February Fragments

This post contains fragments from a very fragmented February. It's already the shortest month of the year and was made even shorter because of snow days and Winter Break. The discontinuity made it difficult to accomplish much. I was able to plan and oversee a TK STEM lab, read a total of 16 books to library classes, lead the 5th grade girls' Bible Study four weeks, lead the Moms' Book Club, facilitate Library Club two times, teach three third grade science classes and three Lego robotics labs. (Maybe I did accomplish something.) I think part of the reason for my fragmented feeling is that February lacks a central focus for me. That is something I may need to change next year. In looking back, most months seem to have one main focus although it looks different for each grade.

Those things aside, I was able to spend a great deal of time planning for March. As  with last year, my focus for TK-1 will be Dr. Seuss. For the older grades, it will be Library March Madness. I am doing something a little different this year, but will share about that at the end of March. It did require a little more time on the computer, so I was glad for the planning time I've been given to accomplish that.  

Many of our new books unwrapped in January have been so popular. I can barely keep some of them on the shelves for any length of time. Below are some of the more popular ones.

We are huge John Rocco fans in this library and are just as excited about his wife's books! Fot the big kids, James Ponti's City Spies books have been wildly popular.

I have been staying busy cataloging and circulating these and many more popular new books. I love discovering new books and series and introducing them to the kids. I love it even more when I make a successful discovery!

In my research online, I discovered a book with a "kindness" theme and decided to get it to read to my fourth graders. I purchased the book myself since I wasn't as familiar with it and didn't want to use library funds in case it was not good. It was amazing!!! The book Boxes for Katje tells the sweetest story. The setting is post WW2 Holland. It is based on a true story and is one I had never heard before. I'm so glad I have my own copy. I have also purchased one for the library, and it was checked out immediately. The kids also enjoyed the origami tulip activity we did to accompany the book. Here's the link to the directions: Origami Tulips

To fifth grade I read an old book, George's Marvelous Medicine, by Roald Dahl. It's a short chapter book, and I broke it into three weeks of reading. The kids loved it, and we all know how hard it is to get and keep the attention of fifth graders! 

The second grade teachers taught a fairy tale unit, so as I did last year, I taught fairy tales also. I focused on fairy tale elements. For the last lesson of the month, each classs was divided into three groups which then designed and built houses of straw, sticks, or bricks which the Big Bad Wolf attempted to blow down. I followed the same format which I used last year, and it was again successful. To get more details, click Three Little Pigs STEM Project.

I spent a great deal of time researching new books and STEM activities and can't wait to try out some new ideas I've discovered. Planning and implementing these new activities them keeps me loving it in the library!