Todd Library Media Center

Welcome!

OUR MISSION

The mission of the Todd Library program is to ensure that students are effective lifetime learners and lifelong readers. The Todd Teacher Librarian empowers students to be:

Critical Thinkers
Enthusiastic Readers
Skillful Researchers
Ethical Users of Information

author visits

todd author visits 2024 - 2025

Nathan Hale meets 4th & 5th graders on Nov. 19th

Nina Crews meets 2nd & 3rd graders on Feb. 6th

Beth Ferry meets K & 1st graders on April 3rd

For a list of author visits hosted by Todd Library and the PTA since 2002, click here. Also, see below for most recent past years.

todd author visits 2023 - 2024

Stuart Gibbs met 4th & 5th graders on Nov. 14th

Meghan McCarthy met 2nd & 3rd graders on Feb. 7th

Kelly Starling Lyons met K & 1st graders on April 19th

todd author visits 2022 - 2023

Lauren Tarshis met 4th & 5th graders on Oct. 28th

Jerry Pallotta met 2nd & 3rd graders on Feb. 9th

Matt de la Peña met K & 1st graders on April 21st

todd author visits 2021 - 2022

Erin Entrada Kelly met 4th & 5th graders on Nov. 16

Brian Pinkney met 2nd & 3rd graders on Feb. 16th

Juana Martinez-Neal met K & 1st graders on April 26th

todd author visits 2020 - 2021

We virtually hosted:

Chris Grabenstein (4th & 5th)

Jarrett J. Krosoczka (2nd & 3rd)

Mike Curato (K & 1st)

todd author visits 2019 - 2020
Oct. 30	4th & 5th	Adam Gidwitz
December 3	K, 1st, 2nd & 3rd	Laurie Keller
cancelled	~~3rd, 4th & 5^th~~	~~Nathan Hale~~
cancelled	~~K, 1^st & 2^nd~~	~~Mike Curato~~

todd author visits 2018 - 2019
Oct. 26	K, 1^st & 2^nd	David Wiesner
Nov. 28	3^rd, 4^th & 5^th	Wendy Mass
Jan. 31	5^th	Evan Turk
March 26 March 27	K, 1^st & 2^nd 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th	Janet Wong Janet Wong

todd author visits 2017 - 2018
Oct. 26^th	3^rd, 4^th & 5^th	Dan Gutman
Dec. 6^th	K, 1^st & 2^nd	Marc Brown
March 9^th	3^rd, 4^th & 5^th	Lauren Tarshis
April 11^th	K, 1^st & 2^nd	Jason Chin

Library Resources

destiny OPAC

For Todd Teachers

Excellent Websites and Apps for Teachers

Click HERE for the Best Apps for Teaching & Learning from the American Association of School Librarians.
Want to know how to pronounce an author's name? Want links to great literature resources? Go to the database Teaching Books! (Click on Library Resources bar.)
For the full array of the Library of Congress’ Digitized Collections go to https://www.loc.gov/search
Click HERE to visit Graphite, a platform created by Common Sense media that pulls together great websites, games and apps for educators to use in the classroom.

SOCRATIC SEMINARS

The purpose of this webpage is to provide resources for educators interested in Socratic Seminars.

Questions?

Contact librarian Tara Phethean @ TPhethean@briarcliffschools.org

Overview

For a good general overview including sample materials click HERE.

Videos

Click HERE for a recorded example of a Socratic seminar, in this case at the middle school level.
Click HERE to view an informative video about Socratic seminar used at the high school level.

Strategies, Lesson Plans & Materials

Click HERE for ReadWriteThink's Strategy Guide for Socratic seminar.

for todd parents

WELCOME! Hello Parents!

Strong school libraries build strong students. Click HERE to learn more.
Do you read to your child? Why is it a good idea? Listen to actor John Lithgow HERE.
Is your child in 4th or 5th grade? Click on the "Video Book Talk Club" to find out about this after school club!
Check out the "Resources for ALL" link here for excellent websites recommended for kids by the American Library Association.

Video Booktalk Club

WELCOME to the Video Booktalk Club Webpage!

Who?

Todd School students in grade 5.

What?

Star in a commercial about your favorite summer reading book!

Where?

Create scripts and tape videos in the Todd Library Media Center.

When?

Attend Monday or Tuesday after-school meetings during which students write, edit, record, mix, and finalize their talks.
Videos will be posted online to promote summer reading.

For Parents

We will do all the work with your child during club meetings.
Meetings will be directly after school ends in the Todd Library. Pick up will be at 3:30 p.m. in the Todd lobby.

To See Students' Video Booktalks

Click HERE to see the latest booktalks!

Book Checkout Policy

Students in kindergarten check out one book each library visit.
Students in grades 1 - 2 may have a total of two books checked out.
Students in grades 3 - 5 may have a total of three books checked out.
Additional books may be checked out for schoolwork, and as requested by individual students.
If a book is late there is no overdue fine. If a book is permanently lost or damaged the family pays for the replacement cost. Please email Mrs. Phethean and she will be happy to look up that cost.

Families that note their child's library day ("Day 2," for example) will help them remember to return their books.

Library Schedule

FAMILY RESOURCES FOR DISCUSSIONS

Books for Children to Read & Discuss with Adults:

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr., illustrated by Kadir Nelson

I Walk with Vanessa : A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët

Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester

Not My Idea by Anastasia Higginbotham

The Proudest Blue : A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Other Resources:

CNN/Sesame Street Racism Town Hall

PBS Kids: Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism

Briarcliff Schools

Briarcliff High School

Briarcliff Middle School

Todd Elementary School

Tier Two Schools