Learn How Elementary Libraries Help Create a Great Foundation for Students

Published January 29, 2016

Learning the Ins and Outs of the Library. “At Allendale Elementary, we teach students about our library layout (where different kinds of books are located), how shelves are arranged and as they get older, how to use our online catalog, Destiny, so that they can locate books they want to read. And of course, my assistant and I are always here to help students and even parents as needed!” – Allendale Elementary, Megan Munson

Helping Set a Good Foundation. “The Chapman’s Retreat Elementary Library program strives to be a foundational aspect of learning for all students. Through literacy, technology and collaboration, students are instructed and exposed to a myriad of learning tools and styles. Student exploration, creation and construction are encouraged through various lessons and hands-on activities. Students are given the opportunity to borrow reading materials in classes and through open check-out. The CRES library welcomes all students and aims to be a literacy-rich oasis for the whole school community.” – Chapman’s Retreat Elementary, Shannon Murphy

The Library is a Great Place to Conduct Research. “Our third through fifth grade students have been using online resources for research. Our district website provides some great, safe online resources that can be accessed at home as well as at school. NetTrekker is a safe, easy-to-use search engine that can be accessed via the WCS Student Internet Resources page. Students will need to enter WCS and their network username and password to log on. World Book Online can be accessed by clicking on the Tennessee Electronic Library link. Ask your child to show you how to use these. If you need assistance, please see your librarian.” – Clovercroft Elementary, Michele Rook

Learn to Use All the Resources Available. “At College Grove Elementary, we teach the students how to properly use the library. We show them how to use the online catalog to find books and how they are categorized by fiction and nonfiction. We teach the different genres, elements of a story, the Dewey Decimal System, research skills and many more skills to support ELA standards. We also show the students how to use the different resources available to them online. WCS has many different online resources like Big Universe, Discovery Education and Nettracker that can help with research on many different topics. College Grove is an Accelerated Reader school. Our students set goals every nine weeks and work hard to make their goal with an average of 85 percent correct or better. Students are always in the library checking out books and testing. We celebrate the success of each student that reaches his/her goal.” – College Grove Elementary, Sharla Bratton

Libraries Are an Extension of the Classroom. “At Edmondson Elementary, we strive in the library to support the classroom curriculum. The library media specialist collaborates with classroom teachers to insure that materials and library instruction complement grade-level learning. All grade levels meet weekly for instruction, so students are also able to expand upon library learning each year.” – Edmondson Elementary, Stephanie Smith

Libraries Continue to Help Students Learn Throughout Their Schooling. “Learning at the Fairview Elementary library covers a wide variety of topics. Younger students learn about story elements like characters and setting. At that age, we are really trying to cultivate a love a books and reading. We want to start them early loving the magic and information that a book can give. As the students get older, we get more in-depth and talk about folklore and different genres of stories. We also do author studies to go deeper, and we start adding technology when the students are older. We learn how to use the technology and how to do research. We show students how to find books and how to find good, reliable information using internet sources about topics they might need for school projects or papers.” – Fairview Elementary, Lauren Tortorelli

Use the Available Technology. “Students are encouraged and taught to use chrome books and WCS Internet Resources to locate sources of information for research and complete assignment in Google Classroom.” – Grassland Elementary, Delois Bratton and Beth Williams

Utilize All the Tools in the Toolbox. “We emphasize all the treasures available in our library. We make sure they understand they can feed their imaginations, as well as quench their thirst for knowledge by showing them how to access the resources in our library or any library they visit. We especially like to incorporate the Tennessee Electronic website in some of our lessons. This website can be a valuable tool for families with children of all ages, so we want to make certain our students are familiar with it. Our main goal is to provide our students with an understanding that reading can improve and enhance their lives and provide endless hours of enjoyment over a lifetime.” – Heritage Elementary, Linda Kee

Make Learning Fun. “Since I am brand new to Hillsboro, I am reviewing the setup of the library, especially in the Non-Fiction section. I like to review with games so that the students are engaged. For example, this week we played Dewey Decimal Football. The students were given footballs that had a topic listed at the top and the Dewey Decimal number at the bottom. This was a success for grades three-five! They loved looking for the numbers and they took note of where these topics were. Some of the students went back to those sections during check-out to find books they saw earlier in the game!” – Hillsboro School, Brooke Penrod

Engage Your Audience. “We have a blast at the LES library!! It is the hub of the school and children love to come see what is new. Whether reading the Volunteer State Book Award books or doing online scavenger hunts in Grolier Encyclopedia, the students are engaged. I want all LES students to leave us and move onto middle school with a love of great books, great authors and a knowledge of the services a library can offer.” – Lipscomb Elementary, Monika Brown

Be Involved in Your Child’s Reading Habits. “Students, talk to your librarian, let them show you how to find and use both digital and print resources. It is our job! It is what we love to do! We might not always have the answer, but we can help you find it! Parents are a huge part of creating readers. Show your child a love of reading. Let them see you enjoying a book; be present; read to them; and listen to them read. Do not stop reading to your children even when they can read on their own. Make reading a part of your family time every day.” – Oak View Elementary, Jami Lunn

Read! “Read anywhere, anytime and read with friends!” – Trinity Elementary, Medea Peach

And Read, Read and Read Some More. “At Winstead Library, all grade levels participate in the Volunteer State Book Award program. The Volunteer State Book Award is sponsored annually by the Tennessee Library Association and the Tennessee Association of School Librarians. Each year, children across Tennessee are asked to read books from a list of nominated titles. In the spring, those students who have read or listened to at least three of the titles from the list are eligible to vote for their favorite titles. These votes are tabulated and sent to the state organization. The book with the most votes statewide wins the award. The children are excited to find out if the book they voted for becomes the state winner. This is a great way to teach that their vote counts. In kindergarten through second grade, the students listen to the nominees read to them, and then Mrs. Wright will use ELA standards to teach skills that enhance learning outside of their classroom, as well as learning how to independently use the library.” – Winstead Elementary, Pat Lewandowski