Library

Quarter 1: Aug 13th - Oct 10, 2025

Library

The library program at Mackintosh Academy fosters a lifelong love of reading, inquiry, and discovery. Students explore diverse literature, develop independent reading identities, and engage in thoughtful conversations about stories and ideas. They also practice learning how to ask meaningful questions, locate credible sources, and synthesize information across texts.

Key Outcomes:

• Cultivate lifelong reading habits by setting reading goals and celebrating progress.
  
  

• Explore diverse genres, cultures, and perspectives to expand empathy and critical thinking.
  
  

• Learn to select books independently for pleasure, research, and enrichment.
  
  

• Care for books and library resources responsibly, respecting shared community materials.
  
  

• Practice library organization and wayfinding skills (catalog searches, shelving systems, genre navigation).
  
  

• Analyze themes, perspectives, and literary techniques across texts.
  
  

• Appreciate intellectual property and authorship, including respect for copyright.
  
  

• Participate in book clubs and discussions to share ideas, listen actively, and build community.

Quarter 2: October 14th - December 19th, 2025

Quarter 2 Highlights:
This quarter, students broadened their understanding of the world through stories centered on Native American heritage, human rights, and seasonal spooky tales. In grades 3–5, students practiced giving book talks to their peers, learning how to share what they love (or learned) about a book and what hooked them to read it. Middle school students engaged in thoughtful conversations about book challenges and bans, examining why certain stories are restricted and why outside of our our comfort zone can help us grow as globally-minded citizen.

Across all grades, we explored how readers make choices and balance reading for joy with reading to think. We and experimented with different text types that stretch us in new ways.

Ongoing Yearlong Themes:

• Building independent reading identities through choice, reflection, and goal-setting.

• Exploring diverse voices and perspectives to deepen empathy and global awareness.

• Developing responsible library habits and care for shared materials.

• Strengthening information-seeking skills (catalog use, genre navigation, locating reliable sources).

• Learning how ideas connect across texts through theme, perspective, and structure.

• Participating in conversations—formal and informal—that build community and help students grow as thoughtful readers.

Quarter 3: January 5th - March 13th, 2026

Quarter 3 Highlights:

This quarter, students explored stories and history connected to Black History Month, Muslim American Heritage Month, and Women’s History Month. We highlighted inspiring and sometimes lesser-known figures such as Frances Perkins, Joan Proctor, Zahra Lari, Mae Jemison, and William Kamkwamba, and enjoyed work from favorite authors like Jason Reynolds and Renee Watson. In the upper grades, students also discussed stories connected to social justice and how books can help us better understand the world around us.

Our nonfiction section was highlighted, and students across all grades learned about the different types of nonfiction—from biographies and narrative nonfiction to informational texts. They also shared suggestions for topics they would like to see more of in the library.

In February, students participated in our Read-a-Thon. They loved comparing their reading minutes to mine, as most of them were far ahead of me! Thank you to families for supporting their reading efforts!

Throughout the quarter we featured several genres, including nonfiction, graphic novel adaptations of chapter books, and for older students, Agatha Christie and locked-room mysteries, as well as a romance genre spotlight. Students in grades 3–5 continued practicing book talks, sharing titles they love with their peers. All grades also explored media bias and how perspective can shape the information we encounter online.