Published Authors!

We are beginning a new chapter in 2017!  After taking a brief break from publishing a class book, the students at Jordan Bank will be back at it again.  The students began this week the first step of the writing process: Brainstorming.  We prepared a list of busy people that all the students know. Mr. Bob seems to be the busiest person at Jordan Bank!  All the classes agreed that their classroom teachers are very busy people.  Our publication date is May 1, so this is no small task.  Keep checking the blog for updates on our progress.

Makerspace Monday's in the Library

Makerspaces are the buzzword around the public and school library settings.  In case you have not heard according to the OEDb "makerspaces are do-it-yourself spaces where people gather to create, invent, and learn.  In libraries they often have 3-D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more."  (March 12, 2013)  Jordan Bank Library will be participating in Makerspace Monday's. This will be an opportunity for the students to create abstractly a connection to one of the library lessons instructed throughout the month.  Our first Makerspace challenge was to recall that our library is kept in a special order called "ABC" order.  The students were challenged using Wikki Sticks, clay, Duplo Blocks, crayons and markers, and scarves to show me they knew what "ABC" order looked like. I was very impressed with the results.  The children respected the rules and completed the task.  I look forward to more a new maker space theme in January.  In the mean time, you can help out by collecting coffee cans, paper towel and toilet rolls, and clean soda bottles.  

Pumpkins 2016-2017

The tradition continues at Jordan Bank.  We received over 30 pumpkins to be judged this year.  Miss. Moran our our teacher graciously judged the pumpkins in three categories: Best Book Character Look-a-Like, People's Choice, and Most Original.  The winners in each category received a gift certificate to be used at the Jordan Bank Spring Scholastic Book Fair.  Thank you to all participants.

 

 

Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest at the Library

This is one of the best times of the year at Jordan Bank Library!  The annual pumpkin decorating contest takes place during the last week of October.  The contest is a family event and we encourage all family members to participate in decorating- not carving, a book character pumpkin.  The participation form will be coming home this week.  If you misplaced this form, it can be found in the pages link on this blog.  The pumpkins are judged in three categories with the first, second, and third place winners receiving Scholastic Book Fair vouchers for our spring book fair.  Take a peek at some of our entries from previous years.

Welcome to School year 2016-2017

We have been off to a very busy start this year!  Our first book fair was a big success.  Children were eager to buy a book that they got to keep forever.  The children have been working very hard to understand how important it is to take care of their library books.  Children will be coming home in the next few weeks with a parent permission slip.  This document needs to be signed and returned in order for your child to take the Jordan Bank Library Books home. If you have misplaced this paper you can find it on the link on this blog.

Mrs. Lewin is Going to Summer School

During my summer break I have been taking continuing education classes in order to understand the learning process of kindergarten students at Jordan Bank much better.   One class in particular focuses on the need to keep young children active and moving for optimal learning.  How can this be done when there are great demands placed on curriculum and time management?  As the library media specialist I am committed to the school wide content standards but will also be incorporating this year more opportunities for children to learn through play and movement.  A big push in the library content area is to incorporate maker spaces into learning. Makerspaces, sometimes also referred to as hackerspaces, hackspaces, and fablabs are creative, DIY spaces where people can gather to create, invent, and learn. In libraries they often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more. Most importantly with age appropriate materials at Jordan Bank, the maker space will provide the necessary tolls that will benefit the developing kindergarten student.  Stay tuned to this blog for more information! 

Summer Reading

Yesterday Miss. Erin came to Jordan Bank to talk about the wonderful reading programs offered at the new children's library in Oxford.  The Oxford Area School District school libraries have collaborated with the public library to provide copies of required summer reading materials. When your child enters first grade for the start of the 2016-2017 school year, they will need to complete the activities listed for summer reading.
Information about the summer reading program can be found at:
http://www.oxford.k12.pa.us/curriculum/Summer%20Reading%20Grades%20K-12.pdf

Have a great summer and keep reading!