Games in the Library - you make

         There are so many ways that games can be used in the  library. Here are just a few that I have either made and used, thought up, saw in a book or on the Internet.

      Make it your self:


    1. Take cards and make a "Find  the book in the library Game" So Easy to do.

       Take 3 by 5 cards . Make a game for each section of the library: Write down with permanent marker  call numbers with letters for the students to find.   Try to make a lot for each section so that many students can play at once. This is great to do especially after you have introduced the section and how to find  the type of books.   I have made these for Fiction, Non-fiction and Biography, Easy section and easy non-fiction  section. The kids love to do this and think they are really playing a game.

  2. Treasure Hunt /Map game.

     Make a map of your library. Leave out  all the labels. Make another sheet with items to find. I number each one. Tell the students to write the number of each item on the place where they find it in the library. Younger students can work in pairs if you like.
   Items to have them find: Circulation desk, computers, fiction  section, non-fiction section, biography's, reference, tables and chairs  story time area, ect.

 3. Genre Bingo- At the end of the year use this to  review or as a culminating activity.  Make a playing card with Genres or Bingo across the top. In each block, write a genre . Give at least one free token, and you can also include  and non-fiction / reference in this game.  Students can work in groups or singly.  Tell or show titles, they must figure out what genre  and place a marker on the correct spot.   You may also discuss what the genre should be , and may want to check when someone announces BINGO.  Have small prizes for this one.

 4. Dewey Bingo: Similar to Genre Bingo. In the boxes  place Dewey categories and numbers. Show or tell titles of books in your library.  Discussion of what category may be needed, Have small prizes.

Wired Wednesday - Technology Tools

http://www.librarygames.com/

    I found this site and had to use it this week when I am discussing games and gaming in the library.  It is really a great site and it has a lot to offer.  There are lots of free activites and games to help make the library a really fun place to be.  There are tabs - some which are clickable- Funbaraian, Fun Workshops, Activities, Books and Games,
   At the bottom of the page there are links to many different items that can help make your library a really fun and learning place. I can't guarantee it will be quite  but the students will love to come to the library and use the library for all their learning and reading. So check this out and I am sure you will find something fun and useful.


http://www.librarygames.com/

Educational Games in the Library

         You probably have been  reading about gaming in the library. This is reaalivey new topic  that has been discussed on and off with the pros and cons of  using different games in the library.   Of course , there are many library games that librarians have been making and using for many years.
       When I first started doing games in the library, I was in a Middle school setting and I use the games to reinforce  skills that had been taught.  These were simple games that  did not take long to produce and the studnets enjoyed doing .
       Now gaming has taken a new slant, and librarians , both public , and school are having more formal games of many differnt kinds in the library.  The obvious are board games that the students do for fund . My local public library has a chess night  twice a month, and I hear it is quite successful.  
      Games in the library  pro0mote both fun in the library and also promote learning.  This leads us to the notion that libraries are not alway considered  quiet and boring. The key  with games and gaming will be to balance  study and reading with fun activites that inspire and stimulate.
       So hear is a good discussion for librarians everywhere: Do you have/ do games in your library?   What are they  ?  How do you monitor when the games are played?

      Future blogs will cover some more ideas on games and gaming in the library- perhaps latter in the week. Let me hear your thoughts on games and gaming.

Mission Statement and goals

                        If you are done writing your mission statement, you should probably have  4  sentences at the most.  Any thing longer will not be as effective. Now you will be thinking: " What do I do on a daily basis to  help fulfill this mission?"    You can think about what your goals will be . 
                       Goals explain in detail  what you will do to accomplish your daily operations.  Goals are specific.  But be sure that your goals are measurable and  you will know when they are accomplished.  Goals need to be proven.  There can be documentation that each goal is met. There should be  a change  from the beginning  of the year to the end.  This might be a list  of  activities, statistics, and programs that you have  done over the course of the year. 
                  So by now  I am hoping that your mission statement is at least a tickle in the back of your mind. Any one wishing to share their mission and goals?? I am looking forward to seeing some of them.

Wired Wednesday- Technoloy Tools

    All thought technically this is not a tech tool , I wanted to write about this today to get the word out about International Book Giving day on February 14, 2013.   

      International Book Giving Day is a day dedicated to getting new, used and borrowed books in the hands of as many children as possible.  So on Valentines day, instead of flowers, candy,  a mug, or a teddy bear give someone you love a book!!

     The Web site for this day has some ideas for getting books into  the hadns of needy children.

       You will find  posters, book plates, and signs to print for your libraries.  There are tips for organizing events,  and  a section of photos and stories  of organizations that have done this last year.

 

 

  http://bookgivingday.com/

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Common Core Standards and School Librarians

    Snow Day again today!!   Really it is a snow and ice day as the right now the ice is just sheeting down! good day to stay inside!

     With the Common Core Standards  (CCS) being  adopted in so many states, it is up to the librarians to also embrace them !  Take leader ship in your role in your school and distinct!!  Show what you do in the library is embedded into the CCS .   Librarians provide information,  and also  instruct in the areas of finding information in informational and literary texts. We  teach students how to find what they are looking for and also provide students with increasingly challenging texts and books. The classroom teacher can not do this all on her own.
   
      As librarians , our job is to study our states CCS . Get to know and understand them.  Inform staff how we can help the teachers and students in  working through the standards. Align  our library curriculum to the standards . Show the teachers what exactly you do to help the students become career and college ready.
Yes , it is a big job but it is one that over time will show to our colleagues that librarians are the core in the  "Common Core"
   

Mission Statments- Planning & Writing

    Are you ready?  Ready to start thinking about and planning your mission statement for your library? 

         1:  Think about and determine what your long term goal / goals  would be for your library.  If you are  in a school and they have a mission statement- get that out and look at it.  What does the school want to accomplish?   Interweave that  into your mission so that it fits!  
               Start jotting down some ideas of what your school wants to accomplish. Make sure that  some of those goals are also  the libraries goals
               If you are in a school remember - your mission needs to align with the school mission , but you need to make it specific to the library and what you want to accomplish.
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        2:   A mission statement is short and serves as a guideline that steers  the library staff and programs on a daily basis.    Some times specific goals or objectives  usually accompnay the mission.


  One of my first Mission statement ( or how I remember it- may not be exact- will have to look it up)
  
                The D.V .Elem. School 's  Library mission is to promote reading and learning to the students  and staff.  The library will support curriculum and extend  and  engage  the work done in  and out of the classroom


      Would anyone share their mission statement? It would be great to see some more mission statements.

Wired Wednesday- Technology Tools

         I discoverd this site a while ago and thought  I would share it with you. This site is  Childrens Book A Day Almanac. Each day of the year Anita Silvey gives book recommendations  and reviews which are very detailed.  There are  book recommendations for students of all ages. Also for each day, you can see more events, author birthdays, and anniversaires amd other notable facts about books and authors.

       There are several tools on  this site. You can search the archives to see books review, and also look by age group, subject and date. If you are looking for some new ideas for titles for your students , check this out. I think you will find it to be very helpful.
  
        This would also be a great resource for your staff if they wanted some new ideas for books.
       Childrens Book A Day Almanac   could also be used by older students  in their search for interesting reads.

February Bulletin Boards For Libraries

      I've been floating through  January but now it is time to think about February and what to do about the bulletinn boards.   Here are some ideas :

We love to Read!- Give pink or red hearts  to students and have the write their favorite books. Students can write I Love...   and give the title and their name. Place oin BB with letters of slogan on top in black letters - Can use a light background and heart /scallop edges.

Black History Month- Place pictuires of famous african americans. You can number them, Give some clues under each one. Students can use references or online sources to find out . Students can give guesses in to you- At the end of the month, place names under each one.

Tech tie in- Tweet a sweet Book! Give students an enlarged note. Place a cute bird on each side of the BB- Students can write their favorite titles on each note and then placed on the BB.

Presidents Day- You  can do this similar to Black History Month.( Use presidents that students do not know) Or you could place some presidents  and have students find little know facts on each person.

Fiction to Film: Scan covers of books that you have in your library that have been made into movies.  Place the slogan in the middle and the covers around. A slogan to add  would be: Have you read these?

Library Mission Statement

     Do you have a mission statement for your library and your Career?  If you do not , you may want to think about doing one and having your library mission statement  posted in your library.
     Why should you do this? For starters , with a focused mission statement  you will find yourself referring to it . It will help you in your daily focus of your work. In the middle of a project , you can ask yourself - "Is this  part of what I really should be doing in the  mist of my day? Does this task/ activity help me with my mission. What can I do to move my mission forward?"
     Before you start writing , do some thinking and planning. What is your mission? What do you want to accomplish with your library, staff, and student's. Take some time , make some notes  and begin to formulate some ideas of your libraries mission.

Technology Tools- Wired Wednesday

    Snow Day today!!!  We have about  4 inches - not to bad! 
    Today I want to talk about Thinkfinity!  I was looking at my blog notes and way surprised that I had not yet written about it.   ThinkFinity   is   supported by the Verizon Foundation ( and some partners- AAAS, NCTM, Smithsonian, National Geographic) and is a lesson plan data base. There are may free lesson plan data bases  but this one is heads and shoulders above the rest. 
    Educators who join ( which is free) can collaborate through groups, blogs, and discussions.  They can share resources and  explore best practices  in teaching and learning.  The star of this site however is  the lessons which are digital resources  for students in K-12. They are interesting, engaging, and aligned to state standards and the common core.
    Check this out and show your staff. I think  you will find it very helpful and interesting.!

Common Core Standards and School Librarians

      On Friday I wrote about Librarians , CCS , and literature/ fiction texts.  But the main push of the CCS is the need for students to read and understand  increasinlgy complex non-fictionand informational  texts.  As librarians we need to supplement teachers and classrooms witgh more non-fiction, and informational texts.  Each classroom can not possibly have or afford the amout of informational needs  of its studdents.

     We need to provide Scienc, Math, and Social  Studies  books and passages that will help students become  more able to comprehend the  increasingly difficult books.  We need to find out/ become aware of the content areas and what the teachers are doing. Essentaily, school librarians  will become integrated into each classes currcuilum  to help students and teachers make connedtions among the learning in each area.
       Begin to take a leadership role in your school . If you have yet , learn each grade levels curriculum, Provide resources  ,and assistance   so the students will become career and college ready.
 

Common Core Standards and School Librarians

    I received a question just the other day about my book pass article  in Library Sparks and what CCS that activity would be related to . So I really started to think about the CCS and how they fit into the library program .
    Reading is at the core of the ELA common core standards, so really most of the standards go along with the library program of reading readiness for college- even in the youngest grades.  Each and every book that students read will help them on their way to becoming better readers.
  As librarians we build collections for students to read for pleasure - we have story hours, read alouds, reading incentives, and use award lists to promote the best books.

  As students read they are also gaining confidence  in pulling out main ideas, parts of the story  characters, plot, and  story curve.  The standards give some great examples of stories, poetry  and drama that apply the range of reading text types.
  We need to be aware and know the CCS and be an advocate  to administration , teachers, parents, and students that school librarians are at the core of learning within  the standards.  When you dive into the standards for you state, you will begin to see the important job we need to do to help students in all areas.