Library
The library curriculum is strongly literature-based, and skill-building is usually embedded within our discussions and activities. The librarian has referred to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s “Model Curriculum for Pennsylvania School Library Programs” and the American Association of School Librarians’ “Standards for the 21st Century Learner” for guidance when developing The Library Curriculum Scope and Sequence.
The Clisby Library resides in the heart of the campus, and is a central meeting place for students, staff and the larger community. The collection is approximately 13,000 volumes of books that support the individual learning needs and curiosities of the students, as well as the teaching needs of classroom teachers and specialists. It is typical to see the library filled with students during lunch choice: looking for books, reading, playing games, and drawing. Staff and community members hold meetings, open houses, and other special events in the library. The library serves as a homework center during after-school program hours.
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Approach
The mission of the library program to support students in their growth by developing an appreciation of literature and the skills to seek information. The goals that support the mission include:
- Promoting and encouraging students to be critical thinkers and effective users of information
- Supporting students as they become lifelong readers and learners
- Providing a supportive environment that is rich with learning materials — print, digital, and visual/tactile
- Collaborating across classrooms and disciplines in efforts to build connections and to enrich the student’s learning experience
- Reflecting the mission of the Miquon School
- Connecting with the physical environment and the community
Metis
The Miquon Library uses the Metis classification system instead of the Dewey Decimal System. Metis is a flexible, intuitive, and child-friendly system of library categorization. It uses whole language, visual cues, and logic that reflects children’s own experiences. It puts the child in the center of their own search.
The first versions of Metis were created by school librarians at The Ethical Culture School in 2011. Miquon’s version of Metis is based on these classifications but varies somewhat.
Media and Technology in the Library
At present, the library provides laptops to students for research, writing, and the creation of digital content (using the online programming tool Scratch, for example). The library also loans out these laptops and other media (projector, digital cameras) to classrooms as needed.
Other Library Programs
There are many extracurricular activities associated with the library as well, including a large annual book fair fundraiser, a monthly book club for fifth and sixth grade students, and supporting the sixth graders in the creation of a yearbook.
Curriculum Report
The curriculum report is the teachers’ review of the entire year, looking back and making observations after their plans, projects, problems, and revelations are long over. One of the distinguishing features of this report is the great extent to which each teacher’s style, focus, and personality come through in this retrospective narrative. Check out the Library Curriculum Report.
