Students in Grade PreK through Eight receive instruction in library approximately thirty times a year. The following is the summary of the curriculum covered in this subject area. The school library exists to support the curriculum of each grade level. With the revised guidelines that are aligned with the Common Core State Standards, the librarian will be working with each teacher to support this initiative.
PreK and Kindergarten
The students will be introduced to the procedures of using a library, finding books, checking books in and out, taking care of books and appreciating stories. This will be done through the medium of storytelling. As books are read aloud, the students gain an appreciation for the written word both as a means of gaining information and enjoyment.
The stories chosen will be aligned to the PreK and Kindergarten curriculum, particularly the letter and theme of the week. PreK students will choose a book to be used and shared in the classroom. Kindergarten students will receive a library number and begin to check a book out when their library orientation is complete. Initially, they may choose a book that will be kept in their kindergarten classroom.
Grades One to Three
The students will review the procedures of using a library, finding books using the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog), checking books in and out, and taking care of books. As books are read aloud, the students gain an appreciation for the written word both as a means of gaining information and enjoyment. The students will begin to learn how to read text to answer questions, take notes and write a short report. These skills will be built upon as the children move through the grades in collaboration with teachers in their subject areas.
Grades Four to Six
These students will now focus on learning specific information literacy skills; choosing resources, note taking and documenting sources. Each student in Grades 4-8 will be provided by the Archdiocese with an account to NoodleTools, an online program for the organization of research and generation of Works Cited documents. The Dewey Decimal System will be taught as well as the use of the computer catalog (OPAC). The history of the book also will be taught. Literature does not take a back seat during these years. Books will be read and reported on in a variety of ways. Award winning books will be spotlighted and specific authors will be studied. Literature appreciation will be encouraged through book talks and for Grades Five and Six the opportunity to participate in the Bucks County Reading Olympics.
Grades Seven and Eight
These are the years when information literacy becomes the focus of the weekly library period. In addition to using the excellent print reference and non-fiction section, the students will become adept at using computer and on-line research resources, especially Power Library, the Pennsylvania state collection of subscription databases. Each student in Grades 4-8 will be provided by the Archdiocese with an account to NoodleTools, an online program for the organization of research and generation of Works Cited documents. The ethics of using information sources will be discussed with particular emphasis on copyright protection. Literature appreciation will be encouraged through book talks and for Grades Seven and Eight the opportunity to participate in the Bucks County Reading Olympics. Literary genres will be read and discussed. The library curriculum has been designed to insure that students will graduate from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School as information literate people who know when, where and how to access information creatively, accurately, and ethically.
Additional Information
For a description of the Curriculum Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, visit the website of the Archdiocese of Phiiadelphia Office of Catholic Education .