Getting Back At It

After three weeks back in school, I think we've finally settled into a routine and I've been able to catch up on a lot of projects.

Here's a quick catch up of what's been going on...

A few days before school started I was able to get my shelf markers finished.

It took longer than I thought to duct tape wrap 40 paint stirrers, but here are some tips I learned along the way in case you want to duct tape wrap your shelf markers, too.

It takes about 8 strips to cover the entire length, not counting the strips for the ends.

So far the tape is not sticking to the books. That was my big fear.  I thought I might use some Mod Podge to cover the tape if that ever happens, but so far, so good.

I created a new wallpaper for the iPads to go with the "Get Wild About Reading" theme and loaded them.  Making sure the iPads are completely updated and charged is next on the list.

I also was able to get some library centers up and running.

Source

I am trying to get a bit more serious about library centers this year.  I am looking to Cari Young of the Centered School Library blog and author of The Centered School Library for great ideas.

Source

  I also found some good ideas in this book which I purchased on Amazon.

I found some fun Styrofoam cups at Walmart and used a dry erase marker to write the last name of some popular authors.  Students stack the cups in towers in ABC order and then use the answer envelope to check their answers.

Since it's the beginning of the year, I thought it would be a good idea to put this center out for students to review good book care rules.  There are a couple of different versions that can be played based on grade level. I have one version that is matching picture to picture and one version matching picture to words.

This is already a popular center.  Students love being able to decorate their own bookmark.  I just put out some strips of paper that I had trimmed from another project and was just going to throw away. But the strips were the perfect size for a bookmark, so I decided to put them at this center along with markers, crayons, colored pencils and stickers.  The students love it!

I had a few puzzles in the back that I've not ever put out, so I thought I break those out this year.  Second graders seem to really like this center.

I purchased magnetic Scrabble pieces on Amazon and a metal cookie sheet from Walmart to make this center.  I hope students will make words based on the information literacy skill (ILS) we will be studying each month. It doesn't show in the picture, but I also have recording sheets for students to write the words they create so that they can turn them in.  I plan to give a small prize to the student who comes up with the most words that go with our ILS of the month.

And because I had been working so hard, I rewarded myself with some fun Cafe Press items.  Now my ride and my wardrobe is stylin'!  =)

And since you stuck with me through this whole post and are still a loyal reader even though I haven't blogged in forever...here's a freebie for you.  It's all the center signs featured in this post as well as a few of the "extras" needed to set up the centers.  Hope you enjoy!

What are some of your favorite library centers?

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