Happy October, Kissel Hill families! Your students have been working hard and learning a lot in the library. Kindergarten is already on the letter D in our Alphabet of Authors. First grade is learning the difference between fiction and nonfiction through reading and identifying elements of both. Second and third grades are both studying genre through read-alouds and discussion. Third grade finally finished Zeke Meeks vs. the Super Stressful Talent Show... the suspense was driving many kiddos crazy! They were relieved to hear how the story ended. Fourth, fifth, and sixth grades have all been getting practice using the library's online catalog. We have been completing scavenger hunts, filling out CAT Cards, and practicing keyword searches. With this knowledge, they will be able to search and locate books independently, even from home! Of course, our wonderful library assistant and I are always available to help them as well. This week, all ages are being encouraged to check out this year's Fall Fest on Friday, October 26. All of the information went out in an email on Friday 10/12, but it is posted here as well. Activities will include the Scholastic Book Fair and a showing of Peter Rabbit in the gym. Thank you to our PTO for organizing this event! We hope you will be able to join us for an evening of family fun!
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Welcome back, Kissel Hill Community! Somehow, we're already several weeks into the new year--we are rocking and rolling in the library! In our first weeks back, returning students have proven their knowledge of the library by labeling maps of the space. They now know where they can find all the library has to offer, including magazines, biographies, graphic novels, and more! Younger kiddos have been learning the best tips and tricks for keeping their library books in good shape and the difference between authors and illustrators. Kindergarten has begun working their way through the alphabet of authors. Starting with books written by authors whose last name starts with "A," we read our way around the library and learn where to find all sorts of different books. Second and third grade are focused on genres, enjoying read alouds this week. Third grade has been learning about realistic fiction through D.L. Green's Zeke Meeks, and second grade has already covered fairy tales and mysteries! Grades 4-6 participated in a Newbery Book Tasting, where they got to get up close and personal with Newbery Medal winners from the last 15 years. We're now reviewing their knowledge of the online catalog, and 6th graders are getting an introduction to Banned Book Week. It has been an exciting time at Kissel Hill as the new school year unfolds. I look forward to the months ahead with your amazing students!
It seems hard to believe, but summer is quickly coming to a close! I've been busy getting the library ready for Kissel Hill's eager learners and am so looking forward to the school year ahead. A bunch of new books arrived while you were away, and they can't wait to be read! I hope you're just as excited! Enjoy these last few weeks of summer vacation. I hope you'll tell me all about the many books you read during your time away. 😉 See you in September! What a crazy month it has been! In the blink of an eye, it's nearly over. May is coming to a close, and the school year will soon follow! Sixth grade wrapped up their unit on citations, to their great relief! We are now relaxing with a shelving game and some time for them to work on their last assignments as elementary school students. Fifth grade is learning about heraldry by researching their family history and creating their own coat of arms. In fourth grade, we're continuing to research weather topics before sharing our newfound knowledge with classmates through Google Docs. Third graders are eager to finish and present their long-term animal research projects. They are putting the final photos and effects into their Google Slides presentations before sharing their hard work with their peers. Second grade is working their way through the ten categories in the Dewey Decimal System. They love the Dewey Rap I used to introduce the topic, and have requested to watch it every time they return to the library! This week in first grade, students are planning their dream vacations after taking inspiration from The Pout-Pout Fish. They write a short description of where they would go and what they would do, topped off with a drawing of their trip. After kindergarten finished the Alphabet of Authors (which began at the beginning of the year!), students have enjoyed reading a variety of stories and sharing the skills they have learned in their first year visiting the library. This month at Kissel Hill has been filled with field trips, concerts, and fun. It's been an exciting time to be a Climber! Hello again, Kissel Hill community! Apologies for the gap in updates. As you can imagine, it has been a busy time of year for all of us!
While students were focusing on PSSAs, we kept things simple in the library. Fifth and sixth grade enjoyed read-alouds and discussion. We wrapped up Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen and Crash by Jerry Spinelli, and are on to webquests and citing sources! After studying poetry in April, fourth grade is now in the beginning stages of a research project focusing on different types of storms and weather. We'll be using books and World Book Online to complete our research before composing a Google Doc to share our findings. Third grade has been working on their research skills, too! They're working in pairs to learn about animals before creating a slideshow presentation to share with the class. Second grade has been studying biographies by learning about Helen Keller. We're taking what we learn and completing "mini-reports" to share our knowledge. First grade learned all about teeth by using dictionaries and encyclopedias! We're now moving on to discuss "fractured fairytales," which take classic tales and throw in a fun twist. Kindergarten has been working through the Alphabet of Authors all year, and we're almost done! This week, we're reading books by Jane Yolen and Al Yankovic. The kiddos are anxious to see what we'll do when we make it to the end of the alphabet! On a personal note, it has been such a pleasure to continue getting to know everyone! Thank you to all of you who stopped in to visit the library during Kissel Hill's open house. It was such a fun evening! :) This week in the library, students are recognizing a very important person in the land of literature. Friday, March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' 114th birthday, and schools all across the country are reading his books to celebrate. After hearing one of Seuss' classic stories, classes engage in a fun activity that encourages them to think more deeply about the book and its message. One of the books I'm reading with kindergarten is Green Eggs and Ham. Following the story, students are drawing their favorite foods using their favorite colors. Third-graders are reading Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, which is about students who absolutely love their special school. Our Climbers then shared why they love being a student at Kissel Hill. In fifth grade, we're hoping wishes come true! We're reading The Bippolo Seed, which sprouts a tree that grows whatever you wish for. Everyone got thinking about what they would do if they could wish for anything. It has been a lot of fun to learn about Dr. Seuss and read his wonderful stories!
Hello, students, family, and friends! I'm Miss Kefer, the new librarian at Kissel Hill Elementary. I am thrilled to be joining such an awesome team of Climbers! This blog will typically share what the students and I are working on in the library, but I want to use this first post to introduce myself. Please check out the "About the Library" tab to read a bit about me and the plans I have for students in the months ahead, or you can visit my teacher page here. My first day in the library was Wednesday, Feb. 21. Though it was a short week, it was jam-packed! I knew I would be hitting the ground running starting in the middle of the school year, but having the Scholastic Book Fair this week definitely kicked things up a notch! Fortunately, our awesome library assistant Mrs. McKay has been a huge help in the transition. Everyone has made me feel incredibly welcome, and I loved seeing the kids' excitement over purchasing new books to read. Meeting the students and staff at Kissel Hill has been such a pleasure, and I imagine it will only get better from here. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or comments. You can send me an email at [email protected], or call the library at 717-626-3703, x3859. I look forward to learning alongside all of you in the remainder of the school year! |
Kissel Hill ClimbersThis blog is meant to share what's happening in Kissel Hill Elementary's library with students' family and friends. The site is run by librarian, Miss Beth Kefer. Archives
September 2018
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