GMS

pdate Library Update

Quarter 3
2014-15

Teachers Get Involved!

Quarter 3 brought a whole new dimension to the media
center as we launched Reading . . . and Then Some
(otherwise known as R.A.T.S.!), a reading group
designed to get teachers engaged with the books that
our students love to read. We meet in the media center
during the first planning period for each grade level and
the exploratory team on two Fridays per month. Each
session begins with sharing the ways we have
positively affected readers and then features
professional development about literacy and/or a
technology topic. Since January we have looked at:
Finding time to read in a hectic schedule
What teachers should be doing during SSR
Air Server for Windows
App: 23,469 Classics to Go
Graphic Novels
PurrFect Picks
Reader-to-Reader shelf talkers
Infographics
Software: Easel.ly
Software: Venngage
5 Tips for Helping a Student Find the Right Book
Why Read 20 Minutes a Day?
App: Aviary
Goodreads.com literary community
Participation is voluntary, and more than 30 faculty
members have signed on to become Library Rats. It
has been so exciting to see teachers, guidance
counselors, and administrators coming together to read
and talk about middle-school books! It's especially
rewarding to hear the stories about how teachers
reading certain titles inspired or motivated students to
come and check out the same books. Imagine the
impact of 7th-graders seeing their math teacher,

7th grade teachers love to read!

8th grade math, English, science, and

social studies teachers come together

The exploratory team is passionate

about reading

Mr. McKie, reading Smile, the most popular graphic novel at GMS, or ISS students pooling
their change so that one of them could pay his fine and get a copy of The Fourth Stall in order
to catch up with Mrs. Ohlrogge. It's also fun to have an adult come in the library with an
"OMG, I need the next book in this series!" or "This was really good--I need another one like
it!" Teachers who don't normally come to the library are discovering that we've got a lot of
really good books that they can enjoy just as much as the students do.
We've started with the PurrFect Picks because there are 8-10 copies of each, but always
remembering that everyone wants choice, teachers may read any books they like as long as
they share with their students by posting (appropriate) titles on "I'm Reading _____, Ask Me
About It" signs. These are quick and easy conversation starters which let students know that
lots of their teachers love to read too. Math teacher Mrs. Feaster has noted that since she
began reading during SSR time, the whole class has become more focused and quiet. Eighth
grade social studies teacher Mrs. Ackerman posted a list of classics outside her door and
highlighted all the ones she's read, showing her students a whole new side of her personality.
Strings teacher Mrs. Atkins read the book Trash as a tie-in to her lessons about the Recycled
Orchestra in Paraguay. Each gathering brings great examples of how teachers are becoming
authentic reading role models for our students. The hope is that Reading . . . and Then Some
will continue in the years to come and grow into a school-wide group which believes in,
enjoys, and models a culture of literacy at Gettys Middle School.

I'm Reading signs are posted inside

and outside of classrooms

Virtual School / ISS instructor Mrs. Ohlrogge

checks out Sisters and Drama

Personal Skills teacher Mrs. Williams can't

get enough Gallagher Girls books!

Mrs. Tensley shows off her new

Read, Read, Read pin

Teachers can write Reader-to-Reader shelf talkers to share their reactions to the books

Mrs. Mote HAD TO HAVE The Fallout,

the sequel to The Compound!

. . . and door prizes, too

Theres always food on hand . . .

Mr. Tharpe was VERY excited

about his door prize!

March Madness Comes to the Library!

On Tuesday, March 3, we launched the First Annual Media Center March Madness
Battle of the Books in order to choose the 2014-15 GMS Book of the Year. Sixth grade
assistant principal Mr. Lanford did a jam-up job of announcing the Sweet Sixteen, and there
will be a full report on the outcome of tournament in the 4th quarter Library Update!

Top Tens
Wow!! All ten of the Top Ten titles for the 3rd quarter are PurrFect Picks! Sisters
retains its number one position for the second quarter in a row. PurrFect Picks
books were checked out 798 times during quarter 3, and it's not surprising that
three out of the Top Ten titles are competitors in the Media Center March
Madness Battle of the Books. Magazines are also

this year. Last

years total magazine circulations were 700; this year weve more than doubled
that number for a total of 1,454 and still have the 4th quarter to go!
Weather definitely had a negative impact on circulations: we were closed for
three days, had an 11 AM dismissal on another, and dealt with 2-hour delays six
times. However, while circulations were down, overall library use was up with an
average of 360 students per day as numerous classes engaged in research
projects.

Top 10 Books for Quarter 3

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Sisters

Telgemeier, Raina.

Smile

Telgemeier, Raina.

Drama

Telgemeier, Raina.

The Raft

Bodeen, S. A

If You're Reading This

Reedy, Trent,

The Compound

Bodeen, S. A.

Between Shades Of Gray

Sepetys, Ruta.

The Fourth Stall

Rylander, Chris.

The Ghost Of Graylock

Poblocki, Dan.

Matched

Condie, Ally.

Top 10 Magazines for Quarter 3

1. J-14 : December 2014.

2. J-14 : May/June 2014.
3. J-14 : January 2015.
4. J-14 : April 2014.
5. J-14 : February 2014.
6. J-14 : January 2014.
7. Discovery Girls : December / January 2013.
8. Gameinformer : April 2014.
9. Gameinformer : February 2015.
10. Gameinformer : September 2014.

The Library on Display

In February we featured the Valentree and books
about love!

Our Library by the

Numbers
3rd Quarter

We were open for 40 days

of regular business.
Teachers reserved the
library for 317 classes.

5,540 students visited

independently
Average number of students
per day: 360

Did You Know . . . ?

63% of kids aged 12-14 say they read an equal mix
of fiction and nonfiction for school.
The percentage of boys who read for fun 5-7 days a
week drops at every age, whereas girls level off in
their teens.
32% of parents who have read an eBook say they
now read new kinds of books, including books for
children and teens.
Having reading role-model parents or a large book
collection at home has a greater impact on kids
reading frequency than does household income.

5,498 books were checked

out and returned.
Students checked out
1,062 graphic novels and
288 magazines.
Year to Date AR Totals
Grade 6: 647.0 points
Grade 7: 420.0 points
Grade 8: 5,969.5 points

Contact us:

Visit Library Chat with Bibliocat

Click the cat to go to http://gmsmc.blogspot.com

Christina Connell
Gettys Middle School Media Center
510 South Pendleton Street
Easley, SC 29640
864-397-3947
christinaconnell@pickens.k12.sc.us
gmsmc.blogspot.com