Library Club

Fourth and fifth grade library club combines reading enrichment with 21st Century Skills. Twice a week, students visit the library where we participate in reading and technology challenges integrating Virginia Standards of Learning with real world applications.

Many research studies have shown students' who read independently from self-selected books tend to develop stronger literacy skills. In our library club, we encourage independent reading rather than a group novel study. This approach allows students to explore their own literary interests and gives them opportunities to explore their passions through independent reading challenges. The challenge gives students the framework needed to help support and follow through with their personal reading goals. Students read and write about their novels using online discussion boards and chats within Google Classroom.

Virginia Readers' Choice is an annual award given by Virginia students to the author of the best children's book published within the last three years. In order to be eligible to vote for the winner, students must read at least four books from the list of 10 nominated books. You can preview the nominations below.

The American Library Association (ALA) gives awards annually to exemplary children's books. The two most prestigious awards are the Newbery and Caldecott. The Newbery Medal is awarded an author for the best contribution to children's literature for the year while the Caldecott Medal recognizes an outstanding illustrator. The Batchelder Medal recognizes works originally written in languages other than English (later translated for English audiences). Books featuring Latino culture are eligible for the Belpre award while books featuring the African American experience are recognized by the Coretta Scott King Award. The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal honors an outstanding work of nonficiton. The books in the list below are recent award winners from all the categories above.

In addition to reading, students also work on a technology challenge during library club meetings. Currently, students are learning how to build video games using Gamestar Mechanic. The skills they are acquiring will help them build video game book trailers for our library website as well enter the STEM National Video Game Challenge. Look for our work shared here in the future!