We’ve been very busy learning in the library!
In early January, members of my 4th grade Technology Rocks Information Literacy group were treated to a video chat via Google Hangout with author Chris Grabenstein – author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – we had a wonderful visit with him, and am so very thankful of his patience and flexibility while I frantically tried to fix our technology issues – we could see and hear him on our Promethean board, but he could neither hear or see us! In his typical good-natured way, he offered his phone number so that we could speak to him via cell phone.
Just for fun, we celebrated Rubber Duck Day on January 13th and learned about the meaning of friendship.
Students learned about Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and importance of the Civil Rights movement. Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” In honor of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. National Day of Service, Flower Hill students decorated 288 Valentine’s Day cards that were to be distributed to wounded soldiers at Walter Reid Hospital by 
volunteers of Operation Second Chance. 
My students also created four thank you posters that I delivered to the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department. The firefighter second from the left, Charles Fowler, was especially pleased
with our gift as he has been a volunteer firefighter for 47 years!
Dr. King is well known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, and I posed the question to staff and students …. “What is your dream for the future?” on an interactive bulletin board. Some of their sweet and thoughtful dreams are here:
In February, in addition to our regular lessons and work on inquiry projects, students also learned about many black history makers in celebration of Black History Month. Every morning during the announcements, we spotlighted an important person, and students were encouraged to come down to the library to learn more about them by checking
out a book, researching on our databases, or completing one of the activities at our library learning center. I have also had a display of books by Jacqueline Woodson, and students have been reading many of her thought-provoking books.
March promises to be another exciting month in the library. Lots of learning, research, and creativity – including a week-long celebration of World Read Aloud Day where my students will be connecting with other classrooms around the United States to share information about each other’s state and read aloud to one another. For more information about World Read Aloud Day, please visit www.litworld.org/wrad. My students and I are looking forward to connecting with schools in Vermont, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas!
Dr. Seuss’ birthday is March 2, and his birthday is celebrated with Read Across America Day, sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA). Maryland offers Read Across Maryland, and students are encouraged to take the Radical Reader’s Pledge to read 30 minutes each day for 30 days. For information about Read Across Maryland, please visit the website here: http://www.readacrossmaryland.org/read-30-30/.
…and let’s not forget Pi(e) Day on March 14 – who says you can’t have fun with math in the library?!
The Creative Librarian 