Movement & Literature in Washington School Library

Physical education class and recess aren’t the only opportunities Washington Primary School third graders have for movement during the school day. The library is a happening place, too.

Washington librarian Rebecca Krauss is using movement activities along with literature to teach students all about effective teamwork.

“After sharing ideas about what teamwork is and questioning classmates about their experiences with teamwork, students were introduced to the story ‘A Little Spot of Teamwork’ by Diane Alber,” Ms. Kraus said. “Students learned that good teamwork includes agreeing on a goal to achieve, doing their part to help the team reach the goal,  sharing ideas, listening to others, encouraging others and compromising when there is a disagreement.”

Once engaged in the activity, students began to understand the importance of communicating while working as a team in order to keep a ball from falling in a tarp. “They found that the more they communicated and worked with each other to keep the ball from falling, the longer they could keep the ball on the tarp and off the floor,” Ms. Kraus said.

Once the task was completed, students worked on a writing reflection explaining what was effective and what could be improved when working with a team.

“We will continue to explore and practice effective, supportive teamwork involving future readings of ‘A Little Spot of Teamwork’ and discussions about leadership skills when working with others,” Ms. Kraus said.

The librarian earned an undergraduate degree at Stony Brook University in anthropology in 2005. She obtained a Master of Science at Long Island University in library and information science in 2016. Prior to coming to Huntington UFSD, Ms. Kraus worked as a teaching assistant in South Huntington; as a special education paraprofessional in Half Hollow Hills and as a children services librarian at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library in Dix Hills.