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I have begun the task of putting Lexile measures on book spines in the media center. I am not color coding and I am not filing by reading levels. I am also not putting Lexile numbers beside or near Call Numbers. Students will see Lexile codes on top of book spines. I am putting a blank label on books that do not have a Lexile measure (simply to help me in the process of this task). This is the time of year that I especially miss an assistant. While most of our books already have Lexile information on a label inside the front cover, the spine code will assist students who browse for reading levels without using the automated card catalog or the Lexile website to search for books within their Lexile range. (Students are able to search by reading range for Lexile and Accelerated Reader in Surpass Safari). For other media specialists who may be interested labeling books for Lexile, I am including a document that shows step-by-step instructions. It is, however, extremely important for a student to know how to find a book using the automated card catalog. He should know that the Call Number is the very key to something called the Dewey Decimal System. A Call Number with FIC and three letters is linked to a book in the fiction section, which is filed alphabetically using the last names of the people who write books (who are called authors). A Call Number that begins with a number, like 921 and three letters, is a non-fiction book. The non-fiction section is filed in categories from 000 to 999 primarily and then by author last names. (921 WAR, 921 WAT... 976.8 BUR). According to Lexile.com, the Lexile code provides information about a book "that relates to its developmental appropriateness, reading difficulty, and common or intended usage." The two text characteristics that determine a Lexile measure are "Word Frequency" and "Sentence Length." The Lexile codes are:
For information on Lexiles, go to http://Lexile.com. I have included a photo of books with Lexile spine codes in the document. 
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Students always get excited when they see the Scholastic cases arrive for a book fair. And, so do I! Four students and a couple of staff members helped me set up this time. I'm blessed to work with so many people who support all facets of the media program. Our students behave so well when they visit, too!
Without an assistant this year, I knew I would need to be extra organized to make things work. The Google Documents I share with teachers and staff have helped tremendously. Our language arts teachers bring all classes by scheduling with me on the Book Fair Schedule. I share a screen shot of that with teachers so everyone knows when students are shopping by class. During the "in-between" times, teachers may send a few students to check out, quiz or shop if they have money. And, when I have a few minutes, I email overdues, print posters, check student requests on the Wish List for the current book order in progress..., charge eReaders, or write a sentence or two at a time on a blog post (like this one). Some of my co-workers and students helped set up and arrange tables and cases. A couple of staff members come in each day to help shelve books. As I told students during orientation, "You're all my assistants this year." The book fair is important to students, staff and parents. Families can connect with us by shopping with their children (online or in here). "Choice" is important to teenage readers and this event includes highly recommended titles from several genres. For information about our media programs, follow @bravesread on Twitter or like us on Facebook. Patrons who want to review a book (like Savannah M. did to receive a book fair discount), should stop by to retrieve their pass code for Surpass Safari. --G 
Professional educators from Georgia and Alabama visited the Heard County Middle School Media Center March 15 for the media program’s open house. The HCMS media program is one of only three media programs in Georgia to be deemed ‘Exceptional’ in the middle school category by the Georgia Department of Education. Courtney McGough (Galileo), Bobbie Limbers (Saint James High School, Montgomery, Al.), J.C. Barb (Barnes & Noble), Sabrina Thompson (Temple High School Media Specialist), Glovis South (HCMS Media Specialist), Jerry Prince (Heard County School Superintendent), Nikki Robertson (Auburn High School Media Specialist), Ben Myers (Follett Library Services) and Mike Roberts (HCMS Principal). Photo by Donna Haralson/The News and Banner.
Media Program ‘Exceptional’ at HCMS Professional educators from as far away as Americus, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama came to Heard County Media Center’s open house Thursday (March 15). The HCMS Media Center is one of three middle school library media programs to be selected by the Georgia Department of Education as an “Exceptional Library Media Program” for 2011. More than 60 visitors, including Rep. Randy Nix, Heard County Commission Chair June Jackson and Heard County School Superintendent Jerry Prince attended the event. Educators from Carroll County, Pike County, Haralson County, Troup County and Alabama were among the guests who attended the event. The event was hosted by HCMS Principal Mike Roberts, Media Specialist Glovis South and Media Assistant Janet Scott. Barnes & Noble, Follett Library Resources, Galileo, Renaissance Place, Scholastic and Surpass (library software company) were featured in professional learning stations set up in the media center. Visitors were able to scan QR codes for links and information and were able to ask questions to representatives from B&N (J.C. Barb), Follett (Ben Myers) and Galileo Support Services (Courtney McGough). A special learning station was set up with iPads and eReaders for a Words With Friends tournament between the top student readers and administrators. Visitors were particularly interested in procedures for checking out eReaders (Nooks, Kindles) to students and how iPads are being used to teach technology and information literacy skills. For information about the media program at HCMS, go to http://bravesread.net. Follow Mrs. South @BravesRead and Mr. Roberts @MikeRoberts1973 on Twitter. Auburn High School Media Specialist Nikki Robertson (@NikkiDRobertson) posted these comments on her blog: “When I arrived at Heard County Middle School I immediately understood why Heard County Middle School received such a distinguished award. The office staff greeted me with such warmth and kindness. Then I arrived at Glovis South's (@Bravesread) exceptional library and saw students playing Words With Friends on iPads (acquired with a grant) with principal, Mike Roberts aka: @mikeroberts1973, school superintendent Jerry Prince and Representative Nix. Students can earn access to the Internet Cafe located in the library where they can play games on iPads, enjoy beverages and other perks. …” Prizes, including a gift basket from B&N, were given throughout the day. Scholastic donated an autographed hard cover book by Brian Selznick. The school’s news crew members and WWF team spoke to visitors throughout the day about the media center’s reading and technology elements. |
Glovis SOUTHI'm a library media specialist, former newspaper editor and freelancer, who uses technology every day to promote and deliver information about reading, literacy, judging resources, researching and writing. Archives
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http://bravesread.net; Page updated 4-26-2016 GS