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While checking out books is a priority, Nesbitt uses her time with students to dig deeper. Through STEAM activities, students can bring the stories they are reading to life. After reading Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin, second graders created an obstacle course for their squirrels. One of the students’ favorite library activities is reading buddies. Once a month, third through fifth-grade classes pair up with preschool through first-grade classes to share their favorite books and read aloud. In the fall, the lower school library collaborated with upper school instructors Jennifer Christensen and Carolyne Brown’ s literature classes to have seniors read with lower school students. These reading buddies are highly anticipated by young students, and helps them buy in to reading practice, critical thinking, and book discussions.
The library also gives students a unique opportunity to make decisions independently says Nesbitt,“ Where else in their life do they get to come in and have a choice of what they want to get without someone telling them no? I think that’ s part of the joy of a library, it’ s giving them the choice to pick what they want.” Of course, students benefit from guidance, but Nesbitt shared that even if they pick challenging books they learn from their choices in the process. In the spring, lower school students can experience shopping independently for the first time at the lower school book fair.
The best moments in the library are when children grow excited about books and confident as readers. Some children may be more reluctant to read, Nesbitt says it is important to give them access to books they want to read and enjoy at home. She recommends a book called The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie which discusses the benefits of reading aloud with your family. In Nesbitt’ s experience, reading a book aloud can spark interest children may not have from the same book on the shelf,“ We’ re reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH which is an old book that does not get checked out very much, but I started reading it with third grade and now we can’ t keep them on the shelf.” Nesbitt shared,“ So I think that’ s the secret, it’ s just immersing them in books and literature and enjoying it together as a family.”
To keep children excited about books in school, Nesbitt updates the lower school library’ s collection and curates a new list of books to add. This process consists of weeding outdated books by analyzing each Dewey section and evaluating new books
“ I WANT THE LIBRARY TO BE A PLACE THAT STUDENTS WANT TO BE, AND I DON’ T EVER WANT IT TO BE A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL DISCOURAGED.” through a Christian Worldview. Nesbitt shared that what excites students can drive her selections,“ Sometimes kids will come to me with recommendations that I’ ll look through. Sometimes they’ ll read a book in a series and they’ ll want more. When it comes to nonfiction, I try to look at what the classrooms are teaching and make sure that we have books that go with the topics they’ re learning.”
One of the fifth-grade students’ favorite books this year has been The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt. In the story, middle schooler Hercules Beal is challenged by his homeroom teacher to complete the labors of the mythical Hercules in his everyday life. Through each labor, Hercules learns to appreciate the world around him and grows closer to his community. Nesbitt shared how this story reflects how when we keep God in the forefront of our lives we can appreciate His role in the beauty of the world around us and His faithfulness in our challenges.
As children seek to know more, the lower school library is a haven for curiosity and imagination. The skills they are developing in the library grow from a foundation in the classroom and give them ownership of their learning. As they grow, may their hunger for stories lead them to the great story of Jesus.
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