• 2022/2023 Impact Report

Librarian

  • The librarian issued a Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge to all students as a way to bridge the school/home connection. Over 30 students met the challenge to read for 100 minutes over the break.
  • The Serna Seals were treated to a visit from author Liz Garton Scanlon this year. Students learned about the writing process and actively “wrote” a book with her. Several students and even staff members enjoyed speaking to the author individually about wanting to become a published author like her.
  • First and third grade students enjoyed special Lunch Bunch time in the library, during which they ate lunch as the librarian read aloud to them from novels. Food, friends, and book talk are a winning combination!
  • Serna celebrated Read Across America Week with themed dress-up days and Capstone eBooks that were shared daily with students. We were reminded of how reading is relaxing and totally radical, as well as a special dress like your teacher day to celebrate our favorite reading rockstars!
Author speaking to students
 
 
6,802
print books in collection
 
417
ebooks books in collection
 
9,169
print books checked out
 
1,708
ebooks books checked out
 
Student holding research paper

Teacher

  • First-grade students enjoyed an author study of Peter H. Reynolds’ books. After reading The Word Collector, students brainstormed words that were important to them and explained why.
  • Fourth graders completed a research project about our state's small mammal, the armadillo. They practiced all the stages of inquiry, including developing questions, taking sketchnotes from resources, and sharing what they learned on the ChatterPix app.
  • This year, Serna third, fourth and fifth grade students were introduced to a new library resource, News-O-Matic. They enjoyed exploring this kid-friendly news resource as they practiced inferencing and summarizing skills to share these exciting news articles with their classmates.
  • Kindergarteners learned essential research skills during their inquiry unit about various jobs. They used print books and the PebbleGo database to learn about tools and tasks of different professions.
 

Student reading to parent in the library

Lesson Spotlight

This year first graders participated in our second annual Reading Restaurant. The librarian collaborated with the first grade teachers to help students select library books to “serve” to their guests. Students were very proud to show off their reading skills to our customers and received many positive remarks on guest comment cards!

 

Collaborator

  • The librarian took part in most grade-level CTT meetings this school year. She suggested resources and developed library lesson plans that reinforced the topics/TEKS that each grade level was learning in a timely manner.
  • The librarian worked with the second grade teachers to help students succeed at our annual Fairy Tale Battle, which showcases student comprehension skills. Classroom teachers read their students' classic fairy tales, and the librarian read the fractured fairy tales they quizzed on as part of the battle.
  • The family specialist and librarian worked together to offer a special program for preschool children called HEB Read 3 Mommy and Me. Preschool students aged 3-5 were invited to attend storytime while the parents were given helpful nutrition information for their families.
  • During Tier 3 Time, the librarian helped to facilitate a group of fifth grade students in the library. These students worked with the fifth grade teachers, librarian, and instructional coach to complete a mini-research unit.

Collaboration Spotlight

With input from classroom teachers, the librarian extended invitations for The Secret Society of Readers to select first, second, third, and fourth grade students who enjoy reading for pleasure. The Society held meetings every Friday of the school year in which members (including the librarian and an instructional para) would gather in the library to read and share book recommendations. The older students organically took on leadership roles as they worked to serve as excellent role models for the younger students. All members enjoyed this special weekly reading time for sheer pleasure and improved reading fluency and stamina.

 

Librarian working with teachers

Campus Leader

  • Teachers and campus coaches enjoyed special treats and hands-on experience with new library resources, such as Culture Grams and PebbleGoNext, as well as TeachingBooks when they attended Pop Over to The Library for PD. The librarian provided time for the teachers to develop ways to use these resources in their lessons to increase student achievement.
  • The librarian held two book fairs this school year to provide easy access to books for our community. Families of our students were invited to enjoy lunch and shop at the book fair together.
  • Interested 4th & 5th grade students applied for leadership positions as Library Interns this year. The hired students led the morning announcements daily and assisted the librarian with many different library duties, such as collecting and shelving books, lesson preparation, and book displays.
  • Our teachers loved receiving books for their library through our Principal’s Book of the Month program. On the first of each month, our principal read aloud a new book, specially chosen by the librarian to meet our campus SEL goals, on the morning announcements and then delivered a copy to each classroom.
 
Teachers attending PD
Students shopping the Book Fair