Library Essential Skills 2015

What are essential library skills?

 

We focus our learning on:
1. Choosing good fit books
2. Searching and locating materials in the library and online
3. Digital citizenship and safety
4. Love of Literature

These essential skills are learned during library time through lessons, projects and hands-on practice. They ensure students are ready to be independent users of libraries, information, and technology after they leave Orchard Hill Elementary.

 

Choosing good fit books

Kindergarten

• I can pick fun books to read. 
• I can ask my library teacher or another adult for help finding books. 
• I can read the pictures, the words, or with someone. 

First-Third Grade

• I can use the “I PICK” strategy to choose a good fit book. 
• I can use the “Five Finger Test” to choose a good fit book. 

Fourth-Sixth Grade

• I can use my checkout history to evaluate what I read and to make a reading plan for myself. 
• I can use a browsing strategy to find books I want to read: 
• use the card catalog 
• check the special shelves (Children’s Choice, new books, graphic novels, etc.) 
• read the back, read the inside cover, or read the secret summary 
• I can use recommendations from Destiny Quest to find books I want to read. 

 

Search and Locate in the Library

Kindergarten

• I can find my favorite author’s shelf. 
• I can find my favorite non fiction shelf. 

First-Second Grade

• I can locate fiction books on the shelf using the author’s last name. 
• I can locate nonfiction books on the shelf using nonfiction neighborhoods. 

Third-Sixth Grade

• I can use the online card catalog to find books by author, title, subject and keyword. 
• I can use a call number to locate fiction and nonfiction on the shelf. 

 

Search and Locate Online

Kindergarten

• I can use links/bookmarks to find websites. 
• I can find the letters in my name on the keyboard. 

First-Second Grade

• I can use links/bookmarks to locate websites. 
• I can enter usernames and passwords to use digital resources. 

Third-Sixth Grade

• I can use the AEA online resources to locate information online. 
• I can choose effective keywords to use when searching online. 
• I can identify relevant and authoritative websites from a list of online search results. 

 

Digital Citizenship and Safety

Kindergarten

• I can follow school computer rules. 
• I can tell if I see something that makes me feel bad. 

First-Second Grade

• I can follow school computer rules. 
• I can be an upstander and tell if someone is making me or others feel bad. 
• I can stay safe online. I ask before sharing my name, address, or picture. 
• I can tell where I found pictures or words that are not mine. 

Third-Sixth Grade

• I can follow the district Acceptable Usage Policy by: 
• Protecting myself and others - keep information private and ask before I share online 
• Respecting myself and others - be kind and positive when sharing online. Report bullying 
• Respecting copyright - cite the source for all images, videos, music and information I use 
• Protecting school computers and devices - be careful and keep devices nice for everyone 

 

Love of Literature and Reading

This is a new skill we are adding to our Essential Skills and Concepts.  Watch for updates!

Creativity in the Library

Attention all students!
We're once again looking for student creations this year, but there's a change from last year.  This year ANYTHING you create can be brought into the library for two weeks of display!  See the photo below for details!

Take a Winter Break to Read

I am holding a “winter break to read” contest again this year.  Each student is to get a blue bookmark on Tuesday to take home for Winter Break. If they read 5 books (or for older students 500 pages) and have it signed by a parent, they are entered into a drawing for a prize.  Some of the prizes include lunch in the library, an extra book checkout, reading time with Mrs. Loder or Mrs. Newgard, and lots of other great prizes.  I have introduced this to your students in library and I hope you’ll support this promotion by encouraging your students to read.  The bookmarks must be returned by Wednesday, January 7 to qualify.  I hope we have a lot of participation!

If your child did not get a bookmark or lost it, you may print one off and turn it in.

© Mrs. Newgard, 2014

Library Essential Skills

What are essential library skills?

We focus our learning on:
1. Choosing good fit books
2. Searching and locating materials in the library and online
3. Digital citizenship and safety
4. Nonfiction text features

These essential skills are learned during library time through lessons, projects and hands-on practice. They ensure students are ready to be independent users of libraries, information, and technology after they leave Orchard Hill Elementary.

Choosing good fit books

Kindergarten

• I can pick fun books to read. 
• I can ask my library teacher or another adult for help finding books. 
• I can read the pictures, the words, or with someone. 

First-Third Grade

• I can use the “I PICK” strategy to choose a good fit book. 
• I can use the “Five Finger Test” to choose a good fit book. 

Fourth-Sixth Grade

• I can use my checkout history to evaluate what I read and to make a reading plan for myself. 
• I can use a browsing strategy to find books I want to read: 
• use the card catalog 
• check the special shelves (Children’s Choice, new books, graphic novels, etc.) 
• read the back, read the inside cover, or read the secret summary 
• I can use recommendations from Destiny Quest to find books I want to read. 

Search and Locate in the Library

Kindergarten

• I can find my favorite author’s shelf. 
• I can find my favorite non fiction shelf. 

First-Second Grade

• I can locate fiction books on the shelf using the author’s last name. 
• I can locate nonfiction books on the shelf using nonfiction neighborhoods. 

Third-Sixth Grade

• I can use the online card catalog to find books by author, title, subject and keyword. 
• I can use a call number to locate fiction and nonfiction on the shelf. 

Search and Locate Online

Kindergarten

• I can use links/bookmarks to find websites. 
• I can find the letters in my name on the keyboard. 

First-Second Grade

• I can use links/bookmarks to locate websites. 
• I can enter usernames and passwords to use digital resources. 

Third-Sixth Grade

• I can use the AEA online resources to locate information online. 
• I can choose effective keywords to use when searching online. 
• I can identify relevant and authoritative websites from a list of online search results. 

Digital Citizenship and Safety

Kindergarten

• I can follow school computer rules. 
• I can tell if I see something that makes me feel bad. 

First-Second Grade

• I can follow school computer rules. 
• I can be an upstander and tell if someone is making me or others feel bad. 
• I can stay safe online. I ask before sharing my name, address, or picture. 
• I can tell where I found pictures or words that are not mine. 

Third-Sixth Grade

• I can follow the district Acceptable Usage Policy by: 
• Protecting myself and others - keep information private and ask before I share online 
• Respecting myself and others - be kind and positive when sharing online. Report bullying 
• Respecting copyright - cite the source for all images, videos, music and information I use 
• Protecting school computers and devices - be careful and keep devices nice for everyone 

Nonfiction Text Features

Kindergarten

• I can find the front and back covers. 
• I can find the spine. 
• I can find the title page. 

First-Third Grade

• In first and second grade, I can identify headings, table of contents, glossary, and index 
• In third grade, I can create original nonfiction text features including table of contents, glossary, index, and map. 

Fourth-Sixth Grade

• In fourth and fifth grade, I can find information using table of contents, glossary, index, maps, charts and graphs. I can use a legend to interpret a chart, map, or graph. I can locate bibliographic information for citations. 
• In sixth grade, I can create informational texts that have a table of contents, glossary, index, map with a legend, charts. or graphs. I can locate bibliographic information and type a bibliography.

Reminder - Registration Tomorrow (July 31)

Just a reminder - Registration is tomorrow 9am-1pm and 3-7pm

Book Brackets Update

Here are the results from Round 3!  We're down to the final 4!

Book Tournaments!

We have so many great things going on in the library!  Last week, we started a book battle.  It's a tournament style bracket with different books or book characters that the students enjoy.  We created a K-2 Character Bracket and a 3-6 Book Bracket.  We just finished our first round, here are the results!

I can't wait to see what Round 3 brings!

Two Week Update - January

I let January get away from me!  Here is what's been happening in the library the last few weeks!

Kindergarten:  We started one of our most exciting units of the year!  We started our author study of Mo Willems.  We started by reading Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and learned how to draw the pigeon.  Then we learned about Elephant (Gerald) & Piggie by reading a few of their books and creating cartoons.

First Grade: We read The Hat by Jan Brett and compared it to The Mitten which we read the library class previous.  Now, we are starting our wordless book unit.  We read The Snowman and wrote about what we could do if we were a snowman that came alive at night.

Second Grade: We read Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems and wrote about what dinosaurs would do if they were alive today.  Now, we're looking at nonfiction text features using our research books.

Third Grade: We continued discussing how books are organized in the library and used the Mimio to help us practice!

Fourth Grade: We're wrapping up our learning of the nonfiction by reviewing the different Dewey sections and working on how to find the books we're looking for.

Fifth Grade: We studied different search engines to see which ones are the best for different things.  Then we learned how to "Google Like a Boss"!  We'll use those skills in an upcoming library class.

Sixth Grade: We finally finished our commercials and were able to watch them and vote!  Lots of great work done by the sixth graders!!

Weekly Update - January 9

It feels like a long time since our last Weekly Update!  It has been great in the library!

Kindergarten:  We looked at the difference between fiction and nonfiction books.  We read a nonfiction book Sniffles, Sneezes, Hiccups, and Coughs by Penny Raife Durant.  We were able to sort fiction and nonfiction books too!

First Grade: We read The Mitten by Jan Brett and talked about predicting.  We also wrote about our favorite part and what would fit into our mitten.

Second Grade: We read The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbra Kerley and listened to Brian Selznick talk about creating the illustrations.  This ties into the second grade dinosaur study.

Third Grade: Now that we know how to use the catalog we're learning how to find things we want.  We started talking about how our library is organized and how books are shelved.  This is a conversation we will continue for a few library classes.

Fourth Grade: We're continuing with Locked in the Library but extending it to finding things in the library and using the catalog to find what is available.  

Fifth Grade: We discussed what we found for explorers and talked about the importance of verifying information we find online.  We should be able to find each fact in at least two different locations to make sure it is correct!

Sixth Grade: We FINALLY finished our commercials!  We're ready to watch them and vote on our favorites!  I can't wait to see who will win!

Weekly Update - December 18

Kindergarten: We read Redbird at Rockefeller Center by Peter Maloney and There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bell by Lucille Colandro.  We got to use the Library Mimio board for the first time!  It was quite a treat!

First Grade: We read The Reindeer Christmas by Mo Price and wrote about animals that would be good at pulling Santa's sleigh.

Second Grade: We read The Santa Trap by Jonathan Emmett and designed our own Santa traps.

Third Grade: We continued work on the library catalog scavenger hunt using the keyword, author, title, and subject buttons.

Fourth Grade: We're still working on getting out of the library in our "Locked in the Library" activity.

Fifth Grade: We started exploring information we found online.  We're looking up information about explorers using two different websites.

Sixth Grade:  Our commercials are coming together.  We hope to finish after break!

Weekly Update - December 10

Kindergarten: Read Aloud: The Christmas Tugboat: how the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree came to New York City by George Matteson.  We also watched some short videos about how they install the Christmas tree.
   
First Grade: Read Aloud: How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky.  We also talked about what skills he gained from his other jobs and how that prepared him to become Santa.  Then we wrote about what we want to be when we grow up and what skills we'll need.

Second Grade: We read Celebrate!: connections among cultures by Jan Reynolds.  We also wrote about different themes traditions have (food and drink, music and dance, dress, and use of fire).  It was fun to see the common themes throughout holidays from different times of the year and different traditions.

Third Grade: We worked on the skill of browsing this week.  We were assigned a few shelves to look at and take notes on whether or not we liked the book based on the cover, back cover, and first few pages.

Fourth Grade: We continue to work with Locked in the Library and learning about the nonfiction section!

Fifth Grade: We finally finished our Digital Passport unit.  We are now well skilled in Internet Safety and being a good digital citizen.

Sixth Grade: We continue our work on our library commercials.  They are looking good!

Weekly Update - December 2

Kindergarten: Read Aloud: Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey and What is Thanksgiving by Elaine Landau.  As a reading response to Pilkey we wrote about what we would eat instead of turkey at Thanksgiving.

First Grade: Read Aloud: Thanksgiving is Here by Diane Goode.  We wrote about what we do on Thanksgiving and compared it to the book.

Second Grade: Read Aloud: Balloons Over Broadway: the true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet.  We created our own balloons and watched a video of how the balloons are made for the parade.

Third Grade: Read Aloud: Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra.  We compared this to the video of Thank You, Sarah by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Fourth Grade: We started a unit called Locked in the Library to discover parts of the nonfiction.

Fifth Grade: We are almost done with Digital Passport.  This week we looked at copyright and created mashups.

Sixth Grade: We're continuing our work on the Dewey Decimal commercials!

Weekly Update - November 20

Kindergarten: We read Chicks Run Wild by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen.  We also tested our knowledge of book parts!

First Grade: After reading The Jolly Postman last week, we read The Jolly Pocket Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlburg this week.  We continue to talk about location of books and how to find what we're looking for.  We also tested our knowledge on this!

Second Grade: Milly and the Macy's Parade by Shana Corey was our historical fiction book this week.  We learned about the fictional story of how the Macy's Parade was started.

Third Grade: Browsing is a skill that students have a hard time learning.  This week, we were assigned a shelf and taught how to "browse" by looking at the front cover, reading the back, and reading a few pages.  Based on those things, we decided if the book was a good fit for us or not.

Fourth Grade: After spending time searching for books using the online catalog, we focused on where books are located within the library.  We also talked about how books are arranged on the shelf.  All of these skills build upon each other to help us be good users of the library.

Fifth Grade: We continue our work with Digital Passport and this week focused on online searches.  We want to make sure we find the best information in the shortest amount of time possible.  We practiced this on paper and using the online game.

Sixth Grade: We are beginning our Dewey commercials!  After learning about how to find books and where they're located, we're in charge of creating a commercial about one of the hundreds sections of nonfiction.  We just got our groups chosen and had a little bit of worktime!  We're very excited to start this project.

Book Fair

Books are Gifts that Last a Lifetime


Hello from Mrs. Newgard,

It's Book Fair time at our school! I've created a classroom wish list to add new books to our school library. You can view my library wish list and purchase books from our school Book Fair website. These books will be treasured by students for years to come.

You can visit our online Book Fair anytime until 11/26/2013.  All books purchased will be shipped directly to me at school with no shipping charge. Thanks for getting our class excited about reading.

Your support is appreciated,

Mrs. Newgard

Scholastic Book Fairs inspire a lifetime love of reading. A percentage of the total proceeds raised during the Book Fair will stay with the school and help get more kids reading, kids reading more! Visit the Book Fair Web site for detailed information. 

Weekly Update - November 8

Kindergarten: We had our first experience with the Mystery Box.  We predicted what the story was going to be about before we even saw the cover or heard the title.  Then we read Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbel.  We also talked about the parts of a title page and worked on a labeling sheet.

First Grade: Read Aloud: The Jolly Postman by Janet & Allan Ahlbert.  We used what we learned from The Jolly Postman to begin discussions about how to find books in the library.  We even got to practice locating a book!

Second Grade: Read Aloud: Fall Weather: Cooler Temperatures by Martha Rustad.  We continued our discussion about nonfiction and how to find what we're looking for.  We used a house and neighborhood example, ask your second grader about it!

Third Grade: Read Aloud: The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg.  Last Library time we read The Widow's Broom by Van Allsburg and we compared and contrasted the two stories.  This is a skill they will be learning in their classroom.

Fourth Grade:We continued working on our searching and locating materials in the library using the online catalog.

Fifth Grade:We had a "catchup" day with our Digital Passport learning.

Sixth Grade:We also continued working on our searching and locating materials in the library using the online catalog.

Conferences are next week!  Watch for information about learning in the Library!

Weekly Update - Two Weeks in One! - October 30

Time got away from me toward the end of this month, so I thought I'd combine the two weekly posts into one!

Kindergarten: We learned about the different parts of a book and read some Halloween stories.  We also talked about the difference between fiction and nonfiction!

First Grade:  We read Piggie Pie and Zoom Broom both by Margie Palatini.  We story mapped one and created a new ending for the other!

Second Grade: Last week we read Memoirs of a Hamster by Devin Scillian and created our own memoir.  This week we read a book about pumpkins and took notes!

Third Grade: Last week we finished up our digital citizenship unit by using what we've learned to write emails to our teacher.  This week we read The Widow's Broom by Chris VanAllsburg and summarized it!

Fourth Grade: Last week we worked more with Destiny Quest and this week we learned about finding what we need in the library.

Fifth Grade: We're still working on digital citizenship, last week we focused on staying safe online.  This week we worked on cyberbullying.

Sixth Grade:  Last week we finished our mini unit on cyberbullying and this week we moved on to searching and locating materials in the library.

Weekly Update - October 14

Kindergarten: We started discussing fiction vs. nonfiction.  We read Tony Baloney by Pam Muños Ryan and compared it to a nonfiction book about penguins.  We took a book walk through some more fiction and nonfiction books and discussed their category and why.

First Grade: Read aloud: Tom's Tweet by Jill Esbaum (an Iowa Goldfinch nominee)  We continued working on IPICK and choosing a good fit book.

Second Grade: Read aloud: Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin  Scillian (an Iowa Goldfinch nominee).  We finished looking for books on the shelf in the fiction section.  We are able to find "our author shelf"!

Third through Sixth Grade: We completed a district survey about technology.  Some classes had time to discuss their current library focus, but most of the time was spent taking the survey.

Weekly Update - October 4

Kindergarten: We read The Shelf Elf and talked about ways we can do our job in the library.

First Grade:We read Blackout a Goldfinch Award Nominee and continued to work with IPICK.

Second Grade:We read I Dare You Not to Yawn and did an activity to locate different shelves in the library.

Third Grade: They were at Museum School and didn't get to come to library.

Fourth Grade: We are setting reading goals that we hope to achieve by November 30.  Ask us about them!

Fifth Grade:We continued working with Digital Passport.

Sixth Grade: Completed their study of digital footprints.

Weekly Update - September 26

What a whirlwind of a 6 Day cycle it has been!  I can't believe it's almost October!  Here's what we've been up to in library!

Kindergarten: Last week we read Going on a Bear Hunt and this week we read Going on a Book Hunt.  It was so much fun for the students to participate in the reading with their actions!  When we were finished, we got to color a sheet that showed books on shelves.  We only colored the ones that were put back correctly, but it was fun!  We're also working on what books we read over the last week, so if you have a Kindergarten student, remind him or her of the title before bringing the book back!

First Grade: We read Bread and Jam for Frances and completed a writing activity about what kinds of books are our "bread and jam" books.  Books we LOVE but we checkout all the time.  We brainstormed a different kind of book to checkout this time.  We also challenged ourselves to find a book on the shelf that matched our first letter of our first or last name.  If we completed the challenge we got a sticker!

Second Grade: This week we checked out first and used our IPICK strategy on our good fit book we got for the week.  We answered questions and then got a chance to read more of our book.  When we were finished we read Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic, which is a nonfiction narrative story.

Third Grade:  We were so lucky this week!  We got to use the Chromebooks!  All we were able to do was login and change our password, but it was fun!

Fourth Grade: We also got to use Chromebooks to take an Internet Safety quiz and set the Orchard Hill Library webpage as a bookmark.  When we were finished we worked on some Internet Safety scenarios.

Fifth Grade: Mr. Grafenberg's class tried to access Digital Passport to complete an online activity on using how distracted cell phones can make us, but the site wasn't working.  So we discussed Internet Safety scenarios.  Mrs. Penberthy's class created their own "text messages" in response to people using them at inappropriate times (for example, in a movie theater).

Sixth Grade: We looked at how easy or difficult it would be to find out personal information about someone from their online presence.  Using a ficitonal person, we were able to find her name, address, phone number, family names, email address, age, description, high school, interests and made notes about her schedule.  It was an eye opener for some students.  We also were able to look at data from our Internet and Cell Phone Usage Survey.  Every year our results get better but they're still interesting!

Weekly Update - September 18

Kindergarten: We finally got to check out from a shelf!  We learned the "Booky Looky" song to help us remember how to use a shelf marker.  We also played a book care game!  What a fun day in Kindergarten!

First Grade: We reviewed the IPICK Rap!  Some of us performed it at the First Grade Literacy Night!  We also read a story called Goldy Socks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins and talked about choosing "just right" books.  I challenged some of the classes to choose a book by an author that starts with the same letter as their first or last name.

Second Grade: We're learning about choosing good fit nonfiction books.  We read The Shelf Elf Helps Out by Jackie Mims Hopkins.  We were able to look through some nonfiction books and identify the different book parts.

Third Grade: We're starting to talk about emails!  Each third grade student gets his or her own email address.  We have been talking about how to do this safely and how to write friendly email.

Fourth Grade: Some of the classes finished watching the digital safety DVD and having conversations about how to keep safe.  We used scenarios to discuss what we would do at home and at school.

Fifth Grade: We talked about staying safe online and how to create strong passwords.  We previewed Digital Passport and hope to try it next week!

Sixth Grade: We took an Internet and Cell Phone survey (see the results here) and created digital footprints!

©Mrs. Newgard, 2013

©Mrs. Newgard, 2013