It's more than just checking out books!
Our White Pine Charter School library is a place where students read, explore, communicate, create, and build a lifelong love of learning. While students certainly have the opportunity to choose and checkout books, our library program goes far beyond book checkout.
Our goal is to teach basic library skills and etiquette, provide hands-on literary challenges, compliment and reinforce the learning happening in the classroom. Story time and reading are at the heart of our program. Books on various topics are read weekly. Discussion after story time is encouraged, comprehension questions are posed, activities may be available to further strengthen knowledge of concepts. We want students to understand that reading isn't about just finishing a book. It's about thinking, connecting, questioning, and discovering.
Learning in the library is intentionally hands-on and engaging. Students have opportunities to participate in activities such as:
- Globe/map searches and geography challenges
- Dictionary challenges and vocabulary activities
- Word searches
- Interactive Mad Lib/Sentence/Poem Writing
- Puzzles and problem solving activities
- Partner book discussions (Buddy Reads)
- Mystery book check out
- Book review and report
- Monthly (at home) Book Bingo
These activities allow students to practice literacy skills in ways that feel fun, social, and meaningful.
Library Journals:
Each student receives a library journal where they keep track of books we have read together through the year. These journals provide students with a record of their reading experiences and create opportunities to reflect on the books, stories, and activities they encounter in the library. Library journals will be kept in the library and sent home at the end of the year.
Book Check out:
Students have weekly opportunities to browse and select books from the school library that interest them. Our library collection includes a variety of genres, topics, reading levels, formats, and interests because we want every student to have the opportunity to find something that makes them excited to read! Students start by choosing books because of the pictures or topics. In this stage we are teaching how to care for books, being responsible with checking out and returning books, and finding value/interest in books. As students progress and being to read it becomes more important to support reading level and personal interest, strengthening that love for books. Once that foundation is set, students will become curious about other versions of text-historic events, places, cultures-reading now to learn! We are here to support that journey!
Our hope is that students enjoy reading, learning new information, solving problems, asking questions, connection with others, and even entering imaginative worlds ready for adventure!
By: Mrs. Brandy Potter
K-5th WPCS Librarian
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