Hello, Ford Family! We have reached the end of our second 6-weeks marking period. Read on to find out some of the exciting things we've been doing in the library, and some of our upcoming events and activities. Thanks for reading!

These students achieved at least 100% of their points goal with at least an 85% average for the first 6-weeks! Each will be receiving a snack as a reward. The top three per grade level and those who have read 100,000 words received a little something extra! Keep reading, students!

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.

Sixty-nine entries were submitted for our annual Book Character Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Our creative Mustang students made some amazing pumpkins. A big congratulations to the winners, listed below, and to all participants. A huge thank you to our judges: School Board Member Ms. Jesse Zambrano, Library Services Department Director Mrs. Nora Galvan, and Integration Specialists Ms. Debra Pingel, Mr. Valentin Guerra, and Mr. Marco Torres.

On Friday, October 29, our students were encouraged to dress as a book character during Red Ribbon Week. It was so fun to find Waldo, the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Harry Potter, princesses, superheroes, and more!

On November 1, we celebrated National Family Literacy Day. Students were encouraged to read together with their families, complete various activity sheets, design their own bookmarks, record a Flipgrid video, and more! Each day, prizes were raffled off to students and staff who participated. On Wednesday, November 3, twenty-five parents of 1st and 2nd graders attended a special session about using Accelerated Reader and engaging in literacy at home. Thank you, families, for supporting our children's' growth as readers!

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

Our kinder through 5th grade classes have been participating in the Global Read-Aloud (GRA), a project through which classes all over the world read a common book with their teacher and/or librarian. We have been connecting with Four Georgians Elementary School in Helena, Montana. through the use of Padlet and Jamboard to reflect on the books, create as we read, and learn about another region of the United States.

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.

Ms. J. Martinez's 2nd graders visited again (virtually) with author/poet/artist Chelsea Lin Wallace as part of a collaboration called #KidsNeedMentors. For our second meeting, Ms. Chelsea led the students in a "twist on a list" poetry session. We spoke about gratitude, and students worked on representing the people, places, and things for which they are grateful in creative ways. Ms. Martinez, Mrs. Alvarez, and Ms. Chelsea are all excited to see the finished and illustrated products!

TX Library Standards: 4.1-The library program effectively uses and promotes the use of technology applications and tools across all content areas for discovery, collaboration, critical analysis, creation, and presentation of learning.

In the library, our lessons support and enrich classroom instruction. Here are a few examples of the learning that has been happening during library class.

In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, Ford Elementary held a special program in our library and cafeteria. Along with the School Events Committee, Mrs. Alvarez helped to plan the event and created the tribute video below. In addition, Mrs. Alvarez shared a collection of books on Epic! to recognize the contributions of our military service members. Students may find the collection in Google Classroom or by logging into Mrs. Alvarez's Epic! page.

Our team of 4th and 5th grade students have accepted the challenge to read our four Battle of the Bluebonnet Books titles over the next four months. In January, a team of four students will compete against teams from all twenty-five PSJA elementary schools. The winning team will advance to a regional competition. Let's go, Mustangs!

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.

Get ready... The Scholastic Book Fair is coming December 6-10!

We are looking forward to hosting our first in-person book fair in nearly two years. More details will be shared. Save the date for the week of December 6!

Please make plans to join Parent Educator Ms. Azalea Rodriguez and Library Media Specialist Mrs. Rachel Alvarez for a literacy workshop, coming up after Thanksgiving break. More details will be provided. We will be sharing some resources to encourage literacy at home, with a special focus on fun and engaging strategies that will support our students' achievement.

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

This year, we will prepare for the first-of-its-kind Batalla de los Libros! A team of three 4th and 5th grade 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 has copies available for use. Please see stop by the library 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.

Mrs. Resendez's 3rd graders found comfy spots to read in the library!

Ms. Castillo's class enjoyed reading, building, and sorting flashcards during library class!

Mrs. Alvarez is active in using the site DonorsChoose to get projects funded to benefit our campus. Recently, Class Book Club Sets was funded for $364, including a generous donation by actress/comedian Leslie Jones!

Flex Seating for Cozy Reading, a project with a goal of $321, partially funded, is still accepting donations: Flex Seating for Cozy Reading | DonorsChoose project by Mrs. Alvarez

Be sure to visit our Little Free Library just outside the front gate at Henry Ford Elementary School! We were selected as a site for an impact grant and we received a fully assembled, 2-story Little Free Library, a charter sign with registration number, and a starter collection of books! The Little Free Library is already stocked with books for our Mustang family and community. Please feel free to take a book, and if you'd like to donate a book, donations can be brought to the library or left inside the Little Free Library. A ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration is being planned and will be announced! Be on the lookout for more details.

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

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.

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.

School library programs promote reading as an essential skill for learning, personal growth, and enjoyment which are essential skills for college, career, and community.

3.3- Library materials reflect diversity, student choice for leisure reading, and reading for information as well as the needs of the curriculum and the state standards.

3.4- 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.

Families of 1st-5th graders: Do you have questions about the Accelerated Reader (AR) program? Here is a guide to help you get started. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at rachel.alvarez@psjaisd.us.

English: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSTXoT3LjceRG4DtcYIMLIA95HOUrEU2VZ7DHQDCaoCzhDvB7grY3QMniAVRLRcfNDiQl7ykeGiVwp_/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=60000

Spanish: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSku6Fh8gW0sAoxA98MPWKXWGDRMNCNgIgkEvCW1-3J-h9MUP84rbW-43Zp7WTDsy3oV-UANSnhglaE/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=60000

Students in 1st-5th grade have taken their Star Reading beginning-of-year assessments to determine their current reading level. Using those results, the AR system generates individualized goals for students, including a points goal and a book level goal. 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 is available 24/7, in the evenings and weekends, from school and from home. 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