*Today's post was written by Jennifer Anders, the school librarian at West Jefferson Elementary.
I can’t think of a more rewarding job than being the School Librarian. I get as excited as the students when I turn them on to new information or share a really great book with them. I love helping them create digital products and write reports for their classes. I can even enjoy doing a good puppet show every once in a while or even a little Reader’s Theatre. I have taught many students how to look up a book using the OPAC or even simply how to use a computer mouse. I can even drive classes to the public library to get library cards or to a local play. I am not faint hearted. Except when it comes to Kindergarten.
Nothing scares me more than a class of five year olds that can’t tie their shoes, walk in a line or raise their hand to ask a question. I am terrified of looking deep into their mouths to examine the latest loose or missing tooth. I’m afraid they won’t get Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and will laugh in all the wrong places. I am petrified when one wants to go to the bathroom and then they all need to go. Needless to say, they haven’t always gotten my best teaching.
However, the neatest thing happened the last week before the break. We have been studying Jan Brett, and I read them the Gingerbread Baby. I found this incredibly cool site, http://www.highlightskids.com/flash/gingerbread-house, where the kids could create their own gingerbread houses. So I decided to let everyone take turns adding parts to it using the interactive whiteboard. I just knew there would be arguing, pushing and complaining because they had to take turns, or some kind of free for all with the kids that had to wait. I just have to say, I completely underestimated these little guys. They were completely engrossed in the project and attentive to one another.
Now, I wonder what we can do next?
Thank you Jennifer for sharing your gingerbread house link. With my kindergarten classes, I like to do a book shelving game from playKidsgames.com. The students take turns coming to the board and placing books in abc order onto a virtual book shelf. It allows me to see where they are in terms of being familiar with letters and alphabetical order. It also helps introduce library book organization, so I sometimes use it in first grade too. The link is http://www.playkidsgames.com/games/alphabetGame/alphabet.htm
ReplyDeleteI know where you are coming from though in being intimidated by them - they can get real indignant, for little people, when you have the nerve not to be able to understand them when they are telling you their name!