ILE BOOK FAIR

    Our Book Fair is coming and we are so excited!  Mark your calendars for Friday, November 9 - Friday, November 16.  Our goal this year is to sell 5,000 books for students and classrooms.  Prepare your holiday shopping list and come ready to buy.

     Our Book Fair kickoff begins on Friday, November 9. Our traditional ILE Thanksgiving Dinner will be served and you are invited to dine with your children and come shop with us.  Teachers will prepare "crates of books" if you wish to purchase a book for your child's classroom.  

     On Tuesday, November 13, Diary of a Wimpy Kid:  The Third Wheel hits the shelves.  Shop here for your copy!  

     Our l-o-n-g-e-s-t shopping day is Thursday, November 15.  We will keep the Book Fair open all day and all evening until the PTO meeting begins.  What better opportunity to shop than the quiet evening in the library turned bookstore before PTO?

     Don't miss your last opportunity to shop - Friday, November 16.  Buy all holiday gifts now so you won't have to fret and fuss on Black Friday.

     This year, we are sending home the Wish Lists and Book Fair list of books.  Please help your son or daughter prepare his/her list.  You can also check out our Book Fair website and check out other book possibilities.  If we don't have it, we can get it or you can order online and we still get the profit.  

     Book Fair Website: ILE Book Fair

    So, what will we do with the money?  We are working to update our selection of nonfiction, particularly in the areas of technology, science, math, and history.  Thanks for making this possible!

Tidbits of Information

     Life is busy and very fulfilling in the ILE Library.  The enthusiasm of kids is so contagious, and they notice and appreciate everything.  I am so fortunate to be here.
     For the next 4 weeks in all the classes, we will be studying nonfiction.  More and more, children and adults need to know how to read and understand informational text.  And nonfiction books have come a long way.  At an early age, children can become experts and on topics.  We need to all fill our home libraries with great nonfiction.  My purchasing goal this year is to work on updating and expanding our nonfiction.  Stay tuned for more information.
     Children are reading at an incredible rate.  Last Friday during a 30 minute period, over 45 students came in to check out books.  I went home frazzled, but students of ILE are voracious readers.  It is a highlight to talks books with kids of all ages.  Do you know Horrible Harry?  Have you met Fancy Nancy?  Dads, were any of you wimpy kids?  Have you enjoyed the Diary of a Wimpy Kid with your fourth or fifth grade son?  Kids are also delighting in some of my childhood favorites:  Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables.  
     Thanks for allowing me to be a part of the life of your kids!  Every day is full of surprises.

      Are you needing more information on Accelerated Reading and Math?  Check out Renaissance Place for Parents at http://www.renlearn.com/parentspage/default.aspx.

     Did someone mention Book Fair?  Mark your calendars:  November 12 - 20.  

Through the Eyes of a Child

       One of the greatest joys that I have as the librarian at ILE is looking at life from a child's perspective.  Too often, my life is complicated by adult responsibilities and adult stresses.  Each day as a librarian, I learn from a child.  Some days are so full of my "to-do" list that I could miss the opportunity to view life through the eyes of a child.

     Let me give you a poignant example.  If we line up before the teacher arrives, we play "Who is As Smart As a _______ Grader?"  A few days ago, we were playing "Who is As Smart As a 1st Grader?"  The question I asked was, "What is the capital of Tennessee?" 

     One eager 1st grader raised his hand, jumped up and down, and squealed, "I know! I know!" 

     I called on him and again asked, "So what is the capital of Tennessee?" 

     He eagerly answered, "Capital T!"

     I anticipated the correct answer to be Nashville.  From the eyes of a 1st grader, life is all about letters, words, and reading.  He stumped me for a second; though I did not anticipate his answer, he was absolutely correct!  If I had not thought about his response, I would have quickly "corrected" him and told him the answer was Nashville.  Oh, to see through the inquisitive and enthusiastic and trusting eyes of a child. 

     Children love to learn and read at this age.  My favorite milestone of my own children was The Day They Learned to Read!  May I never miss the wonder of childhood!  It is the reason I love coming to work each day.  Thanks for sharing your children with me!

Make Reading a Habit at Home

     The following is an article from SCHOLASTIC.  It explains the importance of reading at home, but it also gives us some creative ideas.  If your child has a favorite place to read at home, please take a picture and send me a JPG file; include your child's name, grade, and teacher.  I would like to include some of these pictures on our website.  


Research shows that children who read books for just 20 minutes a day perform better in school. Here are some great ways to get your child reading!

1. Set aside a reading time. Pick a reading time that is good for everyone. It might be before bedtime or even after homework.

2. Pick a reading place. It is important that everyone is comfortable so they can enjoy the book. Try reading in the living room, or maybe the dinner table works best.

3. Read together. One person can read the book, or people can take turns.

4. Involve and engage listeners. Before you read, point to the book’s title, author, and illustrator. Ask listeners, “What do you think the story is going to be about?” As you read, you can ask your family members what they think will happen next. And be sure to engage listeners with exciting voices!

5. Fill your home with reading materials. Place books, magazines, newspapers, cookbooks, and more throughout the house so your child is surrounded by things to read.

6. Get caught reading yourself. When your child sees you read, she will be inspired to read.

7. Older siblings read to younger siblings. By reading to a younger sibling, the reader will gain confidence.

8. Start seasonal traditions. Pick a book to read every year when your child goes back to school. You can also read the same special book during a holiday.

9. Keep favorite books around. It can be comforting for a new reader to build confidence and fluency by practicing when re-reading a favorite book.

Excerpt from http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/family/downloads/fg_reading_habit.pdf.  Accessed on
      August 24, 2012.

Exciting Happenings in the Library

     The first 2 days back in school have been so exciting!  Kids are engaged and working hard.  What is in the works in the library?  Check it out:

     1.  Look at the new face of our online catalog ATRIUUM.  You can see the covers of the books!

     2.  Students have been busy testing and will soon know their Accelerated Reading Levels.

     3.  We have been busy getting students set up in AR and downloaded into the patron list for ATRIUUM.    
          When this is completed, we will begin making library cards so students can start checking out books.

     4.  First and second graders read The Shelf Elf and learned basic library manners.  The third graders looked at library personalities and read Library Lion.  Fourth graders imagined a town without television; Library Lil inspired everyone to read, even the town bullies.  Fifth graders learned about figurative and descriptive language through The Library Dragon.  Monday - Wednesday, students will continue this literacy adventure.

     5.  Did an ILE student explain that there is a fire truck in the library?  Check it out Thursday night during our Open House.  I look forward to meeting you then!

     6.  Remember to look at the Pages at the top.  I will be adding some library and internet resources for your scholars to work on at home.  

READY, SET, SCHOOL!

     




There are so many books and so little time.  I love our library at ILE.  Along with me, the new librarian, there are some more changes.  We even have a fire engine reading corner for K-2!  We have a great area for the older kids to work with the smart board.  We have more AR tests and even a new Book System - Atriuum.  Soon, we will have book jacket previews when you are looking for a book.
     But someone very important is missing from the library.  That is YOU!  I can hardly wait to meet you, get to know you, and share some of my favorite book friends!  
     What have you been reading this summer?  Who have you met in the pages of a riveting book?  
     I better get busy.  You will be here very soon.  Come READY, SET, to READ!
     Mrs. Gallagher