On a daily basis I have students wander into the library and (you know) casually ask me if Raina Telgemeier's Sisters is in. I (unfortunately) have to laugh an ironic laugh and ask them if they have placed it on hold. Our holds list (when this book first came on the scene and I only had two copies) had topped fifty students! Even with the recent purchase of eight copies of this book, I cannot keep up with the demand. There are runaway hits, but each and every person still has different tastes and needs those opportunities to find the books that they want to read. These books are good for kids. The humor, the safety, the inspiration, the information all of these reasons are reasons enough to let our kids select the books they want to read. Recently I had a 3rd grade student come into the library and request a copy of the Blind Side by Michael Lewis, which I immediately borrowed from a middle school library for him. He said his older sister really enjoyed it and he wanted to try reading it too. The book would be a challenge for him, but I needed him to see that for himself. He returned it the next day unread. As the adults we need to let our kids figure things out. We can offer recommendations, we can have opinions, we can buy them classics and we can wonder why they are reading Captain Underpants for the 47th TIME! But we need to let them read, they will progress! The key here is offer them choices and the time to pick up those books and read! "Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." Maya Angelou Below are the top ten books according to our library catalog
plus a few more that have gone out frequently in recent weeks. The Indian Trail Library strives to have a wide assortment of texts for all ages of readers. The collection has been purposefully built to offer many choices within context of school and the world. The school library is a place where children can be guided to try new books they never thought to try before. It is also a place where children check out The.Same.Old.Book. week after week. The School Library is not all about books though. Library habits involving book checkout are reinforced to build up habits of responsibility and shared resources. A book that has been lost at home is a book no other child can read except for the child who lost it. We are a democracy here in the library. Students can advocate for themselves by asking for help, by putting books on hold that never seem to be in. Patience is reinforced when books are so popular that the only way to get that book IS to place a hold on it. Civic responsibility is reinforced when children return their books, own up to books that their dog chewed Access to books should not be solely through the school library. The Indian Trail library is only one portal. As a librarian and parent and general adult in this society, I come to depend on other adults to help their youth too. I expect that adults will help their children get to the public library or to bookstores or find ways encourage students to take control of their own reading. Easy ways for children to become active participants in reading is to exchange books with other students or to find a little free library in their neighborhood. One of the great joys of my job is book selection. I feel like a fortune teller as I am reviewing book titles to buy for Indian Trail School. Although I have stopped purchasing review sources such as Booklist and School Library Journal. I still know to look for a variety of reviews to choose books. With the advent of user reviews on Amazon.com, amazing blogs such as Colby Sharp's and lovely reading (opinionated) students I have learned not to be such a snob in making sure all books pass adult critic's muster. I still do look for how the books critically measure up. Any book that makes a child want to read is a fine book in my opinion. If the book titles or descriptions of the books conjure up any of my students faces, I KNOW that the books are ones we must own. Start by reading to yourself. Lead by example of your engagement. Read to your children at bedtime, at breakfast, on the airplane, after school, at sibling's soccer games. Slow down. Put down your phone Use your public library card. Read what you own already. Borrow books from friends. Find a Little Free Library. Check out free ebooks from HP library. Read widely: magazines, cereal boxes, signs, menus, informational books, new books, old books, award winners, books you hate, but your kids might love. Discuss. Make Connections. Return your library books. Repeat.
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AuthorKaren Grost has always been technologically oriented although she is wary of the overuse of technology. She has worked as the librarian in District 112 since 2001 as a School Library Media Specialist. Blending literature, technology, face to face instruction, and independent study is how she builds up the students in her school to become life long learners. Archives
September 2016
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