September 2005

Dear Fellow Book Lovers:

BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS SPECIAL EVENT

Libraries have a very important role in getting kids ready for school. Many schools have school fairs before the beginning of school so that parents can ask questions of school officials, and get to know the staff, the curriculum, and the kinds of activities open to their children. The public library might form a partnership with the local school district and offer their services during the school fair. If the school district doesn’t have such an event, the public library might take this opportunity to sponsor “A Before School Starts” event of their own.

Here are some programming suggestions:

• Set the scene by reading aloud a short and fun book about school like Hello School by Dee Lillegard and illustrated by Don Carter (Ages 4-7), or Junie B., First Grader (at last!) by Barbara Park and illustrated by Denise Brunkus (Ages 6-9)
• Have older kids prepare and perform a rap for parents and younger students called “School Bus Rock”
• Introduce parents to books about school for them to share with their young child like Ready, Set, Preschool! Stories, Poems, and Picture Games with an Educational Guide for Parents by Anna Jane Hays and illustrated by True Kelley (Ages 3-6)
• Share parenting books like Brain Foods for Kids: Over 100 Recipes to Boost Your Child’s Intelligence by Nicola Graimes, and Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems At Any Level by Sally Shaywitz, M.D.
• Lead book discussions using books on the school district’s summer reading list
• Display and book talk reference books most needed for homework assignments
• Demonstrate how to use the card catalog, library data bases, etc.
• Inform parents and students about the library’s after school, outreach and interlibrary loan services
• Make sure that all of the participating families have library cards
• Help parents and students locate appropriate Internet sites that might be educational, and useful for school assignments
• Ask students to write down their anxieties about school, and suggest book titles that might ease these anxieties

Some of students’ common fears about school are homework, long-term projects, bullying, friends, and belonging, dealing with teachers, riding the school bus, report cards, and overall achievement. Titles from Random House that address some of these issues include:

HOMEWORK & LONG-TERM PROJECTS

All About Stacy by Patricia Reilly Giff (Ages 5-8)

The Berenstain Bears & the Trouble at School by Stan & Jan Berenstain (Ages 5-8)

Just A Little Homework by Mercer Mayer & Gina Mayer, illustrated by Mercer Mayer (Ages 4-7)

Arthur’s Science Fair Trouble by Marc Brown (Ages 5-8)

Burning Up by Caroline B. Cooney (Ages 12 up)

BULLYING, BELONGING, FRIENDS

Baghead by Jarrett K. Krosoczka (Ages 4-7)

Bully Trouble by Joanna Cole & illustrated by Marylin Hafner (Ages 6-8)

There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar (Ages 8-12)

Blubber by Judy Blume (Ages 9-12)

The Chocolate War by Robert C or mier (Ages 12 up)

ACHIEVEMENT & REPORT CARDS

The Berenstain Bears: Report Card Trouble by Stan & Jan Berenstain (Ages 5-8)

Fish Face by Patricia Reilly Giff and illustrated by Blanche Sims (Ages 6-9)

The Boy Who Owned the School by Gary Paulsen (Ages 9-12)

The Flunking of Joshua T. Bates by Susan Shreve (Ages 8-10)

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Max for President by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Ages 4-8)

Class President by Louis Sachar (Ages 5-8)

Rosie Swanson: Fourth-Grade Geek for President by Barbara Park (Ages 8-12)

TEACHERS

Fourth Grade Weirdo by Martha Freeman (Ages 9-12)

The Crimes and Punishments of Miss Payne by Barry Jonsberg (Ages 12 up)

You may email me at pscales@scgsah.state.sc.us.