Lexile Land in the Library

The district seems to have blocked just about all the computers from access to blogger except mine, which is fine. I just hope my Yahoo access to it continues. It would be fun to get the students involved in learning blogger, but unless some official approval comes through, I won't do it.

The computers in the library are going to be reduced as a computer lab will be reactivated, and only a few will remain in the library. The concern around that will be getting teachers involved to come to the library at all without bringing students to the library. They don't bring them, and given the behavioral problems, they don't come on their own, leaving before school, lunch time, and after school for individual visits. Students are locked out until the morning bell rings, and after school programs are in here after school, and that doesn't seem to promote other students coming in easily.

On the bright side, we were awarded a $500 grant which will purchase some books for mini-reading clubs with 6 students being able to participate in reading some titles with Lexile scores of 1000 or higher.
Titles include: "Begging for Change" by Sharon Flake, "Crows and Cards" by Joseph Helgerson, "Dawn of Fear" by Susan Cooper, "Do the Math: Secrets, Lies, and Algebra" by Wendy Lichtman, "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis, and "H.I.V.E: Higher Institute of Villainous Education" by Mark Walden.

Today we have some sort of all city youth council meeting going on in the library with students attending from other schools as well as a representative from our school. I'm hearing a lot of laughter so they must be enjoying themselves.

Further comment of Lexile leveling of libraries: If this trend in madness persists, I suggest that it be anticipated and outsourced on a private contractor basis over the summers, on weekends, or other after school hours. If it is done this way, at least a portion of the library could be completed quickly; the fiction chapter books, and then the picture books. The librarian could then run the library on at least a limited basis circulating those books without the whole library being off-limits. It is completely unfeasible to check out books while also trying to do the Lexile leveling. Someone working on a private contractor basis could save the district some money by not having benefits being paid for. I just think a way has to be found to have the library more accessible to children while this is being done, and to get better money value out of the process.