Lower School Library Services

The SCH Academy library program supports the school’s mission to prepare students to be active learners and responsible global citizens.

We strive to:

help students and teachers find and use information effectively:

online information is rapidly changing and increasing with few quality controls; it is even more important to teach students to access, critically evaluate, and appropriately utilize information.

provide access to a wide variety of resources—print and digital—that support curriculum, inspire the imagination, expand our worldview.
help students develop competency in and joy of reading—and expand view of “valued reading” and literacy

to include books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and other digital resources, graphic novels, and new media.

create a “reading rocks” culture via book sharing, book commercials, and promotions.

Our Lower School Program

Encourages and supports independent reading:

Reader’s Advisory – work one-on-one and in collaboration with classroom teachers to help students find books of interest at a comfortable reading level
Philadelphia Reading Olympics
Booktalks
Book displays and contests
Coordinate author visits

Provides in-class and in-library instruction on the following:

Locating fiction and nonfiction in the library
Searching for online resources to support individual interests and school projects
Evaluating resources for reliability, accuracy, bias, and currency
Citing sources
How to present project information
Digital citizenship/creating digital footprints

Offers technology integration:

Provide a diverse collection of digital resources
Use iPads for research
Create video book review
Use iMovie, Scratch coding, Animoto, Google Apps to create and collaborate
Utilize social media to promote reading/student work: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

Librarians collaborate with homeroom teachers and attend all grade-level, department, and division meetings to stay fully integrated into the academic and social lives of Lower School students.

Program Highlights

Collaborate on reading program including high-touch reader’s advisory.
Integrate iPads and other technology tools to enhance learning in the library.
Teach research process including how to select appropriate websites and cite sources.
Work side-by-side with classroom teachers to help students with research projects.
Offer open library time before and after school: families are welcome to visit to select additional library materials to enjoy at home.
Exposure to wide range of genres, cultures, and families in both print and digital formats.
Coordinate visiting authors and illustrators, plus book fairs and other special events.
Students create video book commercials and use Scratch to code literature responses.

Mailing Address: 500 West Willow Grove Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Main Reception: 215-247-4700 | Campus Security: 267-246-8427
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