We are now reaching the point of the school year where we are settling into routines and getting used to the daily grind. Each morning we have a group of students who stop in before classes begin to check in with one another and play checkers. We have students who return books and check out new ones. After school students are here Monday - Thursday to do homework, spend time with friends, read, and do the library scavenger hunt!

Mrs. Watson collaborated with the library to do research skills lessons during FAST. During October we practiced refining our search using effective keywords and key phrases. Below you will see examples of a class brainstorming keywords and strategies.

We are always trying to entice our middle school readers. Many students feel overwhelmed by chapter books so we are making novels in verse more accessible for students to find. They satisfy the page count some classes require yet have fewer words on the page to pack a significant punch of a story.

Although we don't have a "Novel in Verse" section of the library, we have put bright orange spine labels on the books and guide the students to the "Realistic Fiction" and "Historical Fiction" sections of the library to find them easily.

We also have updated lists - both in a typed and visual format so readers can quickly search for a title that is of interest to them.

We met on Thursday, October 13th to discuss The Wizard of Oz. Mr. Altieri had a slide deck to move discussion along. It was a great way to come together and discuss a shared story. We look forward to meeting on Thursday, November 10th to discuss Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Do you or your child ever struggle to figure out which book comes next in a series? If so, be sure to bookmark Mid-Continent Public Library's comprehensive site. You can search by book, series, subject, or author. It is a life saver!

Take a few minutes to read this article from www.insidehook.com about why reading comic books is good for your child's mental health.

Blog Form: During the school year I do a weekly blog post highlighting six recommendations for the varying ages and stages of middle school students. If there is a book trailer, I include it. I also indicate where you can secure a copy of the title. You can find the blog here.

Virtual Bookshelf Form: Once the pandemic hit, I began creating virtual bookshelves to showcase the weekly book recommendations. You can find it here.