Common+Core+Standards+in+the+Northern+Parkway+Library

= Common Core Standards in the Northern Parkway Library = by Salamah Mullen

School libraries and the Common Core Standards (CCS) have several common goals which make these new standards enticing to school librarians. It can be argued that the central idea of the CCS is reading and school libraries do a great job of promoting reading. The CCS are also asking for students to read varied texts, read informational texts, conduct research from several different sources and analyze information to make conclusions. These activities are already being done within school libraries. However, in order to continue promoting literacy as the CCS are asking us to accomplish, it is important to help children enjoy reading by helping them learn to love books. It is always a difficult task explaining to someone why books are so wonderful but with the help of a librarian, students soon discover the treasures that are within a book. I try to choose books for the library collection that have exciting characters and are about topics about which students truly want to know more. Not only do students have the opportunity to read such books but also learn skills that lifelong readers have. Here are some examples of literacy projects that have been completed in the library at Northern Parkway Elementary School:
 * 1st graders learned about series and read several books from the __Gossie and Friends__ series with a friend. Lifelong readers learn authors so they can find more books by that author.
 * 2nd graders explored magazines and shared the information they read about with a friend. Lifelong readers share information.
 * 3rd graders read the book __Chicken Thief__ by Beatrice Rodriguez and wrote book reviews. Lifelong readers read book reviews to find out if they want to read a book.
 * 4th grade read __Fourth Grade Rats__ by Jerry Spinelli. Lifelong readers may enjoy reading books in which they can see themselves depicted.
 * 5th grade used graphic novels to explore the genre of folktales, fairytales and tall tales. Lifelong readers explore different styles of text.