Printable Bookworm Bookmarks (free)

Hi friends!

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!"

OK, I do smile and wear glasses and read books. Moral for the day: Kindergarteners will NEVER stop surprising me!

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.

There's a bookworm on the bookmark to remind students of Mr. Wiggle and how he LOVES to take care of library books. Students sign the bookmark, as if signing a letter (if they can write their own name.)

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?