Library Studies
At Aurora we believe that a rich, well-rounded academic program requires an excellent library. We are very proud of our library and our library curriculum. It is a significant part of every child's experience at Aurora. Students attend library in groups of no more than 12 on a weekly basis for 30 minutes in grades K through three, and 45 minutes in grades four and five. Parent volunteers are regularly utilized in assisting students and provide a more personalized experience in the library.
Meet our Librarian, Kathy Shepler
Grades K/1
During their library time, students return last week's library books, have a short lesson or story and check out new books. The focus is to foster the love of books and reading, to maintain the joy of literature, while learning tools that facilitate the use of libraries, such as where to locate books about particular topics and the basics of book care. The highlight of the year is reading aloud and voting at the California Young Reader Medal competition.
Grades 2/3
In these grades, the curriculum becomes more sophisticated as the students mature. Students still spend time reading books, but now spend more time doing library skills. The books they chose during library time often relate to a specific theme or unit the librarian has chosen for them. Students also work with the librarian to explore and understand library organization in more depth, explore genre and topic studies, and honor books, authors and illustrators by analyzing their different works.
Grades 4/5
These students delve deeper into library topics than in previous years. The majority of class time now is library skills, with reading stories less frequent. Students work with the librarian to explore and understand how books are made and published and how libraries work. Every other year students make their own small books to hold their library lessons, learn the history of printing and book making, how to use library catalogues and how to do research in the library. They complete their year with a few field trips to author or illustrator events and learn about the various children's literature honors, such as the Caldecott, Newberry, Pura Belpra, Coretta Scott King and Sibert Awards.
Aurora's librarian has also received recognition for hand-picking hundreds of books for the School's annual Autumn Community Book Fair. She attends conferences and works with independent booksellers and publishers to decide which books she buys for the book fair and the library. Although Aurora is a small school, its library has about 10,000 books for children to borrow.