Library Lesson: Don't Be Sluggish, Read!

Graphic from My Cute Graphics

Don't Be Sluggish, Read!

After a summer break, many first graders come to school with a decline in reading (sadly we know this can happen at any age for those who don't keep reading over the summer). This may frustrate or sadden our young emergent readers. I do this lesson at the beginning of the year to help them to not be down and to just keep on reading!

Recommended grade:  1st grade

Materials:

·   YouTube video "Don't Feel Like Dancin' Slugs"

·   snail or slug hand puppet (mine is a Folkmanis Garden Snail puppet)

·   Book How to Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson

Lesson:

I always try to incorporate wiggling into a lesson. The kids always need it to listen to an important topic (especially at this age). With the release of the movie Turbo this past year, this library lesson was a big hit!

    YouTube video "Don't Feel Like Dancin' Slugs"

1. Have the boys and girls stand up and dance (if they choose) to the You Tube video “Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ Slugs.” It is a really short 22 second video. But, it is just enough to "wake them up," smile, and be ready to listen to my lesson.
2. After dancing, I will have the kids sit down and then I will bring out my snail puppet. My snail puppet is really sad and dos not feel like dancing. After we ask him why, we learn it is because he cannot read. I will tell him I have a perfect book on how we can teach him to read. 
3. Read the book How to Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Peterson. Discuss afterwards ways in which the students learned how they could become readers if reading is hard for them or someone they know. My snail puppet will be "all revved up to read" afterwards!

My Garden Snail hand puppet from Folkmanis.

I do not think this particular one is for sale anymore.

But, there are plenty of other great ones out there!

Library Lesson: Reading in Your Own Time

Graphic by My Cute Graphics

Reading in Your Own Time

I love doing this lesson with my kindergarteners! I start out by explaining to them that when I came home from my first day of kindergarten, I was in tears because I expected to come home a fluent reader. Many of the students nodded in agreement as I shared this. Keep reading to see the results of this lesson...

Recommended grade:  Kindergarten

Materials:

·   Graph: “Can you read? Yes/No”

·   Book Ruby in Her Own Time by Jonathan Emmett

·   Poem “Big News About Me” by Mandy Watson

·   Word "me" to display

·   Environmental print pictures to go with poem

Lesson:

1. As students come in and sit down, let them answer the following question/graph: “Can you read? Yes/No.”
2. Read story Ruby in Her Own Time by Jonathan Emmett. Have the students chime in to the reoccurring phrase "in her own time."
3. Discuss results of the graph. Share how difficult reading is and assure them that it will come in their own time just like things did for Ruby in the story. Tell them that they may not know it, but they knew how to read since they were little, and I will prove it in just a few minutes. Introduce or review the sight word “me."
4. Read aloud poem “Big News about Me” (written by me), and display environmental print signs for students to call out as I read the poem.
5. Have students that graphed they could not read change their response because now they know without a doubt they can read!

The last step in my lesson wasn't originally in my plans. But after the students figured out they could read, one little kindergartner gasped, stood up, and marched to the graph at the front of the room and changed his response from a "no" to a "yes." That afternoon as I watched him get into his mom's car to go home, he screamed, "Mom, guess what? I was wrong, I CAN read!" It almost brought tears to my eyes and I still can't stop grinning when I think about it. Share with me if you have ever experienced the same feeling. It's very rewarding isn't it?

Fun freebie:
Here is the poem I wrote called "Big News About Me." All of the colored words are the ones to hold up the environmental print and let the students read versus you saying it.

Click boy for poem
Graphic by My Cute Graphics

Library Lesson: Being Knowledgeable about Reading

Being Knowledgeable About Reading

It saddened me to see many of our library books checked out and then sit in our students' backpacks, never to be cracked open and read. That concern sparked the idea for this lesson. Plus, I just love the envelope page corner bookmarks I have seen on Pinterest; I had to think of a way I could fit them into a lesson!

Recommended grade:  2nd grade

Materials:

·   Book Petunia by Roger Duviosin

·   Corners cut off of envelopes to make bookmarks

·   Pencils and markers

Lesson:

I was surprised that just about all of my second graders did not know what the word "wise" or "knowledgeable" meant. But after this lesson they did, and they started enjoying their library books versus letting them sit in their backpacks. Hooray!

1. Discuss with the students how checking out books and carrying them around in their backpacks will not help them become more knowledgeable. Even silly fiction stories can teach them a valuable lesson that will help them become more wise or knowledgeable. Discuss the meaning of both words.
2. Read story Petunia by Roger Duviosin.
3. Have students use the corner of envelopes to create a Petunia bookmark (need to first lick and stick them closed before cutting into triangle shapes). On the back of their bookmark, the students will write a sentence or more sharing what they learned from the story.

I love what this student wrote she learned from our lesson:
"I lernd (learned) that you have to read to get smart."

Library Lesson: The Library's Shelf Elf

Library Orientation: The Library's Shelf Elf

By third grade, my students pretty much know how to care for their books and how to act in the library. However, I still review these skills so that each class knows ways they can earn the coveted Golden Shelf Elf Award. I will discuss more about my special trophy in a little bit. Here is the lesson I start out with before I discuss how to earn the trophy...

Recommended grade:  3rd grade

Materials:

·   pictures of your family and things you like

·   video clip "The Elves and the Shoemaker" from VHS "Muppet Classic Theater" (we own the video, and I show the clip from You Tube since it is faster to access- I wish this video was sold in DVD format!)

·   book The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopkins

·   "magic scrolls" with Shelf Elf rules on them

·   Golden Shelf Elf award

·   

Lesson:

This school year I am going to use more technology tools! If I take this initiative, hopefully the teachers at my campus who are intimidated by new technologies will try after seeing their students' excitement...

1. As the students come into the library and sit down, I am going to have them use a SMART Response remote to answer yes or no to following question: "Have you heard of the story The Elves and the Shoemaker?” We will then discuss the results.
2. Briefly introduce myself and show the few things I mention about me on our SMART Board.
3. Show the movie clip “The Elves and the Shoemaker” for students to understand the story (My favorite version is from The Muppets found on You Tube: “The Muppets- The Elves and the Shoemaker”).
4. Tell students I am going to share a story of what happened next to the elves in the story. But first, I need 7 volunteers to read a magic scroll when the time is right. Pass out parts to volunteers. Read The Shelf Elf by Jackie Mims Hopkins. Call on volunteers to read their magic scroll throughout the story when prompted.
5. Explain how students can win the Golden Shelf Elf Award to display in their classroom. Discuss how they can start right now as they go in search for a book.

   

   My coveted Golden Shelf Elf Award

Fun freebie:
Here are the bookmarks that I created to hand out to the students at the end of this lesson. If you would like a copy, click on the picture below. Enjoy!

Elf graphic from Scrappin Doodles

Library Lesson: Wild about Books!

Library Orientation: Wild about Books!

I've tweaked this lesson from last year to include lots of movement and teamwork. Since our elementary school only goes up to fourth grade, I wanted my "big kids on campus" to show me what they remember or know about book care rules while having fun in the library at the same time.

Recommended grade:  4th grade

Materials:

·   SMART Response system with remotes

·   Stuffed animals (1 per table)

·   animal books (set out at table in front of room)

·   “Wild about the Library!” handouts (1 per table) and pencils

·   Safari hat, vest, & binoculars (to wear)

·   Scavenger hunt items and photos of each one: toilet paper, stuffed animal dog, baby  pacifier, clean and empty bag of Cheetos, box of crayons, and book return adhesive  pocket with card

·   Book Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

Lesson:

Here is how I teach this lesson and what works best for me. Also, I hope to post pictures once I have taught it this upcoming week...

1. As the students come in, they will use our SMART Response remotes and answer the following question displayed on our SMART Board: “Are you WILD about books (Do you like to read?)?” We will then discuss the results.
2.  Next, sharing the following joke (on the SMART Board):
   Why does an elephant use his trunk as a bookmark?
   That way he always nose where he stopped reading.
   (Found via Pinterest on this library's website)
3. Briefly introduce myself (wear safari hat, vest, and binoculars) and play up that I am not only their librarian, but I am also their safari guide. Show the few things I mention about me on SMART Board.
4. Warn students about the wild animals at their tables (stuffed animals)! Working together with their table mates, students will determine which book from the ones displayed at the front of the room their wild animal would most likely enjoy if it could read. They will go select one of those books and bring it back to their table. Then, they will fill out the top portion of their table’s handout “Wild about the Library!” in which they write their table’s animal, what book they think the animal would like, and why they believe their animal would like that book.       
   Stuffed animals and their book matches I had on hand and will use
   giraffe (Basketball for Fun by Brian Eule)
   zebra (A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon)
   raccoon (Where Does the Garbage Go? by Paul Showers)
   panda (China by Sandy Asher)
   brown bear (The Honey Hunters by Francesca Martin)
   eagle (The Best Nest by P. D. Eastman) 
5. For our next activity, students will look at the photo placed at their table of an item. They will then have a “Safari Search” for this item that is hidden somewhere in the library. When they find their item, they will bring it back to their table, and fill out the next portion of their table’s “Wild about the Library!” handout. They will answer questions about what their item was and what library rule they think may go along with that item. Share results and discuss real answers:Toilet paper: To use if they cannot find a bookmark
   Stuffed animal dog: Keep books away from pets
   Empty & clean bag of Cheetos: Keep hands clean when looking at our     books
   Pacifier: Keep an eye on babies around our books
   Box of crayons: Never draw in our books
   Old fashioned card catalog book return pocket: Return books on time
6. I will then show a preview of the book Wild about Books by Judy Sierra. Tell students that they will find out next week which books the author/illustrator paired with the animals and that we will compare them to the students’ guesses on their handouts.
7. Have students then demonstrate the proper use of these rules as they go and select a book to check out. Reward students for not being “wild” in the library.
   
   
   

Fun freebies:
Here are the bookmarks that I created to hand out to the students at the end of this lesson. If you would like a copy, click on the picture below. Enjoy!

Wild lettering and animal graphics from Scrappin Doodles
About Reading lettering from Lettering Delights

Another freebie I have to offer is my Wild about the Library handout. The link is posted above, but you can also get it by clicking the image below.

Wild lettering and animal graphics from Scrappin Doodles
About Reading lettering from Lettering Delights
Other font used from DaFont

Library Lesson: Choosing a Just Right Book

Library Orientation: Choosing a Just Right Book

My second grade son last school year participated in this library lesson. He said it cracked him up and I had to do it again for this next bunch of second graders for their library orientation. His favorite part was me preparing to read the story in the chairs that were too big and too small and putting on socks that were also too big and too small. If you are going to do this lesson, be sure and have fun with it by over dramatizing and making your students smile!

Recommended grade:  2nd grade

Materials:

·   pictures of your family and things you like

·   chairs of various sizes (too small, too soft, and just right)

·   2 books: one that is too difficult for this age group and one that is too easy to read

·   socks of various sizes (too small, too big, and just right)

·   book Goldisocks and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins

Lesson:

Here is how I teach this lesson and what works best for me. Also, I hope to post pictures once I have taught it again this school year...

1. I start by introducing myself and showing pictures of my family and the things I like.
2. Next, I tell the students I have a book I want to read to them, but I first have to find a cozy spot to read it. I sit in a chair that is too small, too soft, and then “just right.” 
3. Then, I tell the students I am now ready to read. I start by reading the first paragraph of a book that is too hard (I use my husband's huge book The Caribbean by James A. Michener). Then, I read a few pages of a book that is too easy (I use the board book Hug by Jez Alborough). Finally, I tell them I am now going to get serious and read a book that is “just right” for them.
4. But before I read the book, I tell the students I need to put on some cozy socks because my feet are too cold. By now the students are cracking up laughing or groaning because they know what will probably happen next. I put on socks that are too little (the kids get a kick out of me trying on baby socks). Then, I put on socks that are too big (my husband''s soccer socks are massively big). Finally, I put on socks that fit “just right” (I use socks I received from Junior Library Guild that say "Librarians Rock!"). 
5. Now I really have their attention and I am ready to ask if the phrases I have used remind them of a story they have heard before (Goldilocks and the Three Bears). I share with them that I have a different version I am going to read to them called Golidsocks (hold up my feet) and the Three Libearians by Jackie Mims Hopkins. 
6. I then proceed to finally read the story. Every time I get to the main character Goldisocks, I drag out the word "Goldi..." and hold up my socked feet so the students will chime in the word "socks."
7. There is a part in the book where Goldisocks discusses using the "5 Finger Rule" to find a book that is "just right." I pause my reading of the story to discuss how to do the "5 Finger Rule." Then, I teach the students a song to reinforce the idea. I wish I knew where I found this song to give credit to whomever came up with it- give a shout out if you know where!
   The Five Finger Book Song
   (tune: “Yankee Doodle”)
   Here’s the way I choose a book-
   I count upon my fingers.
   See a word I cannot read,
   My fingers keep a record.
   
   
   Miss a word, that counts for one,
   Skip it and keep reading.
   Miss the next word, finger up,
   At five, I’ll choose another!
8. I finish reading the book and then tell students it is time for them to be a BEAR! I hold up a sign that is an acronym showing the word BEAR stands for "Be Excited About Reading!" They then get to practice using the "5 Finger Rule" to find a book for them that is just right.
9. As they leave, I hand out bookmarks to remind them to be BEARs, to use the "5 Finger Rule" when finding a book, and to help them remember when their weekly library time is.

Fun freebie:
Here is the bookmark that I created to hand out to the students at the end of this lesson. If you would like a copy, click on the picture below. Enjoy!

Bear graphics from Scrappin Doodles
Hand graphic from My Cute Graphics

Library Lesson: Monkeying Around

Library Orientation: Monkeying Around

This is one of the first lessons I wrote as a teacher-librarian. The students had a blast and couldn't wait for their next visit to the library! This lesson is designed to stress the importance of book care while having fun learning in the library at the same time. It is based off of Pat Miller's Library Monkeys cards. Be sure and visit her website at: www.patmillerbooks.com.

Recommended grades:  PreK and Kindergarten

Materials:

·   pictures of my family and things I love

·   monkey puppet (hidden in bag)

·   CD “Party Like a Preschooler” by Go Fish, CD player

·   Library Monkeys picture cards by Pat Miller

·   Damaged books/pages examples

Lesson: (see the link to this lesson posted on author Pat Miller's site by clicking here)

1. Introduce myself by showing pictures of my family and things I like.
2. Tell students I have a special library guest, so they have to show him how to behave in the library because sometimes he makes poor choices. Introduce monkey puppet (hidden in bag).
3. Ask students to raise their hand if they have heard the song “5 Little Monkeys.” Have students get up and sing and dance to the song “Five Little Monkeys” by Go Fish from their CD “Party like a Preschooler.”    
   CD or digital album
4. Talk about how the monkeys made some poor choices in the song. Show picture cards about some monkeys who didn't take care of their library books using Pat Miller’s Library Monkeys. Read and discuss cards.   
   
5. Show examples of book pages with problems like the ones from Pat Miller’s Library Monkeys. Before each example, say the following chant:   
   Five Little Monkeys
   by Mandy Watson (adapted from idea by Pat Miller)
   Five little monkeys reading in bed
   One jumped up and showed what he read
   Mama took the book and this is what she said,
            “I’m so sad you ruined what you read!”
6. Tell the students they are going to go looking for a special book to take home today. As they look, they are going to echo each line of my poem as they march around a table of pre-selected and age appropriate books:
   Library Monkeys
   by Mandy Watson
   We are little monkeys. (Children echo)
   We’re looking for a book.
   When we find a good one,
   First we’ll take a look.
   If we like what we picked,
   We go and check it out.
   We read and take care of it;
   “Reading’s fun!” we shout.

Fun freebies: 

I created these bookmarks to hand out at the end of the lesson in order for my students and their families to not forget their library day. If you would like a copy, click on the image below. Enjoy!

Monkey graphics from Scrappin Doodles