How to start day 1

[Carina Gonzalez]

Hi everybody! I just got my first job as an elementary school librarian - 5 days ago! School starts next week and I could use some pointers on how to start.

I've never taught before (outside of field experience and subbing) and this is my first time working in a library.

I will be covering two different libraries and classes are 30 minutes each, K-5.

I'm open to any ideas on how to get this rolling since it doesn't look like I'll have a chance to talk to the teachers before I see their students.

Ideas I've hade include:

- library tour
- library scavenger hunt
- talking about hurricane Irene
- explaining library rules and regs
- painting book place holders (for shelf browsing)
- filling out index cards of fave books and movies
- reading a book and letting them browse

Am I on the right track?

Thanks in advance!

[Deanna Seigler]

I'm about to start my first week of classes, too. This is my 5th year. Here's what we will be doing:

k: book care (but no checkouts till next week) - Mr. Wiggles Book and What Happened to Marion's Book are good choices. I also quiz them aloud (and vote with thumbs) about book behaviors...Example...is it good to read while eating?

 

1: I start with Stella Louella's Runaway book then review book care and procedured. I normally don't check out to first on the first visit but I'm 2 weeks behind (new school....setting up) so I plan to.

 

2nd: Goldisocks and the 3 Libearians - picking a just right book - checkouts

 

3rd: Tour - intro to Genres with Joe Bright and the 7 Genre Dudes

 

4th and 5th - this school (new) merged kids from 3 campuses so I want to know what they know. We'll be building wordles with library terms then touring and checking out.

[Kim Keith]

Hi Deanna,  Just read your post and I am curious about your "picking just right book"?  Could you elaborate?

Thanks

[Allison Williams]

They all sound like good options. Why don't you consider different activites for different grades. Kindergarten will need an entirely different level of introduction than your 5th graders. Maybe you could ask your oldest students to tell you what they already know about the library.

[Carina Gonzalez]

These are awesome! Thank you so much - keep 'em comin'!

Though I'm not familiar with wordles, any of the mentioned books, or Joe Bright. I did my field experience in a middle school so I have some googling to do. :)

[Barbara Hagerty]

Dear Carina,

I also just began my first library teaching job this week.  I've got two whole days under my belt!  I got some great teaching ideas from the "Elementary Library Routines" wiki on this site.  My students (K-5) really enjoyed the "Yes always, No never" lesson on book care.  I then had the students color a bookmark that dealt with taking care of books.  30 minute lessons go real quick.  Keep the lessons short and pretty fast paced.  As tempting as it is to go over all the routines and rules, that means a lot of talking on your part...unless you create a clever and fun way to share this info with students.  I only shared a couple rules this week...I didn't want to overwhelm them with everything at once.

[Barbara Hagerty]

Here's a website for creating wordles: http://www.wordle.net/

Check it out! 

[Diane Falconer]

Be sure to introduce yourself, tell a little about YOU---family, pets, hobbies, favorite book (per grade level-ish).  I might do a mixer-type game---find someone who "matches" the square on your paper ("went to the zoo this summer," "went to camp" etc.).  When sheet is filled/time is up, have each student introduce one on his sheet to the class.  Good for gr. 4-5.  Also read of an "averages" game---compile stats on each student (# of sibs, # books read over summer, shoe size, height, # of pets, etc.) and find the "average" for the class, a "composite" student.  Is a way to get acquainted, see commonalities, differences.  Most older kids should know library layout.  Review rules briefly.   I'd like suggestions for "readings" to share with gr. 3-5----may look for new books with good beginnings, or a suspenseful part of a novel most haven't yet discovered, to generate interest.  Unfortunately, my students check out books at a different time, without me present.

[Lisa Seaberg]

You are on the right track! :o) Have a great first week!

 

Students also love learning about their new librarian...you could create a video using Animoto telling them a little about you! :o)