Congratulations to this year’s bookmark challenge winners and a special thank you Claudia, Paige, Toby, and Jiin from the MS and Riho, Hiro, Noriomi, and Riku from the HS who were this year’s bookmark challenge judges. There were 150 entries this year. I would like to thank everyone who entered for submitting quality work. The entries were absolutely amazing!

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Who: Students Grades 3-5

Why: Share your love of reading with the school community and demonstrate your oral reading fluency.

When: October – April

Where: Practice – Library Recess; Perform – KG, Gr. 1 or Gr. 2 classroom

What:

Read five Sakura 2023 picture books.

Evaluate the five books and pick the one you would like to read aloud.

Evaluations Form (click here)

Sign-up to be a Read Leader during library recess ONLY after you have completed reading at least 5 Sakura 2023 picture books.

Practice reading your book aloud with a friend using the Reader Leader Checklist during library recess.

Practice reading your book aloud to Ms. Pretz during library recess.

Once you demonstrate that you are reading with fluency and expression write a letter to the classroom you would like to visit.

When you get a date and time you will read to a Kg, Gr. 1 or Gr. 2 classroom.

Inquiry Question: What makes a book a fantastic read-aloud for students in Kg, Gr. 1, or Gr. 2?

Portrait of a Learner Competencies:

Mindset – Grit, resilience & adaptability

Collaboration – Working interdependently as a team; managing team dynamics & challenges

Critical Thinking – Evaluating Information

Directions:

Use a pencil when designing your bookmark.

Color your bookmark using colored pencils.

Outline your design using a black fine line marker or Sharpie.

Shade in your background using a colored pencil.

Don’t forget to write your name and class on the back of your bookmark before turning it in to Ms. Pretz or Mrs. Notter during library class or third recess.

Examples from previous years:

Watch the books disappear from the shelves!

Click here to open the collection.

If you are not logged into SORA, you will need to log in.

Step 1: Select School – The American School in Japan

Step 2: Select Patron Type – Parent OR Faculty/Student

Step 3: Log In

Step 4: Tap the Explore tab (binoculars icon). 

Step 5: Tap Open Book or Open Audiobook to read or listen to the book. Tap Options to renew or return the book.

Step 6: Go to the SORA bookshelf icon and click on OPTIONS to return a book early or to renew a book.  

SORA Username & Password Information for Students & Faculty:

Username: ASIJ Gmail account email

Example:   27jonesm@asijac.jp

Password: KG/Gr. 2 school selected password – contact your child’s teacher or help@asij.ac.jp ; Gr. 3 – 5 student-created “super secret password”.

SORA Username & Password Information for Parents:

Username: firstname.lastname (Example: jane.smith)

Password: The password is the Veracross Axiom ID of the parent – it should be a sequence of numbers (Example: 50213).

Parents with Green or Purple ASIJ Parent ID cards:  Go online to your Gold Card Membership, click on Family and your ID number will show there.

Summer reading will keep your child’s learning moving forward and there’s no better time for them to develop a lifelong habit of finding pleasure in books.

To support our students with their summer reading goals, the ASIJ Elementary Library allows returning students to check out books during summer vacation.  If your child is interested in participating in summer checkout, please complete the summer checkout permission form below.

 All books are due on student orientation day in August.

This year homerooms will have a specified time for students to check out their summer reading books.  15 books/child will be the limit this year. If a parent is volunteering on campus during the last week of school (such as, for Field Day), the parent may check out an additional 5 books on the family account while on campus.

• Summer Checkout Permission Form (click on link to open)
• Please submit this form by June 3rd if you would like your child to participate in summer checkout.
• Summer Checkout Schedule  – by classroom
• Please send 2 reusable bags with your child for summer check out.

Click here to access recommended reading lists.

Click here to access recommended reading lists.

Click here to access recommended reading list.

Click here to access recommended reading lists.

Click here to access recommended reading lists.

New Japanese books for summer reading fun!