Teaching and Learning

It's true that Ox Ridge's Learning Commons is full of amazing books, magazines, and electronic resources! But it is also home to a classroom (Library and Technology) bustling with students. It is in this space that students are learning new skills and concepts, collaborating, creating, and communicating their ideas. Creating lifelong learners and readers is my main goal in the library. Through focused mini-lessons, students will apply skills, resources, and tools to:

• Gain Literature Appreciation
• Practical Library Skills
• Read & Research/Information Literacy
• Practice Technology Literacy

Classroom units of study are the springboard for library instruction. Students use their knowledge of how the library is organized; parts of a library book; and the meaning of fiction, nonfiction, and biography to access the information they need. This foundation of knowledge about library organization enables a student to find the kind of books he/she wants to borrow. As part of technology literacy, students learn how to access appropriate online databases and encyclopedias to research topics. With Google Apps for Education (GAFE) students will also work in a shared online environment. As part of the library program, lessons on digital citizenship will be embedded in technology instruction. Click here for more lesson examples.

Students visit the library for instruction based on the following format:

• Grades K – 2 - Each class will visit the library weekly for a total of 45 minutes. 30-minute for instruction followed by 15 minutes of Book Exchange time.
• Grades 3 – 5 - Book Exchange and “lessons” are independent of each other. Teachers will have the opportunity to schedule time in the library when it coordinates with the project/activity they are trying to complete.