Learning in Progress

I’m only a little addicted to Pinterest .   It is such a fun way to find ideas I didn’t know I needed and an even better way to organize and remember where things are on the Internet.   I like to think of it as an amped up “Favorites” list since I can actually see what the link is about. Through the summer, I pinned library ideas like crazy.   I kind of feel bad for the people following me – 99% of whom are not librarians – because they got flooded with library and book related pins!   Of all the things that I found on Pinterest, below are the things that I have been most excited to learn about – either from the pin itself or from browsing the linked site a little more. 1.        Evernote – I honestly don’t remember where I first saw this productivity tool – but since I downloaded it and began using it, I’ve seen it mentioned numerous times.   Evernote is a way to keep track of notes, lists, food experiences etc.   You ca...

Helping students to understand library organization is a difficult task – and the one that I am working on this week.   Part of what I really focus on early is trying to help students feel empowered to find the things that they are most interested in reading.   Because the library was recently renovated, I don’t have all the signage up to help the kids find the things they’re looking for – but it’s also a bonus because they are paying much closer attention to the lesson, and I see many of them really trying to remember the Dewey numbers they are most interested in. How to find books in the library – by grade K: For the Kindergarten kids, it will be a long time before I actually start talking about library organization.   This week we read But Excuse Me, That is my Book one of my Lauren Child favorites.   In our discussion of the story we focused on problem and solution.   I began our discussion by asking the kids of they know what problems are.  ...

This week I worked more on establishing checkout routines with students and organizing the library so that students would know where to go and what to do. Library Materials Organization I like to make things as easily accessible to the students as possible.   I have a designated materials section where students can find crayons, paper, extra sharpened pencils, tissues etc.   Current Materials Center Additionally, at each table students have a small pencil bucket, white board and dry erase marker, and table sign with seat numbers.   For me, assigning students to a seat, and creating a seating chart , is one of those things that helps everyone know where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to do.   I often assign students a task by seat number and that helps with the general flow of instruction.   My tables will accommodate 6 students, but   Iike to keep groups to 4 students each, so the 5&6 numbers are at seats that I li...