5th Grade: The beginning of the year is about reviewing routines/library behavior and remembering/learning how to navigate the library independently.

Students learn how to use SORA and the online catalog as well as how to physically locate the books they want on the shelves without assistance.

Class time is spent highlighting popular series that are appropriate for 5th graders to encourage reading for enjoyment.  Series that were highlighted included: Nonfiction You Choose, What Was, and Mary Downing Hahn (horror fiction.)  

Silent reading/partner reading is an important part of every library class.

Fifth graders can come to early morning check out any morning of the week.

70 fourth and fifth graders participate in the before school #shelfie club during early morning check out.  They also assist students in their class with book selection and check out duties.

4th Grade: The beginning of the year is about reviewing routines/library behavior and remembering/learning how to navigate the library independently.

Students learn how to use SORA and the online catalog as well as how to physically locate the books they want on the shelves without assistance.

Class time is spent highlighting popular series that are appropriate for 4th graders to encourage reading for enjoyment.  Selections included History Smashers (nonfiction,) Science Comics (nonfiction graphic novelsm) and Andrew Clements (realistic fiction.)

Silent reading/partner reading is an important part of every library class.

Fourth graders can come to early morning check out any morning of the week.

60 fourth and fifth graders participate in the before school #shelfie club during early morning check out.  They also assist students in their class with book selection and check out duties.

3rd Grade: The beginning of the year is about reviewing routines/library behavior and remembering/learning how to navigate the library independently.

Students learn how to use SORA and the online catalog as well as how to physically locate the books they want on the shelves without assistance.

Class time is spent highlighting popular series that are appropriate for 3rd graders to encourage reading for enjoyment.  Selections included: Ranger in Time (historical fiction/adventure,) 

Silent reading/partner reading is an important part of every library class.

Third graders can come to early morning check out any morning of the week.

Second Grade: Second graders are introduced to the fiction and graphic novel sections of the library.  In first grade, they had access to selected chapter books but could not roam the fiction section during class periods.

Second graders are also introduced to audiobooks both through SORA and playaways.  SORA is an online reading platform where students can access printed word or books that are read to them.  Playaways require students to provide a AA battery and headphones but need no internet connection.  

Class time is spent highlighting popular series that are appropriate for 2nd graders to encourage reading for enjoyment.  Series that were highlighted included: Geronimo Stilton (animals, mystery, humor,) Hank Zipzer (humor,) and Eerie Elementary (mild horror fiction)

Silent reading/partner reading is an important part of every library class.

Second graders can come to early morning check out any morning of the week.

First Grade: First graders are introduced to the picture book (Everybody section) and the nonfiction sections of the library.  Students learn how to use shelf markers to mark a place on the shelf when they remove a book.  In this way, they can put books back that they do not want to check out.  They are learning library management and good book care.

First graders enjoy hearing great books - both fiction and nonfiction stories.  We discuss new vocabulary words and situations that the characters encounter in the stories.  They also write or draw a response to literature during class time.

Class time is spent highlighting popular series that are appropriate for 1st graders to encourage reading for enjoyment.  Series that were highlighted included: Sadiq (realistic fiction,) Katie Woo & Pedro (realistic fiction,) and Captain Awesome.

We practice silent reading as part of each library time.

First graders can come to early morning check out any morning of the week.  With Shelfie help, they can find an appropriate chapter book for those looking for one.  We discuss whether the book will be read independently or will be a family read-aloud.

Kindergarten: Kindergarteners play rhyming games to help develop literacy skills and also to help get our wiggles out at the beginning of class.  These games also help us get to know our classmates and learn routines in the library.

Kindergarteners enjoy listening to stories which coordinate with weekly lessons.  They also respond to literature by drawing or writing about the day's read aloud.  

Kindergartners choral read poems line by line to hear rhyme structure and also learn the appropriate speed to read (prosody.)

Kindergarteners can check out one book each time they come to the library, either fiction or nonfiction that are placed on their tables to peruse.  Popular topics for kindergarteners include princess books, superhero books, Lego, sports, funny stories, dinosaurs, and space books.    

Kindergarteners can come to early morning check out any morning of the week and explore all sections of the library with a #shelfie helper.  These older students walk kindergarteners to the library, help them find an appropriate book for their age level and walk them back to class.