Working Together to Promote Reading

Media Center Orientation for Teachers

Theme for School Year

• “Read S’More Books”• Reading Kick-Off: August 22 with Tommy

Johns – Morning Session• Tommy Johns is a reading motivational

speaker from Atlanta• More info on theme activities and parent

letters will follow later

Media Center Hours• TeachersMonday – Friday: 7:30 – 4:30• StudentsMonday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:30 – 3:30 Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00 – 3:30

• Exceptions to normal operating hours will be recognized during special events in the library, such as during book fairs.

• Lunch for media staff is 12:00-12:30• The library will work from a fixed/flexible schedule. Teachers

will be given a schedule at the beginning of the school year, so classes can be scheduled during designated blocks of time.

Student Book LimitFirst Grade

• Two books per week until students begin independent checkout

• First grade students will check out books during weekly class visits/lessons

• Teacher must accompany class to assist with lesson and/or check out process

Library Discipline

• Bulldog Behavior will be introduced to 1st grade students during orientation

• Students will be encouraged to develop good library behavior skills

• Students who do not follow the Bulldog Behavior policy in the library, may lose library privileges for the day

• Repeat offenders may lose library privileges for more than one day

Orientation ClassesAugust 18 - 29

• Classes will be scheduled at a time during the two weeks of orientation to review rules and get books

• First grade students will review library rules and get first two books

• Library classes will resume after the book fair• There will be no open checkout or classes during

the two weeks of orientation classes• Teachers must attend orientation with their

students

Media Classes• First grade lessons will be held weekly with checkout

until the beginning of the year• After returning in January, first grade students must

begin with independent checkout, but classes will continue to visit weekly for lessons only

• First grade students will not be allowed to use the online catalog…too many issues that I will be glad to discuss

• First grade students will use cards for check out• A file will be kept for each class at the desk with a sheet

of current students…please let Mrs. Bryant know if there have been any students who have unenrolled or any new students

Media Services• Please include media in planning, if your grade level wants a lesson on a

specific topic/subject/skill.• Some media lessons for 1st grade this year include: Book Care, Fiction vs.

Nonfiction Genre, GCBA Nominees, Poetry, Parts of a Book• Please allow 2-3 days to pull materials for your units/lessons. If a shorter

notice is given, the availability of the book/material cannot be guaranteed for the desired time needed. Also, please sign up in advance for videos. If a child is sent to the library with a sticky note requesting that a video be played at that moment, there is no guarantee that will happen, depending on what is happening in the library at that moment.

• Please sign up to use the center for small groups to test or research-please do not just send students…the center needs to be shared by all of us effectively! Since we do not have a media clerk, it is difficult to monitor open checkout, teaching classes, and monitor students on computers all at the same time. They need supervision!

• Movie Licensing: We do pay for a license, so you can show movies for rewards or at recess without breaking copyright laws.

• Please let me know of your needs. • If you have a book or material request, I will

place it on the consideration list, and will order as funds become available.

Media Requests

Fall Book FairFriday, Sept. 5 -12

• Students will visit with teachers for whole class visits beginning on Friday, Sept. 5…a schedule will be made to accommodate classes at their preferred times

• Students will begin independent visits to the book fair on Monday, Sept. 8

• Students may visit during their break time or at a time that is convenient for the classroom teacher

Reading Goals

• Reading goals will be recognized in the library by word count goals through Accelerated Reader.

• First grade has a challenge word count goal of 60,000 words.

• Teachers will set individual reading goals in the computer just as in the past. These goals are meant to be differentiated. Students may be recognized for meeting classroom reading goals within their classroom at the teacher’s discretion. Only the challenge word count goals will be recognized by the library.

Accelerated Reader

• The purpose of AR is to enable children to practice their reading skills on a regular basis and for teachers to help guide and monitor their reading practice.

• Please use AR as a positive experience for reading, not as a punishment. For example, a student doesn’t meet his/her AR goal, so he/she has to miss break to read. This puts a negative feeling toward reading.

Media/Technology Commitee

• The Franklin County BOE policy states that each school site must have a media/technology committee established.

• This committee must be in place to handle book challenges, change in policy, etc.

• Each grade level must be represented, so please begin discussion with your grade level to determine who will be the 1st grade representative.

• Policy handbook was revised last year and is currently posted on the LES website

• First meeting will take place at the beginning of the year after members are determined and then as needed during the year.

HAVE A GREAT YEAR!AND

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.Mrs. Bryant – LES Library Media Specialist

lauriebryant@franklin.k12.ga.us