Library Media Curriculum  

Introduction

The mission of St. Fabian’s library media program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. In keeping with the school Mission Statement, our Philosophy, and strong desire to provide an environment in which Christ and Catholic values and morals are the center, the library mission is accomplished by teaching learners to use skills, resources, and tools to:

• Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.
• Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.
• Share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society.
• Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.  

--Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, American Association of School Librarians, 2008.

St. Fabian’s Library Media Center is a dynamic and user-friendly place. Students use the library for instruction, research, homework, both individual and group study, checking out/returning materials, leisure reading, and computer work. Elementary students visit once a week and return their materials the next week. 6th and 7th graders visit the library every week through their literature classes returning materials on their next visit. 8th graders visit every other week through their literature classes. All students are welcome to “stop in” with permission from their teachers. Fines are .05 / day that materials are late. Materials must be returned and all fines paid before students may check out again. Accelerated Reader is a big part of the Library experience for 3rd and 4th grades with an introduction to 2nd grade the last trimester of the year. 5th grade may participate in a more challenging version of AR if they wish.              

The library maintains over 14,000 print materials, computer-based educational programs, and Internet-based databases selected specifically to fill the academic and leisure reading needs of students and faculty. Additionally, the library media center houses a network of five fully automated Internet accessible computers which allows access to World Book Online, United Steaming, Enchanted Learning, and the Michigan Electronic Databases (including Electric Library, FirstSearch, InfoTrac, Kids InfoBits, SIRS Discoverer, and more). Sagebrush Corporation Spectrum software drives the automation system and there is filtering/monitoring software for the Internet.

Through carefully designed and age appropriate activities, St. Fabian elementary students gain the working knowledge to access, evaluate, and use information as part of their education. After an extensive orientation for all grades, the following highlight areas of study for each grade.

Kindergarten students learn early how to:

• care for and handle materials
• listen to a story, and
• return books to the proper place in the library.

 

First Grade masters:

• knowing the different areas of the library
• understanding the check-out procedure, and
• understanding alphabetizing and the call numbers on materials.


Second Grade accomplishes:

• reviewing the parts of the book
• understanding the difference between fiction and nonfiction, and
• appreciating literature and illustrations, and
• beginning to explore the research process.

Third Grade gains an:

• understanding of the arrangement of fiction and nonfiction books
• using reference materials (dictionary, encyclopedia and atlas) and
• working with the automated card catalog.

The use of the Internet at this age is limited to carefully screened age-appropriate educational programs. The students also use the Internet interactively to read stories, learn the research process, and participate in other educational activities under close supervision.


 

Fourth Grade students learn to:

• understand the Dewey Decimal Classification System
• work with reference materials (print and electronic) and
• the automated card catalog.


   Fifth Grade masters:

• subject, author, and title searching (print and electronic)
• locating and using information, and
• continuing the research process.

Internet activity broadens to include researching the Michigan Electronic Library (MeL) databases, taking virtual field trips, plus an introduction to evaluating websites for authority, content, and design. Accelerated Reader is an important part of library learning beginning the last trimester of 2nd grade and continuing through 4th grade with 5th grade participation as an option.

 

Middle School Curriculum Grades 6-8 
No longer is it a matter of which book to find or what computer key to press to achieve a higher standard in education. Today’s middle school student must also develop the expertise in accessing, evaluating, and using information at a much higher level of understanding. Therefore, using the American Library Association’s Information Power as a guideline, the goal of St. Fabian’s Library Media Center is to create a learning environment in which students may become:

 

Information Literate 

Middle school students who are information literate access information efficiently and effectively, evaluate that information critically, and use it accurately and creatively.

The LMC works with students to achieve the following goals -

• Higher level critical thinking skills,
• Effective Internet searching techniques,
• Beginning “Scientific Method” thinking strategies, and
• Web site evaluation.

Independent Learners

Middle school students who are independent learners are information literate and pursue information related to personal interests, appreciating literature and other creative expressions of information while striving for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation.


The LMC strives to help students through the -


• Accelerated Reader (6th and 7th Grades)
• Battle of the Books with the Farmington Community Library,
• Booktalks and personal selection helps,
• Research techniques, and the
• Scholastic Book Fair.
                   
Socially Responsible

Middle school students who contribute positively to the learning community and to society are information literate and recognize the importance of information to a democratic society, practicing ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology, and participating effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

Again, the LMC teaches –


• Bibliographic instruction,
• Internet and e-mail ethics, and
• Combating plagiarism.

With the Standards for the 21st-Century Learner, American Association of School Librarians, 2008 in mind, St. Fabian middle school students use the Library Media Center for both leisure reading and research. Again, Internet use broadens to meet the needs of middle school research with even more emphasis on evaluating websites for authority, content, and design.

Abbey-jo Rehling, Wendy Mason
St. Fabian School, 32200 West Twelve Mile Road . Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Voice: 248/553-2750 . Fax: 248/848-3035


e-mail: arehling@stfabian.org, wmason@stfabian.org