English/Language Arts Spotlights

Welcome to the new library space!  If you haven't stopped by in the past week, it finally looks like a library.  

Accessing books for silent reading during Covid

All books are accessible through the library -- but in ways that limits full class groups and multiple touching of books.  

Option 1:  Book Wendy to visit your class to show the "reading menu" posted on the library web site, and how it works in conjunction with the library catalog.  Students will also learn how to order books online through the catalog, and receive "door dash" delivery to the classroom. I highly recommend this introduction to any classes that have a regular silent reading time.

Option 2:  Book Wendy for a small group (6-8).  This is a helpful follow-up to option 1, or an option for students who already have a strong idea of how libraries are organized and of their reading preferences.

Option 3:  One-to-one support:  choosing a book and having a separate space to read. An option for 1-3 students who would benefit from individual support and having accessed to an ultra-quiet environment.  There are several reading chairs available on the main floor.  Talk to Wendy prior to sending these students.

Option 4:  Please encourage your students to choose from the a la carte weekly menu;  a different theme/genre with 12 featured titles is posted weekly on the library web page.  Students can access the list of books through the links in the Reading Menu.

Database resources to support composition, non-fiction reading, & critical thinking

The library's Digital Resource Hub can be used to support all of these skills;  it is a hub to numerous EBSCO and GALE databases purchased by our district and by our school library.  

Current and present English 12 and 12 classes have learned how to access and use databases to locate an article on a story/course theme, and to distinguish popular from academic sources, entry-level from advanced sources. 

Additionally, articles within the databases  afford students access to helpful tools, including audio options, built-in citations, and the ability to send/save the article directly to GAFE.

Database access and use lessons can be adapted for one or more lessons, depending upon the learning activity and learning outcomes.

Resources to support struggling readers 

• The library's regular fiction and non-fiction collection:  It includes books that are middle-school reading level yet high school interest level.  Wendy can pull selections for groups of students and/or show them how to find and order these books using the library catalog.   

• GALE databases:  More so than EBSCO, these provide a few options for middle-school level texts.

• Audio books:   The library holds over 112 audio books through the apps Libro.fm and Audible, many of which support titles in our English 9-12 curriculum.  The library provided a poster (office mailbox) outlining user name and password to access these audio books;  please post if you haven't already.   Students and teachers are welcome to see Wendy for help. 

Vic High Reads Covid edition #2

Students produced excellent presentations for 2020 and it's possible to look towards a Covid edition #2, simplified and tailored to our existing constraints, and to provide extended learning opportunities for our students.   

Last year's theme was "Inspiration", and the winning title was The Diary of Anne Frank  closely (followed by The Little Prince) -- as determined in the online vote.

Please think about  the viability of the Covid edition #2, and a possible theme.