Great Ideas

Oakcrest Elementary came up with an idea to remind the kids they have books to return. We stamp their hands with a book stamp to remind them that they have books out. That way they can't take it off or forget and their parents will see it and will be able to remind their child to bring their books back as well.

Great Idea: Hayden Peak

We gave each grade a blank head and tail and asked the grade to decorate it to look like a dragon. This was placed on a wall or bulletin board in each grade area. As the students read 100 minutes, they wrote their name on a dragon scale and added it to their dragon. This was a competition among the grades to see who could build the largest dragon. At the end of 2 months, the grade with the largest dragon received treats and a movie, "Quest for Camelot." Everyone did so well, the whole school won.

Great Idea: Mountain Shadows

We have one area titled "Cub Creations". We ask teachers to give us an art project that the students have done. We display the art for two weeks in the media center. The students love seeing their work up, and the teachers enjoy seeing what the other classes are doing.

Great Idea: Columbia

In order to get our library books all checked in, we decided to have a game day. We told the students the week before that we would be playing games the next week and in order for them to play, they needed to return their book. It acted as their ticket to play. In most classes, all books were turned in, and if students didn't turn in books, we had a table for them to sit at. We played library bingo with the titles of books.

Great Idea: Terra Linda

At the beginning of the year we made a large tree with bare branches that went up the wall to the ceiling. To earn a leaf, the students had to read 10 books. We then gave them a leaf with their name on it. At the endd of the contest, the class with the most leaves received an ice cream party.

Westland Pair and Share

Pair and Share  

Title: Chameleons are Cool by Martin Jenkins and Chameleons on Location by Kathy Darling

Age: K - 2 

Comments:  The children liked learning about chameleons and the colors they change when they are calm, cold, and angry.

West Jordan Elementary

Title:  Goldie Locks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Hopkins

Topic:  Library manners and taking care of books

Grades:  All

Comments:  Creative way to teach library manners.

 

Title:   Un-Brella by Scott E. Franson

Topic:  No words.  Pictures tell story.

Grades: All

Comments:  The children enjoyed making up the story.  (Even the older grades enjoyed this.)  I had a big umbrella as a visual aide.

 

Pair and Share:  This was an experiment.  We paired No Talking with Dogku (Andrew Clement books)

 

Pair share Dogku with Dogs and Cats by Steve Jenkins.

Oakcrest

Title:  Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketteman

Topic:  Helping Others

Grades:  All

Comments:  I was surprised at how the older kids got into the story.  Most kids recognized the story of The Little Red Hen in this story.

 

Title:  Stanley's Party by Linda Bailey

Grades:  All

Comments:  We talked about how we shouldn't do things without permission.

Westland

Title: The Little Engine that could
Author: Piper, Watty
Age: 4 to 8
Topic:  Believing in yourself
Comments: I always like to read this first because of the message.  Being kind to others and believing in yourself.  It is also my favorite.

Falcon Ridge

Title: Anansi the Spider
Author: Gerold McDermott
Age: All
Topic: Folk Tale
Comments:

Why did this book work well with your students? The art work and color was appealing and the children love folk tales.

 

Pair and Share Topic: Fractured Fairytales

Grades:  All

 

Titles/Authors used: Falling For Rapunzel by Wilcox, Leah, The Stinky Cheese Man.. by Jon Scieszka, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon
Scieszka, Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson, and various others.

 

Why did the pair-share go well? The children thought it was fun because they know the original story and there was student involvement.