Book Overload

This week the library was closed for two days due to STAAR testing.  For security reasons, no visitors were allowed in the building, including my wonderful volunteers. Therefore, classes that came to the library just checked out books.  Because there were no volunteers, none of the books were able to be reshelved, so we had an overload of books on the library counter.

Volunteer Appreciation Week isn’t until the last week of April, but I couldn’t wait that long to express how lucky I am to have all of the amazing volunteers that help keep this library running so smoothly.  Without them, you can see what chaos occurs.  I am so thankful that they will be back in full force next week.  Maybe then things can get back to normal!

Library Resources Research Tools

In Pre-K this week, I read If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson. This book is one of our Texas 2x2 list nominees and was a perfect complement for what they were doing in the classroom.

Grades K-2 are just getting started on doing an animal research project, so I showed them how to access our Library Resource page online and to select a variety of encyclopedias from our Research Tools page.  I demonstrated the various features of PebbleGo Animals, National Geographic for Kids and World Book to assist them with their research.  We also discussed the importance of citing your source and how to do that when using an online resource.

In grades 3-5, I also showed them the Research Tools tab and how to access the Proquest SIRS Discoverer database.  I explained how journal, newspaper and magazine articles in a database can be more reliable, relevant and accessible than using a search engine.

Announcements and Reminders

I spent most of this week helping with the administration of the TELPAS test for our ELL students.  Classes that did manage to make it to the library just came to check out books.  So this week I’m going to remind you of some things that are going on at Christie.

First, March 24^th is the final deadline for the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes. Remember that you CAN use more than ONE email account to vote.   Thanks again for all of those who continue to vote each day.  You never know if you don’t try as we could win a new playground!

http://www.togethercounts.com/at-school/win-for-your-school/sweepstakes

Yearbooks are now on sale. Order forms went out this week. You can go online at YBPAY.LIFETOUCH.COM code: 8513117. Get it now before they are sold out!  The deadline for ordering is March 27^th.

There will be STAAR testing the week of March 27^th, so no visitors will be allowed in the building.  The library will also be closed that week.

CultureFest will be April 20^th.  Be on the lookout for recruitment letters coming home next week.  If you are interested in hosting an exhibit table for your country, please complete the form and return it to school no later than April 7^th.  Also, if you do host an exhibit table, only prepackaged food will be allowed. We will be having a photo booth for the first time instead of having a Parade of Nations this year.  So continue to dress in your native attire and make sure you stop by the photo booth to capture the moment.

The week before Spring Break, we began our Battle of the Books with 4^th and 5^th grade students.  This is a bracket style face off in recognition of March Madness.  We start with the top 16 books that have been checked out this year and narrow it down to the final one book.  We have completed our first round of Sweet 16 voting and will continue with the Elite 8 round next week.  Our display is on the wall of the hallway leading to the library. I’m extremely excited about all of the conversations I hear about which book is going win.  I look forward to seeing which book ends up being the winner.

Spring Book Fair

This week we had our Scholastic Spring Book Fair.  Each class got an opportunity to come to the fair to browse and shop. Students were also able to come before and after school as well as during the day with a pass from their teacher.

Grandparents Day was on Tuesday and we had quite few grandparents that stopped by to shop after having lunch with their grandchildren. But, the biggest night was Thursday night during Open House.  I don’t recall ever seeing that many people waiting in line to purchase books.  The line wrapped around the cases and out the door. It was an amazing sight to see!

Battle of the Books Update:

We got the bracket displayed in the hallway and I’ve heard a lot of great conversations about the books.  I finally got to talk to all of the 5^th grade classes and hand out brackets to those that wished to participate.  Hopefully, they will be able to get caught up on their voting when we return from Spring Break.