Class Outline

Class Web Site: http://www.msmmedia.org

Class Blog: http://msmsmedia.blogspot.com/

You can help your child succeed by reading with them everyday. You are always welcome to attend our class. Please also visit my website (listed above). Select “F” for more family information or go to your child’s grade level for more resources…they will show you! Read my class blog to get weekly updates.

Class Description: Library Media is an exploratory hands-on course that is designed to help students become proficient users and consumers of information and provide additional access to reading especially for pleasure. Activities in the library include Read Aloud sessions and literacy events that relate to our instructional focus and enhance each grades curriculum. Our students learn how to find and borrow books, use the computer to support their learning and present and communicate their ideas to their peers.

Why Read?

The more you read, the more you know.

The more you know, the smarter you grow.

The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice,

When speaking your mind or making your choice.

                                                   by Anonymous

Class Goals:The goal of the school library media program is to support our students in becoming life-long readers and users of information who contribute positively to our world. Through our library media curriculum we hope to foster a love of reading and build skills that enable every student to become an independent learner who is a socially responsible user and consumer of information and ready for college and career.

Class Organization: Students attend Library Media class once a week for 50 minutes for the entire school year. (K1 students attend Library Media 2x per week this year). ALL students receive a Boston Public Library card for use at OGPS and ALL Boston Public Libraries. The library at OGPS is a real library and we are part of the Metro Boston Library Network.

Sample Learning Objectives:

Literary Appreciation:

&Students will be able to name authors and name their own favorite books.

&Students will be able to make predictions about books they are going to read.

&Students will be able to identify detail in stories they read.

&Students will be able to retell stories in their own words.

Information Literacy Skills:

&Students will be able to locate, borrow and return books.

&Students will be able to identify the main parts of a book and distinguish between fiction and non-fiction.

&Beginning in Grade 2, students will be able to use beginning steps in research for finding, organizing and presenting information.

Lifelong Learning and Social Responsibility:

&Students will be able to request materials based on personal interest.

&Students will be able to demonstrate library etiquette (i.e. speaking quietly and basic book care)

&Students will be able to work independently. 

Assessment/Grading Policy:

Class Participation, transitions and effort: 30%

Class Work: 70%

Class Participation and Expectations:

The class participation grade includes following the OGPS Scholarguidelines:

An OGPS student works hard by:

1. Following instructions the first time and getting to work promptly.
2. Participating appropriately in classroom routines, activities and discussions.
3. Being prepared.

An OGPS student shows respect by:

1. Having eyes on the speaker or board or materials and having a calm body.
2. Being silent while others are speaking.
3. Listening to and following instructions.

An OGPS student is responsible by:

1. Using school appropriate language.
2. Using appropriate tone and manners.
3. Using appropriate words to ask for things and calling each other by name. 

Typical Class Structure:

Introduction & whole group DO NOW: Team Builder, Library Poem - 5 minutes

Read Aloud: 10-15 minutes

Multimedia: 5 minutes or less; May feature the letter of the day, music or video that illustrates fiction or nonfiction theme or story

Activity: 10-15 minutes

Choice: Computer, centers “Imagination Stations” and check out: 10-15 minutes

«  Choice in library is critical to the development of an independent learner. Activities and “choices” are carefully developed to help the student learn to make wise choices with their time.

«  Book Check Out - Students may check out a book during choice time if they have returned their last book.

Special Events:  Products completed in library media class may be part of Art Month Festivals. We will also have one Scholastic Book Sale, dates to be determined.

A Samplingof K-2 Class Projects for 2016-2017:

Class work is stored in the library and parents are welcome to view the materials.

K0/K1/K2 - Students will take a journey through the alphabet as they explore a variety of picture books from A-Z. Starting with Ten Apples Up on Top and ending with The Alphabet Tree where they discover that “letters make words” students will be introduced to over 30 books many of which they will cherish for years to come. Their culminating project is a book that captures every book and activity they’ve done in the class.

Grade 1 – Students will begin by reading two series as an introduction to chapter books, First Graders From Mars and Mercy Watson and then create their own Chapter Book that has several chapters about a character modeled after them.

Grade 2 – Students in grade 2 will read several chapter books, including Donovan’s Word Jar and do their first library research project based on collections.

7/8 Media and 7/8 Yearbook – Students in Media and/or Yearbook will do advanced media projects including creation of The Lion’s Den, our school literary journal, The Pride, our school yearbook and assorted media projects.

Here we go!

Our reading journey continues with an amazing trilogy from Aaron Becker. Book one, Journey, a wordless picture book and 2014 Caldecott Honor Book. Each page unfolds mystery and intrigue and stimulates so much conversation and imagination in the library. Students quickly recognize connections between Journey and Harold and the Purple Crayon (Lesson One).

If you have the opportunity to visit the library OR purchase this book it will not disappoint. Journey is a book that can be read over and over again by "students" of all ages. Enjoy the book trailer that follows and consider, "What if there was something magic that could take you away? Where would you go? What would you do?"

Library Schedule & Hours

Monday - Thursday
6:30 am - 4:30 pm

Friday
6:30 am - 2:20 pm

The library will not be open on the first Wednesday of every month and occasional yearbook photo shoots.

Please do not disturb classes in session.

Back to School Night

Library Cards

For Students and Families: Nearly 100% of last year's students have been issued Boston Public Library (BPL) cards needed to check books out at both our Orchard Gardens Library (OG) and the BPL and neighborhood branches. Unless your child is new to Orchard Gardens or came late last year,  they were issued a library card. If they were issued a library card at another Boston Public School that card is still good at OG and the BPL.

Please make sure your child leaves their library card in a safe place. They do not need to bring the card to school to use the OG library.

Your child will need their library card to check out books at the BPL and neighborhood branches. Remember that the BPL charges fines for late books and DVDs.

If your child has LOST their library card, please send a short note and I will make one replacement card for free.

Students new to Orchard Gardens will receive a library application over the next few weeks. If you receive the form and your child already has a BPL Card please write the number on the form and return it.

Exciting Update: All OG 6th, 7th and 8th Graders now have their library cards as part of their T-Pass and Lunch Card - it's the ONE CARD!

For OG Staff and Partners: All staff and partners must have a BPL Card to check out books from the Orchard Gardens Library. If you do not have a library card I will be happy to make one for you. Visit me after school and get your card!

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Buy me here!

As emerging readers I help our students learn to THINK and IMAGINE as we read our stories. Thinking is quiet and we can do it with our eyes open and closed! What we think is ours and no one can tell you what to think or how to think. When you think you can think about real things or imaginary things. When we read, we think about the story and the words in the story. GREAT readers can make pictures in their minds of what we read and all of my students are GREAT readers in training.
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a perfect introductory book to illustrate thinking and imagining. Prior to reading the story we discuss the words "think" and "imagine." We then read the story aloud followed by watching the animated version. After reading and viewing we share either orally or with a purple crayon on paper where we would go with our own purple crayon. This year Jayden took a voyage on a submarine, Patrick was an astronaut going to space and Evilene took her mom to the park.

Welcome Back!

It has been a terrific start to the school year. I LOVE seeing how much everyone has grown over the summer and meeting many new OG students. I also LOVE seeing how many people's names I can remember.  But even Ms. M sometimes needs a little help with names and that's why we play The Name Game to welcome everyone to Library Media. It's silly, it's fun and underscores the importance I place in students and teachers calling each other by their names. We show respect and caring when we remember each other's names. In our school this is an enormous challenge because there are so many of us - but we CAN DO IT! Watch Shirley Ellis rhyme with ease and play this game at your next family gathering - it's fun with a purpose. I've also provided the words so you can follow along!