An Overview of the Media Center Curriculum

Kindergarten and First Grade

The emphasis of the IMC program in kindergarten is on introducing the children to the school media center and helping them become more independent users of the library. In first grade the library program concentrates on listening and viewing skills and on literature appreciation. The children listen to many stories, both told and read, and discuss them together. They hear fairy and folk tales from many cultures, and study favorite authors and illustrators. Students begin to learn about the range of materials available in a library and how to find them, using the library's electronic catalog. First graders may take part in the IMC's Caldecott Club.

Second Grade

Second graders' story hours encourage the children's appreciation of literature and their interpretive skills. Students delve more deeply into the organization and location of library materials and the use of the electronic catalog in order to become independent users of the media center. They are introduced to the primary reference collection. Second graders may take part in the IMC's Reading Stars program.

Third Grade

Beginning research skills, including note-taking, are emphasized in third grade and the children are introduced to the great range of the IMC's resources, including appropriate Internet sites. Location skills are also emphasized as the students become more familiar with the organization of materials in a library and how to retrieve them. Third grade students continue to enjoy book talks and stories. They are encouraged to read challenging and classic literature as members of the IMC's Third Grade Bookworm Club.

Fourth Grade

The emphasis in fourth grade is on helping the students become more independent users of reference and research materials, including those available on the Internet. The children work with basic reference sources, both print and electronic, and learn how to locate, evaluate and use information that they need. They are encouraged to use the IMC's computers to solve reference questions. Newbery Scholars, a reading enrichment program based on Newbery award-winning books, is open to fourth graders.

Fifth and Sixth Grades

Research skills are an important part of the IMC program for both the fifth and sixth grades. Students complete units on a wide variety of reference materials, both print and electronic. They are instructed in the use of the Internet to search for information. Fifth graders form committees to analyze, discuss and research the best picture books of the year and decide upon the annual Oradell Illustrator's Award. Sixth graders complete a unit on storytelling and are expected to learn and tell a story to their class. Some students may also choose to take part in the annual Storytelling Festival. Students are encouraged to become Fifth Grade or Sixth Grade Newbery Scholars by reading a certain number of Newbery award-winning books and reporting on them.

 

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