Thank you Postcards for your Participants

At Lamar we are winding down the #shelfchallenge in preparation for May. And I'm pleased to say that we had over 40 kids participate in the #shelfchallenge and that many of them were excited to finish their shelf. As a thank you for every participate I made these postcards that could be attached to a goodie bag or even a free book, depending on how far your budget will go at this point in the year. 

And here is a link to the PDF version with the #shelfchallenge front and a blank back to write a note to the participant.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with to celebrate the completion of the 2016 #shelfchallenge. And we will be having one more giveaway on Twitter, so remember to follow the #shelfchallenge hashtag to keep up-to-date.

Thanks,
Kristi

Our recap for the #shelfchallenge thus far...

First of all, thank you to everyone who has been tweeting and pinning about their own experiences thus far. Here is what we've seen so far on Twitter. #shelfchallenge Tweets

We've also seen a few pins added to our Pinterest Board, and I found that posting my books to the board is an easy way to share the good, bad, and ugly in a visually stimulating way. Also, in case you missed, it I found my first case of mold in my library- yuck. I would have taken pictures, but I thought it might have been a little too much sharing. Luckily, it had lived a good life. And last week we had our first giveaway.

And @heidihuestis tweeted about her new book, and can I say that I love it when authors tweet back. In case you missed it, check it out below. 

Day Five, Six, and Seven

I would have loved to read this book, but it was in fact infested with mold. So, it will have to enjoy it's time in the bin.

Also, I'll be posting all of my books to Twitter and Pinterest instead of posting daily. I'll put up a recap of the week that will include tweets from all of you, so look for your name to pop up. Happy reading.

Day Two, Three, and Four- Ah, the weekend.

Well, the weekend came and went, and here are the three books I chose off of Shelf B.

• Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt ( a reread for me)
• Ring of Fire (Century Quartet #1) by P.D. Baccalario
• The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Let's start with the book that I read, many, many years ago while perusing the shelves in a very dusty, rural public library. It was my diamond-in-the-rough discovery, and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed it just as much as I did then. Although, being a parent always changes how I read stories- much like crying at the reading/sight of Molly Weasley protecting her daughter in the Harry Potter series. With that said, Tuck Everlasting is a good classic for readers who are fond of historical fiction or even The Giver by Lois Lowry. I loved it the second time because it asked big questions without being overly didactic. 

Every year I reread The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart because I love it. It's the book I compare every "four or five kids meet mysteriously and are catapulted into an adventure" story as well, and it's a hard act to follow. The first book in the series reminded of the Da Vinci Code, with it's running through the streets of Rome...and yes, I did have to consult a map a few times. Good for readers who like super-adventures and keep up with the dizzying array of characters.

And last, but not least is The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann. Half way through this book I had to look up the author, because he seemed very British. And a hasty internet search later revealed that he had indeed started the book when he was 16, wow, and was not British, darn. Good, great, and awesome. I will be looking for the rest of the series next year, for sure. Fun and memorable. 

I've loved seeing everyone's shelves on Twitter, and I can't wait to share my student's shelves very soon. Just to let you guys know I'll be posting 3 books on Monday since I'll be with my family on the weekends. 

Until tomorrow,

Kristi

Day One - The Moon Over High Street

This light read will charm elementary readers as well as younger middle school readers. And the old-fashioned feel of the setting and characters will certainly appeal to readers who prefer historical fiction as their main genre. Babbitt's lyrical descriptions permeate each chapter and will provide every reader with a book they will not soon forget.

And check on Twitter for our first giveaway for #shelfchallenge

Welcome to Our 2016 Shelf Challenge

Can I just say how excited I am about the shelf challenge this year?  And I can't wait to see what gems and "lovely books" you guys find in your collections. Here is the shelf that I picked in my library...

And I'll be posting about my first book and our first book giveaway tomorrow on Friday, April 1. In our library and makerspace I partnered with a few of our brilliant makers to design an interactive display to entice our kiddos to participate in the #shelfchallenge. It uses Makey-Makey and a Scratch game to act as a fortune-teller when kids don't know which shelf to pick. 

Supplies needed:

Computer with internet connection

Makey-Makey and lots of alligator clips

Ethernet Cable stripped for at least 6 wires

Cardboard and Aluminum Foil for Pressure Switch or you could just use Play-Doh

Scratch Game to remix or use as is (https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/103401468/) 

How are you going to get your kiddos involved? 

5 ways to get your kids excited about #shelfchallenge

Why a challenge?

Kids love challenges, and this is one of my favorite ways to see even my best readers step outside their comfort zone. When I taught I challenged my kids to read 40 books in my class, and I was always impressed with the grit and tenacity required to complete such a daunting challenge. And it, well, forces them to read a book outside of their normal genre choice. Seeing a die-hard fantasy reader get super-excited about a historical fiction they would not have picked for their next read.

5 ways to get your kids excited about #shelfchallenge

1.Make it visible and decorate for the occasion.

Have a display of bookmarks and plastic shelfmarkers out in a visible spot. Think about ways to make it interactive and fun for your kiddos to join the challenge.

2. Can you say shelfie? 

If your students can, have the take pictures of themselves with their shelf and then share it with others. Or you could post pictures of students and their shelves and add it to your #shelfchallenge display.  Have students take pics of their favorite books from their shelf and share it with the #shelfchallenge PLN on Twitter or Pin it to our SLM Shelf Challenge Board on Pinterest.

3. Share your reading journey with your students.

Talk about what books you are reading with students. Make announcements about the #shelfchallenge and share your "gems" with the entire school. Invite others to reread books that didn't thrill you as a reader.

4. Become their reading cheerleader.

Give high-fives or fist bumps to your successful shelf readers and check in on their progress as often as you can. A thank you for finding a "gem" can make a kiddos day.

5. Reward participants and finishers.

A certificate would be nice, but ultimately I love to reward readers with more books. Or even bookmarks to commemorate the occasion. And if your budgets allow, pizza is always an option!

How do you get your kiddos excited about #shelfchallenge? 

Shelf Challenge 2016 is coming soon, so mark your calendars.

Another year, and once again we are celebrating School Library Month in April with our 2016 Shelf Challenge. 

The Shelf Challenge was started in 2012 by Matthew Winner ( All the Wonders, & The Busy Librarian) as an opportunity to really get to know your collection. In 2015 Colleen Graves (Create, Collaborate, Innovate) took over the Shelf Challenge and this year Kristi Taylor (First Floor Librarian), will be continuing their awesome legacy as we look forward to the Shelf Challenge in April of 2016. 

Here is your quest, if you should choose to complete it:

• Find a shelf in your collection to read daily throughout the month of April. Your goal may be to read what you really have on those shelves, find some hidden gems, discover weeding material, or just have fun expanding your PLN on Twitter. (Some librarians choose a shelf in Easy Fiction to read cover to cover, some read a section of Fiction, just by actually looking at the cover, inside and reading a blurb from every book on one shelf in Fiction. Or dive into your Graphic Novels.)
• Sign up for the challenge on the Getting Started Google Form. Attempt reading each book on that shelf for the month of April. Let me know what shelf you are reading and your other info so I can be your shelf challenge cheerleader!
• Share your finds on social media (See links below.)
• When you are done, please fill out this Finished with the Challenge Google Form and let our PLN know how you did! 
• Check out our download page for free posters and bookmarks.

 I'll be blogging and vlogging about my shelf reads here and on my blog First Floor Librarian. I'm a middle school librarian and I'm passionate about creating a space that fosters a love of lifelong reading, creating/making/innovating, and building learners that are future-ready. Follow along as I learn, share, and explore librarianship in it's many forms.

Follow our Pinterest Board. And add to the board, remember to complete the Getting Started Google Form, add your email and we will add you to the group. Happy Pinning!

    

Tweet it out with our #shelfchallenge hashtag and join our PLN of librarians and makers.

Tweet out our "I'm in on the 2016 #shelfchallenge" banner, and invite your colleagues to join in on the fun.

Tweet: I'm joining the 2016 #shelfchallenge to celebrate #SLM. Are you in? http://ctt.ec/fpEs9+

So, come join us as we explore the depths of our collection by reading one shelf during the month of April.

-Kristi