Kindergarten Library Buddies
Hi, friends! This library buddies post is written by Susan Hanlon, one of the school librarians who helps with our Learning Librarians Facebook group. She shared this great idea in the group and was generous enough to write this blog post, explaining the details.
Kindergarten Library Buddies
Do you ever feel like you need an extra hand in the library? That’s often the case when it comes to managing kindergarten library classes! They are so new to everything school related and filled with excitement…especially when it comes to choosing their own library book to take home! Here’s a great way to ease the stress of kindergarteners using shelf markers for the first time and building a positive school culture through a “big buddy” program.
The Best Idea I’ve Had
Out of necessity due to lack of help during my 45 minute library class with kindergarten, the idea of using my 5th graders as helpers was born!
Here’s some background… My library schedule is a fixed schedule of 45 minute classes for grades K-5 on a 4 day cycle. At the beginning of the school year, I spend about the first month of school on book care with kindergarten.
When they are prepared to check out their first book, I continue each week by rotating through the alphabetical shelves of picture books (Everybody Street, as we call it). The first week, I choose a selection of books from the “A” shelf and display them on tables for the students to choose from. The second week, it’s the “B” shelf and so on.
During each week’s read aloud, sometimes I choose a book to read from that shelf. I emphasize the author’s name and how it correlates to the spine label. Or I just take a moment to point this out on the book I’ve chosen to read.
It usually takes from October to April for us to get through all the shelves. Sometimes, we do a few shelves at once if there’s not a big selection (for example E/F, O/P, X/Y/Z). We might spend 2 weeks on a shelf with a big selection (for example, M, S, T). All the while, it’s a build up of excitement for making our way to the “Z” shelf. THAT’s when something BIG happens….
How to Use a Shelf Marker
A few weeks before we get to the anticipated “Z” shelf, I start explaining, demonstrating and giving the students practice time with shelf markers in small groups. I use the solid colored plastic shelf markers from Demco. Students also learn the “3 Rules of Shelf Markers”:
- Keep it flat (no bending!)
- Keep it to myself (no sword action!)
- Keep it quiet (no running it along the spines of the books or leg slapping!)
Even though I spend a considerable amount of time preparing and practicing, releasing them to the shelves on their own is a scary thing to think about! That’s where the “big buddies” come in!
Library Buddies Begin
Since 5th grade is the oldest at my school, I choose them to be buddies during book selection time. However, everyone knows their own students best and you know who can help. I’d honestly be ok having my students in 2nd grade and up being helpers. They love the opportunity to be helpers and it also give them extra practice, too!
To keep it a simplified schedule, student helpers come to help on the same day their own class has library. It seemed easy for them to remember the day their class comes to the library is the same day they help. Ideally, I wanted at least 4 helpers but have had up to 8 because I hate to turn down a student who wants to help.
To kick off the kindergarten Library Buddy Program, I spoke with each 5th grade teacher to explain what I wanted. I assured them there was nothing extra they had to do other than encourage their students to be the best helper they can be. It’s the students’ responsibility to know when to come, not their teacher to remind them.
Next, I spoke to each 5th grade class to explain the program and get them excited as well as make the expectations clear. I asked the students to come back to me by the end of the next day to respond if they’d like to help. Honestly, every student that wanted to help talked to me by the end of their class to volunteer! Fortunately, my schedule works out that 5th grade recess is during my kindergarten class. This doesn’t always work out so perfectly so being flexible and creative is important. For example, maybe another grade gets to help because their recess is during kindergarten’s library class? Most importantly, the 5th graders do not miss any academic time!
When the 5th graders come in, I am usually wrapping up a group read aloud or activity. The kindergarten students may be working at centers or finishing a story response activity. I randomly pair up a 5th grade buddy with a kindergarten student. They help them find books on Everybody Street they might like, and they assist with using a shelf marker until they find a book they like to check out. Then, I pair the 5th grader with another kindergarten student until they all have a turn. If they finish helping before the class is over, the 5th graders can choose to head out to recess for a few minutes or stay and hang out. Most chose to stay, joining in the activity or reading to a kindergartener.
I did make clear to the 5th graders that this is a commitment. If they said they wanted to help, I was going to depend on them to be there. Since this occurs in the spring, it’s often rainy and that means indoor recess. If it suddenly is a sunny day, they can’t decide to go outside instead. This wasn’t really a big issue. Out of about 24 helpers, maybe 1 or 2 didn’t show up regularly.
Win-Win
It’s a positive experience all around… older students love to help (and are willing to give up their recess once per cycle for a few weeks). Younger students get the help they need to be successful. Not to mention, their librarian gets a few extra hands during a busy time.
It’s amazing to step back and watch students take ownership of their library and making me one proud librarian! Give it a try! I’m sure you’ll find the excitement of your students to work together as a welcome experience to your library program!
You can stay connected to Susan through her Northwestern Elementary Library Facebook page and her Instagram nwelibrary.
Again, THANK YOU, SUSAN, for taking the time to share your great idea! If you have questions about the library buddy program, the best place to ask them is in our Learning Librarians Facebook group! If you’d like new library ideas delivered to your inbox twice a month, sign up for the Library Learners Journal!
