Am I Doing Enough?

I have spent the summer having regular anxiety attacks about all of the stuff I'm NOT doing ... even though after this school year, I fully deserved a true vacation free of stress. And it's not like I've done NOTHING ... I've definitely kept up on the latest picture books for Mock Caldecott thanks to this Starred Titles spreadsheet maintained by Jennifer Jazwinski, and I've collected links on Pinterest that I can use to supplement lessons.

But there are so many people out there doing so many other things. And many of them are featured in AASL's Knowledge Quest. I am only just now getting to the 2014 issues, and every other article causes me anxiety - again, because all of the stuff I'm NOT doing. But then, there's a lot of stuff I just don't have ... a single school, a flexible schedule, enrichment blocks, enough computers for an entire class to use, a budget for more than 50 books ... the list goes on and on.

So I'm going to think in terms of baby steps. Realistically, what are some best practices and innovative ideas that I can incorporate into my libraries?

Gold stars for me!

As I went through a few very old issues that I had read last summer but not yet recycled, I came across several suggestions that I had already adopted:

en.paperblog.com

• After reading Andy Plemmons' article about building participatory culture in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue, I had my 5th-graders go through publisher catalogs and compile wish lists this past spring. They found a ton of stuff I hadn't even heard of; books/series with multiple requests bumped some of my previous choices off my order - I want items that the kids themselves have asked for! Fingers crossed that 6th-grade circulation numbers will go up this year.

• I had decided to move biographies of sports figures and explorers to 796 and the 900s, respectively, a couple of years ago. After reading the Nov/Dec 2013 issue about rethinking Dewey, I tackled more sections, integrating fairy tales and poetry into the E and FIC sections, and, conversely, pulling all of the holiday books scattered across multiple sections into one new H call number. "Scary" books also got put into their own bucket and had their call numbers updated. I have stopped looking at any digits beyond the decimal, and the 796 section is now in alphabetical order by sport instead of author.
  
  
• Finally, I took to heart Holli Buchter's finding that "Kindergarten students prefer nonfiction materials to picture story books at a ratio of 9 to 1" and put a lot more nonfiction books out for them to choose from on their circulation days. Sure enough, there are rarely any books about animals (the bulk of my early nonfiction, or NF section) left on the tables after checkout.

What's Next?

As mentioned above, I teach at two schools; I'll be returning for my fourth year at one, but, thanks to a restructuring of the schedule, starting new at the other. This is also causing anxiety. Luckily, the principal has already been friendly and supportive, and several people in the district have told me they think the new school will be a good fit for me. But I am still walking into a new space and meeting 300 new kids and 25 new faculty members.

In the March/April 2014 issue, Jessica Gilcreast outlines her goals for her first few years in a new school. I am trying to accept that, like her, "There were a million things I wanted to change, and a million and one things I wanted to do, but I knew I had to be methodical and organized." So here's how she set her goals:

• Year 1: Weed, rearrange, build relationships, write a grant.
  
  
• Year 2: Continue weeding, provide teachers with PD opportunities focused on using a new SMART board, create a tech space for said board, write a grant, add multicultural books to the collection
  
  
• Year 3: Work with teachers in grade-level meetings to increase collaboration, write a grant
  
  
• Year 4: Run the book fair and create related reading events
  
  
• Years 5 and 6: Focus on staff PD, literacy events, ditching Dewey

After all of these changes, she notes, "No longer was I merely the provider of a prep period for teachers; the school library had become an extension of the classroom." I'll get there eventually. Baby steps.

RI Mock Newbery 2015 - November Reads

I will be adding to the list as I make my way through the nominees ... favorites closest to the top.


Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am highly critical of novels in verse ... this one passes the test. Woodson delineates her childhood - and her struggle with her family's North v. South identity - through more than 300 pages of often searing poetry.

Choice lines:

p. 69
"As the switch raises dark welts on my brother's legs / Dell and I look on / afraid to open our mouths. Fearing the South / will slip out or / into them."

p. 129
"But are hearts aren't bigger than that. / Our hearts are tiny and mad."

p.176
"It's hard to understand / the way my brain works - so different / from everybody around me. How each new story / I'm told becomes a thing / that happens, / in some other way / to me ...!

Keep making up stories, my uncle says.
You're lying, my mother says.

Maybe the truth is somewhere in between / all that I'm told / and memory."

p. 226
"But I don't want to read faster or older or / any way else that might / make the story disappear too quickly from where it's settling / inside my brain, / slowly becoming / a part of me."


Somebody on This Bus Is Going to Be Famous! by J.B. Cheaney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Different viewpoints, interlocking stories, a sort-of mystery ... I really enjoyed reading this book. Be warned, though, as other reviewers pointed out: The kids on the cover may be smiling, but their stories are not the happiest. However, I like when the reader is reminded that all is not what it might seem from the outside; it fosters empathy.



The Riverman by Aaron Starmer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, I have to say that the writing was brilliant. Wow. A plus to Starmer for his command of language.

And the plot was sophisticated and fascinating; I was full of delicious dread for a lot of it. Perfect for middle schoolers - eerie and hints of illicit activity.

But the ending. Meh. I don't want to have to read two more books to have explained. So 4 stars in terms of Mock Newbery consideration.

But 5 stars for the reading experience. Please don't let me down with the sequel.


Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere by Julie T. Lamana
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Powerful stuff. Talk about delineation of setting ... will definitely recommend for RI Mock Newbery.





The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Strong voice, lots of true emotions.






A Hitch at the Fairmont by Jim Averbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting and fun, with lots of clues and twists (several of which I figured out, but then I've been reading mysteries for decades ... the story was structured in a way that could teach kid readers a thing or two about plotting). Naming each chapter after a Hitchcock film was a nice touch.



West of the Moon by Margi Preus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first two parts had an Angela Carter-esque feel to them. Squalor! Rapaciousness! Lost-in-the-woodedness! But then they got on the ship and the tone changed and I was disappointed.




View all my reviews Boys of Blur by N.D. Wilson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I really really really liked the first 100 pages. Unsettling setting lyrically evoked, spookiness, and strong characters. But then Charlie woke up at Mrs. Wisdom's, and she started talking about "the swirling Charlie-shaped dance that is your body," and I started rolling my eyes.

"Boys of Blur" does fill a nearly vacant niche - literary zombie fiction for middle-grade boys. But I felt there were some plot holes that also needed filling.

RI Mock Newbery 2015 - October Reads

I will be adding to the list as I make my way through the nominees ... favorites closest to the top.

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't think there would REALLY be a ghost! That may help get some of my students to read it. Turnage writes about her kooky characters with verve:

p. 85 - Nobody knows for sure if Sal actually files taxes. Dale and me suspect she fills out the forms for fun, same as Miss Lana does Sudoku.

p. 186 - "I hope he ain't run over by ghosts," Dale whispered, slapping at a mosquito. "That would be hard to explain at the emergency room."

p. 286 - "I'd love to stay and enchant you further" ...

p. 334 - "I only ask because I hate change unless it's my idea. I need time to overprepare."

Also LOVE the references to social skills.


Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, Albie.

Newbery criteria mentions "distinguished" a lot, which I know is not the same as "distinctive," but Graff has created a unique character here in that he is in fact NOT distinctive. He's just kind of stumping along in a below average way. And by the end, he's kind of ok with that (although disappointed to not be diagnosed with a reading disorder, because that would have made his parents feel better).

In a society where the pressure is on to not only keep up but edge out, and in a literary landscape full of precocity and amazing talents, this book stands apart.

It reminded me of an article a friend sent me last week, titled "You Don't Have a Purpose." She said it made her feel relieved - it encourages the reader to find a career or life they love, but tells them to stop wasting energy looking for a Purpose with a capital P. Kind of like how Donut Man doesn't HAVE to have superpowers. He can just be a nice guy who likes donuts. Be nice. Choose kind. That's enough.


Hope Is a Ferris Wheel by Robin Herrera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What can I say, I'm a sucker for any book that includes lists ... and I LOVED Star's vocabulary sentences. I'm glad that there are still coming-of-age novels coming out that present fresh characters and true voices.

And while I was confused about why Denny kept showing up to the club, I did like the way the group evolved. The minute-taking made me smile.


The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm still kind of confused as to how the tree came to be, but I enjoyed the storytelling. Speaking of which:

p. 207: "Stories come in all different kinds. ... There's tales, which are light and fluffy. Good for a smile on a sad day. Then you got yarns, which are showy - yarns reveal more about the teller than the story. After that there's myths, which are stories made up by whole groups of people. And last of all, there's legends." She raised a mysterious eyebrow. "Legends are different from the rest on account noone knows where they start. Folks don't tell legends; they repeat them. Over and again through history."

p. 214: "You asked me for a story; now you call it a lie." She folded her arms. "So tell me, then: what marks the difference between the two?" ... "A lie hurts people," she finally answered. "A story helps 'em."


Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quiet and introspective, this novel snuck up on me and left me in tears. I really liked the photo contest as a way to structure the chapters, and for the final realization that sometimes it's enough to just look and enjoy rather than having to capture and analyze.




Zane and the Hurricane: A Story of Katrina by Rodman Philbrick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

History classes need to ease up on the details of every explorer and colonial governor, and start jumping ahead to more recent and relevant events.

I don't think I really understood just how horrendous conditions were in the first few days after Katrina until I read this and "Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere." It is unconscionable that initial relief efforts were so piss poor in a country of wealth and weather warnings.

Will be adding this one to the collection.


Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I did like the art history and WWII ... but not sure if my kids would. I think I will bring this in the fall as a "preview" from the public library and see what pilot readers think. Sadly, I haven't been able to get anyone to read The Mixed-Up Files.



The Meaning of Maggie by Megan Jean Sovern
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Didn't love the voice ... it felt like the author was trying too hard.* Also found the father kind of annoying.** But one star for including a character with MS and one for making me smile a few times.

p. 24: I'd always thought that all the answers to life's questions were in books. I'd thought knowing where the sidewalk ended and where the red fern grew and where the wild things were could help me figure out LIFE. But maybe Dad was right. What if I needed to write my own story?

p. 139: Most kids only use encyclopedias for their science projects but I've discovered they only give very top-line information. If you sleuth out more specific references, the information gets better and better and you look smarter and smarter.


*Which is weird because it's based on her as a kid, right?
**I feel a little bad saying that, but this is fiction, not a memoir.

Mock Newbery Reads - October 2013

I will be adding to the list as I make my way through the nominees ... favorites closest to the top.


Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I loved Nate, I loved the silliness, I loved the rollercoaster plot, I loved the ending phone call (spoiler: there's a sequel in the works). The absolute perfect book for all the misfits who want to make it to Broadway. As well as anyone who enjoys middle-grade fiction. I laughed out loud so many times, I am now following Tim Federle on Twitter.

My one reservation re: buying for school is the use of the word "fag" (and variations thereof). I feel like it's reaching the forbidden status of the R and N words - even if it's only used by jerkface characters. In fact, a Google search on the topic just brought up articles about a UFC fighter named Nate who got suspended for using the word. Any advice from other school librarians?


Paperboy by Vince Vawter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had thought I was sick of coming-of-age novels, but then I read this one. SO GOOD. Reduced me to tears several times. The narrator wants so desperately to understand everything and to be understood. He types up a list of questions for Mr. Spiro (p.66):

1. Why do most grown-ups treat me like I'm not a real human being?
2. When does a kid become a grown-up?
3. What can I do to be smart like you?

Killed me. As did "So both of us ended up doing something we didn't really want to do so we could make the other feel good."(p. 212)

I feel like there were no wasted words or actions in the book. Perhaps a vestige of Vawter's newspaper days? RIYL Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt.


The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What I loved most about this book is that Billy is so normal, and his stressors are so mundane. Unless, of course, you are in second grade and have a hint of generalized anxiety disorder.




Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I laughed, I cried, I adored this book ... until about the final quarter when it got a little too philosophical and then got a little too far-fetched. Really, Pattie? After just a couple of months you are ready to go into a joint custody relationship with someone? Who happened to win $20,000? To go with your secret fortune that was stashed away while your kids had to sleep on the floor of a garage? What?!?

I did really love Willow, though, and her observations about other people as she strove to understand them. The first 200 pages were delightful, if also tragic and stressful.


Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars. I finished this book a week ago, and I can't really remember much now; it didn't have much of an impact. I remember being dismayed by the carnival and mean old Ellis, annoyed by the otherworldliness of Mrs. Swift and Mrs. Potter, and disgusted at the way that anyone who was different - even if only physically - was hidden away in the "special" class with no supplies. But I never felt very connected to Bee.


Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Zzzzzzzz. Well written, but not much happens besides reading "Treasure Island" a bunch of times. I am most sympathetic with Rew.





Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Has Mr. Spinelli earned a completely free pass from editors? I found this to be ghastly. Granted, I only made it through disc 1 of 5. The grating narration didn't help. Certainly there was imagination poured into the work. But it felt dystopian (even as it was developing a kids' paradise) and creepy. I didn't like any of the characters. I didn't care about Jack finding his bike. Or growing up. I just wanted it to end.

RICBA Nominees 2014

I will be adding to the list as I make my way through the nominees ... favorites closest to the top.


The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. I loved it. Not sure if kids will appreciate its somber tone, but I sure did. Killer comments close out many of the tiny chapters: "Old age is a powerful disguise." ... "I always tell the truth although I sometimes confuse the facts."

Actually, now that I think about it, it's almost like a novel in verse, even though it's written as prose. Applegate's writing is a hell of a lot more poetic than so many of those "verse" novels out there that just seem to have returns sprinkled randomly through sentences.

And it's based on a true story.


The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Well-crafted story that sucked me in immediately - a page-turner with a twist that I appreciated. Kind of annoyed that it's already set up to be a trilogy, though. I hope Nielsen continues to write well and doesn't phone it in by the end.

Speaking of trilogies and similar plotlines, I wonder if I could push "Westmark" to my students.


Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Convoluted mystery set in a small town with kooky residents, written with fantastically vivid language. Examples:

- "I wouldn't say stole, but I did borrow it pretty strong." (later referred to as a "surprise borrowing")

- "The cafe relaxed."

- "I hear whispers the way a knife-thrower's assistant hears knives."

- Rumors "swirl like ink around an octopus."

- He looked "like time had grabbed his face with both hands"

- "My earth found its axis and my starts found their sky."

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I completely second Brandi Rae's review, and rather than trying to paraphrase, she said I could just use it for mine:

"For the most part I really enjoyed this. Auggie was born with many extreme facial deformities. After extensive surgeries, he is starting 5th grade; attending a public school for the first time. This was thoughtful, funny, touching ... the rotating points of view were varied enough that upper elementary would like it as well as lower middle school (good 5-7 book). There were some flaws (I did find the ending ridiculous). But overall, a good book ...."


The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found the meta-narration, vocabulary/idiom explanations, and ludicrous "review" questions to be delightful! And how could I not like a book that introduces kids to cryptic crossword puzzles? Not sure if I should read it aloud, or if the asides would only work when written. Will definitely promote it, though.



Double Dog Dare by Lisa Graff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this one. Convincing kid perspectives, humor, pathos.







The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sweet depiction of a bookish girl experiencing growing pains, including a friendship crisis and an "embarrassing mom." Would be interesting to see if students made the inferences to figure out what's happening at Laura's house before it's spelled out. I have read almost every book Anna refers to ... will have to put "My Louisiana Sky" on the list.


Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman by Marc Tyler Nobleman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Holy introduction to intellectual property rights, Batman! I will definitely be using this book as a springboard for lessons.




Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An engaging read, but at the end I felt let down. Other reviewers have stated that feeling manipulated fits in with the overall theme. And I guess I should have thought a little more about some of the things that made me say "What?" Anyways, good parts included smile therapy, big picture v. dots, and spelling reform via Bob javascript:void(0);Edwards Who Draws. And I always did find the taste bud map suspect.


Dogs on Duty: Soldiers' Best Friends on the Battlefield and Beyond by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Solid introduction to the concept of dogs as military assets, including historical context and individual profiles. Accessible and interesting. I may need to get two copies, since my students love both dogs and war books. Design note: the red and blue pages denote patriotism, but make it kind of hard to read the black text.


Brother from a Box by Evan Kuhlman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fairly fast-paced tale of a boy and his new brother ... who happens to be a robot from France. Trying to get him to fit in at school provides plenty of fish-out-of-water episodes. However, the spy/kidnapping aspect seemed a little rushed, and I'm not sure I buy the resolution. But it's good enough to add to the collection; I know kids will read it.



Nic Bishop Snakes by Nic Bishop
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bit all over the place, but amazing photographs and lots of interesting facts. I am sure my kids will love it.




The Flying Beaver Brothers and the Evil Penguin Plan by Maxwell Eaton III
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Very cute ... I felt like I was watching a silly cartoon. The sound effects are the best: Flarp! Boosk!




True by Katherine Hannigan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The pros: Delly not meaning to get in trouble (sometimes as a teacher I need reminders that my more ... challenging ... kids have the best of intentions), her made-up words, her family dynamics.

The cons: The entire "development" and "resolution" of Ferris' problems. I didn't get it, I didn't buy it.

During the first half of this book, I was thinking 5 stars. The second half brought it down to these 3. Saved from a 2 only because I liked the first half so much.


King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige by Wes Tooke
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

I liked it ok. Good introduction to segregation and the Depression for students who might not be familiar with the time period. Lots of baseball will inspire them to learn more about Satchel Paige. Given that so many kids are asking for Jackie Robinson books because of the "42" trailers, I will definitely add to the collection.



The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani
My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I'm almost halfway through the RICBA list, and this is the first title I've read that I think I won't be buying for my libraries. I just don't think it's going to appeal to my kids. It didn't really appeal to me ... I skipped it on the Mock Newbery list last year.

I will keep it in mind for students going through identity crises. Although I don't think it really offers much counsel.

One interaction that struck me: when Sonia describes her old school to Alisha, whose reaction is "That's not real. It can't be real." Oh, for a flexible schedule and a computer lab ... although I suppose these days I should be wishing for a makerspace.


Barnum's Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World by Tracey Fern
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I realize that picture book biographies are constrained by a certain number of pages, but I feel like this one was very uneven in terms of summarizing swathes of time (journey and shipwreck) v. including little details (picking up some leaves). As I read, I had questions that I wish had been answered in an author's note:

- When did people start studying fossils?
- Where were the first dinosaur bones discovered?
- Why was natural history such a big deal at this time in history?
- Why did it take seven years to clean and mount the T. rex?

I did enjoy the illustrations, which gave the book a swashbuckling feel.


Jake and Lily by Jerry Spinelli
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Some of Spinelli's works are masterpieces that trigger shattering sobs and make you ache for the characters. This is not one of them. Which is not to say that it's hilarious and makes you cheer for the characters either. Instead, it's just blah. I think the only emotion elicited was pride in having managed to finish in one sitting so I wouldn't have to pick it up again.

The concept of alternating narrators intrigued me at the beginning, but I didn't get a sense of what were supposed to be vastly different personalities. And the sage Poppy was a little much.

Not sure if I will buy or not. The goober bullying stuff is an important message, but I'd rather it delivered in a better package. I can't see my kids really sticking with this one.


Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

If I'm going to read about a takeover plot, I'll take The False Prince, thank you. Made it through the first several chapters and decided that April vacation is too short to spend it reading any more books that I don't love.




Ungifted by Gordon Korman
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The more I read, the less I liked. What could have been an interesting book was flat and full of stereotypes. Every gifted kid was a misfit? Really? And nearly everyone at the academy regarded Donovan as the second coming? Because he named the robot and could use a joystick? Ooooh, how NORMAL. Korman didn't bother giving the alternating voices much voice, either. I can't justify spending library money on this dreck.

"Circulate Everything" and Other Thoughts on My School Library Collections

Thanks to the blizzard, I've been catching up on some professional reading, including past issues of Knowledge Quest. The May/June 2012 edition includes two articles that really struck a chord with me.

Weeding and Growing
I've begun rather ruthlessly weeding my two school library collections; if something is more than 30 years old and has only 1 circulation recorded in the past 10 years of online records, then it's out.

Maybe if I got a new edition of
the book,more kids would check
it out? They totally judge by
the cover. Source: amazon.com

Goodbye, Hardy Boys. Goodbye, Boxcar Children. Goodbye, random coming-of-age novels that I enjoyed back in the 80s but can't convince anyone to check out now. (I will, however, admit to hanging on to Little Women and The Witch of Blackbird Pond because they are favorites of mine ... I know, I know, so much for being ruthless and objective. And before you say, "Newbery!" ... a subjective award does not a keeping criterion make.) Goodbye, nonfiction about how someday we might have computers in all of our homes. Goodbye, biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower that was written when he was still in office. Goodbye, 200-page book about Mozart's operas (how did THAT end up in a K-6 library??).

Even though I have a ludicrously tiny budget (unavailable until spring), I want to make room for stuff that I know the kids really do want to read. I stock up at Savers and at public library book sales. I ask for Barnes & Noble gift cards for holidays ... I should probably start making bookplates for the Rita Moore collection (my mom's generosity has enabled many purchases of new books). I am thankful to the parents' groups that each gave me a bag of requested books from their bookfairs.

I have personally read almost every item I've added to my collections since September. Which have included a lot of graphic novels, YA, and horror/suspense/mystery. Because that's what my kids want. I want to give them what they want. Because I want them to think that reading is FUN.

While I understand budget constraints, I am especially frustrated at the district's arbitrary decision that no school may spend more than $150 on periodicals. A magazine is not a book, but that doesn't mean it doesn't count as reading.

Most-circulated title at one
of my schools. By a LOT.
Source: sikids.com

In her article "Showing You Care," Nichole L. Smith discusses how to build relationships with students, colleagues, and administrators. She stresses the importance of understanding and supporting student reading choices: "Classic novels are not necessarily at the top of students' reading lists; students are often more interested in reading magazines, newspapers, websites, lyrics, e-mails, letters, magazines, games, etc. In schools, these materials are not always considered reading materials, and what students read by choice is sometimes ignored." (p. 19)

She continues: "Reacting to a constant push from a school librarian to read books, adolescent students, especially males, can be turned off from reading. ... This feeling is especially evident when materials students self-select for leisure reading are rejected by teachers - and maybe even the school librarian - as 'not challenging enough.'" (p.20-21)


Heading Out the Door
At the same time, I've been letting kids take out pretty much anything they'd like, even from the reference section. (Note: I do require a note from home for anyone below grade 6 to take Twilight, and I reserve Wimpy Kid for third grade and up ... anything else is fair game.)

You're interested in reading the encyclopedia? Here you go. Want to bring home the World Almanac for Kids? As soon as the fourth grade is done comparing TOC and index searches. You only want magazines and drawing books? No problem.

A beautiful early nonfiction collection on bugs had been used for research lessons and never circulated ... I put it out for the kids, and they LOVE them. Yes, the pages are now wrinkled, and the corners are banged up, but the first-graders dying for more "books about real stuff" are happy.

In her article "The Transformative Power of Care," Olga M. Nesi provides this advice on p. 12:

• Demonstrate that we care more about children reading than we do about the books and the damage they might incur by being read.
• Refrain from imposing reading restrictions - genres, numbers of pages, "significance" of topic, etc.
• Circulate everything.
• Model good reading habits by reading widely ourselves, and by enthusiastically and systematically sharing our reading with students.

Did I mention that
it's getting made into
a movie? Source:
jennielsen.com

My new year's resolution for school this year was to do more booktalking. Among other titles, I purchased The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen. One Friday, I held each new book up and described the plot; since the books weren't in the catalog yet, kids could either sign into the catalog and request from another school themselves or write out a slip of paper for me to place the holds on our copy. By the end of the day, I had SIXTEEN requests for The False Prince. So much more effective than sticking a new book on a "New Books" shelf. So exciting to me that the kids were excited.

Since I started in September, I've upped the circulation limits set by my predecessors (mainly for their sanity after all library secretaries were laid off a few years ago ... I've been recruiting student volunteers to put the books all back on the shelves) and use extra books as a PBIS award.

All of this takes time, energy, and money out of my own pocket. But more importantly, it shows the students that I care. I care about them having a vibrant collection of resources. I care about their interests. I care about them. I guess it's fitting that the theme of the KQ issue was "Caring is Essential."