Blue Lake Elementary Library is so much more than a place to read books. It provides our students and staff with a wide range of resources and opportunities to engage with literature and other forms of media. Our library is the true heartbeat and HUB of our school, it is inviting and comfortable, with plenty of seating and natural light. It is well- organized and easy to navigate, with clear signage and labels. The collection is diverse and inclusive, reflecting the needs and interests of our student body.  Here, we learn, grow, create, and explore new possibilities daily! The library offers a variety of programs and activities that promotes reading for pleasure, research, and critical thinking. 

 

We truly believe this comprehensive media program successfully increases our students’ information literacy, digital literacy, reading skills, as well as build their confidence through various initiatives such as:

 

1. Develop a library media program that embodies a welcoming environment that supports educational goals and objectives and delivers instruction to meet the school and district's vision.

2. Providing instruction on the use of library resources and technology.

3. Offering library services, such as access to online databases, library instruction, and reference assistance.

 

4. Developing programs and resources to address the diverse needs of students.

 

5. Creating lesson plans and instruction on the Research Process Model (FINDS) that teaches students how to effectively access information, evaluate sources, analyze, and synthesize the data according to state and national standards.

6. Develop collections that address the needs of the students and is age appropriate.

 

7. Researching and implementing new technology resources to enhance student learning.

8. Keeping up to date on library and media trends, best practices, and emerging literacy instruction and technologies by attending Literacy and Technology Conferences such as FETC, Library of Congress and belonging to media organizations like the Florida Association of Media Education- FAME, International Society for Technology in Education-ISTE, Educational Media Association of Palm Beach EMA.

9. Collaborating with teachers to strengthen instructional programs and also provide them with professional development in reading and technology.

10. Teaching digital citizenship lessons that explain the basics of online safety and ethical use of the internet.

11. Develop effective strategies for teaching information literacy, digital literacy, and literacy skills.

12. Creating project-based-learning activities that are student-centered, individualized, and relevant to learning goals which allow students to take ownership of their learning process.

13. Providing technology instruction to students regarding library-related activities such as database use and eBook access.

14. Offering professional development workshops for teachers and parents.

15. Utilizing data analysis to track students' reading achievements in Renaissance STAR Literacy, STAR Reading, Accelerated Reader, FAST Reading.

16. Create motivational reading programs that foster the love of reading and increase students' reading skills, such as Renaissance Accelerated Reader Program, Battle of the Books for grades 3-5; Florida Literacy Association Children's Book List students vote in grades Pre-K-2; Read for the Record; schoolwide Storybook Pumpkin Decorating Contest; Author-In Residence; Scholastic Book Fairs, Barnes and Noble Family Night; Literacy Week Celebration- 5 days of fun-filled activities; Palm Beach Sheriff's Therapy Dogs Reading Initiative; Children Services Reading Initiative; schoolwide performances of storybooks coming to life; schoolwide Reading Across America- Dr. Seuss Celebration with many activities planned throughout the day; Green Eggs and Ham Show; SSYRA Jr. & 3-5 voting activity, Earth Day Celebration; & Veterans Day.

17. Advocating for the library through social media.

18. Create videos of stories and activities uploaded to YouTube, where students can watch at any time.

19. Created a media website where students can access resources and stories 24 hours a day. In addition, created a BLE Media Google Classroom (code 6au43ln) where students can post their projects and keep up with more activities. Another Google Classroom was created for teachers to have access to all media resources and information about our library.

 

Overall, our library program fosters a love of learning and provides our students with the tools and resources they need to succeed academically and beyond. Becoming a digital learner help all types of learners become more engaged and focused on their learning. Students successfully learn how to master various formats such as online databases, Google Apps, Adobe Express, Book Creator, Pear Deck, iMovie, Microsoft Office, and much more. The results of conducting such initiatives have been tremendous as it has seen increased exposure to the library media resources, an increase in student's reading and research skills, an increase in critical thinking and problem-solving skills, an increase in students' enthusiasm about reading and technology, an increase in students appreciating various forms of media and sources of information, an increase in successful peer collaboration in group work and presentations, and finally, an overall educational growth for students. The program has also seen improved performance in standardized tests, mainly due to the emphasis on technical skills and collaboration. As a recent example, the students at Blue Lake Elementary in grades K- 2 have surpassed the school goal of 65% with 68.9% in a short time while predicted to exceed the district goal by the end of the year. In addition, many students in grades 3-5 have already achieved high reading goals. We are pleased to see our students passing their Accelerated Reader quizzes with 80% or higher within their Zone of Proximal Development range. This process demonstrates an understanding of the concepts and increases their vocabulary fluency and literacy skills. We are encouraged to witness their growth and continued success as they strive to reach their goals through these assessments.

Such accomplishments offer tangible proof that our efforts in creating a more equitable learning environment positively impact student achievements.
 

By investing in this comprehensive library media program, our school has ensured the tools and resources our students need to become lifelong learners, lifelong supporters of literature, and leaders, and will close the gap for struggling learners.

We have evaluated our program by using the ExC3EL Rubric.

 

 

Please take a look at our findings below.

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Enjoy your journey in getting to know us through this website.  

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