[CALIBK12] K-8 school & Twilight

[ladewig]

I sent this personally to Tania, but Margie asked for other ideas, so here's
what I did when I was at a K – 8 about ten years ago:

 

I used to be at a K – 8, so I understand your dilemma. Do you have a school
or library website? I would post a list of "Middle school appropriate"
titles on that site with active links to the reviews you have found that
give a good understanding of the content you are concerned about. That way
you don't have to keep printing out info but it's relatively easy for a
parent to check. Then just send home the permission slip with the info to
check the school website before giving your child permission. I would have a
"Yes" box and a "No" or "Not this year" box on the form for parents to
choose as well as a line for their signature. 

 

When at my former site, I put a ¾" neon orange dot right next to the
checkout barcode on the "middle school" titles, and wrote the appropriate
grade level on the dot. When younger kids tried to check them out, we
explained why they needed their parents' permission. You just can't miss
seeing that neon sticker at checkout. I just explained to the kids they
would have a much better understanding and appreciation for the book when
they were older. If they still wanted it, I offered to let them call their
parents (I had a phone at the desk) and I would ask them for permission (or
send home a note). Or you could offer to email the parents at their work
email and include the link. I wouldn't do it to a home email because the
kids could have an older sibling answer the email for them before the
parents got home. If you use a home email I would instruct having the parent
print it out and sign it before I honored it.

*************************************

Margie, now when I have kids ask me for Twilight or A Child Called It, or
some of the latter Harry Potter novels, I do tell them to go to the public
library – I don't stock them at my K - 6. When they (5th & 6th graders) say
"Why?" I ask them if 2nd and 3rd graders should be reading it, and they say
"No!" Then I explain to them that I don't have time to watch over the little
ones' selections (to that degree) and besides, the reviews usually indicate
these are middle school titles.

 

Joanne Ladewig  (A.K.A. "Library Lady")

Library Media Tech

Lawrence Elementary, GGUSD

Garden Grove, California

shatz at verizon.net

 

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark.
Professionals built the Titanic.

Comments are my own and may not represent the views of GGUSD

 

  _____  

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Margie Foreman
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 2:42 PM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] K-8 school & Twilight

 


 

I also work at a K-8 school.  This is what we have done to remedy the
"Twilight" issue as well as other Young Teen novels.   We have a designated
area that is reserved for our middle school students only.  (6-8th grade).
We let our students that don't fall under that category know that they are
welcome to check out the same book at the public library.   We don't allow
permission slips.  PERIOD.  The target audience for our books in this
section are Upper grade / Young Adult.   If our school had a separate
library for middle school - these lower grade students wouldn't even see
these titles.  

 

Anyone else have ideas? 

 

Margie Foreman 

LVCS Library 

www.lvcs.org 

 

  

 

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