May 29, 2015

Well, the end is almost near. Summertime is coming!  When I think of summer, I think of lazy days lounging in the sun and reading.  I know a lot of people might not think of reading as a fun summertime activity, but that is the only time that I can really enjoy and totally immerse myself in a good book.

I have always enjoyed reading, but not everyone feels that way.  Especially elementary school students who are looking forward to summer vacation and all the thrills that entails.  Swimming, traveling, summer camps.  Who wants to read over their summer vacation?  Well, they might not want to read, but it is important that they do.  Many studies have revealed that reading just four to six books over the summer is enough to maintain their reading skills.  This is so important in preventing the “summer slide”. It can be very frustrating as an instructor and a student to come back in the fall and have to play “catch up”.

Not only is it important that they read, but that they have a choice in what they read.  In a small study conducted in Rochester, NY, they found that students showed more improvement when they chose their reading material versus being assigned a reading list.  To read more about this study, click on this link: http://bit.ly/1HMrMp3 . 

I truly believe that if students are given a choice in what they are doing, it will be more fun and engaging and something that they want to do instead of something they have to do.  So be sure to pack a few books on that family vacation this summer in order to prevent that “summer slide”.  To help with a little incentive to read, here are some links to some summer reading programs.

Plano Public Library System: Suburban DARE – www.planolibrary.org

Barnes & Noble: Imagination’s Destination – www.BN.com/summerreading

Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge: Power Up & Read - www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2015

I hope this helps get some of those reluctant readers enjoying some good books this summer so that they will be ready to go when school starts again in the fall.  Happy reading!

May 22, 2015

As the year is coming to a close, I’ve been thinking about the wild ride we’ve taken with our new learning commons.  It’s still hard for me to say learning commons instead of library.  Shhh! don’t tell anyone, but I use those terms interchangeably.  What some people may not realize is that we still have a library.  We still have all of the books and other things you think of when you think of a library.  We just use our space a little differently.

Instead of being a quiet place for solitude and reflection, it is now a place of open communication and collaboration.  Being what I consider to be “old school”, it has been quite an adjustment getting use to the mostly joyful noise of students learning and working together.  As the year has progressed and more teachers have taken advantage of the space, it has become apparent to me that when a teacher truly realizes the potential for this space the results are quite remarkable.  It is easy to differentiate the classes that come often and those that don’t.  Those that do come often have students that are totally engaged in what they are doing and they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.  Classes that don’t come as often have students that are frequently off task because they are too busy acclimating to this new environment. 

 

I’m not the only one that has to get used to this new way of using our library.  It’s an adjustment for everyone who uses it.  With that in mind, I feel as though we’ve come a long way this year.  Don’t get me wrong, we still have a long way to go to get to what I would call “optimal” appreciation and usage of our new learning commons, but I feel confident that the new year will bring us even closer to that goal.

So, I will continue to use the terms “library” and “learning commons” interchangeably and I will continue getting used to the change in the overall atmosphere.  After all, change is good.  Right?

May 8, 2015

Reading daily is an important step towards student success.  When a student reads 15 - 20 minutes a day, it improves their vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and overall knowledge.  It can also lead to stronger analytical thinking skills, improved focus and concentration and better writing skills. Any time that they can squeeze those minutes in is a good time.  It could be before they go to bed each night or in the car on the way to soccer practice.  It really doesn't matter.  To read more about this topic, check out this article: http://bit.ly/IO7ZMd

May 1, 2015

Well, National Poetry Month has finally come to an end.  Grades Kindergarten thru 2nd Grade each got to learn about 2 types of poems and this month and we finished it off with a little Reader's Theater. Kindergarten performed Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?.  First Grade performed Martha Doesn't Say Sorry and Second Grade did Hokey Pokey: Another Prickly Love Story.  They had a blast reading their parts and even acting them out a little.  The only disappointment was that there wasn't enough parts for everyone to participate in the reading.  I explained that an audience is also important and that the next time we try this, they will get a turn to read.  I think that they enjoyed Poetry Month quite a bit overall.  Enjoy this picture of our Second Graders