Reading, Thinking and Creating in Dedham's Elementary School Libraries

Dedham Elementary School Libraries are abuzz with reading, thinking, and creating. Students are participating in various reading incentives including Reading Bingo at Riverdale where students read different types of books and earn an extra book to check out or the ultimate prize of an extra recess. At Oakdale students will participate in a reading challenge over winter break. If each student reads at least 15 minutes each day, students will read over 51,500 minutes and Oakdale principal, Holli Armstrong will get a pie in the face by a lucky student. Gingerbread Men created to look like a character from a book can be seen on display at Star Market. Creative Oakdale students also participated in a pumpkin decorating contest earlier this fall, decorating pumpkins to represent characters from favorite books.

Avery and Greenlodge students are sharing their learning, typing skills, and creativity this month. Fifth grade Greenlodge students presented their learning about Ancient Civilizations this week and students in grades 3-5 are learning their new keyboarding program, Type to Learn 4. Avery students are creating bookmarks about their school library. The theme is “Look what I discovered at my School Library” and is sponsored by the Massachusetts School LIbrary Association. Winners of the Avery contest will be forwarded to the state-wide contest.

In November students celebrated Picture Book Month in a variety of ways. Oakdale students made their own class picture books to publish. Riverdale and Avery students read and shared favorite picture books with each other and with students in other schools via Skype. They used various technology to reflect on their reading and share their thoughts with others.

Dedham’s elementary school libraries are now homes to “Makerspaces.” A Makerspace is a do-it-yourself space where people gather to create, invent and learn through hands-on materials. Our elementary school Makerspaces began last year with a grant from the Dedham Library Innovation Team that once again has provided us with money to expand our Makerspaces. Look for more information about our Makerspaces in January.

This fall the Greenlodge Library launched it’s new Makerspace program for grades 3-5 to celebrate National Games and Puzzles week. Games were funded by the Library Media Center Committee. Avery and Riverdale students participated in a Makerspace Logo contest. 43 students entered their drawings to become their school’s Makerspace logo. Cameron Sousa’s drawing will represent Avery and Molly Kelly’s will represent Riverdale, while Taylor Thomas-William’s slogan “Makerspace, Find Your Place” will accompany the Avery logo. Avery, Oakdale and Riverdale Schools began LEGO groups this fall.

Dedham students have many opportunities to read, think and create in our school libraries. The new year will bring even more.