Are you busy teaching your little kindergarteners how to take care of their library books? We start with that every year. Today I was reading Mr. Wiggle's Book to a class of kindergarten students. (It's not my favorite book in the world, but it does get the point across pretty clearly. Take care of your books or Mr. Wiggle will cry big tears!)
So....I open the book to the first page and ask "boys and girls, is Mr. Wiggle happy or sad?" And a dear little five-year old boy blurts out, "he looks just like you!!" WHAT?!?! I couldn't go on with the book. I had to stop and clarify. I must not have heard him correctly."You think this green worm looks like me?" (Note, I wasn't even wearing anything green. I was not wiggling or slimy.) "Yes!" he insisted. "JUST like you!"
But that's part of the fun, right? I love having a job where I laugh every single day. Can a high school algebra teacher say that? Seems unlikely.
Anyway, back to the topic of book care, I've just uploaded a set of bookmarks to print and send home with your younger students, tucked into their check-outs. These free printable bookmarks are letters to mom and dad, telling them that the book that suddenly appeared in their child's backpack is a school library book.
I realize more and more that many of the parents at my school did not grow up like I did, going to the public library every week, keeping up with books and due dates. They are not trying to be difficult; they just don't understand our library process.
I try to keep my expectations simple and low-key and communicate them clearly. Just read the book with your child, and get it back in the backpack. You don't have to worry about when library day is. The book will come to school every day in the backpack.
This is part of what I do to help establish a habit of taking care of library books, and keeping a book in your backpack at all times. What works for you in your library? How do you help your youngest students learn how to take care of their library books?
thank you so very much! Perfect timing! Speaking of Mr. Wiggle,I thought you might be interested in the little song I made up to go along with our Mr. Wiggle K lesson:
ReplyDeleteTo the tune of:
There’s a hole in the bottom of the sea
(Verse ideas taken from Mr. Wiggle)
We never write or scribble in the book
We never write or scribble in the book
We are careful, not to draw
We never write or scribble in the book
Remember not to eat near our books
Remember not to eat near our books
Not a crumb, not a drip
Remember not to eat near our books
Never tear the pages of a book
Never tear the pages of a book
We are gentle when we read
Never tear the pages of a book
We do not bend the corners of the page
We do not bend the corners of the page
Use a bookmark, use a bookmark
We do not bend the corners of the page
we always read our books with nice clean hands
we always read our books with nice clean hands
Wash them up, dry them off
we always read our books with nice clean hands
Shelly, thanks for sharing that cute song! I love it! Music makes learning more fun (and memorable)!
DeleteI keep all the damaged books (except the moldy food ones) and use them as examples of what can go wrong - our number one rule is "keep your library books in a SAFE place" - away from little kids and their crayons and scissors, pets that chew, and food and water. Seeing actual damaged books makes a big impact and they remember them when we review the rules every September.
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