Library Card Shelf Markers
As you know, I used to make shelf markers out of paint stirrers. Several librarians commented that they put student barcodes on their shelf markers, and I really liked that idea. But the vision of painting 900 paint stirrers did NOT appeal to me!
So, I made combination library card/shelf markers on card stock. Then I had the idea to make them into punch cards. We'll punch a circle around the outside edge each time a student checks out or rechecks his books (because his account is current--no bills or overdues). After five circles, there's a star for the sixth punch, and the student will get to choose a-fun-but-not-too-distracting-school supply from the treasure box.
For our first graders, I have a different design: 3 circles before a number 2 on the edge, because I do 3 lessons with our fabulous firsties before I let them check out 2 books. I teach them book care, shelf markers, and choosing a just right book before they start taking 2 books home.
On one side of the library card/shelf marker/punch card, the students will write their first name (or the name they want to be called), and I'll stick the barcode on there. On the other side, I have one of our Leader in Me sayings ("think win-win") with the circles and stars, waiting to be punched.
I bought ocean stickers for students to add to their shelf marker/library card/punch card to personalize it even more. After we have names and bar codes and stickers on, we'll laminate them so they'll last all year.
And because I know my little angels and their wily ways, I bought heart-shaped punches for us to use at the circulation desk, instead of standard hole punches. Just in case they have an idea to try to punch their own card.
You can download my library card/shelf marker/punch card pdf for free right here, from my Google Drive.
I think this will help me to:
-reward the students who return or renew their books responsibly, and
-see at a glance which students haven't checked out for a while due to late or lost books!
I'll keep you posted on how this system works.
And, THANK YOU for helping this blog to reach half a million page views! That's a whole lot of collaboration going on!
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