Elementary

North Allegheny Libraries are essential for preparing all students for success in a changing world. Our libraries provide a unique, welcoming, supportive, interdisciplinary learning environment where students, staff, and school community are invited to read widely, think critically, create and share new ideas, and grow as dynamic, respectful, and digitally literate citizens.

At the elementary level, students K–5 have a regularly scheduled weekly class. Report card grades are given at each semester for grades 1–5. Additional collaborative library lessons delivered in conjunction with classroom teachers are encouraged whenever possible, as the application of information and technology skills in all areas of study allows for continuity of lesson delivery. Book exchanges, story times, discussion groups, reading incentive programs, author visits, and other reading activities support the development of student literacy.

Kindergarten

Students will receive 30 minutes of instruction from the librarian each week. 

• Literacy: Students will learn how to use the library and expected library behaviors, general book care, and how to select appropriate books of interest. Special focus will be placed on familiar authors and book characters. Students will also begin to distinguish between fiction and nonfiction. 

   

First Grade

Students will receive 45 minutes of instruction from the librarian each week.

• Literacy: Students will learn library organization and general book location. They will also learn to identify the author and illustrator, will be introduced to award winning books, and independently identify fiction and nonfiction books. Students will participate in read-alouds by identifying characters and predicting outcomes.
• Research: Students will be introduced to basic research skills using nonfiction books focusing on the table of contents and index. Students will also learn to extract specific facts from online databases.
• Technology: Students will be introduced to digital citizenship concepts in partnership with Common Sense Media. 

Second Grade

Students will receive 45 minutes of instruction from the librarian each week.

• Literacy: Students will expand their knowledge of library organization through the categories of books within the Dewey Decimal System. Students will review and expand their knowledge of title, author, copyright, and table of contents. They will be introduced to the Literary Elements of genre, plot, character, and setting. Students will develop an understanding of multiculturalism through fables, folklore, and fairy tales.
• Research: Students will continue to develop research skills. They will produce a research project using print and non-print sources.
• Technology: Students will review the skills learned in first grade and further develop knowledge of website navigation, research databases, and other age appropriate technology. Students will expand on further aspects of digital citizenship in partnership with Common Sense Media.

Third Grade

Students will receive 45 minutes of instruction from the librarian each week.

• Literacy: Students will review and expand their knowledge of title, author, copyright, table of contents, index, and glossary. Students will focus on the specific genres of mystery, biography, and poetry.
• Research: Students will be introduced to Destiny Discover. Using results from searching Destiny Discover, students will learn to use call numbers to locate materials in the library. Students will continue to refine research skills using print and non-print materials. Students will learn basic note-taking skills, including highlighting and graphic organizers.
• Technology: Students will review the skills learned in second grade and further develop knowledge of website navigation, research databases, and other age appropriate technology. Students will expand on further aspects of digital citizenship in partnership with Common Sense Media.

Fourth Grade

Students will receive 45 minutes of instruction from the librarian each week.

• Literacy: Students will dig deeper to the literary element of theme. Students will focus on the specific genres of science fiction, historical fiction, and fantasy. Students will be exposed to award-winning literature.
• Research: Students will learn to identify appropriate print and non-print sources for research. Within those sources, students will learn to identify relevant information on a given research topic. Students will be expected to use multiple resources for their research. Students will learn to give credit to specific sources in an informal manner. Using results from searching Destiny Discover, students will continue to use call numbers to locate materials in the library.
• Technology: Students will review the skills learned in third grade and further develop knowledge of website navigation, research databases, and other age appropriate technology. Students will expand on further aspects of digital citizenship in partnership with Common Sense Media, including Information Security.

Fifth Grade

Students will receive 45 minutes of instruction from the librarian each week.

• Literacy: Students will review the literary elements and genres learned in previous grade levels. Students will continue to be exposed to award-winning literature.
• Research: Using results from searching Destiny Discover, students will continue to use call numbers to locate materials in the library. Students will learn to identify and evaluate appropriate print and non-print sources for research. Within those sources, students will learn to identify relevant information on a given research topic.
• Technology: Students will review the skills learned in fourth grade and further develop knowledge of website navigation, research databases, and other age appropriate technology. Students will expand on further aspects of digital citizenship in partnership with Common Sense Media, including Information Security.