Week 4!

9/16/2016

This week the library was full of Battle of the Book challengers!

Battle of the Books prep is getting competitive! This week, the staff started a competition to qualify for the staff B.O.B. team: The first 5 staff members to read 15 battle books qualifies for the team!

-Many teachers pumped up their students by setting a class goal of either the whole class reading a set number of books, or the whole class working to qualify for the competition! Many students channeled the proposed intimidation of competing against their teachers to fuel their own efforts at qualifying. Starting out with a shelf and a half of Battle Books on reserve in the library--we are down to a quarter of a shelf with an almost-off-the-page list of hold requests by students.

-Birthday Books are also popular with the many September birthdays. Mrs. Thayer recently re-stocked the Birthday Book shelves with more chapter books for students to choose from!

-Makerspace Monday was a huge success. Students either completed their redesigned book covers (which are now on display in the library), or they saved them to finish during the upcoming Mondays in September.

-Students are also being encouraged to fill out book review forms (available in the library and classrooms) for Mrs. Thayer to post around the library. Peers telling peers what they like to read!

-Over 20 students have signed up so far for the 4th/5th Grade Book Club! Mrs. Thayer has been recording the votes for the first month(s) books. Books should be chosen and students notified about the first meeting by next Friday!

-Tech time with all the teachers is running effectively. Mr. Banfield's class got their first typing practice time today. After reading Martha Blah Blah by Susan Meddaugh to students (and emphasizing the importance of typing words correctly to convey the right message), students did a scavenger hunt using paper keyboard templates. The challenge was to find as many words on each half of the keyboard as possible. Collectively, the students found 15 words on the left side and 17 words on the right side!