Deep Thinking

I usually begin the year reading Officer Buckle and Gloria to first graders. Great chance to talk about safety, award winning books, library rules, etc. This year they all get to admire the 3 inch bruise on my arm from my fall last week. I didn’t want to show them any of the other bruises! I had dashed in to the library for just 20 minutes when I noticed one piece of vinery had fallen from the ceiling near the window. I had left the ladder there, but someone had moved it, so rather than hunt it down, I simply slid the table closer and hopped up. While adjusting that, I notice one a little further was loose also and I stretched to fix it. …. Yes, the table tipped and catapulted me towards the window. I quickly realized that I didn’t want to go through the window so I tried me best Spiderman imitation trying to cling to concrete blocks. It seems that is a superpower that I haven’t inherited, so I ended up dropping down and slamming into the concrete ledge before landing on my back with one leg caught in the air and the other twisted under. Right after me, my cell phone landed right beside me. I lay on the ground thinking to myself:
…I hope no one was looking out the courtyard windows and saw that.
…I hope my legs aren’t broken because I’m supposed to drive over to get my husband lunch.
…Thank goodness the phone is here so I can call for help.
…I wonder if I lay here long enough and anyone did see it, they’ll think they were imagining things.

When I did finally get up, I was able to find and slide back on my feet my high heeled sandals and hobble out the door. I had deep scratches from the concrete on one arm and big bruises on the other. I ended up trying to elevate and ice my leg for 3 days, but nothing was broken! Yippee! What a great start to the year! I believe many teachers have warned their students about proper safety and suggested that they just look at my arm to see what can happen when they don’t do what they are supposed to do.

Imagine two classes being in the library for the first time this school year during our first fire drill. One is a fourth grade class with an experienced teacher. Another is a kindergarten class with a fairly new teacher. The kdg’s are touring looking for their runaway Gingerbread cookies when the principal announces we will have a “practice fire drill.” He explains there will be a loud noise and they must listen to their teacher’s directions.

I immediately translate what’s going to happen and who’s going to do what. Fourth graders are to line up at the far door with their teacher leading them out. They will be the leaders and model what to do during a drill. Kdg’s will follow them without running or talking. I will follow so I can close all the doors.

Fourth graders main concern: Do we have to leave behind our library books that we just checked out? No, I reassure them. If they are already in your hands, I expect you to simply go quickly to the door. Simple answer. Fire drill begins. Kdgs immediately throw their hands over their hears and hunker down. Kdg teacher and I get them to take down their hands so they can listen for directions and file out the door behind the 4th graders.

After the drill is over, the principal tells me this was the most remarkable drill ever. Here came all these fourth graders down the hallway still reading their library books during a fire drill. When I told him about their question, he said, “I wouldn’t want them to leave their books behind. I’d want them to grab 2 or 3 more on their way out.” What a great school to work in. I love my principal’s attitude.

Last week teachers went back to work. Hah! Actually I should say that last week teachers were actually paid for the days they continued to work as they readied for the school year. I spent many extra hours at school preparing my library, helping teachers, listening, and UNLOCKING the door on the weekends. It seems having a key to the building helps build more ties with the faculty. This can be both good and bad. I updated my CPR training with AED, epi pens and more so I could be the sole person certified by the American Heart Association in my building. I attended faculty meetings and divisional meetings. I modeled putting a positive spin on many “possibly negative” situations with teachers.

Still, what made me actually happy to be back in school was the first day when the students came. Their enthusiasm was the shot in the arm I needed. It has continued to build all week. More and more students are thrilled with checking out books as they gradually all come to the library. Those who haven’t come, catch me in the hall to say they can’t wait. Some have slipped in to see their teachers aren’t bringing them until Monday and act as if they are starving.

Tonight we had Open House. Since most parents walked their children in to meet the teachers just 3 days ago, we didn’t have the 100% turnout that we did last year when we also held simultaneously the Chili Supper/BookFair/Open House. Still, I was so touched at the number of parents that came into the library. I love how they come in. Some are literally being drug in by their children. Some take one step in the door and pause as if they can take it all in. Other stride in to the middle and stand arms akimbo. Tonight everyone took an extra step in to check out our rain forest for the bookfair (arriving in 3 weeks) and see how it had developed. Since I live with four teen boys, my rainforest includes bugs, snakes, pretend deadly vines, swinging battery-operated birds, etc. There are some pretty butterflies, flowers, and vines, but the good stuff is the nasty stuff. Lots of parents volunteered. YES!

One new-to-our-school parent came in to tell me how thrilled her daughter was with the two big chapter books she brought home. Another parent questioned whether the Goosebumps book her second grader brought in was appropriate. I was so elated to tell her that my principal supported me in allowing students to choose any book they wanted this year. Teachers are not allowed to forbid students from reading books the teachers believe are too hard nor too easy to read. They can guide choices, but this is the year of free choice for at least one of every two books taken at a time.

I explained to the mother how her daughter chose the Goosebump book because many in her class had done so, also. We were able to talk about peer pressure and development of self-awareness in book selection. We talked about the importance of reading together at home and discussing books. I encouraged the mother to come by some time to also choose a book to read together at home. And, I reassured her that her daughter’s choice on Monday will be far different than her first choice today. 15 years of experience lends me a little credence. We were even able to laugh at the trend of students to walk around carrying the heaviest book, largest book, and highest AR points book they could find. Those same students race back to get a more appropriate choice as soon as their friends are not with them.

I was even able to reassure two Kdg and 1st grade parents that they didn’t have to read every word of the huge nonfiction book that came home. Instead, they could open dialogue and ask what about that book intrigued their child the most (Why did you choose this one?) and set boundaries for reading that night (Let’s choose one chapter to read tonight). We talked about the importance of reading the captions under pictures when a child may have chosen the book simply for one or two pictures. This is also reading and vitally important. Think about how you read magazines. Since our students can come to the library every single day (starting Monday), they can quickly learn how to make better choices and their parents can relax. I love parents of Kdg and 1st graders.

This is the kind of medicine I like to take.