Crocker Library

Welcome to the 2011-12 school year! I’m looking forward to an exciting year in the library and computer lab. As many of you know, this year we are integrating our library and computer programs. The kids will still be checking out books, but we’ll also be learning how to find, evaluate, create, and share different kinds of information online.

All of our students visit the library and/or lab once a week. K and 1st grade students check out one book at a time and must return their book in order to check out another. All other students may check out 2 books at a time. Students are welcome to stop by the library after school to return or check out books. In addition to normal school hours, the library is open from 3:00 – 3:15-ish daily. Please remember this time is for book exchange. If your child is waiting to be picked up, they need to wait outside on the yard or in the office.

The library is also open to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In a month or two, I’m planning to have the lab open during lunch one day a week.

If you’d like to help out in the library or lab this year, you can contact me directly (lisa_a_hobbs@yahoo.com) or talk to your child’s teacher. Finally, don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or ideas.

Thanks,

Lisa Hobbs, Librarian

April is National Poetry Month and we’re celebrating by having a Poem in Your Pocket Day on Thursday, April 14! On Thursday, everyone at Crocker – students, teachers, volunteers – will have a poem in his or her pocket. Throughout the day we’ll share our poems with each other – in the classroom, at recess, at lunch, with friends and buddies. Last week, kids were busy writing poems, memorizing poems, and reading poetry books to find the perfect poem. There are just a few more days to get ready for Thursday. Here are a few details:

• All students in all grades are participating.
• Students can write their own poems.
• Students can read or recite a poem from memory.
• Help your child find a poem.
• Encourage your child to practice reading his or her poem at home.

If you’re planning to be at school on Thursday, bring a poem to share with the kids. If you forget, stop by the library and I’ll have a few poems to spare. If you’re on the yard at drop off, ask a few students to share their poems with you. Better yet, share a poem with them!

Last week, author/illustrator Bob Barner visited the library to talk to Crocker K, 1, and 2 students about his work. Barner is the author of 34 books including Bears!Bear! Bears!, Fish Wish, Dem Bones, and Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! His work is non-fiction and filled with amazing, colorful collage art. He shared several of his books and drew lots of pictures which he left for us to enjoy. Barner’s work combines art, science, and music – yes, music! Several of his stories have been set to music, Dem Bones is based on a song that is over 200 years old, and he played music while he drew for us.

Barner talked to us about the process of making books and answered lots of great questions from students. The kids wanted to know what is fun about being an author (having a new idea and seeing a finished book) and what isn’t fun (deadlines). They also wondered how he’s able to make such great pictures. Barner says it’s practice. He has been drawing since he was very young and studied art in college. Barner shared the fun and hard work that goes into creating a book. It was a wonderful visit!

Thanks to Mr. Donahue’s class for making a whole lot of bugs to create a collage art welcome sign for Mr. Barner. On March 30, author Pam Turner will be visiting 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to talk about her work. Stay tuned!

I hope everyone is cleaning off their book shelves for the upcoming book swap (Friday, January 21). While you’re at it, keep an eye out for any Crocker library books that might be floating around your house, especially comics. Comics are some of the most popular books in the library. Unfortunately, they’re also the most likely to go missing. Just last week we received some awesome new comics, two of which were missing in less than 24 hours. Bummer!

Ask you child to take a look around the house, car, backpack, desk….anywhere! Let’s find those books and get them back in circulation!

Do you have any books at your house that you’ve outgrown? How about a few books that are so amazing you’d like to share them with others in our community? If you do, pack them up and bring them to the 2011 Crocker Book Swap.

Here’s how to participate:

• Drop off gently used books at the table on the playground before school on Tuesday, 1/18 – Friday, 1/21. In the event of rain, book drop will be in the library.
• Bring gently used books for kids (any age) and adults. Please no coloring or sticker books. Adults are welcome to participate.
• Stop by the multipurpose room on Friday to pick out a few “new” books. The books will be on tables in the multipurpose room for everyone to see. Supply permitting, all Crocker kids can select a book. Students who contribute books to the swap can select more.
• Stay until the end of the swap and you can take some extra books home.

If you know a teacher or childcare provider who might be interested in some books, they can stop by at the end of swap and pack up some books for their students. We typically have hundreds of leftover books, especially for preschool/K-1 age children. Books remaining after the swap are donated to other OUSD sites or the East Bay Children’s Book Project.

Questions? Available to help? Contact Ms. Lisa in the library.

If you’re planning to travel during the Thanksgiving break (or even if you’ll be staying home) think about plugging your kids into a book. There are all kinds of great books your kids can listen to if you have a smart phone, mp3 player, CD player, home computer, or yes, even a tape deck. The Oakland Public Library has a great selection of audiobooks you can download for FREE! Of course, there are also plenty of places you can buy audiobooks. You can find more information and links on the audiobook page on the Crocker Library website. Books, audiobooks, and mp3 players make great gifts, too.

Have a safe and relaxing holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!

Many Crocker students have regular opportunities to be online – playing games, socializing, watching videos, and more. In addition to your home, students have internet access in many of our classrooms, the library, computer lab, on phones, and in friends’ homes. It is important that families provide guidance and clear expectations for safe, responsible online behavior. Let your child know your rules and expectations for online behavior. Make sure they understand that these apply at school or when visiting a friend.

This week, students will be bringing home a booklet called Net Cetera: Chatting With Kids About Being Online. The book is packed with information and ideas to help families talk to kids about being safe online and also responsible. Please take time to read the book and talk with your kids about this important topic. More information about online safety and responsibility is available at the Crocker library website.

Take a look around the library website. Some of your old favorites have moved and there are lots of new features and information for kids and parents. Take a few minutes to check out the Harry Potter Trivia Contest – you might win 2 movie tickets to see the new Harry Potter movie, The Deathly Hallows, Part 1!

Look around – let me know if you have ideas, questions, or comments. ENJOY!

Congratulations to 3rd grader Hazel C., winner of a ridiculously huge candy bar for a truly amazing accomplishment. Last year, Hazel returned her library book on time EVERY WEEK – for the entire school year!  I had planned to have a raffle for the candy bar among all students who returned books on time all year, but it turned out there was only one – no raffle required. This year, I’m planning to have a raffle for another fabulous reward. I’m hoping to have a few more contenders for the prize.

Returning library books on time is one way our kids can learn and demonstrate responsibility at school. Quite often, other students are waiting for library books to be returned so they can check them out. Families can help get library books back on time by keeping library books in a specific place at home so they are easy to find on library day.

Congratulations and thank you to Hazel!

Great job!

I’m looking forward to a new year in the library. I read a lot of books this summer and have lots of fun and interesting things to share with the kids. We are fortunate to have a wonderful library with more than 10,000 books, as well as computers for students to use, and online research tools provided by OUSD and the Oakland Public Library.

Many of you already know that Crocker classes visit the library once a week. Students check out one book at a time and must return their book in order to check out another. Class visits will begin the week of September 7. I’ll post the weekly schedule here very soon! The library is also open to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders during Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday lunch recesses.

Students are welcome to stop by the library after school to return or check out books. In addition to normal school hours, I’ll be open from 3:00 – 3:15-ish daily. Please remember this time is for book exchange. If your child is waiting to be picked up, they need to wait outside on the yard or in the office.

If you’d like to help out in the library this year, you can contact me directly (lisa_a_hobbs@yahoo.com)  or talk to your child’s teacher. I’ll be in the library Tuesdays through Fridays.

Thanks,

Lisa Hobbs, Librarian