Greenlodge Library Program
I'm so excited to be a recipient of the 2019 MSLA President's Award! Here you'll find some highlights of the library program at Greenlodge Elementary School in Dedham, Massachusetts. Don't miss the page about Greenlodge News, and feel free to reach out with any questions!
Books and Reading
Dedham Reads Together
Dedham Reads Together is our all-town community read! All elementary students read Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home, written by Sy Montgomery and illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford. Others in the community read Montgomery's adult book How to Be a Good Creature.
In library, students learned about the octopus’s many animal adaptations to help them survive in the ocean. Students then created their own animals, highlighting the many adaptations their animals would have to survive. We "published" a book with photographs of the makerspace animals as well as information sheets about the animals' habitats, food sources, and adaptations.
Genrefying
I finally bit the bullet last year and genrefied my chapter books and easy readers, and my kids have loved it! Students have been checking out more books from the genres they like, and are trying out new series and stand-alone books they would have likely overlooked before. It also helps the classroom teachers with their Lucy Calkins reading curriculum because students know exactly where to go to find their historical fiction or fantasy books for book clubs. Plus it’s been a great way for me to evaluate the collection and see what genres I need to build up!
Self-Checkout
A few students asked me about self-checkout since they’ve started using it at the public library, so I set up a station this fall. Fourth and fifth graders love having more independence and being able to stop in to get library books anytime during the day, even when I have other classes. And I love how it makes them feel like the library is their own even more!
Coding
Hour of Code
During Hour of Code in December, all students learn about and practice computational thinking strategies. Younger students use iPad apps like Kodable, Daisy the Dinosaur, Lightbot, and Scratch Jr. Older students use websites like code.org and madewithcode.com. High school students visited us one afternoon to share their experiences coding and help students complete some of the challenges. We were lucky enough to receive a grant from a parent that supplied us with some robots to use as well!
BeeBots
BeeBots are my favorite robots for young children. They are simple to code and have millions of uses for supporting any classroom curriculum. After learning about algorithms, students make their own fun challenges to complete with a partner in library. Students use cards to fill in their mats. I also use these with classroom teachers to practice math facts, state capitals, and more!
Dash
Dash robots connect to iPads via Bluetooth and use block coding. The apps include many puzzles already, and you can purchase challenge cards for students to complete on their own. These are great for upper elementary students to practice math skills like measurements and angles. Plus there are many add-on accessories, including a xylophone your robot can use to play songs!
