• 2022/2023 Impact Report

Librarian

  • The librarian hosted a Scholastic Book Fair in the fall, which was open during “An Evening With Grandparents” as a family engagement event. Families were invited to play games and shop at the book fair, which provided a fantastic opportunity to self-select their books.
  • The librarian promoted many fun days to increase enthusiasm for reading and support cultural awareness in our community, such as International Dot Day, RATS (Read Around The School) for Hispanic Heritage month, the Literary Pumpkin Patch, and Winter Storytime during the campus holiday sing-a-long. The librarian also encouraged and promoted reading beyond the school day with various book challenges during the year.
  • The librarian partners with Delta Pets in a reading program called "PAWSitive Reading.” A therapy dog registered with the national organization of Pet Partners and their Read to Me program visits once a week to read with three students in the library.
  • “You’ve Been Booked” bags are sent once each nine weeks. Each bag features a grade-level appropriate and high-interest book for classes to enjoy.
  • 4th grade participates in the Battle of the Books. 2nd grade has a fairy tale bowl at the end of the year.
Girl and dog wearing a pirate hat
 
 
10,260
print books in collection
 
4,586
ebooks books in collection
 
10,549
print books checked out
 
445
ebooks books checked out
 
Librarian assisting student on laptop

Teacher

  • Students celebrate creativity, courage, and collaboration on International Dot Day. Third-grade students use PebbleGo Next to research biographical information on people who have made their mark on society or history.
  • First graders use biographical texts to research the contributions of historical figures. Students gather information via PebbleGo and record information on a graphic organizer.
  • Students are introduced to how animals are classified on Brain Pop Jr. Students then participate in stations: *Matching labels to the animals’ body features: (lion, Emperor penguin, zebra, African elephant, and alligator) *Sorting station: animal characteristics to help with movement (walking/running, swimming, flying, jumping) *Sorting station: body coverings (feathers, fur, scales, and shells) *Reading station with books about (lions, penguins, zebras, elephants, and alligators)
  • Fourth graders gather information for Native American research via PebbleGo, SIRS Discoverer, Gale in Context, and Britannica School. Students also learn the importance of citing their resources and how to find and use citation tools for each digital database.
  • First grade students used PebbleGo's digital resource to collect, record, and organize weather information. Through their research, students could identify each season's characteristics and creatively design their choice of seasonal scene, complete with appropriate outdoor scenery, activities, and clothing.
 

Girl using laptop

Lesson Spotlight

Second-grade students researched a variety of animals to understand how living organisms have basic survival needs. Students used PebbleGo to explore animals, particularly mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and fish. Then students used digital resources such as PebbleGo and Sirs Discoverer to gather information. Finally, students published their work in a Google Slide presentation titled "Animals of the World." Students could creatively add pictures, backgrounds, and other graphics to enhance their projects. The final products were then presented to their reading buddies.

 

Collaborator

  • The librarian collaborated with the family specialist to host Toddler Time in the library. This community outreach event invited families with their toddler(s) to our campus to enjoy a healthy snack, song, storytime, and craft in the library.
  • The librarian collaborated with the instructional technology specialist and 5th-grade ELAR and science teachers to plan an animal research unit. The culmination of this unit resulted in an author visit from Jerry Pallotta featuring his Who Would Win book series.
  • The librarian and family specialists planned community outreach events such as: An Evening with Creepy Carrots. Families enjoy the story Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, then create their creepy carrot craft with the librarian and family specialist.
  • The librarian collaborated with the Science Tech Committee in planning our spring STEM night, An Ocean of Wonders. One room instructed students and parents to log into Sora through the NEISD Launchpad.

Collaboration Spotlight

The librarian, the ITT, and 5th grade ELAR and science teachers planned and co-taught a month-long research lesson. After students received instruction on organisms’ structures and behaviors, the librarian introduced the series Who Would Win by Jerry Pallotta. These books present facts and photos of two animals to compare their structures, behaviors, and abilities, then explain which animal would win if they happened to battle each other. Based on this book’s format, students selected two animals to research to decide who would win. Students used a digital research note-taking form while using digital resources, such as Britannica School and SIRS Discoverer, and books in print. Next, the librarian and ITT co-taught another lesson on how students would publish. Students used a template to publish their research. Several projects were then shared on the announcements to build enthusiasm for our author visit: Jerry Pallotta.

 

Two teachers

Campus Leader

  • The librarian is a Guiding Coalition team member with Library Services whose primary focus is to help create and promote a collaborative culture among NEISD librarians. Throughout the year, the librarian has participated in establishing a mission statement and shared goals and assisted with presentations for all elementary collaborative teams.
  • The librarian holds many leadership roles on campus. Some responsibilities include News Crew for announcements, ESL/LPAC POC, Webmaster, Patrol Sponsor, STEAM Lab POC, CIC member, and Leadership Team Member. The librarian also maintains a Twitter account for the library.
  • The librarian provides community involvement to bridge relationships beyond the library's doors. On an evening in December, the librarian and 5th grade science teacher provided A Night with Winter Stars. Families were invited into an inflatable planetarium to enjoy a special storytime among the stars.
  • The librarian provided professional development for the faculty. In the fall, staff members learned to put a book on hold while using Sora and Destiny. In the spring, the librarian presented to teachers in grades 3-5 how to effectively use Pear Deck with their students.
 
Librarian wearing a carrot her head
3 teachers looking at a computer screen