Beyond Books: Learning Stations at Granville Elementary Library
When you stop by the Granville Elementary School library, you may find students writing descriptive paragraphs, practicing on a computer keyboard, or finding and reading a great book.
These four "stations" - writing, reading, keyboarding, and finding/checking out books are part of a new program introduced this year. Through these stations, the library promotes a love for books and reading and imparts essential skills like writing and keyboarding.
Mrs. Brown is the Literacy Lab teacher. This is a new position for Mrs. Brown, but she is not new to teaching. She retired after teaching for 34 years, 26 at Granville, but returned to the school when she saw the opportunity at the library.
She works in tandem with AIS/Reading Teacher Mr. Rochlani, or "Mr. R," as he is known by the students. Mr. Rochlani says that collaborating with Mrs. Brown is beneficial for the students.
"It is so great for students to see Mrs. Brown, who has so much experience working alongside someone like me who is newer to Granville. They can see us working together and learning from each other, each doing different things but working towards a common goal," said Mr. Rochlani.
Both teachers say students struggle with reading comprehension and writing skills, so the school has a strong literacy focus.
"Mrs. Brown and I are working as a team and creating a fun, fast-paced environment through collaborative learning and discussions. And most importantly, giving students a chance to find their love and joy for reading. We encourage them to choose books that match their interests and that they gravitate towards," said Mr. Rochlani.
Mrs. Brown focuses on the writing station. Right now, students are writing descriptive paragraphs of a pumpkin drawing they each completed the day before. The completed pumpkin paragraphs and drawings will be hung in the hallway. Teachers will let their classes read them and see if they can match the description to the drawing.
She covers types of writing like descriptive paragraphs but also wants to make sure students learn the basics.
"I'm teaching them things like the correct use of capital letters, proper nouns, how to write a paragraph, and even making sure they put a space between words on the paper," said Mrs. Brown.
Mr. Rochlani handles the reading station. Showing students how books and reading connect to the real world is important to him. "It's not about test scores. Ultimately, I want the student to discover their love of books. And I'd like for them to take ideas they are being exposed to into the real world and apply it," he said.
In a week's time, students complete all four stations, including practicing keyboarding skills using keyboarding software and finding and checking out books.
"In September, students learned how to use the online card catalog. It will be more important for them as they get older and need to use it for research, but some students are using it now to find books. Others are choosing to walk around to find a book that interests them. Either way, we are happy when they find a book they like and want to read," said Mrs. Brown.
Mrs. Brown also looks forward to local author Rachel Vogel visiting the library in December. Ms. Vogel won an Honorable Mention at the Spring 2023 BookFest Awards for the children's picture book "Raccoons Go Rafting."
"Meeting an author can be inspirational for students. It can bring out the writer in them. And author visits are an excellent way to promote literacy and language development," said Mrs. Brown.
These activities highlight the library's dedication to nurturing both a love for books and crucial skills in our students. It transforms the traditional library concept into an interactive space, offering students a holistic literary experience.