Winter Reading Wonderland

Registration for the 2007 Youth Services Winter Reading Program, Reading Wonderland, continues through Feb. 28. Participants may sign up at the Youth Services Information Desk or the Hoffman Estates or Hanover Park branches. Readers must read 10 books and non-readers must have 20 books read to them. Prizes will be distributed Feb. 1-28. For more information, call the Youth Services Information Desk at (847) 923-3439. Teen and adult reading programs are also ongoing.

 

Featured Web Sites

Here are six Web sites relevant to parents:

Early Childhood and Parenting Information

http://ceep.crc.uiuc.edu/poptopics.html
Visit this site for information on popular topics among parents of young children. Subjects such as the benefits of full-day kindergarten, biting and homework are included.

The Web site is maintained by the Clearinghouse on Early Education and Parenting (CEEP), which is part of the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The groups provide print and online resources for early childhood and parenting communities.

Need Math Help?

The library has a math tutor available on a first come, first served basis at the following times. No registration is required, and math levels of elementary school through college are welcome. For more information, call Amy Peterson at (847) 923-3332.

Central Library: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Hoffman Estates Branch: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Hanover Park Branch: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

ISAT Bulletin

Looking for the most up-to-date ISAT information? Students in grades 3-8 take the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, commonly abbreviated ISAT, in March 2007. The Illinois State Board of Education's Web site features practice questions, a testing schedule and resources.

http://www.isbe.state.il.us/assessment/isat.htm

Some standardized test preparation tips include:

1) Students with good attendance, homework and study habits tend to be successful test takers. As a parent, your daily assistance with homework and attitude toward school impact your child's performance.

2) Make sure that your child is in school during the testing sessions. Do not plan any doctor appointments on test dates.

3) Encourage your child to prepare over a period of time rather than "cram" the night before.

4) Encourage your child to listen carefully to all test-taking directions given by the teacher and to ask questions about any directions that are unclear.

5) Be sure that your child is well-rested and has eaten a healthy breakfast.

Your Questions Answered

Question: Could the library offer more children's programs on evenings and weekends?

Answer: The Schaumburg Township District Library Youth Services Department is dedicated to providing programs for children ages infant through 14. Programs are offered at the central library and Hoffman Estates and Hanover Park branches. After school programs are offered at times to accommodate the schedule of public and private schools within our township and children who are home schooled. Programs are consistently offered on days when school is not in session; often, more than one program is presented on a special “No School" day.

During our Storytime sessions, which are held in four five-week sessions a year, we offer both morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Once a month on a Saturday, we have stories in the Enchanted Forest. We recently had a successful drop-in craft program on a Saturday. In the past when Saturday programs have been offered, attendance has been low. At periodic program meetings, staff discuss scheduling and attendance and make adjustments if necessary.

Staff from the central library present many of the same programs to both branches. Youth Services librarians are available during all hours the library is open. Whether a formal program is offered or not, our staff is ready to assist all patrons requesting information or materials.

Preschool Storytime Participation

Preschool Storytime is designed for children ages 3-5 who are ready to listen to stories and participate in reading and music activities without having a parent or caregiver in the room. Adults are required to remain in the Youth Services Department during the program. Our goal is to create an excitement and interest in listening to stories and learning to read. It also provides an opportunity to socialize with other children in the same age group.

Every child develops this independence at a different age. Many three-year-olds will have no problem leaving their parent or caregiver. On the other hand, a five-year-old may still be uneasy with the situation. It is important not force the child to participate. This is a fun activity, and children who are not ready should decide when they are. The library offers other Storytime programs such as Family Storytime and Stories in the Enchanted Forest for children and adults to enjoy stories together.

Tips for Parents:

1) Talk to your child before Storytime and explain exactly what is going to take place. Tell your child that you will not be in the room but will be waiting outside the door.

2) Do not force your child to enter the room if he/she is resistant to going or cry.

3) Do bring your child back each time, encouraging him/her to participate, but again, do not force him/her to enter.

4) Do not peek in the window! If your child sees you, he/she will become distracted. Many began to cry and want to leave.

5) The fact that your child does not want to participate is no reflection on his/her intelligence.

6) Bring your children to Family Storytimes.

7) Read Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus.

Safety Bulletin

Would you leave your child alone in a shopping mall or allow your five-year-old to go to the neighborhood playground by himself? The Schaumburg Township District Library is a public building. Public places are not safe for unsupervised children. Whether in a shopping mall, grocery store or library, children should be closely supervised by an adult caregiver at all times.

Our efforts to keep children with parents while in the library are motivated by safety. The staff and library board are concerned about the safety and welfare of children. Parents and adult caregivers are responsible for monitoring the activities and regulating children's behavior while in the library.

The Schaumburg Township District Library's policy is that children under the age of eight may not be left unsupervised anywhere in the library. Children under age eight must be accompanied and directly supervised by a responsible adult (age 18 or older) at all times, in all areas of the library and its grounds.

Children age eight and older are welcome to use the library's resources as long as needed, provided that their behavior is not disruptive to other patrons or staff members. Parents or caregivers are responsible for their children's behavior, whether or not they are in the building. The Youth Services staff is committed to helping children utilize the library's resources but cannot serve as baby-sitters, teachers or disciplinarians.

If a parent or adult caregiver of a child cannot be located, or if the library is closing, library employees are authorized to call the police.

Textbooks Available

Did you know that the Youth Services Department and Hoffman Estates and Hanover Park branches have copies of District 54 textbooks? Local private schools including Schaumburg Christian, St. Peter's and St. Hubert's are also included in the collection. The books are part of our reference collection and may not leave the library. Patrons must sign out the books to use in the library only. If a child has forgotten his or her textbook, homework can still get done! If you would like to see what your children are doing in school, be sure to look at these textbooks. Our librarians are happy to sign these textbooks out to you whenever the library is open.

Craft Corner

Each issue of Parent Connection will feature a craft to make at home with simple supplies. This winter, use old crayons and wax paper to make beautiful “stained glass" creations.

Materials:
Old crayons without wrappers
Wax paper
Potato peeler
Iron

Process:
Cover the working area with newspaper. Fold a sheet of wax paper in half and open it. Using the potato peeler, shave pieces of crayon onto half of the sheet. Use any color combination. Fold the wax paper in half again when there are enough crayon shavings. Using an iron on low heat, gently press the wax paper until the crayons have melted. The longer the surface is heated, the more colors will blend. You may use a towel when ironing. Adults or closely supervised children only should use the iron.

When the surface is cool, you may trace and cut out shapes, use construction paper to make a frame or border, or use ribbon to make a hanging ornament. Try experimenting with different shades of the same color or different color combinations. Hang your creations by a window to see the light shining through!