Category: Curriculum

Barbies, Taylor Swift and Dual Language offerings!

First, I’d like to share my Fall introduction video with you, which includes links to our Library expectations and the district-wide learning targets for each discipline. These learning targets have been collaboratively developed by myself and my nine colleagues over the past two years, and they are consistent across all Mead’s elementary schools. We’ve put a lot of effort into refining the language and goals to ensure they align with our educational mission

Fall Introduction Video

Let’s look at what’s happening in the library this year!

I went a little crazy with Barbie theme. But it’s a reflection of not only American society, but global demand and consumption. As of today the Barbie movie “has become the highest-growing movie of 2023 reaching $575.4 million domestically this week…It has already grossed $1.3 billion globally.” (Time.com)

Not that many of our students have actually seen the movie, (the intended audience being adults and teens) and that’s fine. Those who have, adored it, and usually had older siblings. But the display was carefully created by my 18-year-old daughter, who, with impressive imagination, played Barbie and Monster High with her twin sister for much longer than their peers. I played along with them of course, which is why I sobbed through much of the nostalgia-driven scenes. Also, my daughters are leaving me for college so I’m a little weepy anyway.

A great school or public library should always reflect not only the most high-quality traditional and contempory children’s book titles, but what is happening in popular culture, especially if it is a child-driven phenomenon. To be clear, I am not promoting the movie, I am promoting what Barbie (via Mattell) has done right: Representing the hopes and dreams of young children (both reasonable and seemingly unreachable goals!)

Aside from answering the question “Why all the Barbies?” and pointing out it’s a global phenomenon and a literature tie-in opportunity, and that I have Kens featured, too, I am not teaching about anything Barbie. I don’t have time and and it’s silly. Just fun.

I’ve also borrowed the theme from the other global phenomenon, Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” to promote our novel Section.

What I am teaching in the first few weeks is lots of academic and social expectations, a review of some of our wonderful new picture (“Everybody”) and science and fiction books. We also devote a lesson on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 in the most age-appropriate manner

We are also gearing up for our first literature-centered monthly theme: Hispanic American History Month. In our library, we feature books and lessons from the following state or nationally recognized holidays:

September: Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15) , 9/11 Patriot Day. October: Bullying Prevention Month, International School Libraries Month, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Media Literacy Week, Halloween. November: Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertes), America Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month, Veteran’s Day, Diwali, Thanksgiving. December: Pearl Harbor Day of Rememberance, International Hour of Code, Christmas across the world, Hanukkah and other winter holidays. January: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. February: American Heart Month, Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Lunar New Year, Valentine’s Day. March: Women’s History Month, Read Across America, Pi Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter. April: Poetry Month, National Park Week, Earth Day. May: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, International Harry Potter Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day. June: Great Outdoors Month, Pollinators Month, Father’s Day, Juneteeth.

Midway Elementary has expanded its offerings with the addition of two classrooms dedicated to our district’s Dual Language program. As a result, we are delighted to introduce a fresh collection of resources, including bilingual and Spanish picture books, informative science materials, and captivating novels. The Dual Language program has made a significant investment in an extensive array of high-quality Spanish paperbacks, thoughtfully curated to align with the curriculum and cater to the interests of our kindergarten and first-grade students. This impressive inventory will be readily accessible in the library, classrooms, and our dedicated book room, enriching the language and literary experiences of our students across various settings.

Thank for for reading this long post! Have a great Fall.