Halloween in the Library

Halloween in the Library has just gotten a bit interesting.  I discovered these great books on pintrest and decided to try them .  I used discarded, torn, books and remade their covers to look like spooky potion books.  I loved how they turned out.  Give it a try it was super easy.
This week I am also introducing my Twin Mrs. De Spook.  She will be protecting my library from any Halloween pranks .  She also will be introducing some new Halloween library books.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY.  ENJOY THE SPOOOOOOOY READS...................

MRS. DE SPOOK

Hello Media Specialist friends.  
This year in my library we are encouraging students to read by becoming crime fighters.  My theme is "It's a CRIME not to READ!"  We have set up a mystery that the students must solve.  Our first mystery is the "Cheese Caper".  We have had all of the Diary of the Wimpy Kid books stolen off the shelf.  We have also discovered that all of those books have been taken from all of the teachers rooms.  Hm mm... what a mystery.  In order to solve this crime the students must read books off of their grade level reading lists.  If they read one of those books and fill out their detective book (reading journal) we will show them a clue .    Each clue is in the rebus format there are 5 clues in all.  We have our principal and Assistant principal on the case ( Sherlock Hoopes and Dr. Nelson) .  I am also know as Detective De.  The pressure is on to solve the case.  Parents are kept in the loop by twitter feeds that go out to let them know if any other clues have been found.  I will keep you all posted.  It all started in the library the crime scene was set, let the mystery begin.  

Back to School Rules

Library Rules are important to have in your Media Center.  Here is a great idea that I am using this year.

L   Listen to Mrs. De (Media Specialist)

I    Inquire (Ask) if you need help

B  Be Respectful

R  Read & Talk Quietly

A  Always Walk never Run

R   Return Books to their proper spots

Y  Your Smile is appreciated 

I hope these rules make my "LIBRARY" a great learning environment.

Welcome Back Everyone!

Need a new idea to try in your library?  

Want a fun way to teach library terms?  

Give this fun game a try. " Who has" is a ask a question get an answer game. 
 I give each student a card  stating : 
 I Have___________________  who has__________________?  
for example:   I have genre .  Who has ...What is a book called that is late ? 
 Someone has a card that reads:  I have overdue.  Who has   .... What are books that contain true information and facts called?  . 
 I have made 30 cards with the first card saying... 
This is the first card Who has.... (question goes ) 
 and the last card says...       the answer and then This is the last card!

Just a fun idea that will make your students pay attention just a little bit more so they can be ready to  jump up and answer.  Give it a try.  

What's your Dewey #?  

This is a great activity to teach your students about the importance of putting your books away correctly using the Dewey Decimal System.

You take your month your where born and the day you where born to find your Dewey #.  Mine is 318.19??
My birth date is March 18 19??



I have been using this idea in my Media Center this week.  
I showed them that what my number was and where I would live on the shelf. I then had the student figure out their DEWEY number.  We wrote it down on a card.  I then had all the students line up in numerical number.  We talked about how important it was to find your place and be proud to reside on that shelf.  Then I took someone away and shoved them in a random numerical order.  We talked about how frustrating it is to use the researchers and be so excited that a book was in but then to find out it had been shelved incorrectly.  What a fun activity.  
Thanks for the great idea Nancy Christiansen (Aspen Elementary).

Do you have a chalkboard in your Media Center?

My daughter got into chalkboard art this summer and inspired me to use the chalkboard in my Media Center this year to share/reinforce areas of focus for our school. I put up this welcome at the beginning of the year, but will be changing it occasionally as we make different challenges to our students. 

In September we are encouraging students to create something for the Reflections Art contest. I have pulled books about art, photography, writing, dance, music, filmmaking and such and created this "chalkboard art" to remind students to be creative this month.

 Remember when we did "Book Spine Poetry" at the Peggy Sharp workshop? I thought I would give it a try in April for National Poetry Month, here are a  couple poems we created from books in my library. Searching/reading the titles really got students looking at books they may normally overlook. It was fun!

GREAT Site!

This is an amazing site for Media Specialists! Powerpoint presentations, bookmarks, posters, worksheets, and all kinds of "helps!"

http://ccssmswikishare.wikispaces.com/

Please share any other wonderful sites you find!

WE ARE SO EXCITED!!

I just wanted to share some fun that we've been having at Riverview...

All summer we've been reading for Scholastic's "Read for the World Record" Challenge, and we have blown our own socks off!

The challenge started May 1st, and ran through August 31st, and during that time the students read, and read, and READ!! More minutes were read, than were logged I'm sure, but all the same the students did SUCH a great job, that Riverview was ranked FIRST in the state of Utah, and FOURTEENTH in the WORLD!  The final tally's will be posted by Scholastic in a couple of weeks, and we are excited to see the FINAL totals.  The top 20 schools get their name in the Scholastic Book of World Records, 2013.  Yay us!! (flags in the pic below represent the top 20 schools =)

Library Summer Projects

I have been DYING to make this for my library!  I originally wanted to get it in vinyl and put it on the wall, but this way I can move it around and even take it down if I need to (for a little while... then it goes RIGHT back up!)  It's not the biggest sign I've made, but it's the cutest =) AND it's the first completed project of the summer.  I'm off to a good start!  (it's 24" high and 14" wide)

Dr. Seuss Birthday!

Some of the MANY fun things going on for Dr. Seuss birthday celebration...

- - - - -

How did you celebrate in your library??

Battle of the Books at Scera Park

Our school just completed Battle of the Books today.  It was great and went well. Many, many more students now want to sign up next year.

Dr. Suess Day - March 2nd

Sue sent info about this site in an email awhile ago,

but I thought I'd add a link here because it is my favorite Suess site...

http://www.seussville.com/

THEY'RE JAZZED ABOUT READING AT SNOW SPRINGS ELEMENTARY

Snow Springs has had another Reading Winning Season. They go all out when it comes to the Utah Jazz "Be a Team Player - Read" contest. Tammy Wood, Media Goddess and Librarian Extraordinaire, challenged the Snow Springs students to read 2 Million minutes and the kids not only rose to the challenge, they exceeded it! From January 21 - February 21 the students were buzzing with activities to help them reach their goal.

They held Reading Parties, Read-a-Thon's, Boy's Read Night, Girl's Read Night and just about any other excuse to get together and read! There were drawings and prizes Galore! They had mascots and Princesses come, and a Special Reading Fairy who looked suspiciously like Mrs. Wood.

I hope All of the Alpine District Schools that participated in the Jazz "Be a Team Player - Read" contest feel like they are winners for reading!

Fun site

This is a great site... you can listen (and watch) pre-recorded books, or even record your very own!  Try it!

Pete the Cat

Our Kindergarten discovered "Pete the Cat-I Love My White Shoes" a few months ago and word is spreading fast throughout the school. This book was one of the best selling at our book fair. If you would like free downloads for these stories or other fun Pete activities, go to the link below... "It's All Good!"

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/

Here is the link to the blog that Sue was talking about at the meeting today...

www.peoniesandpoppyseeds.blogspot.com

and here is another site i found that has some great library related ideas...

www.librarygames.com

PLANTILLA has invaded Highland Elementary

Have you read this book? So fun and entertaining for your students - but Mary Robinson has taken it to a new level, creating her own plant - Yes, She Made This! It stands about three feet tall. I'm sure all the students would Love to take Plantzilla home for the summer.

Mary's full of fun and pranks for her students. Last spring she read the book "The Rain Came Down" by David Shannon. She had the teachers help with "Special Effects". Each time she read, "Still the rain came down!", the teacher would mist the students using a spray bottle filled with water Mary had provided.

Books are Sweet at Vineyard Elementary!

Doesn't this entrance draw you into the Vineyard Library? If you like this, just wait until you get inside!

book read-alouds

I'm sure most of you are aware of this great tool, but just in case...

Scholastic offers videos of authors reading all or part of their own books.  It's great to introduce different books, or to even have the author read to the kids for a change.  Visit Scholastic for more information.