Betsy Ross Holds In-School Book Bowl Competition

Students from 16 teams of five members each competed for a spot on the team that will be going to the Jan. 19 playoffs.

This team of sixth graders will go to the playoffs.

New Book Day at Ross Woodward - 250 checkouts in one day!

Hundreds of students at Ross Woodward participated in the first annual New Book Day, the brainchild of Alicia L. Cook, the library media specialist. All teachers were invited (see invitation below) for a book exchange the day before the holiday break. Classes were booked every half hour. Students browsed using colored shelf markers, then used their specially made library cards (see photo) at the self-checkout stations to check out their books. Each student left with a new bookmark as well.



Students chose a bookmark after checking out their books.



Students read after checking out books.

Alicia Cook trains students on self checkout.

 

Beth Hart recognizes Worthington Hooker Library Volunteers

Here are photos of Worthington Hooker library volunteers and their children enjoying themselves at the volunteer appreciation party hosted by Beth Hart on December 16^tth after school.  Twice a year, Beth honors her volunteers for their service to both the K-2 and 3-8 library media centers and presents them with tokens of her appreciation.

Circulation for November

21,098 Checkouts and Renewals for November!

Libraries Recognized as Critical

See Susan Martinez Sendroff of Brennan/Rogers in this New Haven Independent article that recognizes our efforts:

http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/katherine_brennan_literacy/

Jepson Names this Year's Caldecott Award Winner

Jeanne Lawrence with this year's winner, Savanna Brookshire, and her father

 

As you know, the Caldecott Award has been presented (since 1938) each year to the illustrator of the "best" children's book that was published the year before - the award is given to the illustrator for their skills in telling part of the story in the illustrations.  Often the author is also the illustrator and there are a few who have received the award more than once.  Deb Robins, a 2/3 classroom teacher and I have been collaborating on this project for a few years now and received 2 grants towards purchasing additional Caldecott books for our students to borrow.  We also purchased a plaque with name plates.  The names of the students who complete the booklet are engraved on the plates and displayed on the hallway plaque.  So far we have a 2009 name winner and a 2010 winner:    Our recipient last year was Valerie Luna, the winner this year was Savanna Brookshire

The first Caldecott winner

 

 The booklet that we prepared for student use has space for each Caldecott book to be rated by the students and to have the student write something about the book - a part that they did or did not like, for example.  Then the students draw a small illustration for the book.  Just reading 73 books is a wonderful accomplishment but writing about each one really shows great diligence.  In the case for both our recipients, the parent/parents were very supportive towards their child reaching the goal that they set. 

 

We do refine the process each year so if you have any suggestions, let us know.  We did decide that as it takes a year or longer to accomplish, we will have the students write the date they do the work, next to each entry.  This will show how they progress in abilities as they get older!

We are excited that we were O.K.ed to have a weekly after school session, starting mid month  for this project.

 

We plan to celebrate each student's success w/a celebration party - which also gives us good publicity for this literacy promotion!

Jepson students at Caldecott award presentation

 

Checking Out the Book Bowl Books at Jepson

Brennan Posts Stats

Close up of Book Bowl book checkout tally.





Bulletin board outside the LMC at Brennan keeps track of Book Bowl checkouts.



Students can keep track of circulation statistics posted outside the door to the LMC.



Beth Hart Demos Flip Cams

Beth Hart demonstrates the use of a Flip cam, one of several purchased from a $5,000 donation from a 24-year-old electrical engineer Rima Ghosh, a Hooker alumna.

Hooker Students Use Laptops for Tapestry Unit Involving Primary Sources

Students return laptops after researching 1894 New Haven City Directory for a task involving the industrial revolution as it affected New Haven. Students create historically accurate profiles of New Haven citizens during that time period as part of a larger unit entitled the New Haven Tapestry Unit written by LMS Beth Hart. Access this source at http://distantcousin.com/Directories/CT/NewHaven/1894/.

Susan Sendroff's First Book Fair at Brennan

Yale Donates Books to Wexler Grant

Roseanne Castiglione goes through boxes containing 3,000 used books brought over from Yale to give to Wexler Grant students and their families. The giveaway started Wednesday, Nov. 18 (Report Card night) and included a little book shelf for each student.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Incentive Program at Fair Haven

Fair Haven Library Character Display

From Lynn Virtue: Fair Haven K-8 uses literacy to highlight character traits we want all of our students to emulate.  Each month, every K-6 classroom teacher receives a book that focuses on a selected character trait. Over the summer, I select 10 character traits and 2 books for each month - one for grades K-2 and one for grades 3-6. I provide each teacher with lesson plans and activities to support the character trait of the month.  At the end of the month, each teacher selects one student to come to the LMC for a Book Talk that I facilitate and for another group activity related to the book.

This month's character trait is generosity and the selected books were : The Can Man by Laura Williams and Mama Panyas Pancakes A Village Tale from Kenya by Mary Chamberlain.

 

 

Guess the Circ Desk

Guess which library media center features this very stimulating circulation desk.

Library Mouse at Fair Haven

Students in all first grade classes heard the story Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk. In the book, Sam constructed a tissue box with a hole in it and a mirror inside.  Above the box is a banner, held up with pencils that reads “Meet the Author” with an arrow pointing down. Mrs. Virtue created a replica for her students. Children in the book and all of the first grade students at Fair Haven found themselves staring into their own reflection when they leaned forward and looked in the box expecting to meet the author!! With the encouragement of Sam, the Library mouse, Students realized they all have an author within.  Students then wrote and illustrated their own mini books, just like the young library patrons in Library Mouse. 

East Rock's Principal's Fall Reading Challenge

Library Media Specialist Paula Daitzman and Literacy Coach Lynn Kelly created this reading incentive program. Each class in grades K-3 has a caterpillar head to which dots with students' names are added as they complete the challenge. Each circle represents five books per student.

Paula organized and ice cream social for the top readers. See the invitation by clicking here.

Gail Hall talks about Her Bulletin Board

Bulletin Board by Gail Hall Outside the LMC at Mauro Sheridan

Cat Urbain, author of Manuel and the Lobsterman, at Betsy Ross LMC in October

Lunch with librarians at the New Haven Free Public Library

New Library Director Christopher Korenowsky speaks to library media specialists from the New Haven Public Schools.

John Jessen from the NHFPL meets with a cluster of school librarians.

Metro Gets Books!

Charline and Ken

New fiction on the shelves

Charline at Metropolitan Business Academy and the Follett rep Ken Kuckel were busy today unloading her opening day collection.