As we head towards Thanksgiving, I've enjoyed sharing a variety of favorite readings with the students in kindergarten through fifth grade. On Friday, kindergarteners enjoyed a cumulative tale of a mouse who has eyes bigger than his stomach. Earlier in the week the fourth graders learned about the Iroquois good morning message of thanks for all of nature. They also learned a bit about the history of the potato and how King Frederick of Prussia managed to trick his subjects into eating this new food (which may just be a myth, but an entertaining one!). Both second and fifth graders were able to spend time on Scholastic's The First Thanksgiving website to find out about the Pilgrim and Wampanoag culture in the 1600s. Next week I am looking forward to sharing Balloons Over Broadway, which is about the creator of the original Macy's Thanksgiving Parade puppets, with the Third Grade. Finally, first graders will find out about the dangers of green beans and second graders will be treated to the tale of The Great Thanksgiving Escape.
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Last Friday evening, the Barnes & Noble in Edina was the place to be for NDA families, staff, and friends! Those who attended enjoyed wonderful music from Mr. Bestler and the Jazz Ensemble, entertaining book readings by teachers and students, book browsing, and time to catch up with old and new friends. Thank you all for your support of our school's library and your children's literacy development. I am so fortunate to be able to work in this dedicated community!
The Barnes and Noble Book Fair is coming up this Friday and I need to start thinking about what new books we will order with our book fair earnings. This is a big job, so again this year I am asking the 6th graders to help me out. Part of our library time this week will be dedicated to exploring the books recommended on book list and book review sites (such as those on this website's Great Links page). I'm particularly interested in suggestions for narrative non-fiction (this is non-fiction that reads more like a story) but fiction and informational non-fiction suggestions are welcome as well. Sixth graders and anyone else who would like to share a recommendation, please comment below. If you're wondering if we already have a particular book, please check our catalog before posting your comment. Thank you!
What does library time look like? On any given day you might see a class of students listening intently to a Caldecott-worthy book, or individuals answering questions about how to find a book in our library, or students creating artwork in the style of a familiar illustrator, or kids learning how to use the online catalog. We have a great time learning in all of these ways, but perhaps the best part of library time for most students is browsing and checkout time. At the end of every PK-5 library class, the students have time to look for books to check out and to read books alone or with a buddy (live or stuffed). Only on rare occasions are the students silent during part of this time. There is too much fun and learning to be had by talking about and reading books together! Some might be surprised to find the library to be such a lively place, but as long as the talking is about books and our voices aren't carrying way down the hallway, this is the look and feel hoped for in children's libraries these days. Just look at the smiles on the third and fourth graders pictured below!
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