Students visit the library/media space during their ELA or social studies class periods.  For ELA visits, the two learning centers alternate weeks, allowing classes to visit for the entire period.  During these visits, students will receive a refresher on the library setup and access.  Access to the library includes the Destiny Discover catalog system (logging in, keyword searches, call numbers, placing book holds, and managing their personal account), FactCite and Gale in Context: Middle School (academic research databases), and the SORA database in which students have access to eBooks, audiobooks, and magazines (including a magazine Scavenger Hunt).  Students are also taught how to manage their SORA account, including checking out items, earning badges, and returning items.  Book circulation is always part of the ELA visits.  The PMS Library LibGuide is linked here.  

Different reading activities throughout the year include book talks, read-alouds, genre exploration (Poetry Stations; Novels in Verse; Historical Fiction), topic connections (Hatchet), author highlights, and Hatchet enrichment presentations.  Students also have exposure to book promotions and programs.  The three that are presented annually are the Rhode Island Middle School Book Award (grades 6-8), the Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books and Authors, and the ALA Youth Media Award winners.  The RI Public Libraries Summer Reading Program is also promoted at the end of the year.

Other activities of interest are interactive book displays, March Madness with Books, and a variety of jigsaw puzzles throughout the year.

Students also engage in an EOY Ancient Civilizations Escape Room using the Gale in Context: Middle School database.  It’s a fun few days that connect research skills and database navigation to social studies knowledge about ancient civilizations.

When students come to the library/media space during social studies class, they will learn about Digital Citizenship using Common Sense Education.  The topics studied include phishing scams, digital drama, digital friendships, and digital footprint and identity.