Martin Middle Shares Library Goals

MMS Library Goals Address Collaboration and Imagination
Posted on 02/03/2020
This is the image for the news article titled MMS Library Goals Address Collaboration and ImaginationWhen Shannon O’Neal, the Martin Middle School Librarian, addressed the Weakley County School Board during their monthly meeting, she revealed how school libraries go beyond books to help meet academic goals.

At MMS, O’Neal has two goals that define her work.

Goal 1 - Collaborate with classroom teachers as closely as possible to provide supplemental materials, instructional support, and professional development. The library operates on a flexible schedule as recommended by the American Library Association. This increases access to all patrons and teachers in every subject area. Here are a few examples of how the library provides subject area activities:
o Social Studies – This year, one of the MMS Social Studies teachers requested assistance in reviewing primary and secondary sources. To accomplish the task and in a fun way, the two planned and implemented a digital breakout session that operates like an escape room. The scenario presented to the students was that they were librarians at the Library of Congress and were called upon by a congressional committee to help solve a mystery. An old locked box had been found in the basement of the White House. Students were tasked with using primary sources to open the box containing secrets related to the Cold War and Sputnik.
o Science – Students visited the library to participate in a scavenger hunt requiring them to apply their knowledge of the periodic table. In a different science class, students were prepared for their upcoming science test about waves by playing a Jeopardy style review game.
o Reading – Recently, all ELA classes were invited to the library to participate in a Book Tasting event. Students previewed or "tasted" the most recent book arrivals including fiction and nonfiction selected by our teachers. The tables were organized according to the ten Dewey Decimal classes, and they read from each category for approximately three minutes. If they previewed a book they wished to check out, they added the information to their menus. At the end, students were able to check out their favorite book to read over Thanksgiving Break.

Goal 2 - Foster students’ need for creativity, inventiveness, and imagination.
o Every morning, students are welcome to visit the library during homeroom. During this time, students can check out books and participate in various stations including computers, reading, STEM, and Makerspace. Students have learned how to crochet through volunteers at the C.E. Weldon Library, build and program a robot, create circuits using Little Bits, and participate in yoga to help relax and unwind. When possible, books are connected to the stations to help increase independent reading.
o Recently, the library added new stations as requested by students including a green screen, art station, and the Rubik cube challenge.

Last year, MMS had 1,244 visits to the library during station time or Activity Period Friday.
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