The Centered School Library

by Cari S. Young

Engaging Every Learner with Library Skills Centers--Is your school library a centered school library? Many educators agree that learning centers provide an effective forum for students to explore, create and express themselves. Centers can also teach and reinforce important skills, but in a manner that empowers students by letting them control the pace. The Centered School Library invites you to tap the power of this educational approach with 12 unique, adaptable and cost-friendly learning center ideas that will help your students on their way to becoming enthusiastic and savvy library patrons. Do you have budding book reviewers or guide word gurus in your midst? What about potential shelving experts or Name That Genre contestants? With The Centered School Library, you’ll find ways to make your library — and every learner in it — shine!

Genres: Professional Development

58 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK. In all fairness I do know the author ... BUT that just makes me more excited to implement some of the ideas in this book. I've seen that they work (and heard through the district grapevine :]).

Like a lot of Upstart books many of the pages are reproducibles that I won't end up using. That's OK. I retype or tweak things to work in my situation. Or one idea from the book sparks another.

I just ordered some of these little recorders to set up at some of the stations.

She suggests some ideas like ABC order, some genre, some book review or book wish list, etc as well as offers some ideas on other ones like book related puzzles.

It's pretty simple but I think my favorite part of it was just the planning page. Helped m e wrap my head around the whole thing.

Make sure to check out her blog.

[Amy Bearce · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new librarian, this book gave me many great ideas to work with and kept me from feeling so overwhelmed when I began my job mid-November. A great resource to have!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many great ideas in this book. It has changed my way of thinking about the elementary school library. I just wish the book came with extra time to implement all the wonderful learning activities!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really great ideas... Just hate to have to 'print' so much. It does make you rethink a regular school library and think about how to do things differently.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good resource for a beginning teacher librarian looking to showcase their library as the true curriculum supportive environment that it is.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of the ideas in this book and plan to incorporate them this year in my library.