Stress always comes with something new. I think teachers were sad to think their kids wouldn't be coming to library every week. So it was my job to dispel that myth. Let me tell you my circulation numbers are on the rise..
My Kindergarten and First grade teachers were all for sending a small group of students to the library during their Daily 5/Literacy station time but we realized we needed a little direction for them. If you recall from a post last year we read Marley Goes to School by John Grogan to Kinder at the start of every year. We talk about Marley causing mischief in the school. We then use little brown dogs and tape them to all the Cozy Corners (this is our name for centers) that they can use. This is their visual where they don't have to ask us if they can play or use something. We had to come up with the way for the kids to know what they should be doing. The teachers send them down in groups of 3-5 with a timer, usually an ipad and they have 30 minutes. Well you know it doesn't take but about 2 minutes for the little ones to check out a book. So after checking out they have some choices. Our Kindergarteners can check out, read, do a skill tub and then a cozy corner and 30 minutes is plenty of time for them.
We made these little passes for them. We have one hanging so we can remember what they are suppose to do as well.
Each of our Kindergarten classes has a name like the bunnies or the puppies so their pass uses that picture so we can tell where they came from quickly.
The First Grade teachers had a few different ideas. They actually have two times during the day where the teacher pulls small groups and the other students have station time. So what they want their kids in the library to do looks like this. Even though they have "check out a new book" only on Monday the kids can check out any day they need to return their books.
Next weeks post will be about our Challenge Lab and Skill Tubs
Can't wait to share all the cool things that go on there.
