Dot Day in the High School

When I was a teacher in LIFE k-5 I began celebrating Dot Day. 

International Dot Day happens every year around September 15th ish. It is to celebrate the book The Dot by Peter Reynolds.  It is all about making your mark and seeing where it takes you. 

You can find SO many ideas by just looking up #dotday #internationaldotday #makeyourmark

Check out the International Dot Day website  Check out this list of events as well that includes a Global Webcast on September 16th---->LINK

I am continuing my Tales and Tide read aloud program this year at our indoor pool. The theme this weekend was The Dot.. It was our first weekend to move indoors from this summer- so I didn't have an participants- BUT Dot Day is September 15th ISH.. so I will have this same storytime at my next one at the end of this month1

I have to admit- my most favorite thing I did was a couple of years ago when I collaborated with my art teacher and we combined Dot Day with Hispanic Heritage Month and created Alebrijes

This year I was scrolling the various social media pages and I found a great idea from Deb Zeman and shared a couple of great ideas that I am totally stealing.

Here are her links- Both of these are created in Adobe Express
-Dot Day Collage
-Her signage

Reminder background on my campus:
-Comprehensive High School 9-12
-2500+ students

The Plan:
-Read The Dot by Peter Reynolds before school on Monday the 15th
-Have the collaborative mosiac (I created in Canva- see below)
-Have a Bookmark station

Pretty low key passive programming for this.

If you want the Canva poster- you can find it here----->LINK

Dot Day by akbusybee

I don't know how many will participate- but you never know who might be interested in playing (or need the space!)

Other programs coming up:

-Literary Mums

-Parent book club

-I am going to start a walking audiobook club

This next month I am also flexible floating a ton! I can't wait for all the adventures!  

What programs do you have coming up? How do you celebrate Dot Day?

Adventures in LibraryLand!

I am now a couple of weeks into my second year of libraryland, and I love it even more every day! I still have a TON to learn, but I feel so much more confident in what I am doing.  I am also in the last semester of grad school.. y'all I graduate in just a few months and OMG there is so much to do (like do my practicum, finish a portfolio, take a test, complete my last elective and about 100 other things too!)

But, I wanted to overload you with pictures of what is going on in the Elliott Library.
Our first day of school was the day of the Solar Eclipse.  I invited teachers to come and make a solar eclipse cookie.  I also had a place where they could drop their name in a drawing for a gift card to our next book fair and invited them to help me a make a eclipse playlist! (you can find the playlist here)

Lesson area for the younger grades. Still working on how this one is set up. (but isn't the library always a work in progress)

Everybody books.  The cart is for browsing for new books.

Amazing display that Mrs. Gamez made!

New computer set up! I will invite classes to bring chromebooks with them so we can have large group lessons.

Directions on expectations for placing holds.

Coming into the library (that large space.. it is going to be an I SPY board this month.. I am going to have the 18 plus program work on it!)

This is the check in station.  I have so many better ideas of procedures and organization this year. Don't worry, the empty bookshelf behind is totally full!

New Shelfie station

I love all the new letters and signage!

We just had a Bluebonnet Tasting.  

Did I mention how much I love my new signage!

When checking out, I created a stop sign to remind students where to stop so it doesn't stop traffic.  This is for kinders, but I have another one that is closer to the circulation desk to remind the 1st-5th graders.

Booksmarks! Students can have one per visit.  To keep count of kiddos, after they check out their books they drop a bead into the check out bucket.  If they came before, after or at another time other than the scheduled library time they drop a bead in that one.  I have library helpers count daily.

I have really good ears, but I tend to startle people when I come out of the office, backroom or pop up from behind a shelf from shelving.  This is a doorbell that I pull out if I am not right at the circulation desk. The teachers have appreciated it

I loved reading I Will Not Eat you from the 2x2 list.  The LIFE students made these dragons to go with it.

Dot Day is next week! This year Mrs. R (our AMAZING Art teacher) had the idea to make Dot Day headbands (last year we did shoes, but we have done shirts and scarves before too) I LOVE how they turned out! We invited staff down to make their own.

My finished headaband

I need to get back to homework, but wanted to share where the Elliott library was right now.  More blogs coming soon! What changes have you made to your library this year?  How do you stay organized? What are you doing for Dot Day?

Ohhh!! So, I am feeling more comfortable doing what I am doing and I have decided to make my kinder lessons more interactive.  I started last week with using a song from Jbrary (their stuff is wonderful!) One of my favorite things to do with Girl Scouts is sing songs.. so I am going to start adding in music.. AND.. guess what.. I am going to get a ukulele this week!