Kindergarten
We have loved getting to know the new kindergarteners. They are a sweet energetic bunch! This fall kindergarteners started the year by learning behavior expectations for the story corner and the library. In fact, they are now experts at sitting on their spots in the story corner and modeling a quiet voice, ears listening, eyes watching, and a calm body during instruction. They learned how to use a shelf marker while browsing so that books can be returned to the correct spot. They also practiced naming and identifying the parts of a book and know that E stands for the Everybody section (picture books). In addition to learning how the library works, we read and talked about lots of great stories together, some of which are nominated for the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. We also went on a virtual field trip to the Kennedy Center to watch the National Opera perform Slopera, an operatic retelling of Mo Willem's book I Really Like Slop! Take a look below and be sure to ask your child about their favorite book!
We have loved getting to know the new kindergarteners. They are a sweet energetic bunch! This fall kindergarteners started the year by learning behavior expectations for the story corner and the library. In fact, they are now experts at sitting on their spots in the story corner and modeling a quiet voice, ears listening, eyes watching, and a calm body during instruction. They learned how to use a shelf marker while browsing so that books can be returned to the correct spot. They also practiced naming and identifying the parts of a book and know that E stands for the Everybody section (picture books). In addition to learning how the library works, we read and talked about lots of great stories together, some of which are nominated for the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award. We also went on a virtual field trip to the Kennedy Center to watch the National Opera perform Slopera, an operatic retelling of Mo Willem's book I Really Like Slop! Take a look below and be sure to ask your child about their favorite book!
First Grade
First graders got to visit the library for the first time this year and boy were they excited! I was so impressed with how quickly they learned and demonstrated expectations. I would not have known they were virtual learners last year! Similar to Kindergarten, first graders practiced using shelf markers and browsing the library. They learned about the Everybody (picture book) section and how to use pictures on the tubs in the non-fiction section to locate topics of interest. They learned that call numbers on the spines of books tell where the book lives in the library. In the Everybody section, call numbers have an E and then the first three letters of the author's last name. They learned how to access our PebbleGO database through Clever to research topics of interest and attended a virtual performance of Slopera, an operatic retelling of Mo Willem's book I Really Like Slop! performed by the National Opera. Finally, we read and talked about lots of great books together, some of which are Washington Children's Picture Book Award Nominees. Take a look below and be sure to ask your child about their favorite book!
First graders got to visit the library for the first time this year and boy were they excited! I was so impressed with how quickly they learned and demonstrated expectations. I would not have known they were virtual learners last year! Similar to Kindergarten, first graders practiced using shelf markers and browsing the library. They learned about the Everybody (picture book) section and how to use pictures on the tubs in the non-fiction section to locate topics of interest. They learned that call numbers on the spines of books tell where the book lives in the library. In the Everybody section, call numbers have an E and then the first three letters of the author's last name. They learned how to access our PebbleGO database through Clever to research topics of interest and attended a virtual performance of Slopera, an operatic retelling of Mo Willem's book I Really Like Slop! performed by the National Opera. Finally, we read and talked about lots of great books together, some of which are Washington Children's Picture Book Award Nominees. Take a look below and be sure to ask your child about their favorite book!
Second Grade
Second grade students have been busy this fall! It's hard to believe they were kindergarteners the last time they spent time in the library! We have reviewed and practiced expectations, learned how to locate books in the library, read and discussed lots of great stories together, and spent some time learning about the PebbleGO database. They participated in STEM rotations as part of "Dinovember." Learning activities included using the iPads to scan QR codes to access and read articles in PebbleGO about dinosaurs and then complete a Seesaw activity to share their learning. They also built models of dinosaurs using Legos and structures using Keva planks. Be sure to check out their Seesaw accounts for the evidence and take a look at what they have been reading below!
Second grade students have been busy this fall! It's hard to believe they were kindergarteners the last time they spent time in the library! We have reviewed and practiced expectations, learned how to locate books in the library, read and discussed lots of great stories together, and spent some time learning about the PebbleGO database. They participated in STEM rotations as part of "Dinovember." Learning activities included using the iPads to scan QR codes to access and read articles in PebbleGO about dinosaurs and then complete a Seesaw activity to share their learning. They also built models of dinosaurs using Legos and structures using Keva planks. Be sure to check out their Seesaw accounts for the evidence and take a look at what they have been reading below!
Third Grade
Third graders were really excited to check out books again! We started off the year reviewing expectations for the library and learning about its organization. Then we read several stories about some pretty remarkable animals, like Belka and Strelka, some of the first dogs to visit space. Third grade students learned about the different call numbers in the library and how to use them to locate a book. They also learned about the PebbleGo Next database and how to toggle between it, PebbleGO and our Capstone e-books. Recently, we learned about the Otter Award, an award given to a transitional chapter book by the Washington Library Association. We book-talked the nominees and the children are eager to read some of the titles! Check out the books they have read in library class below.
Third graders were really excited to check out books again! We started off the year reviewing expectations for the library and learning about its organization. Then we read several stories about some pretty remarkable animals, like Belka and Strelka, some of the first dogs to visit space. Third grade students learned about the different call numbers in the library and how to use them to locate a book. They also learned about the PebbleGo Next database and how to toggle between it, PebbleGO and our Capstone e-books. Recently, we learned about the Otter Award, an award given to a transitional chapter book by the Washington Library Association. We book-talked the nominees and the children are eager to read some of the titles! Check out the books they have read in library class below.
Fourth Grade and 4/5 Science Tech Magnet Program
It was wonderful to have our fourth graders back at school and so nice to get to meet our new fourth grade science tech students. It took them no time getting back into the swing of things! We started the trimester by reading a few books about animal helpers and fished the trimester with some mythology to get ready for a reading unit they will have in their classrooms. The highlight for many of the students this fall is that now that they are in fourth grade, they can check out Playaway audiobooks. They have been a hit! The little battery operated MP3 players have a single book recorded on them and can be read anywhere. Many kids have been plugging in their headphones and enjoying listening to the story as they read the book during class time. Maybe your child has brought one home to enjoy as well!
Fourth graders have also learned about how to use the library catalog to conduct a title, author, keyword, subject, or series search. they also know how to use the sublocation to know where to find the book in the library. Students also spent some time learning about the PebbleGO Next database and how to access Clark's Capstone Interactive E-books.
It was wonderful to have our fourth graders back at school and so nice to get to meet our new fourth grade science tech students. It took them no time getting back into the swing of things! We started the trimester by reading a few books about animal helpers and fished the trimester with some mythology to get ready for a reading unit they will have in their classrooms. The highlight for many of the students this fall is that now that they are in fourth grade, they can check out Playaway audiobooks. They have been a hit! The little battery operated MP3 players have a single book recorded on them and can be read anywhere. Many kids have been plugging in their headphones and enjoying listening to the story as they read the book during class time. Maybe your child has brought one home to enjoy as well!
Fourth graders have also learned about how to use the library catalog to conduct a title, author, keyword, subject, or series search. they also know how to use the sublocation to know where to find the book in the library. Students also spent some time learning about the PebbleGO Next database and how to access Clark's Capstone Interactive E-books.
Fifth Grade
It has been wonderful to have the fifth graders back in the library! In addition to reviewing expectations and procedures, fifth graders also started the year with some great stories. They learned about the genre of narrative nonfiction as we learned about various inventions and their inventors.
Similar to fourth grade, the highlight for many of the students this fall is that now that they are in fifth grade, they can check out Playaway audiobooks. They have been a hit! The little battery operated MP3 players have a single book recorded on them and can be read anywhere. Many kids have been plugging in their headphones and enjoying listening to the story as they read the book during class time. Maybe your child has brought one home to enjoy as well!
Fifth graders have also learned about how to use the library catalog to conduct a title, author, keyword, subject, or series search. They also know how to use the sublocation to know where to find the book in the library. Students also spent some time learning about the PebbleGO Next database and how to access Clark's Capstone Interactive E-books.
Finally, they learned how to code Ozobot Bits, robots the size of ping pong balls that have a light sensor that reads and performs codes students draw for them. Be sure to check your child's Seesaw account. There may be a video or image of them working with the Ozobots!
It has been wonderful to have the fifth graders back in the library! In addition to reviewing expectations and procedures, fifth graders also started the year with some great stories. They learned about the genre of narrative nonfiction as we learned about various inventions and their inventors.
Similar to fourth grade, the highlight for many of the students this fall is that now that they are in fifth grade, they can check out Playaway audiobooks. They have been a hit! The little battery operated MP3 players have a single book recorded on them and can be read anywhere. Many kids have been plugging in their headphones and enjoying listening to the story as they read the book during class time. Maybe your child has brought one home to enjoy as well!
Fifth graders have also learned about how to use the library catalog to conduct a title, author, keyword, subject, or series search. They also know how to use the sublocation to know where to find the book in the library. Students also spent some time learning about the PebbleGO Next database and how to access Clark's Capstone Interactive E-books.
Finally, they learned how to code Ozobot Bits, robots the size of ping pong balls that have a light sensor that reads and performs codes students draw for them. Be sure to check your child's Seesaw account. There may be a video or image of them working with the Ozobots!