SHARED FACILITIES PARENT CURRICULUM COMMUNICATION
      3rd Quarter 2011

LIBRARY:

During the third quarter we will continue to help your students effectively find and use information.  Remember that Disney students are scheduled to visit the library once each week.  Please help your child(ren) to return his or her library book(s) on time so others can enjoy them.  Students at all grade levels are checking out library materials based on personal interest.

Kindergarten and first grade students will continue to practice using the mouse and keyboard in our library computer lab.  Students are learning to use Microsoft Word to express their opinions on books we are reading in the library.   We are finishing our author study on Mélanie Watt (http://melaniewatt.com/default.aspx).  Next, we will study author/illustrator Donald Crews.  We will finish out the quarter learning about the life and work of author/illustrator Rosemary Wells.

Second grade students are continuing to read Monarch Award nominees.  They will vote for their favorite nominee at the end of February.  This annual book award is chosen by the students of Illinois.  Ask your second grader what nominee is his/her favorite. (http://www.islma.org/monarch.htm).  Second grade students will also learn about the American Library Association’s Caldecott Award.  They will have the opportunity to explore past winners of the award.  The 2012 Caldecott winner was recently announced: A Ball for Daisy by Chris Raschka. 

Intermediate students will continue using the research model AGOPPE (Ask Gather Organize Prepare Present Evaluate).   They are finishing their research about a Caldecott winning illustrator.  After reflecting on the research process, they will begin a new research project on a Newbery Award winning author.  Students will be introduced to the CPS database Teaching Books in order to find information about their chosen author.  (http://teachingbooks.net).  For this research project students will focus on the “Present” in AGOPPE.  The 2012 Newbery winner was recently announced: Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos.

Students in grades 3-5 have the option of voting for their favorite nominee for The Bluestem Award: Illinois’ 3-5 Readers’ Choice Award (http://www.islma.org/Bluestem.htm).  In order to participate in the vote at the beginning of March students need to have read at least four of the nominees. 

Upper grade students will continue to rotate each week between print and online resources to enhance their reading appreciation and research skills.  We will continue to collaborate with their classroom teachers on their 21st Century projects.  Depending on the needs of the classroom teacher, information literacy skills taught can include: finding and using reliable sources, note-taking without plagiarism, bibliographic citations.  Our lessons are guided by the national standards for school librarians http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards.cfm In addition to lessons connected to classroom content, students in grades 6-8 will complete a research project in the library.   Upper grade students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite nominee for the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award, Grades 4-8 Readers’ Choice Award (http://www.rcyrba.org/).  In order to participate in the vote at the end of February students need to have read at least three of the nominees. 
Library Teachers
Ms. Fitzpatrick, kcfitzpatrick@cps.edu
Ms. Rowe, gerowe@cps.edu

Visit our library wiki: http://disneylibrary.wikispaces.com/.