This Week in the Library: December 8-12

Another full week! Here's what happened in the library.

Primary Classes (K-3):  We listened to "Carnivores" by Aaron Reynolds. (illustrator Dan Santat)  This is one of the Washington Chiildren's Choice Nominees.  We talked about the differences between carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores.  Vocabulary words discussed were: carnivore, vicious, vegetarian, and disguise.

We also wrapped up last week's story by watching a few minutes of a silent movie "The Bank" (1915). (this link is from You Tube and blacked at school). Here's another one "The Immigrant" (1917) (Teacher Tube).

4th Grade: We worked on organizing book cards by Dewey number in table groups.  This week we worked on numbers to the tenths place.

5th Grade:  We finished looking at bibliographies and source notes in biographies.

6th Grade:  We began working on reading time lines.

Professional:  Cataloged this month's magazines, some of the books we have gotten from Puget Sound Council, and started to process books we earned at our Fall Book Fair!

I also attended the District Tech Leader Training on Wednesday with Mrs. Goodsky and Mr. Wildenhaus.  I completed the 2 to 1 laptop distribution in the building.

I attened a meeting with folks from the district Technology Dept. regarding Wireless Access Points (WAPs) at Sherwood.  I did a walk through the building with them to identify locations for future WAPs to enhance the wireless signals at Sherwood.

In addition I checked out snow books to 2nd grade and worked with some small groups of 1st graders on logging into their district accounts and using laptops.

This Week in the Library: December 1-5

Finally, a full week!

Primary Classes (K-3):  We heard "That is Not a Good Idea" by Mo Willems another one of our WCCPBA books.  The book is written in the style of a silent movie.  We talked about how the author surprised us with the ending.  Vocabulary words taught for the story were: stroll, ingredient, boil, and key.  The word key in the book was used as "main" or "major" instead of the kind used to unlock something.

4th Grade: We began ordering Dewey Decimal book cards by number in small groups.  We used whole numbers and broke ties with the letters.  We will add complexity each week.

5th Grade: We worked on discovering bibliographies and source notes in biographies.  Students learned that source notes tell the reader where the information came from.

6th Grade: We looked for facts and opinions in biographies.  Students had to support their finds with either the word that made it an opinion or some possible resources that could prove a fact.  Work was recorded on a google form.

Professional: Worked on our building's redistribution of laptop computers.  All classes should soon be 2 students per 1 computer.  I also worked on processing and cataloging books received from Puget Sound Council.  Observers from the district came and visited the library on Wednesday.  Held a WCCPBA Preview session for primary teachers on Tuesday morning.  Teacher's learned about this year's nominees and some of the activities that can go with the books.  We watched the WCCPBA video.

Book Fair Wrap up

We had a great book fair. Many kids were able to purchase some great books for their home libraries.  As a result of our Scholastic Book Fair we received about $1700 is cash and $850 in Scholastic Books (85 books).  This was almost the same total as last year's book fair.  The money will be spent to add books to our collection for best books, children's choice nominees, and books that will support curriculum.

2 of our poster winners!

The book fair also had 10 students selected as poster winners.  Due to donation from the community ($300) we were able to get books to students in need.

The change donation box competition results were:  UW-$64.00, WSU- $15.68, Small WA colleges: $7.39.  All donation went to the purchase of new library books for Sherwood!

THANK YOU to all of our volunteers and the the PSO for handing the money and organizing the volunteers.

This Week In the Library Nov. 24-25

A very short week at Sherwood.  Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

I only saw Monday classes this week due to the holiday.  Any books due Wednesday will be due the following week.

Primary Classes: Heard "Little Dog Lost" by Monica Carnesi.  This is a true story about a dog found on the ice in the Baltic Sea and is on our WCCPBA list.  Vocabulary words presented before this story were: Baltic Sea, adrift, and paddles.  News Video of Baltic.

4th Grade: Gibson: Reviewed our learning of the sections in the Dewey Decimal System.

5th Grade: Alderson: Completed our work on learning about a book's index.

6th Grade: Hanson: We reviewed the concept of fact and opinion.  We completed a worksheet as a class and discussed how determining if a statement is fact or an opinion can help with research.

Professional: Finalized the book fair documents.

This Week in the Library:November 17-21

It's Book Fair Week at Sherwood.  Here are some of the links your might need:

Volunteer LINK:  There are still some open slots during the week.  We'd love help!

Online Book Fair LINK.  Can't make it to the book fair?  Grandparents out of town looking for gift ideas?  You can order through this link and Sherwood will get credit for the sales.  The items come to us after the online fair closes (a few days after the regular fair).  If you are buying something as a gift, please send Mr. Sonnen an email with your phone number, so he will know not to give it to your child and to call you for pick up.

Scholastic Book Fair Videos:  PRIMARY (K-3)  INTERMEDIATE (4-6)  MIDDLE SCHOOL (6-8)

Book Fair Letter Home

Here's what was going on during classes:

Kindergarten:  Heard "More Bears!" by Kenn Nesbitt.  We made a chart of the similarities and differences between a library and a bookstore.  Students also have several minutes to browse the book fair.

1st. Grade:  We talked about being a savvy shopper.  Figuring out what you need vs. what you want.  Knowing how much money you have.  Being kind to cashiers.  Students also have several minutes to browse the book fair and create a wish list if they wanted to.

2nd ,3rd & 4th Grade:  We talked about sales tax.  We discussed how the government uses their tax money (schools, parks, roads, police, fire, libraries, etc).  Then we learned how to estimate tax using 10%. Students also have several minutes to browse the book fair and create a wish list if they wanted to.

5th & 6th Grade:  We talked about all of the people involved in making/producing and selling a book.  We also talked about how shoplifting affects prices.  Students also have several minutes to browse the book fair and create a wish list if they wanted to.

Professional:  This week I pulled Thanksgiving books for Mrs. Bonnell, continued to work on the building laptop 2 to 1 redistrbution, helped run the book fair.

This Week in the Library: November 10-14

VOLUNTEERS ARE STILL NEEDED FOR NEXT WEEK'S BOOK FAIR.  SIGN UP HERE.

Although there was no school on Tuesday to honor our Veteran's, we did have classes on the other days.

All Classes (except Morehouse): We prepared for next week's Book Fair by watching the author preview video. Flyers for the book fair were given to teachers to distribute and a letter was sent home to families.  It should be noted that all books checked out this week will be due after the book fair:

Monday Classes: books due Monday, November 24
Wednesday Classes: books due Wednesday, December 3
Friday Classes: books due Friday, December 5

Links to videos: Primary (K-3), Intermediate (4-5), Middle Sch. (6)

Professional: This was a busy week.  I worked with the district tech. dept. to enable printing on our new Chromebooks.  I continue to work on our laptop re-positioning so that all classrooms will be 2 students per computer.  I cataloged our monthly magazines and donated books from PermaBound and the Puget Sound Council.  I prepared for the book fair and will set the fair up Friday afternoon with a team of super volunteers.  There was also a Library Helper meeting on Thursday.

This Week in the Library: November 3-7

This week we had an artist in residence working with all students on Square Dancing, so library sessions were cancelled and we were in the gym dancing.  It was amazing to see the progress of the students in just one week and all of the thinking skills required to square dance.

I was also able to work with Mrs. Hirst's first graders on computer skills (logging in, treating laptops with care, opening a browser, navigating).

Professional: Attended the Puget Sound Council for the Review of Children's Materials monthly meeting at the Shoreline Center.  I served as substitute meeting chair as the president was out of town.  I presented 5 books to the group.

I began shifting computers in the building so every classroom will have at least 1 computer for every 2 students.  This project should take a couple weeks to complete.

I also did some work getting the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair ready.  The book fair will run from November. 17 - 21,  Details will be sent home soon.  Volunteers are needed: VOLUNTEER SIGN UP