Lowell Library Newsletter

Hello Lowell Families and Caregivers!

Fall is a busy time for library learning. We celebrated Native American Heritage Month with read alouds and a bulletin board of famous Native Americans. We explored our library and learned about genres, library neighborhoods and how to use the catalog to find a book. We also participated in the yearly Hour of Code at all grade levels. We are looking forward to the Children's Book Awards at the end of January and see who will get the gold!

Our curriculum is a combination of library, digital learning , and computer science. Each year we build on previous year's work and expand our understanding in all three areas.

Kindergarten

• Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Authors
• Illustrators
• Online Safety
• Coding a Sequence
• Bee Bots

First Grade

• Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Alphabetical Order
• Authors and Illustrators
• Library Neighborhoods
• Picture Book Call Numbers
• Intro to Code
• Bee Bots

Second Grade

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• Library Catalog
• Realistic Fiction
• Fantasy
• Science Fiction
• Historical Fiction
• Spine Labels and Call Numbers
• Fiction Call Numbers
• Nonfiction (Dewey) Numbers
• Hour of Code
• Catalog/ Call Number Scavenger Hunt

Third Grade

• Catalog
• Call Numbers
• Google Slides Project
• Hour of Code
• Keyboarding Check

Fourth Grade

• Library Catalog
• Call Number Review
• Our Online Tracks
• Creator's Rights and Responsibilities
• Citation: Print and Web
• Databases Searching
• Keywords
• Hour of Code
• Keyboarding Check

Fifth Grade

• Google Forms
• What is the Internet?
• Where Does Data Come From?
• What does the Data Tell You?
• Strategies to limit Data Sharing
• AI and Data

Book checkout starts the first week of school during library class time. Students generally have about ten minutes to make a selection at the end of the specials block.

Overdue books must be returned before a new book is checked out.

Only one graphic novel at a time may be checked out.

The library will hold one (1) book for one (1) week for any student who forgot their book from the previous week.

Students who missed library day or would like to swap for a new book can visit the library any morning before 8:35 with permission from their classroom teacher.

Kindergarten and First Grade: One (1) book.

Second Grade: One (1) book September - December; Two (2) books starting in January.

Third to Fifth Grade: Two (2) books

It happens, even if you do not expect it. A book vaporizes while in your care. Here is what we can do to help return the book for someone else to share.

• Alert the librarian so she can keep an eye out for the book in the library and the school. She will check the shelves in case the book mysteriously materialized back on the shelf.
• Check the usual book sleeping spots at home: under beds, in the car, bottom of backpacks, home book shelves.
• Ask the classroom teacher in case the book ended up in the classroom collection or elsewhere in the room.
• If you use the Public Library, stop by the Watertown Free Public Library and ask at the desk. They keep books belonging to the school but they do not notify the school in any way or return the books. They will release them for return to the school library.

If you are absolutely sure it's gone or you do not want to think more about it the best option for the library is for you to purchase a replacement copy of the book. You can pay the District for the book but that money does not return to the library to purchase a new copy and my goal is to put the book in kids hands.

• In the case of book damage such as water, ripped pages, or scribbling, please check with the librarian. Some damage can be repaired but other damage means the book is permanently withdrawn from the library collection. Those books require a replacement copy or payment.

Any questions please do not hesitate to contact the library and librarian!

Would you like to spend a little time in the school library each week? The library is looking for parent volunteers to help with various library tasks such as book checkout, shelving returns, shelf reading, and possibly other projects. Click the link to access the form.

Email: kelly.mccollum@watertown.k12.ma.us

123 Lowell Street Watertown, MA 02472

Find Us Online:

@jrlowellreads

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