Ipods, Ipads and Kindles oh my!

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Lana

Hey there

We rolled out our e readers and audio-books in the library last week, much to the excitement of our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

We are very fortunate at SAS to have a multitude of options to get books into our students’ hands. In our collection, we have over

*27,000 books, including a terrific selection of non-fiction and fiction, some of the most beautiful and newly released picture books and a growing assortment of graphic novels.

*11 Ipad’s with over 60 books on each of them. The beauty of reading on the Ipad is that the interface and graphics are incredible, graphic novels and non-fiction come up a treat. I am able to get new books in kids hands straight away, a huge bonus when it takes so long to ship new books to Shanghai from the States, which we only do ONCE year! We currently check out 1 Ipad per session to each 4th and 5th grade class.

*58 Ipod nano’s with 20 more arriving next week. These Ipod’s have audio-books on them, I am able to upload the newest releases for my students, the DAY they come out. Currently we have over 60 books on each Ipod.

*60 kindles – With 20 new kindles this year, it is possible for us to check out 3-4 kindles per class to the 14 classes in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. As the demand for kindles for these grades steadily decreases throughout the school year, our plan is to allow 2nd grade to also check out kindles after Chinese New Year.

Current Check-out guidelines per class for these tech tools.

Grade 5: 1 Ipad, 2 Kindles, 3 Ipods

Grade 4: 1 Ipad, 2 Kindles, 3 Ipods

Grade 3: 2 Kindles, 3 Ipods

Library Expectations

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Lana

Teachers, please come with your class for their scheduled library check-out time. Please line your students up outside the front door of the library. Joji, Stella or I will always greet them there, and we’ll lead them into the workspace we’ll be using that day.

Students, please return your library books AS you finish them; do not wait until your library day to return books. Please return your books to your classroom library basket.

Teachers, please allocate a student/group of students in your class to return the library book basket at the START of each school day after most/all of your students have arrived, and had a chance to return their finished books to the library basket. Please make this part of your new morning routine, as it will help us exponentially in our library check out period.

Students, this year we are making a real effort to use shelf markers in the library. You must pick up a shelf marker as soon as my mini-lesson is over, you must keep it in your hand as you walk through the library, using it to mark the place where you choose books from the shelf. You are not allowed to check out your books unless you have your shelf marker in your hand to return to Ms Stella and Ms Joji.

Students, 5 of you are allowed at one time in the loft, you need your shoes, and your voices OFF up there… remember it is for the students who just HAVE to read RIGHT NOW, and FINISH their AMAZING book… or they won’t be able to stand it!

Guidelines for Check Out

EVERY student in Elementary must check out at least ONE non-fiction book each check out period.

Pre K-1st Grade you are to check out up to 5 books at a time. We’d like you to always check out ONE non-fiction book (at least). You are also allowed to check out one magazine or one DVD too, as well as fiction books in the Primary Library.

Grade 2-Grade 5 students, you guys can have UNLIMITED check-out privileges; so use your common sense and make sure you don’t check out more books than you can read. All grades are allowed to keep your books for 14 days, but we love it if you return your books as soon as you’ve finished reading them.

You can check out a maximum of:

1 Graphic Novel

2 DVD’s

3 Books in a Series

Lunch Recess Time Library Visits

Monday and Wednesday-Grades 2 and 4 are allowed to check out in the library during their lunch recess time. If the day is too hot/wet/polluted you are welcome to stay and read. If the day is fine, we’ll send you out to play once you’ve checked out your books.

Tuesday and Thursday-Grades 3 and 5 are allowed to check out in the library during their lunch recess time. If the day is too hot/wet/polluted you are welcome to stay and read. If the day is fine, we’ll send you out to play once you’ve checked out your books.

If there is a book you want to read, and we don’t have it in our library, check destiny to see if we have it somewhere else, like Middle School, or Puxi Campus. If we don’t, let me know and I’ll order it for next year, as well as buying on kindle, audio or ibooks if it is available.

I can’t wait to greet you all in the library, with over 3,000 new books, bringing our collection to nearly 29,000, there is something in our library for everyone!

Check out something brilliant today!

I got some satisfaction…

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Lana

…the Rolling Stones might not have, but this week, I did!

Walking in to the Elementary Library on Monday July 29th was pretty scary… it was like ‘fallout’ after an attack. Shelves, boxes, projectors, computers, desks and of course books, thousands, actually tens of thousands of books… and none of them where they were supposed to be.

In my dreams, I’d kind of envisioned walking (strutting?) into the library on my first day back with everything kind of, well, finished… ready to go, a place for everything and everything in its place. I’d imagined Joji and Stella choosing to stay in the library over the Summer, organizing everything, ‘watering’ the books so to speak, nurturing them, keeping the pages turning so they don’t get dusty or moldy. I also knew we were having the whole library painted, so on top of regular book maintenance, I knew they’d also put everything back where it should be, magically get rid of the paint smell, and probably have some fresh flowers on display too…. On my return, all I’d have to do was swan around looking important… straighten some books, throw a few on display and chat about my Summer!

I WAS WRONG! I should have known all was not going to plan when Stella e mailed me over the break to say she’d broken her ankle on her honeymoon in Scotland (as you do) and so wouldn’t be in the first week I was back! OUCH… and I don’t mean the ankle… What was I do to without my trusty right hand?

Long story short, I convinced her that wheelchair or no wheelchair… I NEEDED her and staying home on the couch (resting for heaven’s sake!) was not an option.

The next issue was that Joji missed her flight/was late/booked something incorrectly… WHATEVER! and wouldn’t be joining us for the first few days… now my left AND right hand were out of action… what to do?

Well, here is where my catchy title comes in… I got some satisfaction by getting on with it and getting things back to normal. I pushed/shoved/moved… I stacked/unpacked/sorted… I delegated/suggested/insisted… all with the help of my trusty right hand Stella… wheeling herself around, translating as needed, and doing everything she possibly could to help in her impaired state!

I have photos to follow, some before and after shots, however for now, I just feel so elated to have thing looking sort of/kind of/a little back to normal!

Come step by and say hello x

Am I ready to start blogging again?

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Lana

Hi Readers

When I was a fifth grade classroom teacher, another lifetime ago, I discovered blogging…Well, the whole world did! I don’t mean that I personally discovered blogging, I mean I discovered that I liked to blog, I loved to reach out, and share what I was doing with anyone who took the time to check in with me and see what I’d posted. I’ve always been a show off; I was proud of what I was doing, and wanted people to know about it.

I changed paths a year ago and became the Elementary Librarian of Shanghai American School and when I did that, I knew that blogging was going to be a fantastic way to reach an even wider audience sharing one of my passions=books! However, for reasons I’m just beginning to grasp after 6 weeks of relaxation… the blogging never really took off in my first year as a librarian. I’m realizing that as a homeroom teacher I had an automatic audience of parents and students who checked in almost daily to see what I was posting… however in my new role I didn’t feel that pressure/urgency, so that is probably the main reason my blogging dropped off… way off. Another reason (excuse?) was that I was so much busier in the first year than I thought I’d be… in so many different ways than I’d ever imagined. Every way was a wonderful way, busy ordering books (what joy?) busy learning to manage wonderful staff (how lucky am I?) busy navigating budgets and finance departments and spread sheets (not my favorite part of the job, but again, I know I am fortunate to have such a wonderful budget to work with) busy recommending books to students. I was too busy to blog about my job, because I was DOING my job, and it was all new, and everything was for the first time and and and…

I didn’t think I could be busier in this role than I had been in my homeroom teacher role, but I’d underestimated the multitude of demands faced on a daily basis when you’re on call for over 40 teachers and around 400 students, oh and did I mention the parents? Like I mentioned, it was all good busy…GREAT busy in fact. I was relishing the book talk, the camaraderie developed in the heart of the school; the main thoroughfare of our bustling community and the new networks being created; however, something was missing, and that was blogging and reaching a wider audience, and MORE importantly, sharing all of the new knowledge with those I was catering too every day in a more formal way.

So… a goal for this school year, a SMART goal, a BHAG (big hairy audacious goal) is to blog twice a week (at least).
I hope to develop some book lists, some recommended reading lists, and improve on my blogroll. I learn from so many others around the world, I’d like to share their words, and not recreate the wheel. Starting now!
Following is a post geared to elementary teachers, from a blog I believe my good friend and close colleague, Amy Hossack recommended to me, Imagination Soup. So now readers, I recommend it to you and hope you enjoy what it has to offer, including this post on the best back to school books, nearly all of which are on our shelves, ready to be checked out by YOU! Melissa Taylor (Imagination Soup) also has plenty of great ideas for older readers such as this post on new chapter books for bigger kids.

I look forward to being proud of this blog, being able to recommend it to my students, teachers and parents and the world beyond as being current, informative and dynamic.

Solar Project: Stars Under The Sun

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Lana

http://videonew.saschina.org/player/pak_player/pakplayer.swf?config=http%3A%2F%2Fvideonew.saschina.org%2Fplayer%2Fpak_player%2Fembed_player.php%3Fvid%3D3193%26json%3Dtrue%26autoplay%3Dno

Earth Week Activities

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Lana

This week, our whole school has been banding together to raise money for new solar panels for our roof tops, in the name of EARTH WEEK. To aid our fundraising efforts, students are encouraged to contribute at least 10 rmb per child; if we do that, we should reach our goal of 14,250 rmb, which will then be matched by administration, and we will be able to have solar panels installed to help ease our global footprint.

Many of our teachers, have agreed to get a mowhawk hair cut…IF the 14,250 is raised. They want to urge the students on by providing some entertainment for all… let’s see who will go through with the deal…Mr. Toa? Mr. Martin? Mr. McCuaig?

Please drop your money in the glass jar outside the Elementary Library and if you’d like more information… check out these links…

Jane Goodall Speaks…

Middle School Presents…

Here is the schedule for our Earth Week Activities

Pamela Duncan Edwards is visiting SAS

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Lana

We are excited to be welcoming our final visiting author for the school year; Pamela Duncan Edwards is arriving in Shanghai on Monday night, and will be visiting with Pudong Elementary students from Wednesday the 17th-Friday the 19th of April. She will be giving two large presentations to the K-1st graders and 2nd-3rd graders, as well as a workshop in every single Pre-K-3rd grade class. Shanghai American School students are very fortunate to have published authors come in and share their experiences and stories with them. At SAS we believe ALL students have stories to tell, and by seeing people who have successfully told theirs, it gives us people to look up to, and to aspire to.

Here is what Pamela will be doing at different grade levels with the students.

Kindergarten

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF TWO STORIES ARE ‘OPPOSITE’ FROM ONE ANOTHER?

The author will introduce and discuss the concept of opposites. She will read two books and discuss the differences in these books. She will then read a third book and discuss with the children what is the genre of the book and why.

Books: ‘ROAR: A NOISY COUNTING BOOK; WHILE THE WORLD IS SLEEPING

First Grade

CAT RHYMES WITH HAT: NOW FANCY THAT!

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Students will experience, discuss and create using rhyming text

Students will listen to two short rhyming books. They will discuss the importance of rhyme and whether they think rhyme was useful in telling these stories and why. The children will divide into either groups or work individually and be given a prepared sheet of paper on which they will be asked to create four sets of simple rhyming words – ‘bat – cat’ for example. They will then write a short piece incorporating these words. They will share their ideas.

Books: MISS POLLY HAS A DOLLY; WARTHOGS IN THE KITCHEN

Second Grade

WHAT ON EARTH IS ONOMATOPOEIA?

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Students will experience, discuss and create a story using onomatopoeia.

Students will listen to an onomatopoeia story. They will discuss the importance of onomatopoeia and identify the ‘sound words’ in the story. They will discuss how using these words affected the story. They will create their own four ‘sound words’ on an Outside-Inside’ book and will then create their own stories using these words. They will share and discuss their ideas and stories.

Book: SLOP GOES THE SOUP

Third Grade

STORIES ARE JUST STORIES. THEY DON’T HAVE ANY RELEVANCE TO MY LIFE. OR DO THEY?

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Students will experience and discuss how a book might have extraneous connections. They will create a story using this idea.

The author will read THE OLD HOUSE. She will discuss with the students how, in their eyes, this story might connect to themselves, the world, or to the text of one of the author’s other books. They will create a piece of writing on a theme assigned by the author.

Book: THE OLD HOUSE

Additionally, a dozen of Pam’s books will be for sale, all paperbacks for 50 rmb, and hardbacks for 100 rmb, including these popular titles…

Three more sleeps…

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Lana

…yes, correct, there ARE three more sleeps ’til Spring Break, but it is more than Spring Break I am excited about this week.

There are just three sleeps until our third visiting author visit for the school year. Ji-li Jiang, acclaimed author of Red Scarf Girl, will be presenting to our 4th grade students at 8.30 am, and our 5th grade students at 10.45 am.

Ji-li is flat out this week speaking at other international schools across Shanghai including Concordia, Dulwich, Western International School and Suzhou Singapore International School, as well as at Puxi campus tomorrow. She will be sharing slides and stories with us, as well as taking us through the stories of Red Scarf Girl (5th grade) and The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven (4th grade).

The students may have the opportunity to purchase Ms. Jiang’s books, as I know she was trying to bring some copies of books that are hard to get here, like Red Scarf Girl. The books will cost 50 rmb and I recommend you leaving the money with Ms. Stella, Ms. Joji or I as soon as possible as whatever she has with her will most likely sell out quickly.

We also have Red Scarf Girl on our kindles, ipads and as an audiobook on the ipods too.

Like I said… three more sleeps…

Books 2 Eat-The Grand Finale

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Lana

With over twenty five entries, forty students involved, and parents streaming through the library this morning, there is no doubt that our final Books 2 Eat celebration has been a success. If you haven’t seen our Pre K, K and 1st Grade entries from week one, go here and if you’d like to see what the 2nd and 3rd grade dished up… check this out!

Congratulations to student participants from every 4th and 5th grade class, an achievement within itself, your creations are causing huge oooohs and aaahs all through the library. A special well done to Mrs. Rekate’s class for having ten students involved in baking for Books 2 Eat today, you just beat Ms. Happer with her eight entries two weeks ago.

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=124984

the barefoot librarian

Kimbra Power

Author Archives: Lana