Passionate Readers Book Study

From the desk of Laura Kelly… 

This past summer, fifteen librarians and educators from around the state participated in a book study facilitated by Alissa Adams, School Library Technology Coordinator at the SD State Library.

The book? Passionate Readers: The Art of Reaching Engaging Every Child by Pernille Ripp.

Read more about my experience taking the course at Alissa's blog http://schoollibrarysdsl.blogspot.com/.

Alissa and I are partnering to run this book study once again in 2021. Note: This course is not limited to school librarians.

"Creating learning communities where students are passionate about reading requires many things- a great classroom library, time to read, choice, and also the courage to break some of the rules that surround traditional reading instruction."
-Pernille Ripp

Passionate Readers: The Art of Reaching and Engaging Every Child By Pernille Ripp
ISBN 9781138958647 | Published 2017 by Routledge

Enhancements to Miss Humblebee’s Academy

SDSL is excited to announce recent and future enhancements to Miss Humblebee's Academy to empower young students in their learning journey towards kindergarten readiness, support online/offline learning and curriculum guidance.

What is new?

• Learning Path Classroom Menu Option: New classroom menu item to visualize and follow lessons along a sequential learning path. Additional classroom option to select a lesson is still available.
• Button to expand and collapse classroom menu options to enhance mobile responsiveness.
• Offline STEAM curriculum: Offline Curriculum based on Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. These hands-on activities reinforce current lessons focused on development milestones and kindergarten readiness while supporting recommended limits on screen time.
• Printable Parent Resources: Core planners and schedules such as learning schedules, reading charts, curriculum lists and planners are available as printable resources.
• eBook Updates: In addition to read aloud options, eBooks have been expanded to include prediction and comprehension questions. New options to retell the eBook is also available as an offline printable with words or with pictures.
• New lessons focused on Math, Language and Literary (ongoing updates throughout the remainder of the year).

What is coming up?

• New eBooks: New series of World Changer non-fiction books based on children and adults that have had a positive impact on the world. A total of 20 titles will be added on a bi-weekly basis beginning with an eBook focused on Civil Rights Pioneer Ruby Bridges in the library this week.
• Interactive Kindergarten Readiness Checklist and Development Milestones: Parents can enter information into online spreadsheet and store/track progress in their student dashboard instead of printing and storing readiness materials offline.

Questions? Contact Kim.Bonen@state.sd.us

Sturgis Public Library Awarded $18,000 in Disaster Fund Grants

The Sturgis Public Library is pleased to announce that the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, John T. Vucurevich Foundation, and the United Way of the Black Hills have each awarded $6,000 to the Sturgis Public Library in the form of Disaster Fund Grants. Totaling $18,000, the grants will be used to support the library's efforts to assist those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. 

The Public Library worked with the Meade 46-1 School Librarians, Scottie Bruch (Middle & High Schools) and Heidi Kruse (Elementary Schools) to identify areas of need. The result of that collaborative effort is portable Wi-Fi hotspots and the expansion of the public library's digital eBook and audiobook Overdrive collections for school-age students. 

"As our schools moved to remote learning last spring, it became apparent that a segment of our students did not have access to the internet at home. The school district worked to connect those students, but it remains a struggle for many in our community. These hot spots will allow families to connect should we move to distance learning again in the coming year," said Kruse. "Additionally, many students and families did not have adequate access to level appropriate books. This new collection will help to fill that gap." 

"We know that there is the probability of some students being homeschooled this fall and also the possibility that all of our students could be moved to a hybrid or virtual learning environment at some point during the school year," said Bruch. "We are grateful they will have access to quality content even when they can't physically access our school libraries." 

These resources will be available to the whole community, not just students. "Like the schools, our public library services continue to be limited because of the pandemic. We know there are many in our community that will benefit from these hot spots beyond the students," explained Julie Moore Peterson, Head Librarian of the Sturgis Public Library. "We are thrilled to offer this new opportunity in a time of such need." The public library is in the process of purchasing 10 Wifi Hotspots for patron use, and new digital content is already available.