Grade Level Summaries

The Glastonbury Public Schools Library Media Department is committed to teaching the skills and providing the resources necessary for meeting the informational literacy needs of students and staff. The Library Media program develops effective and responsible users of ideas and information while promoting the enjoyment and importance of reading. Lessons link to classroom curriculum and regularly integrate current technologies to reinforce and enhance student learning. Curriculum-related lessons support classroom instruction and promote an appreciation of the diverse types of literature. 

Kindergarten students:

• participate in weekly library lessons that include supported book selection and check out

• learn library procedures and organization

• experience quality literature in many formats and genres including fiction, nonfiction, humor and Caldecott Award-winning books

• participate by listening, viewing, responding, and discussing

• begin to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction and their locations in the library

• begin to learn to select appropriate books independently

• are introduced to PebbleGo, an age-appropriate nonfiction database

First grade students: 

• visit the library on a flexible schedule for lessons that coordinate with their curricular studies in the classroom

• select books during whole-class book checkout times, in small groups, and independently

• demonstrate a growing understanding of locating and selecting “just right” books for personal enjoyment and information

• hear, view, respond, and discuss literature in a variety of formats and genres such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry

• begin to learn about the research process, including print and non-print resources

• begin to learn about receiving credit for their creative work and recognizing the creative work of others as a foundational understanding for digital citizenship

Second grade students: 

• visit the library on a flexible schedule for lessons that coordinate with their curricular studies in the classroom

• select books during whole-class book checkout times, in small groups, and independently

• learn to use information tools to find answers to their questions

• continue to learn about the research process and begin to learn note-taking strategies

• learn about using other people’s information and how to do a simple citation

• continue to develop their skills to find a “just right” book and start exploring the library materials through various genres, authors and illustrators

• learn about finding materials using the online catalog or “browsers” to aid in their search for a good book or appropriate resource

• understand and follow rules to remain safe while using district online databases that are available at school and at home

Third grade students:

• visit the library on a flexible schedule for lessons that coordinate with their curricular studies in the classroom

• select books during whole-class book checkout times, in small groups, and independently

• become increasingly independent users of the library by practicing their skills with the online library catalog that they learned about in Second Grade

• continue to locate and select “just right books” for personal enjoyment and information

• locate books for genre studies on biography, nonfiction, and traditional literature (fairy tales, folktales, and myths)

• use district databases such as: CultureGrams, Britannica, and World Book

• learn and practice respectful and responsible norms of digital citizenship

Fourth grade students:

• visit the library on a flexible schedule for lessons that coordinate with their curricular studies in the classroom

• select books during whole-class book checkout times, in small groups, and independently

• continue to practice solving problems and conducting research by identifying their information needs, locating and evaluating appropriate print and non-print materials and determining and using relevant information in an ethical manner

• receive instruction in the various types of genres such as social awareness and historical fiction

• develop an appreciation of diverse types of literature; including the Connecticut Nutmeg titles

• learn to make safe and effective choices as responsible digital citizens when working online

Fifth grade students:

• visit the library on a flexible schedule for lessons that coordinate with their curricular studies in the classroom

• select books during whole-class book checkout times, in small groups, and independently

• are exposed to quality literature such as the Connecticut Nutmeg Award books

• receive instruction in the various types of genres such as historical fiction and fantasy

• continue to develop the process and application of research skills to support curriculum research

• continue to identify, locate, use, cite, and evaluate resources appropriate for their needs

• continue to operate as responsible digital citizens when working on the digital platform

The Library Media Center is the hub of the Gideon Welles School learning community. Students use the library media center individually or with scheduled classes which are collaboratively planned and taught by the curriculum area teacher and the library media specialist. There are assured learning experiences for all grade 6 students. These experiences focus on internet safety, website evaluation, copyright and fair use of information and how to correctly credit sources of information used in completing classroom assignments. Students have numerous opportunities to visit the library on a daily basis.

Smith has flexible scheduling so the Library Media Specialists can and often does work with every discipline. In these collaborations, the ethical use of information and the best source of information for a given task are stressed by the Library Media Specialist. There are several assured experiences at the middle school, which are taught and assessed by the Library Media Specialist in collaboration with the subject-area teacher.  Students in seventh grade complete a research project on diseases in Health class and engage in a formal independent reading unit in their English/Language Arts class. Every eighth grade student learns to discern good information from bad during the Social Change Unit in English/Language Arts; students also complete the U.S. History project, which include a lessons on website evaluation and citation.

Information literacy skills are integrated into the English and social science curricula through required common library research experiences. During a three day orientation program the library media specialists instruct freshmen English classes on basic research and information evaluation techniques, including web evaluation. Freshmen then practice these skills with further guided research throughout the stages of the Freshman Research Experience (FRE). Library media specialists teach sophomores more sophisticated research techniques during the Sophomore Research Paper (SRP) unit. Juniors learn research techniques for a specific subject area with their U.S. history paper. Seniors learn evaluation techniques for internet research as they investigate topics for either the Current Issues research paper or community service project. Library Media Specialists review and select resources to support and to enhance the curriculum for every department.