2nd Grade Centers

Second graders at Bethel have been hard at work learning about the library so they can start using the computers to look up books.  They thought they could just hop on a computer and google it, but we have done a lot of talking about how the library is organized into sections, how information can be found on the book and signs around the room, and how the library catalog Destiny Quest allows them to look up a book and find out where it should be.

I was so excited to start the year off with new signs that my awesome media clerk Mrs. Lynch created over the summer.  She used to work as a graphic artist and is so wonderful at creating things!  These signs really made everything brighter and more fun!

Every week for the past 5 weeks or so my second graders have had a read aloud from our SC Picture Book Awards and an activity to help them learn about the library.  We have done Mrs. Lodges Library Shelving Game for learning how to put Fiction and Nonfiction in order.  We have made our own book spines to practice finding the title and call number on the spine.  We have separated call numbers by section to practice recognizing the different areas.  We have even practiced looking up books on Destiny and finding the call number.

So this week we started with some library centers.  I was struggling with the need to keep some order to being able to help them go to the shelves and practice finding books.  I really didn't want to send all 25 students to the shelves at one time.  So I set back up each activity we had done previously at tables and broke them into groups so they can practice and I can take a small group at a time to help them find books on the shelves.  I even made mini check-lists so I can keep up with who has been at each center each week.

I am excited to see how this works.  So far it has gone well, and putting them in small groups has allowed everyone to practice the activity, where the first time did it they had to share ipads or materials.  Now we have moved from doing it together to completing it on their own before they get to start using the computers.