Hello, Ford Family! I wish all of our students, families, and staff a safe, healthy, and fun start to the 2021-2022 school year. I am so happy to welcome our students back into the library for their weekly library lessons. In the library, we will be conducting lessons with themes based on the classroom TEKS, as well as other events to promote literacy. We will also be following guidelines and procedures to keep our students safe, including frequent use of hand sanitizer, and strict rules for use of books. More information will be forthcoming when checking out books for take-home use will be permitted. Happy New School Year, Mustangs!

Keep track of all the books you read this summer! Students who submit their reading log when we return to school in August will have the chance to win prizes. Those with the most pages read per grade level will be recognized in our PSJA Summer Reads celebration.

You can access a soft copy of the log here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NWxdIQ-pWSZlUBOe72U8-86j0xbW3rJUQJicm_Dq09I/copy Click make a copy, and you can access it from Google Drive to fill it out.

TX Library Standards: 3.2- The school library program supports, supplements, and elevates literacy instruction through research-based strategies and participation in national, state, and local reading initiatives.

TX Library Standards: 6.4- The school library program activities are evaluated

using data analysis in order to improve student outcomes.

All students have been automatically enrolled in a Library Google Classroom space. In that area, I will post links to important resources, library activities, and important announcements. Keep yourself posted by checking the stream and materials frequently!

TX Library Standards: 5.3- The school library program extends library-based learning opportunities for families through community-centered activities.

Over the next month, students will engage in library activities related to upcoming events and special celebrations. September is the month to sign-up for a library card! Around September 15, we will honor Peter H. Reynolds's book The Dot by encouraging students to make their mark and see where it takes them! We will also promote and share books to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15.

TX Library Standards: 5.3- The school library program extends library-based learning opportunities for families through community-centered activities.

Henry Ford Elementary has been selected as a site for a new Little Free Library! Our campus earned an impact grant and we will be receiving a fully assembled, 2-story Little Free Library, a charter sign with registration number, and a starter collection of books! We can't wait to share books with our Mustang family and community.

TX Library Standards: 5.3- The school library program extends library-based learning opportunities for families through community-centered activities.

The books for the 2021-2022 Battle of the Books have been selected! 4th and 5th grade students are invited to participate in this exciting competition, which will take place in January. Students will read four books and compete against teams from other schools, based on knowledge of the books. The books are available on MackinVIA. Please reach out to Mrs. Alvarez for more information.

TEKS: (6) Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to: (B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information;

TX Library Standards: 3.2- The school library program supports, supplements, and elevates literacy instruction through research-based strategies and participation in national, state, and local reading initiatives.

This year, we will prepare for the first-of-its-kind Batalla de los Libros! A team of three students will read three books in Spanish. In March, teams will compete against those from other schools, based on their knowledge of the books. Mrs. Alvarez will have copies available for use. Please see her for more information!

TEKS: (6) Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to: (B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information;

TX Library Standards: 3.2- The school library program supports, supplements, and elevates literacy instruction through research-based strategies and participation in national, state, and local reading initiatives.

During the summer, our students had the opportunity to attend virtual book club meetings, author visits, makerspace, and game days! Our PSJA librarians were busy providing access to excellent activities and resources for all students. Thank you to those who were able to attend and participate!

TX Library Standards: 3.2- The school library program supports, supplements, and elevates literacy instruction through research-based strategies and participation in national, state, and local reading initiatives.

TX Library Standards: 6.4- The school library program activities are evaluated

using data analysis in order to improve student outcomes.

TX Library Standards: 5.3- The school library program extends library-based learning opportunities for families through community-centered activities.

Congratulations to D. Cardenas, who won an Elephant & Piggie boxed set in a raffle for visiting the Library Services table during the Back-to-School Expo at PSJA North!

Mrs. Alvarez was the instructor for Ford's Summer Technology Camp! The camp ran from June 7 through 17, and 10 students attended, in a combination of in-person and virtual participation. Students utilized Google Sites, Jamboard, Learning.com, Common Sense Education, and more to create a digital portfolio and complete an entrepreneurial project! Each student in the group, comprised of rising 4th and 5th graders, came up with an idea for a business and created a website, flyer, commercial, business card, and more. Mrs. Alvarez had a great time working with these students! They had such creative ideas and were able to develop their technology skills.

TEKS (4) Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making. The student researches and evaluates projects using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to (D) evaluate technology tools applicable for solving problems.

(5) Digital citizenship. The student practices safe, responsible, legal, and ethical behavior while using digital tools and resources. The student is expected to:

(F) practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology

TX Library Standards: Strand 2- School library programs provide access to information for inquiry learning, which includes the pursuit, creation, and sharing of knowledge, as well as support for both student and professional learning.

Mrs. Alvarez provided Library Services lessons to students at Longoria Elementary and Ford Elementary during our August enrichment camps! Students participated in "Space Week" themed activities, including reading books on myON, researching with MackinVIA resources like DK Find Out, cracking codes with BreakoutEDU and using materials to do hands-on makerspace projects.

TEKS: (8) Earth and space. The student knows that the natural world includes the air around us and objects in the sky. The student is expected to: (C) observe, describe, and illustrate objects in the sky such as the clouds, Moon, and stars, including the Sun. (D) identify the planets in Earth's solar system and their position in relation to the Sun.

TX Library Standards Strand 4: Digital Learning: Effective school libraries are a vital hub with equitable access to emerging technologies which provide curated and open access to a variety of print and digital resources. They support best instructional practices and curriculum standards through the integration of resources while assessing the impact on student learning. 3: School library programs promote reading as an essential skill for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment which are essential skills for college, career, and community.

Mrs. Alvarez presented a session titled "Diving into Digital Citizenship" to elementary teachers during the 2021 PSJA ISD We Connect Virtual Technology Conference. Along with librarian Carmen Noyola from Garza-Peña Elementary, Mrs. Alvarezshared digital citizenship tools and resources, including Google's Be Internet Awesome program, gamification with Interland, and the Common Sense Education curriculum.

TX Library Standards: Strand 2- School library programs provide access to information for inquiry learning, which includes the pursuit, creation, and sharing of knowledge, as well as support for both student and professional learning.

TX Library Standards: 2.4- The school library program offers professional development opportunities that promote best practices in inquiry-based teaching and learning.

TX Library Standards: 6.1- The school library program incorporates leadership activities, best practices, and professional development across campus, district, and professional communities. The program includes opportunities for collaboration among members of the learning community and opportunities to help learners become independent users and producers of ideas and information.

More information will be forthcoming regarding our AR program. In library class, students in 1st-5th grade will take the Star reading assessment to determine current reading level. This will help generate individualized goals. Along with the teachers, I will work with the students to show them how to track their progress toward their goals. We will recognize our goal-getters and top AR participants on a regular basis.

To take AR quizzes, students will visit https://global-zone08.renaissance-go.com/welcomeportal/239158 and utilize the user name and password provided by their teacher. AR testing will be available in the evenings and weekends, once the program is open. If you need assistance, please email rachel.alvarez@psjaisd.us.

TEKS: (5) Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: reading, and thinking--self-sustained reading. The student reads grade-appropriate texts independently. The student is expected to self-select text and interact independently with text for increasing periods of time. (6) Comprehension skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking using multiple texts. The student uses metacognitive skills to both develop and deepen comprehension of increasingly complex texts. The student is expected to: (A) establish purpose for reading assigned and self-selected texts with adult assistance;

TX Library Standards: 2.1- The school library program includes a carefully curated collection of current materials in a variety of formats, including curation of open educational resources (OER) that are uniquely suited to support inquiry learning and the needs and interests of all users.

TX Library Standards: 3.1- The library encourages students to read a variety of literature for information and pleasure. The library provides access to physical and virtual collections of high quality, current resources in a variety of formats (print, audio, electronic) and platforms (readable on most devices) which reflect input from stakeholders.

• 14 years as an educator in PSJA ISD
• 2 Master's degrees, in Library Science and in History
• School Librarian Certification for Early Childhood-12th grade
• Certification for teaching social studies
• Passionate about information literacy, digital citizenship, and diverse collections of reading materials for our students.

Always feel free to reach out with any questions! I am here to support our students, families, teachers, and staff in any way that I can. Let's continue reading and using our digital literacy skills.

Click here to see what Mrs. Alvarez is reading, and what's next on her list! https://app.edu.buncee.com/buncee/5a6e5179409941748e69752b18b3ca4c

Email: rachel.alvarez@psjaisd.us
Website: https://www.psjaisd.us/domain/2809
Location: 1110 East Polk Avenue, Pharr, TX, USA
Phone: (956) 354-2770
Facebook: facebook.com/HenryFordElementary
Twitter: @librarian_alva