At this point in the year my thoughts turn to the upcoming STAR testing. This week tudents in grades 2 and 5 will review concepts relating to the use of books, especially reference books. These topics are also featured in the California Department of Education "Model Standards for School Libraries." More to the point, the information we will be discussing is simply important for students to know--the parts of a book, how to locate and use an index and glossary, the purpose of the five most-used reference books (dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, encyclopedia, and almanac), and how to use guide words to find things in many reference materials.
Other classes will be hearing stories about curricular topics: insects, for DK/TK; the rain forest, for kindergarten; endangered animals, for 3rd grade; and the Gold Rush, for 4th grade. Throughout the month of April students will be hearing books in honor of Earth Day, which is April 22. On the topic of animal conservation, grade 1 this week will hear Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends, by Carol Buckley.
Looking ahead, the library will be closed on April 19, as I must travel out-of-town that weekend. I apologize for the inconvenience and will make every effort to reschedule classes that usually come to library on Friday.