It’s Scholastic Book Fair week at Morrison Elementary. The library is full of popular books and other merchandise. Librarian Katie Spears is extremely excited for the book fair and the upcoming Literacy Fair on Feb. 22.
“The kids here are super excited about the Book Fair. It’s such a great opportunity for them to choose special books,” says Spears. She worked as a librarian at Irving College School for years and this is her first year at the Morrison School.
Not only does the Book Fair break up this dreary time of winter for the kids, but it allows them to work on their math skills too. Depending on the age group, Spears makes the students take into account sales tax and learn how to manage their money.
“One of the first things I do is have the students know exactly how much they have to spend. This is step one,” says Spears. She also likes to pair older students like seventh-graders with the third-graders so they can help each other learn how to spend responsibly and manage their money.
For some students this is the first time they may be making independent purchases. Understanding how sales tax is added and calculated is also a learning opportunity.
Spears painstakingly writes out what all the prices are once sales tax is added on to the total and places the lists all around the library.
This year Scholastic is offering EWALLET, an additional method of payment to cash and check. Parents and caretakers can visit the book fair page in advance at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/morrison Here they can load EWALLET funds in advance. They can also use the QR code that students bring home with Book Fair information. This is a great way for students to keep up with their money and to make sure it all goes to the book fair.
In addition to loading the EWALLET, you can view a virtual fair, preview books and book trailers and shop online. Spears hopes students will shop during their library and computer classes. She encourages parents and students to write down specific items or suggestions for purchase, a type of wish list. These help students stay focused and on task.
“Obviously, the book fair is such a great way to promote literacy in families. Right now, graphic novels are very popular,” says Spears. “Entire chapter books are being turned into graphic novels.” In addition, students can buy posters, novelty writing and reading merchandise. The book fair caters to all ages. “We have books for preschoolers, we have books for 14-year olds. We’re a K-8 school. That’s a very big age range.”
The literacy fair is also around the corner. On Feb. 22, each grade will choose a winner who will then go on to enter the District Literacy Fair at Warren County Middle School on Thursday, March 7.
The literacy fair requires a student to pick a book, fiction or non-fiction, and use a creative way to represent the book on a tri-fold board. Schools are able to provide each student one board at no cost until they run out.
Project boards on fictional books have to highlight main characters, setting, plot summary, problem solution and author’s purpose. non-fictional projects must feature a description of the genre, use a graphic organizer, a summary and the author’s purpose.
Judges will be looking for creativity, quality, thoroughness and ability to evoke interest. Please email Spears with any questions at bryantk@warrenschools.com. The book fair will be available until Friday, Feb. 16.
