#elementary librarian

[redowlkitchen]

Shout out to the kid who walked up to me in library today and told me with utmost seriousness, "Ken's job is just beach," before continuing on his way.

That kid wins library today.

[acesartemis]

ain't it great when a student is mad at you bc they misplaced their library books?

[windycitylibrarian]

Nine years ago, I started at my current school and I volunteered to run a Battle of the Books team. My principal made some excuses about why he doesn’t want to do it, blah, blah, blah.

Two years ago, I find out that we’re going to have, not one, but TWO teams at my school and they will be run by classroom teachers.

This year, however, neither teacher can do it and nobody else was volunteering, so I offered. BUT, because my admin is the way that he is and is more of a verbal library supporter, he told me that other teachers had already volunteered and that the former coach was going to be helping support them.

Fine.

But, when the former coach and the younger team’s coach heard that I had offered, they both came and asked if I would take over completely. It turns out that they had both agreed only because they felt bad for the students and wanted to give them the opportunity, even though both teachers have A LOT on their plates this year (which is why I was surprised they had volunteered in the first place).

Anyway, I’m coaching the younger kids and there are enough of them that I may need to split them into several teams, as long as they all show up to our practices. Right now, though, they’re just working on reading their books and taking their notes and I’m just so pleased with how serious they all are. More than that, though, I love seeing kids read and I’m astonished at their reading stamina. They can literally sit and read for 45 minutes without moving from their positions. I even had to tell them to get up and walk around a bit to get their blood pumping.

[redowlkitchen]

I asked my students to give me examples of bookmarks so bad that they would make me (the librarian) cry. Here are the highlights.

A stinky shoe

A chicken nugget

An actual chicken

Pizza

A used tissue

Just sneezing on the page

[The student’s] baby sister

The sneeze was my favorite. When I asked the student how a sneeze would even mark the page, they calmly pointed out that when you closed the book, the boogers would stick the pages together. You’d know which page you were on because it would be one of the ones you had to peel apart to read.

A chicken nugget was literally suggested in every single class I asked for bad bookmark examples. That’s 12 classes. When asked for a bookmark so bad they could make a librarian cry, twelve students individually decided that chicken nugget was the best answer. The sneeze may be my favorite, but collectively, chicken nugget x 12 is definitely the answer that came closest to making me cry (from laughter).

[redowlkitchen]

Shout out to the child who came to school (and thus library) dressed in an Ash Ketchum cosplay today--hat, vest, gloves, everything. It was flawless.

I complemented them on their outfit and was rewarded with the A+ information that it’s part of a family Halloween costume set. Their baby sister will be Pikachu and their mom is bringing them trick or treating as Snorlax. Excellent.

[redowlkitchen]

Today, a student came into the library during one of my collection management periods. They asked if they could take a magazine out of the library. I said sorry, no, the magazines have to stay in the library, but they could check out a book and take that.

They grabbed a copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. While I was checking it out to them, they said, “You know, kids don’t actually read this series. They just look at the pictures.”

This student likes to push boundaries and get reactions. It was pretty clear they were expecting me to tell them they were wrong* or maybe get offended that they wouldn’t actually read the book. Instead, I replied, “Awesome. I’m glad people are finding a way to enjoy the book.”

The student stared at me for a minute, then nodded and went, “Yeah,” before leaving.

Who says you have to read a book to enjoy it? Jeff Kinney works hard on those illustrations. I’m sure he’d be happy to hear kids are checking out his books to look at them.

* This student might only look at the pictures (which is cool!), but I know other kids really enjoy the series for the story. I know this because about two weeks ago, I mortally offended a fourth grader by telling them the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid wasn’t the sort of book that would be considered for a Newbery award.

[redowlkitchen]

Today, a preschooler looked me straight in the eyes and said very seriously, “Three is the number of death.”

Then they walked away.

[redowlkitchen]

Witchcraft in the Library

Me: *coming to check on a gaggle of students in the corner of the library* Hi everyone. Remember, we use browsing time to look for new books or read a book we’ve chosen.

Fourth grader: That’s what we’re doing! We chose this book and now we’re reading it to summon the spirits.