Sunday, May 19, 2013

Teaching Basic Library Skills

Okay...I am geeking out.  I wrote some little jingles to help my little ones (K, 1st and 2nd graders) remember basic library terms: Fiction, Nonfiction, Author, Illustrator.  And, I am so psyched about them, I have to share.

To the tune of "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"

Nonfiction books have facts, HAVE FACTS!
Nonfiction books have facts, HAVE FACTS!
When you read nonfiction all the facts are true.
Nonfiction books have facts, HAVE FACTS!

To the tune of "Clementine."

Imagination, Imagination,
that's where fiction comes from.
Made up stories from the author,
that's where fiction comes from.

To the tune of "Do you know the muffin man?"

Authors write the words we read  (make hand writing in air motion)
the words we read
the words we read.
Authors write the words we read
in all our books. (open palms, like opening a book)

Illustrators make the pictures we see  (point to eyes)
pictures we see
pictures we see.
Illustrators make the pictures we see
in all our books. (open palms, like opening a book)

Okay.  I am not thrilled that author and illustrator have the same tune.  I realized AFTER I started teaching the songs that since the songs are the same, it doesn't really help the kids differentiate the two terms (which they are FOREVER mixing up.)  SO, back to the drawing board on that one.  I will keep the author song and come up with a different jingle for illustrator.  In the meantime, I hope some of you can use these with your elementary grade students!