Education Resources
Library literacy and support for local educators and students
Q&A with Beau Brown
Beau is a 4th grade teacher at Central Point Elementary
Every winter, JCLS’s Rogue Reads motivates our community to collectively read a title centering on a specific theme; this year’s being finding delights in everyday life. What moments of delight have you noticed amongst your day-to-day routine in the classroom?
Delights in the classroom happen each and every day such as student laughter and engagement. However, relationships and building a strong positive culture has to be at the top of my list. Getting to know students on a deeper level and finding out more about them is the greatest delight. I enjoy listening to what makes the students happy, whether it is their soccer games, visiting grandparents, or their family vacations. Building strong community relationships is the biggest delight.
What has been a really rewarding/ stand out moment in your career?
A really rewarding moment is being able to see students after they leave my classroom and do great things. Whenever I get to see students out in the community and get to talk with them about life, it is always rewarding.
Another really rewarding thing that has happened in my career is being able to teach my daughter in third grade. It was the most joyous thing I could have ever experienced.
Nowadays, what do you think is the greatest hurdle or barrier that young learners face? How can we as an educational community support them?
Students are constantly surrounded by distractions, the biggest distraction being technology. I am also guilty of this distraction and find myself at times being on my phone or computer too much and wasting my time with them. I think in today's world we use technology when we are inconvenienced or need a break instead of looking to books, board games, or adventuring outside. I think as an educational community, we can provide opportunities to not only students, but to families, to get into libraries and places in the community that can be fun and educational.
What is your favorite resource offered by the public library? How do you utilize it in your career or personal life?
BOOKS! Without the library I probably wouldn't have the love of reading that I currently have. Our family has utilized so many of the resources the library has to offer, we use Libby on a daily basis, we've checked things out from the Library of Things, I used to take my kids to the Wobblers classes when they were little, I have brought them in to play with LEGOs and have taken them to many different events at different Jackson County Libraries. I also love that we as community members can request purchases for the libraries.
I take field trips with my class to the library each month and getting kids to love books is the most important thing I could do. My hope is to inspire kids and get parents involved more, so they are able to learn about all the great resources the library has to offer.
Would you mind telling us a fun reading or library anecdote from your childhood?
I grew up in the small town of Cave Junction where the public library was open two days a week. I remember each time my mom would take me to the library, I would run over to the Clifford section to get a couple Clifford books to check-out. I can still remember where that section is today. It's fun to see my own kids do the same thing each time we go to the library, my son going to the Elephant and Piggie section and my daughter going to the graphic novels and Heidi Heckelbeck books.
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DECEMBER RESOURCES
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O’Neill
After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives–and eventually her own.
Grade Level(s): 4th-12th | Genre: Fantasy/Graphic Novel | Lexile: 440