Another New Year!

Okay. Last year did not go as planned. I think I only updated the blog twice the whole year and that was in the very beginning. Not good. So this year I am scheduling time to work on my blog so there is no excuse! The sad part is that some really great things happened in the library last year, but I never put them on here. But that is all water under the bridge. Fresh year, fresh start!

I started back to school on August 13th. Summer flew by way too quickly, but I was ready to come back until I got a look at my library:

Everything looked so sad and sterile. Also, they had used our school for summer school, so things were not exactly how I left them. I found piles of books and things that I assume I had a reason for when I left for the summer, but now I have no idea what I was thinking. I knew I should have written it down!

Alright! Time to roll up the sleeves and dig in. After a week and a half of inservice/work days, I finally got my library looking the way I like it!

Still work to be done, but it is definitely looking better! I even decided to put a new display on the door It's called "What's Mrs. Hancock Reading." I think it is important for the students to see that I am a reader as well.

Maybe some of my choices will inspire their choices. I also want to make my library an inviting place so I put this on the front door:

 Now the fun stuff starts; adding students to Reading Counts, Study Island, cataloging new books that I got over the summer, etc. Ugh!! Just let me have the kids already! Ready for a fabulous new school year!

What a week! Sept. 8-12

Wow! This week was crazy! This was my first week of having actual library classes. At my school, we have checkouts on Monday and Friday and then classes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Monday and Fridays are 20 minute classes of only check out. The teachers come with them and I have back to back classes all day. This allows me to have the entire 30 minutes to teach on the instructional days. I love this schedule!

This week was my library orientation lesson. We talk about procedures and rules for both checkout and instruction. With my 3rd - 6th grade classes, we talk about Bluebonnet books and Reading Counts. My 1st and 2nd grade classes get to watch a video I found on Youtube called Don't Let the Pigeon Touch the Books. They love it! For the rest of the school year, they will ask me where they can find that book. I will have to explain that it was just a video based on the book. With Kindergarten, we read The Shelf Elf and talk about how to treat books.When I brought out my stuffed Shelf Elf, they were amazed. I love the little ones! They really believed that Skoob would be watching them in the library. I felt that the lessons went really well.

Along with my library duties, I am also the administrator for our Scholastic Reading Counts program. This is a program were students read books, go on the computer and take tests and are awarded points. Students are awarded dog tags for point goals. They receive dog tags at 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 300 and so on. Each grade level has a point goal. If they reach this goal by a certain date, they are invited to a Reading Celebration in May. It's a big deal at my school. The only time this takes up much of my time is at the beginning of the year. That's why I don't start having classes until the 3rd week.  This year, I checked on Friday afternoon if all of the students were in the system. They were. So I sent an email for teachers to start populating their classes. Later, I went in to check on something and all of my students (700 or so) had been moved to inactive!  Now this may not seem like a big deal, but let me assure you, it is. What that means is I have to go into the list of inactive students (over 14,000 for the whole district) and find these students one by one and re-enroll them in our school. So in between classes this week, that is what I did.  The only students who had not become inactive were the students who were in a class. In the mean time, a parent of some former student brought some books to the library to donate. They were awesome! Barely used and some of the most popular series in the library (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dragon Breath, etc.). So excited, but the must be made shelf ready. So in my spare time, that's what I will be doing.

In case you are interested, here is the prezi I showed this year for my library orientation.

Here is what my cart looked like at the end of Monday Checkout:

No worries, they were all back on the shelves before Friday checkouts came in!

 

Here's to having another great week and maybe getting everything done!

 

 

 





New year, new blog!

With a new school year upon us, I thought it might be a good idea to change the look of my blog. Ok. I realize that I haven't exactly been an avid blogger, but my new school year resolution was to give my library more of a web presence. I had decided to do this last year, but somehow it never happened. But not this year! I am committed to updating my blog at least once a week this year! (Yikes!) So with that being said, here are some pictures of my library!

 Hopefully, I can post an updated PDSA wall. With classes coming in this next week, I am sure that I will have it updated shortly(sigh). Oh, I've also started a twitter account for my library! Make sure to follow Booklady97!

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

This book was awarded the 2011 Caldecott Award

1. Bibliography
Stead, Philip C. 2010. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. Roaring Brook Press: New York. 978-1596434028.

2. Summary
This is the story of an elderly man who is a zoo keeper. He takes his job very seriously. He takes the time to take very good care of his animal friends, an elephant, rhino, penguin, turtle and owl. He plays games with them, reads to them, takes care of them when they are sick or just sits with them. One day Amos wakes up with a very bad cold and is unable to make it to work. What ensues is the story of what friendship is all about.

3. Impressions
This is one of my favorite children's books. It is such a sweet story. These animals have come to depend on Amos taking care of them everyday, but for them to show up at his house ready to take care of him is the epitome of friendship. I love to read this to children because it teaches them how a friend should behave. Amos took care of the animals because it was his job, but he played with them and sat with them because he cared about them. When Amos was sick, he didn't expect them to show up at his house. He was surprised. But that is what friends do. They help because they want to, not out of obligation. The illustrations in this story are lovely. They really add to the story. I recommend this book to anyone!

4. Reviews

This review was taken from http://www.amazon.com/Sick-Day-Amos-McGee/dp/1596434023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322588228&sr=8-1

From School Library Journal



Kindergarten-Grade 2—Amos McGee, an elderly man who works at the zoo, finds time each day for five special friends. With empathy and understanding he gives the elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhinoceros, and owl the attention they need. One morning, Amos wakes up with a bad cold and stays home in bed. His friends wait patiently and then leave the zoo to visit him. Their trip mirrors his daily bus ride to the zoo and spans three nearly wordless spreads. Amos, sitting up in bed, clasps his hands in delight when his friends arrive. The elephant plays chess with him, and the tortoise plays hide-and-seek. The penguin keeps Amos's feet warm, while the rhinoceros offers a handkerchief when Amos sneezes. They all share a pot of tea. Then the owl, knowing that Amos is afraid of the dark, reads a bedtime story as the other animals listen. They all sleep in Amos's room the rest of the night. The artwork in this quiet tale of good deeds rewarded uses woodblock-printing techniques, soft flat colors, and occasional bits of red. Illustrations are positioned on the white space to move the tale along and underscore the bonds of friendship and loyalty. Whether read individually or shared, this gentle story will resonate with youngsters.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN

A Sick Day for Amos McGee on PhotoPeach

Out of My Mind

This book is one of the Texas Bluebonnet Nominees for 2011-2012

1. Bibliography
Draper, Sharon. 2010. Out of My Mind. Athenium Books for Young Readers: New York. ISBN 978-1-4169-7170-2.


2. Summary
 Melody is brilliant. She can remember everything she has ever heard, every fact. She is the smartest girl in her school, but no one knows it. Melody can't tell people about all of the information that is floating around in her head. Melody has Cerebral Palsy. She is unable to speak or walk. In fact she has very limited control of her body. Melody struggles to communicate with the world around her. Even her family struggles to understand what she is trying to let them know. She discovers a machine that can speak for her and give voice to all of the words that are stuck in her brain. Melody's world begins to change and open up, but not everyone one is ready to fully embrace her. She struggles to fit into her new inclusion classes and with her new "normal" classmates.

3.Impressions

This was a story that really made the reader think. The story was told through the eyes of a young girl with Cerbral Palsy. If you were to look at her, you would see a girl in a wheel chair who couldn't speak, couldn't control her body, and sometimes had a tendency to drool on her self or grunt. But behind the surface was a genius. The book described her mind as a video recorder that never stopped recorded, was constantly replaying and there was no delete button.  Even her parents don't know how smart she really is. The cover of the book speaks volumes. It comes from a story from the book where Melody has a fish. She wonders if he is just happen swimming around in the same bowl day after day. Then one day he just jumps completely out of the bowl. Melody is not able to get anyone in the room in time to save the fish. This is just like Melody. She is stuck in her wheelchair all the time and would love to have the opportunity to jump out. It really made me think about the way I look at the students that have disabilities. Just because there bodies limit them does not mean their minds don't work. This book told a beautiful story of one girl's struggle with this. However, I thought that Melody was the only character that had any depth to her. All of the other characters were very one dimensional. I also felt that the accident at the end of the story was just thrown in there for some drama. There were no details.  Overall, I would recommend this story. It was a very thoughtful read.

4. Reviews

This review taken from http://www.amazon.com/Out-My-Mind-Sharon-Draper/dp/141697170X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311030743&sr=8-1

Starred Review. Grade 4–6—Born with cerebral palsy, Melody, 10, has never spoken a word. She is a brilliant fifth grader trapped in an uncontrollable body. Her world is enhanced by insight and intellect, but gypped by physical limitations and misunderstandings. She will never sing or dance, talk on the phone, or whisper secrets to her friends. She's not complaining, though; she's planning and fighting the odds. In her court are family, good neighbors, and an attentive student teacher. Pitted against her is the "normal" world: schools with limited resources, cliquish girls, superficial assumptions, and her own disability. Melody's life is tragically complicated. She is mainly placed in the special-ed classroom where education means being babysat in a room with replayed cartoons and nursery tunes. Her supportive family sets her up with a computer. She learns the strength of thumbs as she taps on a special keyboard that finally lets her "talk." When she is transitioned into the regular classroom, Melody's undeniable contribution enables her class to make it to the national quiz team finals. Then something happens that causes her to miss the finals, and she is devastated by her classmates' actions. Kids will benefit from being introduced to Melody and her gutsy, candid, and compelling story. It speaks volumes and reveals the quiet strength and fortitude it takes to overcome disabilities and the misconceptions that go with them.—Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY

Ruby's Slippers

1. Bibliography

Rayburn, Tricia. 2010. Ruby's Slippers. Aladdin: New York. ISBN 978-1416987017.


2. Summary

Ruby is from a small town in Kansas. She's never heard of Facebook, doesn't have a cell phone, iPod or computer. However she is perfectly happy with her mom, best friend and wealth of friends in their small town. Then one day her mother decides to move to Florida so they can help Ruby's grandmother. However life in Florida is very different than life in small town Kansas. Ruby has a hard time adjusting and fitting in to her new school. She worries that she never will especially when she learns of the mandatory school talent show. Then she ends up in a group with the most popular girl in the school, who has taken a disliking to Ruby. Life at home is not going much better. Her mother and grandmother's tumultuous relationship causes even more problems for young Ruby. Will her life ever return to normal?

3. Impressions

I will admit that the only reason I picked up this book was because of the title. My daughter's name is Ruby and I buy all the books that I find that have her name in the title. However, this story turned out to be cute. I was intrigued by the notion of a young girl not knowing about any recent technology. I also like how the Wizard of Oz was tied into the story. But I was left very unsatisfied by this book. It seemed to me the author had put too many story lines in the book and didn't know how to make them all play out. I was left with a lot of questions at the end. I also wasn't crazy about the mother's character. She wasn't really developed enough. The idea of the story was very good, but the author didn't know how to make it work.

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4. Reviews

These reviews taken from:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Rubys-Slippers/Tricia-Rayburn/e/9781416987017#TABS

From Publishers WeeklyLike her idol, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Ruby believes that there's no place like home; she's very happy living in Curly Creek, Kans., a place where there's no need for technology and the neighbors are family. But Ruby's mother is taking her to Oz--aka Coconut Beach, Fla.--to live with Ruby's Nana Dottie, who her mother had an unexplained falling out with years ago. Ruby sticks out like a pair of ruby slippers (if ruby slippers were red Chuck Taylors) among her sophisticated classmates, and her eccentric mother doesn't help (as when she gives Ruby a vintage ABBA lunch box that sets off the school's metal detector). While navigating emotional landmines at home, Ruby tries to make sense of the culture of cell phones and divas-in-training while holding onto her ideals; she is challenged by popular Ava, who is enraged when Ruby is put in her group for the illustrious school talent show. Secondary characters are less developed than Ruby, but Rayburn's (the Maggie Bean series) story is a fun romp over the rainbow with a plucky and entertaining heroine. Ages 9 13. (July)

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

1. Bibliography

Peck, Richard. 2007. Here Lies the Librarian. Puffin: New York. ISBN 978-0545046619.

2. Plot Summary

PeeWee McGrath lives with her older brother Jake and works in the garage with him in 1914. PeeWee acts and dresses like a boy and fully plans on working on cars for the rest of her life. That is until four women show up at their garage one day and changes everything for PeeWee. The four women want to become the librarians in the town library and cause quite a stir in the small town. PeeWee befriends the women and begins to realize that being female is not the worst thing that could happen. She even gets her first taste of driving a new car. Life becomes more exhilirating with these four women in her life.

2. Impressions

I bought this book because it was about a librarian. I had never read a book by Richard Peck. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The story was lighthearted. There were many times where I laughed out loud. The characters in the book had such personality. Peck really draws the reader into this small town and into the lives of the characters.

Most young adults will enjoy reading this book. The story is humorous and fun to read. Young girls will be particularly drawn to this story as it shows young women how being a strong, vocal woman does not mean giving up your femininity. The four librarians in this story are very strong women and the most feminine women that PeeWee has ever seen. This is an issue that she struggles with throughout the story. How to meld the expectations that come with being a woman with the strong bond she feels with her brother and her love of working on cars. While girls today don't have the same problems to deal with, they will enjoy reading a story about one of the early warriors in the war between the sexes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was an easy and fun read. Richard Peck does a superb job of bringing this story to life. While older teens may find this a little young for their tastes, it is a not to be missed book. I will certainly be reading more from this author.

3. Reviews

Reviews taken from http://www.amazon.com/Here-Lies-Librarian-Richard-Peck/dp/0142409081/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228173591&sr=8-1

From School Library Journal Grade 6-9–Richard Peck seems determined to create his own sub-genre: nostalgic fiction. Just like A Long Way from Chicago (Dial, 1998) and A Year Down Yonder (Dial, 2000), this title (Dial, 2006) is a keeper. Set in rural Indiana, circa 1914, tomboy PeeWee works with her adored older brother Jake. The automobile is replacing the horse and buggy and the young brother and sister run a fledgling gas station. When a tornado rips through town and tears up the defunct library, the town elders are shamed into re-opening it. Irene Ridpath and three of her sorority sisters fresh out of library school arrive and set the small town on its ear. Motherless PeeWee has never encountered women with such sophistication, and she begins to re-examine her own femininity. Jake is determined to win a rough and tumble automobile race, but when hes injured, PeeWee jumps in and finishes the event. Peck is a master at creating enchanting characters—even his dead librarian has personality. The setting is vivid—listeners can almost hear the sound of those first automobiles chugging up the road. Narrator Lara Everly brings the story to life with great charm. Listeners will enjoy this well-done audiobook that weaves in facts about rural life in the early 20th century, feminism, and automobile history.–Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist Gr. 5-8. Stubborn, fearless, and loyal, 14-year-old Peewee (Eleanor) McGrath, who dresses like a boy, lives with her brother, Jake, in Indiana, "way out in the weeds." Together, they run a struggling garage, where Jake is building a racecar. It's 1914, and the electric self-starter has made automobiles more accessible to women. One day, four female drivers, library students all, arrive in a Stoddard-Dayton in need of repair; later, they return to reopen the town library. With these young women as role models, Peewee comes to realize that being female and being independent aren't mutually exclusive. Peck's one-liners, colorful physical comedy, and country dialect, prominent in most of his recent novels, are great as usual. And his characters, if not fully developed, are wonderfully quirky. Yet even with some exciting scenes of old-time dirt-track racing, the pace lags, and the story is choppy. Young fans of Danica Patrick, today's "Queen of the Road," may want to read this, but it will probably be librarians who'll have the most fun. Peck recounts an incident in an endnote in which one of the characters appears at the Indianapolis 500 with Janet Guthrie; unfortunately, there's not enough explanation to know whether or not it's all true. Stephanie Zvirin Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved