There are 5 Power Standards which guide the lessons taught and programs offered in LWSD libraries.

· Library Skills: Students will locate, access, and use library resources responsibly and effectively.

· Love of Books: Students will use literature to pursue personal interests, expand global understanding, and reach academic goals.

· Seeking Information: Students will identify the task, determine resources needed, and evaluate sources.

· Organizing & Presenting Information: Students will use collected information to present findings, and then reflect on the research process.

· Digital Citizenship: Students will use information and resources safely, ethically, legally, and responsibly.

Each class at Twain has a library class once each week, on the same day each week, for 30 minutes. Students are welcome to come to the library anytime during school hours if they need to check out a book.

Primary Grades (K-2): In the primary grades, students will not necessarily have direct instruction in each content area (i.e., each Power Standard) every year. In addition to checkout every week, throughout the year we read a variety of books: Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominees, seasonal and holiday stories, fiction and nonfiction texts that correspond with topics students are learning about in their classrooms, etc. Related activities are interspersed with the readings and, where possible, aspects of the Power Standards are included within the activities.

Intermediate Grades (3-5): In the intermediate grades, instruction of the content is much more direct than in the primary grades. In addition to checkout every week, the following topics are covered in brief lessons:

· Dewey Decimal System

· Genres · Strategies for choosing a book to read · How to use Destiny (the online catalog) and online databases

· Research skills: Plan, Gather & Evaluate Sources, Organize, Cite, Share, Review & Reflect

· Digital Citizenship: Online Safety, Digital Footprint, Copyright & Fair Use, Media Literacy

In addition to library classes, we offer Battle of the Books, an optional reading program for 4th and 5th graders which includes friendly competition between teams.

All families are welcome to participate in the Birthday Book Program, where students can purchase a book from our wish list and donate it to the library in recognition of their birthday.

Current families can find more detailed information about both of these programs on the Mark Twain Library PowerSchool page.