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Alta's Multi Media/Center & Library

Cinderella & Conductor Visits Alta during Read-In 1997 1997 Read-In

The Alta library is a "hub" activity with all sorts of curriculum extensions. On display might be 4th grade missions made of sugar cubes, the latest travel buddy's adventures, a letter and photo signed by a famous celebrity encouraging reading. Of course, there are always Mrs. Stricker's bears decked out for the appropriate mood for the month. Right now, they are festively attired for St. Patrick's Day.

The Alta Reader's Club has afterschool "1000 Page Parties" for kids who have read 1000 pages and turned in book reports on those books. There are scavenger hunts where the kids get the principal's autograph, a hand stamp from the kindergarten, and many other items like safety pins from the school nurse, etc. They watch a movie, have snacks and prizes. Each party has about 20 kids. Students also receive recognition at monthly assemblies for pages they have read.

The Accelerated Reader Program has been in the library and each classroom for over 2 years. The number of pages read by our students has doubled due to this program. It is a computerized reading management system, where students take a computerized test about a book they have just read. They get prizes for number of pages read.

S.T.A.R. is also used to access independent reading level and raise comprehension levels. Combined with Accelerated Reader, some students have raised reading levels by 1 year in a single month! The result, piles of books, and an overflowing wagon as the books rotate in and out faster than Mrs. Stricker and her many student volunteers can reshelve them. Students also help with automated check out/check in.

Reading tutors volunteer time to read with students once a week. The library is a favorite place for all to visit, and many teachers spend time selecting resources (whether books or CD-ROMs) to compliment curriculum. It is easy to find every resource for a unit with quick electronic searches.

We have a trivia contest each week where someone wins a poster from the Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine. All of the answers can be found in the library. The first entry picked with all answers correct is the winner. These are sample questions:

1. How old would Abe Lincoln be if he was still alive?

2. Name a book by Beverly Cleary.

3. What is the capital of Arkansas?

The Alta library has a "Library Helper" program for kids in 4th through 6th grade. These kids work for 30 minutes each week at a prearranged time. They shelves books, check books in and out, help younger children with the computers and book selections while learning the library procedures. We select helpers twice a year and have a great pizza party at the end of the year.

Each primary class gets story time each week before they check-out books. "Mr. Books" is a 3 foot bear named who gets to sit with a lucky child during story time each week.

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