Library / 2022/2023 Impact Report

2022/2023 Impact Report

Librarian

Mrs. Johnson organized and implemented campus Dot Day activities by inviting PK-5th grade students to participate in growth mindset library lessons focused on sharing individual talents and positive qualities to make the world a better place. She also coordinated a school-wide reading of The Dot, donated a copy of the book to each classroom, and displayed student artwork throughout the building to reinforce the importance of 'making your mark’ in your community and the world.
On October 27, 2022, Tuscany students (PK-5) participated in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. Students enjoyed this year’s book, Nigel and the Moon, by Antwan Eady. The story encouraged students to dream big, voice their aspirations out loud, and be proud.
Author Susan Stevens Crummel and Author/Illustrator Janet Stevens presented to Tuscany Heights students in December. Their interactive presentation encouraged students to create, proofread, and share stories based on their daily lives.
Mrs. Johnson organized the 10th annual Read Around the School picture book celebration. Students partnered with their book buddies and visited classrooms where teachers read stories about inclusion, community, and kindness.

19,610
print books in collection

4,478
ebooks books in collection

28,351
print books checked out

2,300
ebooks books checked out

Teacher

Mrs. Johnson read the book Don’t Hug Doug to PreK-2nd grade classes. After the story, students discussed feelings and the importance of getting consent before you hug someone. Students also voted on their favorite way of saying hello to friends and strangers. Students decorated a hand (high-five), and Mrs. Johnson used the artwork to create a pictograph that displayed each class's votes.
Mrs. Johnson facilitated a guided inquiry research unit that compared communication from long ago to today. After examining Mrs. Johnson’s 1st grade rotary telephone, students created a Venn Diagram comparing communication from the 1970s to today’s smartphones. Students also discussed (think, pair, share) how they imagined telephones would change in the next 50 years.
Mrs. Johnson introduced 5th grade classes to CultureGrams, an online resource that spotlights cultural information on countries around the globe. Students explored the database, took notes, and created ugly holiday sweaters to showcase country facts and teach their classmates about diverse communities and a wide variety of cultures.
Using online library resources, each 2nd grade student researched a specific animal and created a non-fiction book spotlighting information from their notes. Library lessons focused on technology use, reading, note-taking, and expository writing.

Lesson Spotlight

Mrs. Johnson collaborated with 4th-grade teachers and the Instructional Technology Specialist to create an animal adaptations research unit that combined research and technology skills. Fourth graders chose an animal and used library books/online resources to research how adaptations enable an animal to live in its environment. Students took notes and used their findings to write clues about their chosen animal. Using the skills they learned in Chromebook Academy, students created a Mystery Animal presentation in Google Slides and included pictures from Britannica Image Quest. They challenged their classmates to guess the animal described in the slideshow. This lesson reinforced science TEKS while allowing students to cite resources and hone their research and technology skills.

Collaborator

Mrs. Johnson collaborated with Leigh Anne Roeber, the Tuscany Heights ITS. The librarian and technology specialist taught Chromebook basics to 3rd-5th grade students and their teachers.
Mrs. Johnson collaborated with the music teacher and the family specialist to create a community preschool hour. Preschool families visited the library and enjoyed reading, singing, crafting, and meeting the Tuscany faculty.
Mrs. Johnson collaborated with the Tuscany Heights preschool team and created a Library Open House for current preschoolers and their families. Everyone enjoyed an interactive library lesson while learning about NEISD online library resources.
Mrs. Johnson collaborated with fourth-grade teachers to create a lesson on state research and persuasive writing. Students used CultureGrams and PebbleGo Next to learn about a specific state; using information from their notes, they created postcards to convince the Tuscany Heights principal to visit that state.

Collaboration Spotlight

After hosting a community preschool hour, Mrs. Johnson collaborated with the music teacher and preschool teachers to design a PreK Library Open House for current preschoolers and their families. Parents met their students in the library and participated in a typical music and library lesson. The November lesson focused on Thanksgiving, turkeys, and counting. After singing with the music teacher and practicing rhythm with drumsticks, Mrs. Johnson read 10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston. Students counting throughout the story and pointed out rhyming words. After discussing the story, students (with parent assistance) created Thanksgiving turkeys out of tissue paper and paper plates. Students showcased their ability to follow oral/visual instructions. Next, students and parents explored the library, and students walked their parents through checkout procedures. Finally, students enjoyed a snack while socializing with parents and friends.

Preschoolers singing with the music teacher and librarian

Campus Leader

During the November faculty meeting, Mrs. Johnson introduced staff to News-O-Matic, Britannica ImageQuest, and CultureGrams. Teachers explored the new library digital resources and discussed ways to use them with students.
1 bullet of librarian leadership involving the communityMrs. Johnson conducted a hands-on library resources lesson (Launchpad) for adults in the Tuscany Heights community. Community members learned about Sora, BrainPOP, PebbleGo, and Capstone. Mrs. Johnson also briefly introduced News-O-Matic.
Mrs. Johnson advocates for the Tuscany Heights Library each week by sending out The Library Corner, a newsletter showcasing library events. She also spotlights library activities on the Tuscany Heights Facebook page.
Mrs. Johnson, a Tuscany Heights Campus Improvement Committee member, helped update the Campus Instructional Improvement Plan and Campus Safety Plan. Mrs. Johnson accepted the position of Witness Coordinator for the newly implemented safety plan.