2.    Broadening Knowledge: Using a library is a new skill for many preschoolers and kindergartners and their parents. We send a letter home at the beginning of the year to help families understand the responsibilities that go along with borrowed books. To ease them into the order and systems of the library we Color Code the Library sections:   (We concentrate on red, blue, and yellow for kindergarten)             

Red	Blue	Yellow	Green	Black	White	Purple	Pink
Primary Nonfiction	Primary Fiction	Picture Books	Nonfiction	Biography	Reference	Periodicals	Fiction
PN 000-999	PF A-Z by author	E A-Z by author	000-999	B A-Z by subject	REF 000-999	PER A-Z by title	F A-Z by author

3.    Creating Independent Learners: It isn't any secret why students achieve more when they have a library (well-stocked and well-staffed) in their schools. Frequent Independent Check Out provides children with time and opportunity to explore and deepen their interests.

4.    Developing Literacy: Taking time to read aloud to our youngest students every day is a big challenge, but we do it and love it. It gives us time to introduce children to classics, authors, areas of the library, topics to explore, alphabet books, favorite books, fiction, nonfiction, picture books, reading books and more. We plan it out for the year, but are not rigid about sticking to our plan every day if something else comes up. This year we will base our program on the books on Illinois'  Monarch Award Nomination List.

5.    Linking Technology with Knowledge Development: Children in small groups, learn names and classifications of animals, match pictures with replica animals, and match pictures with pictures online.

 

Alphabet Letters