SOLC 2014 Day Nineteen: Rockin' the Book Nook

The library schedule has been wonky this week due to two days of testing and an early release day, so I've been feeling a little discombobulated as I try to make good use of the time in my office to get some much needed tasks done.  To minimize the chaos, we're just doing checkout with grades one through five, no library lessons.

I like being out on the library "floor", interacting with the students and teachers, booktalking, teaching library and information literacy skills.  I feel disconnected and antisocial when I'm hunkered down in my office while classes are in the library checking out books.  On the other hand, I am eliminating some of the snowdrifts and sticky notes on my desk, which alleviates a lot of job anxiety.

Another stress-reducer?  Storytime.  Our kindergarteners are used to hearing a story in the Book Nook every week, and I just couldn't let them down, even with all the wonkiness.  I usually choose books from the Texas 2x2 and our district Armadillo lists, but I didn't have the book I wanted (it's now on it's way--one more sticky note gone).  So I read another by the same author:

After a brief exploration of sound words and learning the term "onomatopoeia" (yes, they giggled at the second-to-last syllable), we dove into the book--and the most wonderful thing happened.  The students automatically repeated the three sound words at the end of each stanza, mimicking my inflection and continuing the rhythm of the lines.   We were in a groove by the third page, this back-and-forth conversation telling the story of building a road.  We were having so much fun, I was a little sad when the road was completed and the book ended. 

This has to be how a rock star feels when the audience sings along.