District 61 Librarian Sparks Students’ Interest in Reading

There’s no question about it, Diane Nelson is one busy librarian! “I oversee the library collection at all three district schools”, says Nelson, who is completing her second year in District 61. Nelson has spent the past two years transforming the district’s libraries into interactive learning zones that have peaked students’ interests. Students have been able to interact not only with literature, but also with hands on projects related to Nelson’s library themes. So far, students have been able to use real chopsticks to pick up dry rice and beans, group books by Dewey decimal number, sort a variety of felt gingerbread characters, and touch and sort reproduced dinosaur skulls, fossils, and shark teeth! 

This year, Nelson is working hard on promoting the State of Illinois award lists with the students in the district. She is reading Monarch Award books, Bluestem Award books, and Rebecca Caudill Award books. At each of the three district schools, Nelson has been designing lessons for students around different genres, informational text skills, in-depth author studies, and content-specific subject matter. Mark DeLay School was buzzing in November with talk of who would be voted the library mascot for the school year. After students voted in a mock election, Pete the Cat came out on top! The second graders at Mark DeLay school enjoyed a unit on dinosaurs, during which Nelson transformed the library into her own version of Jurassic Park. She displayed dinosaur books, blow up dinosaur models, and plants that took students into a living diorama. Currently, the library is displaying solar system books, complete with a hanging model of the planets, flying space shuttles, a rocket, and even some floating astronauts.  Needless to say, solar system books are being checked out at the rate of light speed!

Nelson also spends time sponsoring after-school clubs during the week. “I teach an after school learning class on Mondays, and have had three of four Monarch Award book clubs. I [also] co-taught the “Lego Club” with first grade teacher, Gail Stocchero.” Due to a high number of sign ups for “Lego Club” and much pleading from students, Nelson will have one more session at the end of the year! Her after-school students had the chance to learn about the travels of Amelia Earhart, and made large-scale maps of her final route. Her second graders created dinosaurs made from beans and created their own dinosaur fossils, which they transformed into creative necklaces. 

When asked about her favorite books to read or recommend at each grade level building, Nelson responded, “[For primary], Chopsticks, by Amy Krause Rosenthal. It’s about a set of chopsticks who learn they can go off into the world and do things alone, yet still be best friends and spend time together. [For elementary], any Andrew Clements book. He writes stories about every day students that appeal to a wide variety of readers. His books have universal appeal, and students can make connections to the characters. [For junior high], Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. It is an impactful, award-winning book about a girl who was born with cerebral palsy and is very intelligent but is trapped in a body that prevents her from talking, walking, or writing. She struggles with extreme frustration in trying to communicate with others.” 

Also this year, Nelson has been extremely successful in applying for and receiving grants to further the library collections in the district. She received a set of 20 Monarch Award books, a $1,200 grant from the State of Illinois Library, a $1,000 grant for STEM books from the Regional Office of Education, $6,000 of multicultural books, and she is currently waiting to hear about a $5,000 grant for STEM books connected to the new Common Core State Standards. Most recently, she was awarded a week-long class on using primary resources at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., which she will attend this summer. “We have been able to purchase a wide variety of materials for all three libraries that appeal to all learners and that support the curriculum”, says Nelson. It is clear that she loves her job, saying, “The best thing about working in District 61 is the fantastic students and teachers. I love sharing the fun of reading with my students and seeing them shine, grow, and be proud of learning.”