven't seen them, come to the school on Monday, October 31 from 1-2 and view them!  We created Kidspiration webs and also timelines in the library.  We're finishing up our biography unit and will be moving on soon!  Third grade has the opportunity to participate in the genre challenge too!  November's genre is Historical Fiction.

Fifth grade has also finished Netbook 101!  We're moving to Internet Safety in November.  Iowa Children's Choice and Genre Challenge are two reading promotions fifth grade can participate in.

Sixth grade is finishing up a short unit on copyright and they are planning the rest of their year.  As top dogs, they are able to come and help shelve books in the library on all odd days (1, 3, 5) so I hope to see them at 8:30 on those days!

We're having a great year so far!  I will be available at conferences if you have questions or concerns about your child and the library.  I'm also available to show you our space or talk with you about curriculum!  Come see me in the library!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Library Update

Wow!  This month is really flying by!
Kindergarten is working toward checking out books from the shelves.  We moved from using the tables to using a cart.  Once we show that we can choose just right books from the cart and put them back correctly, we'll be ready for the shelves.  Also, we started using the computers in their classrooms!  Ask them about the netbooks!

First grade just finished some fairy tale comparisons.  Learning about old fairy tales and reading modern fairy tales has been pretty funny.  This week we're reading a story and working on a story map.  They also have been using computers in their classrooms!

Second grade has been working on finding a good fit book and putting books away correctly.  This week we started working with non-fiction and note taking.  We learned a lot about pumpkins!  Computers are also being used in their classrooms for math and reading.

Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth graders have all been working on netbooks during their library time.  Third graders are learning about using Microsoft Word and saving to their server space.  Fourth graders worked on research for their wax museum project.  Fifth and Sixth graders are gaining access to their Google Accounts to use at school and home.  We're practicing being good student leaders.

Lots of things going on in the library so far this month!  Don't forget, Iowa Children's Choice is going on and October is half way over if your child is participating in the genre challenge!

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Iowa Children's Choice 2011-2012

Iowa Children's Choice starts TODAY!  Students are invited to read a variety of the twenty-two books between today (Oct. 1) and April 2.  If students would like to qualify for the Iowa Children's Choice party they must read:
4th graders - 8 books (~1 book every 3 weeks)
5th graders - 10 books (1.5+ books every month)
6th graders - 12 books (2 books a month)
Students must also fill out a form (either in paper or online) with complete sentences, correct punctuation, and correct capitalization.
If you have any questions, please let me know!

Friday, September 30, 2011

Genre Challange - September

Congratulations to Mrs. Canady's 4th grade class for reading the most Realistic Fiction books in September!!  This was the first month of the genre challenge.  Their class will receive a popcorn party in library!
October's genre is Mystery/Suspense/Horror.
All results:
3R - 0
3S - 0
4C - 25
4H - 11
5P - 2
5T - 1
6H - 6
6S - 12

Also, Iowa Children's Choice starts Monday!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Library Update

All of our new books we ordered over the summer are out and available for checkout!  Teachers were invited to a Book Look on Tuesday and students have been checking them out ever since.  We have a lot of great titles!  Ask your student if he or she has checked one out!

Here's a brief summary of what we've been doing in library so far!

Kindergarten - We are working on basic book parts.  Taking care of our books was another topic we have covered.  Last week we started checking out books.  So far the students have been very responsible about returning them on time.  Let's keep it up!

First Grade - We have also been working on basic book parts, taking care of books, and taking care of our library.  Choosing a good book has also been a topic.  Our read aloud books have tied into schema, which they are learning about in their classrooms.

Second Grade - Read alouds for second graders have tied into frogs, toads, and community.  These are areas of study in their classroom, so we are making good connections to prior knowledge.  We have been working on fiction vs. non-fiction books and more advanced book parts.  Ask your second grader to show you the publication information.

Third Grade - Advanced book parts, table of contents, index, and glossary are our focus areas now.  We've discussed book care and location of books too.  Third grade gets to participate in the genre challenge.  Reminder that this month is Realistic Fiction.

Fourth Grade - These classes are also eligible for the genre challenge.  Fourth grade is working on book placement in the library.  We're learning about how all of the sections are organized and doing our best to find books.

Fifth Grade - These classes are going more in-depth into finding a book and organization of books.  Using the catalog is a skill we are also working on.  This grade level has a lot going on, they are able to participate in the genre challenge as well as adopt-a-shelf.

Sixth Grade - We are learning about being safe on the Internet.  Recently, we discussed our Digital Footprint.  These lessons also correlate with Internet Safety lessons they are learning in the classroom.  Sixth grade are also able to participate in the genre challenge as well as adopt-a-shelf.

If you have any questions about the library, feel free to contact me!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

6th Grade Internet Safety

This week our 6th grade students took a survey about their Internet and cell phone usage.  I am going to use the data to help guide our unit on Internet Safety.  The results were very interesting and would be great conversation starters for 6th graders (or any other grade for that matter).  I hope you find this information as interesting as I did!
© Mrs. Newgard
Clicking on the image makes it easier to read.


Friday, September 2, 2011

Adopt-a-Shelf

©iClipart, 2011

Another new program in the library this year is the Adopt-a-Shelf program.  Students in 5th and 6th grade were invited to take a leadership role in the library by signing up for a shelf to take care of.  They are asked to make sure the books are in order and towards the front of the shelf.  This optional program aims to help students feel an ownership of the library, as well as help keep our space looking nice.  I am excited for the program.  If you have questions or concerns, please let me know!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Genre Challenge

We're trying something new this year!  It's called the Genre Challenge.
Each month a genre will be chosen. Students who read a book (at their level) in that genre can fill out a form and give their class a point.  The class with the most points at the end of the month receive a popcorn party.  Each month the points will be reset and a new genre will be chosen.
September's genre is Realistic Fiction
I hope to have a lot of students try new kinds of books and participate in the challenge.
A copy of the form is below.
 Image:© Mrs. Newgard

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Over the summer

6th grader shared what they read over the summer.  Since not everyone read a book, it was fun to see the "other things" they read!

© Mrs. Newgard, 2011

© Mrs. Newgard, 2011
© Mrs. Newgard, 2011
© Mrs. Newgard, 2011

Monday, August 15, 2011

Welcome!

Welcome to the new school year.  I hope it's a great one!
© Mrs. Newgard, 2011


Before returning back to school I wanted to share some photos from the library.  As you will see we have an Under the Sea theme this year.
© Mrs. Newgard, 2011
I can't wait to meet you all!
© Mrs. Newgard, 2011