Sweet Statue of Liberty

I was in a bit of a quandry as to what to do with my Kinders today. My older kids did very well with their quizzes and character bucks, but the little ones, my. So I realized we had a great book on the Statue of Liberty, with a National Park Ranger giving a 'tour'. It was just their age. We have a model of the statue that sits on a cabinet about 18" tall, so my plan started to come together. I found two shiny new copper pennies and one that had oxidized a bit. The book said the copper was about the thickness of two pennies, so that worked perfectly! I read a bit in the book and when we got to the copper used I passed around the pennies, then the oxidized one to show why the statue looks green. Then I had a yardstick to measure out how long her hand is (16 feet) and had a student stand every three feet so they could see that. Had two more kids lay foot to foot to show how long her fingers are (about 8 feet). I used the yardstick to measure her eyes over my eyes (2.5 feet) and her nose was like my nose but all the way to the floor. Then I had printed a picture of the statue and they all got to color the statue. I had done a very colorful picture with the folds all different colors and told the kids they could do a lot of different colors too that could show what a great diverse country we were. All different kinds of people, ideas and likes. Some did a bunch of different colors, others did the green. It was fun. Came in early Friday and got computers up,  did my ideas for the kinders. Off to LLI for our end of year party and had a good time with them. Then back to the library and set out crayons and pictures to color, got Liberty off the top of the shelf. I had them, then a fifth grade class and they loved my quizzes (who wouldn't with character bucks involved!), then kinders again. Got in my lunch, then cafeteria duty and straight back into my last class of kinders. A bit of library time then up to Mrs. M's room for the afternoon. They were taking a test, so I just monitored with the volunteer that was there. Then we did another test and down to the computer lab for math. Mrs. M and the volunteer took kids out into the library to work on unfinished papers and cursive writing. School done for the day and I shelved books, looked for books for next week's fun reads, closed up and off to home! My granddaughter's first ballet recital tomorrow!

Appointment

Today I came in early and got ready for the day. Shelved books, checked in the books that came in yesterday afternoon. Got computers up for the day. Went to LLI for my last class of the year. Had a great time with all three of my kiddos! Computer or listening center time, then read to self (I got to check out a few books myself as I sat with the kids) and then our last lesson on adding 's' to the end of words. (or is it wordes? silly kids!) Then back to the library and since we had a concert today, my first class came in early so they could get in my lesson with the National Monuments and Parks and 10 Essentials before they had to go. That was fun. Then I waited for my next class and then my DLC class came in. Since I was using my lunch for my appointment, I worked in the library shelving for the most part. Got all the fiction put away and worked on the Everybody books. I had them out for the DLC kids to look at, so I hadn't put any of them away, but they were all done by the end of the day. Then off to cafeteria duty and one of the kiddos was having issues, so I tried to guide him to make some choices. He didn't think he had any, but I gave him a few examples and told him it was like a game, he had to find some on his own! Back to the library and I looked up the books for next week and started to think about inventory. I might start with the E Books (our big oversized books) to just get a feel for it before I hit the Everybody books. Mrs. S said she did non-fiction last year, so doing the Everybody's will be great. I'll be sure to have that in notes for next year that it'll be fictions turn. Up to Mrs. M's room and I helped her sub with the kids while she read and then while they did math. Back to the library for my last class of the day. Talked with Mr. B about Field Day and we had decided I would run the library for a 'cool' down place and he still wanted me to do that. Then I headed off to my appointment. Back in time to finish up the day and still made it out on time! 

Flash Mob

Yes, Bush is doing a Flash Mob for the last assembly of the year. We're dancing to "Happy". Should be fun and we had a practice today for it. Came in and got computers going, then off to LLI. I only had one of my kids today! So he and I worked together. Finally one came in, his mom was bringing him over the bridge and had gotten stuck by an accident. At least he made it in! Then to the library for my four classes in a row. I think it went well. I did a book on the Grand Canyon and the Powell expedition for the fifth graders and for the younger group I did a book on the poem for the Statue of Liberty. Then I asked them questions on National Monuments (what states have them) and National Parks (names and/or states).  I also brought in my hiking pack with my 10 Essentials and they had to guess what they might be. Anytime I bring out the Character Bucks, they respond to that well! I think they enjoyed it and it filled the time since we're done checking out for the year. Then my lunch, cafeteria duty and the kids were done for the day. I checked in a ton of books, put them on carts and started to organize them to put away tomorrow. I had to take two hours off to accompany my mom to an appointment, so I was glad I got to do that for her. She had been very anxious about it. 

Sparse

It was so cute on Sunday. I was in church and this kid comes up to me and says "you're the librarian at Bush, right?" I nodded and he grinned. Got all the books down off of the shelf tops today and the library looks so sparse! I love having books out, but Friday is the last day to turn stuff in so I can start inventory. Came in and turned on computers from being off three days. Went into LLI and it's our last week for kids so we did stations today. They got about 15 minutes at each station and they really enjoyed the change. Back to the library for a moment - well, my half hour that seems to go by in a moment! Checked in books, and then up to Mrs. M's room. Worked on more spelling sorts and then listened to kids read. Back down for my lunch, then off to cafeteria duty. Back to the library, checked in more books and worked on my poster for the window - All Books Due Friday. I had most of the letters from a bulletin board before, so that helped. Up to Mrs. M's room and helped out with art, snack, geometry. Mrs. M had to leave so Mr. M came in and we finished up math and started a worksheet on matter. Back to the library after school and finished up the poster and hung it in the window. Dusted off all the top shelves. Yuck, they were pretty dusty! Shelved off the cart. 

Three Days

So ready for Memorial Day weekend! Came in just a tad early today since it's Friday. Got computers up and running and pulled off all the manila blinders Mr. M had on them. Wanted to read 'Red Light, Green Light' by Margaret Wise Brown to our Kinders, so I cut out a big red circle and then a green one for them to hold up whenever I read those words in the book. Down to LLI and did reading records on all three of my kids. Did the dump day for everyone. Back to the library and started to look at the books for next week. Did my Kinders and a few of the fifth graders. Had my lunch, then off to the cafeteria. Back for my last Kinder class, then a half an hour and back up to Mrs. M's room. She was just ready to bring the kids downstairs to the computer lab, but Mrs. B was in there for a few more minutes, so we took the kids outside to play just a bit. Then we went in. I helped a few kids that had some writing to do and we monitored the ones on the math games. Then back up to the room to get ready to leave. Back to the library for the last bit and I took the time to take all the special headphones with mics that we use for ELPA and OAKS and got them all boxed up. Time to head home! See you Tuesday!

A Thursday

Pretty normal day. Excited that it's the last day of OAKS testing! Came in and got the computers all set up. I knew they'd be busy getting the last few kids doing their 2nd test. Off to LLI and another set of 2 books to take home. We did a lot of work on 'ed' endings and the different sounds. Had the kids pick out the sound, and then we picked words out of the books from last night that had 'ed' endings and checked those ending sounds out too. Back to the library. Shelved some and got ready for my classes this morning. Had some kids come in that were gone last Friday and would be gone this Friday as well (zoo and choir trip). So I said they could come in and just check out while I was working in the library. Started again to put away the books. I'll probably leave the Everybody books up for the younger kids, but the fiction and non-fiction will all get shelved. Got most of the fiction done today. Had my three morning classes and then my lunch. Down to the cafeteria, then back for some more library time, then up to Mrs. M's for half an hour, then down to the library for Ms. H's class. Back up to Mrs. M's room for math in the afternoon. Back into the library for the last part of the day.

Lend me an Ear

My ear has been stuffed up all day. The good part is that the cafeteria is not near as noisy when you can't hear it! Came in and got computers up and ready. Then to LLI and my group and our two books for the day. Back to the library and I had some wonderful help today. She sorted books and put them away and also worked with me with the groups a few times. Handed out the Tumblebooks bookmarks today. Read Curious George, The Wall, Island of the Blue Dolphins and one of the Magic TreeHouse books. Then my lunch, cafeteria duty, then the kids were gone for the day so I got all the rest of the non-fiction and fiction shelved. Covered the last few books from my order. Did some book repair. 

Prepared

So we found out today that our school is going to be visited by the interim superintendent so I had to quick put out some books on display since I had started to put everything away to get ready for inventory. Hate it when I write a great post and loose it because I'm too far away from our internet :(  Came in and got computers up and onto OAKS. Then off to LLI. Had a great time with the kids getting them to come to our little board and write out words with consonant clusters. They did a great job. Back to the library and more work on my May authors for tomorrow's classes. Then up to Mrs. M's. Mrs. F brought in breakfast burritos that were huge. I ate about an eighth of one. Then Mrs. M gave me the math lesson for today, peg boards, rubber bands and work on triangles. So I did that, then she found the folder for my reading group, but since I only had one of the original five kids, I ended up just going around to kids and listening to them read. Back down for lunch, and a teacher came in looking for frog books, so I gave her a pile and told her to write down the barcodes of the books she took, then cafeteria duty. The tables were all long since there's a concert tonight and the risers curve into the lunch room. We made it work. Then back to the library and I did some shelving and putting out books and picked up The Greedy Triangle to read to the kids before I work on the triangle math with them. Mrs. M seemed to appreciate I did that. She took her set of kids off to the lab for their OAKS testing and I read the book and then we did the peg boards and rubber band triangle work. I told all the kids "You shoot a rubber band off across the room, we all turn in our rubber bands and peg boards!!" I guess they thought I meant it because not one rubber band flew! When Mrs. M came back with the kids she started a movie for them and let me go down to the library. I got it pretty well straightened up, got more books put away for tomorrow. Just hope my voice holds out tomorrow!

No Duct Tape

Came in today and got started with my May authors. Got one done and then the printer wouldn't work. At least I got the ones done for the little kids that come in today. Went to LLI for Monday meeting. Back to the library for an hour. Got my books ready for this week and did a bit of reading to be ready. Then up to Mrs. M's room and she showed me the math lesson she wants me to do this afternoon when she takes a group into the lab for OAKS testing. Then when the kids came up, I sat with some of them and listened to reading. Then down for my lunch, cafeteria duty, then my class came in. They loved reading Curious George! Then I had another half and hour in the library and back up to Mrs. M's. I had about 11 kids to do a math lesson. Lines, segments, rays and angles. At least Mrs. M came back and no one had duct taped me to the ceiling. I guess I will be doing this all week for her. Then back down to the library. The color printer was working, so I did some more authors, then got the serial numbers off of some iPods from a teacher for inventory and redid the U:drive to make sure that was in there. Printed off stickers to put on bookmarks tonight at home. Need to do a poster for last due date, but don't know if that'll happen. So much to do, so little library time.

Mr. Wuffles Touch

Today I got in early since I had to bring my son to his work and it didn't make sense to go all the way back home, turn around and come back, so I just went in. I wasn't too early, but got off at 4! Went to enjoy a beautiful walk twice around Bush Pasture Park, just a few blocks from the school. Got things ready for the day, computers up, books checked in and ready. Off to LLI for my group. Then back to the library and my two morning kindergarten classes. I handed out the hat, face, shirt, pants and boots to kids and when I needed them had them bring them up to me. They liked that, and we also did a lot of reciting the state names which they liked as well. Most of our 5th graders were off on the zoo field trip, but I did still have some fourth graders in and some of the kids who were in class yesterday, but didn't get to go to the zoo for my quiz round. Then my lunch, off to cafeteria duty. I had to leave at the start of the second lunch, my throat hurt so bad, I coughed all the way through the first lunch, so I went in my back room and gargled with salt water. I almost decided to leave after my last kinder class, but luckily the vending machine had life savers, so I had something to suck on. My favorite part of the day. One of the kids in my last class of the day was so hyper. When I was done with my talk, I told the kids they could color their own Oregon state or look at a book. This kid was "I don't like books. I don't like libraries. I don't want library time." Sitting by him was Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner. So I suggested we just look at it together. He sat down and soon was so into the story. He wanted to interpret what the aliens said. He told me about his own cat. He loved the drawings the aliens did to see how they could get by Mr. Wuffles. He loved it. When I asked him if he wanted to take it home, he said no. That was the only sad part. I think Mr. Wuffles really touched him and that made me happy. Then a bit more time in the library, up to Mrs. M's room for the rest of the afternoon and we had math centers with the activities I had worked on last week and that was fun. Some of my kids did some awesome work. Back to the library, logged out computers, closed blinds, turned in my inventory to the U:drive. Worked on my May authors - what ab amazing story of H.A. & Margret Rey! Can't wait to tell that one to the kids next week!