Dr. Debra Hua Lu Library
Yinghua Library
The mission of Yinghua Academy’s library is to support learning, encourage reading in English and Chinese, and teach students to successfully use library resources.
Grade Level Library Time
- Kindergarten through 1st grade are scheduled for a weekly 20-minute library visit.
- Grades 2nd through 5th visit once a week during one of their English Language Arts classes. During a session, students may participate in a library skills lesson, read books, and/or check out books
- Grades 6th through 8th Grade may use the library during the activity or homeroom homework lab period.
Library staff and classroom teachers make every effort to help students choose materials that are appropriate for their reading level and interests.
Library Policies
- Books may be checked out for a one-week loan and renewed up to two times (if not requested by another student).
- Students with overdue library books will have their borrowing privileges suspended until the overdue materials are returned. Books may be returned during your student’s library session, or at any time to the library return drop box, located outside the library. Please remind your child to return materials on time.
- Students are allowed to check out 2 books per session: one English and one Chinese.
- Books are considered overdue if not returned or renewed after 3 weeks.
- A replacement fee will be charged for lost or damaged items, and the minimum fee is $10! A book is damaged if it is returned in a condition that makes it unusable. A lost book is six weeks overdue. Overdue notices explaining the replacement fee procedure will be sent home prior to the end of each term.
NOTE: All library fees must be paid in full in order to receive report cards!
When students use the library, they must follow library rules that foster a safe and productive learning environment, such as being quiet, no mistreating books, no running, etc. If the rules are broken, students will receive a verbal warning and be asked to change their behavior. If the misbehavior continues then students will be given logical consequences, such as not being allowed to check out books. Parents will be notified about the behavior and the consequences.
Email library questions to phillip.morris@yinghuaacademy.org.
Library Volunteers
Our library needs parent volunteers especially as we continue to implement the Accelerated Reader program! Sign up to volunteer in the library.
Accelerated Reading
Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers manage and monitor children’s reading practice. Yinghua is using this program to help students develop the habit of reading and, in doing so, to realize the joy of reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
During English class or library visits, students can take brief computerized quizzes to check their understanding of the books they’ve read. Books may come from your home library, a public library, the Yinghua Library or our English Language Arts (ELA) classrooms.
Children pick a book at their own levels and read them at their own pace. When finished, they take a short quiz on the computer. (Passing the quiz is an indication that a child understood what was read.) AR gives children and teachers feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help your child set goals and direct ongoing reading practice.
Children using AR choose their own books to read, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them. Teachers help your child choose books at an appropriate readability level that are challenging without being frustrating. This helps ensure that your child can pass the quiz and experience success.
Yinghua students have taken practice AR tests to learn the new program and become comfortable taking tests. Students set goals in conjunction with their ELA teachers.
Students in grades 2 through 8 take a Star Reading Assessment to help determine an appropriate reading level. Star Reading is a computerized reading assessment that uses computer-adaptive technology. Questions continually adjust to your child’s responses. If the child’s response is correct, the difficulty level is increased. If the child misses a question, the difficulty level is reduced. The assessment uses multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 15 minutes.
In independent literature-based reading, ZPD is the range of books that will challenge a child without causing frustration or loss of motivation. Your child receives a ZPD range after taking a Star Reading Assessment. Shortly after receiving the ZPD, or reading level, students can begin taking book quizzes. Visit the AR BookFinder (www.arbookfind.com) to find out if a book has an AR quiz associated with it.
There are three ways for a child to “read” a book, as below. Book quizzes also may be administered in these ways:
- The child may read a book independently and may take a the computerized AR quiz independently.
- The child may read a book with an adult or reading buddy and may take the computerized AR quiz with an adult’s assistance.
- An adult or reading buddy may read a book aloud to a child and may read aloud the quiz questions to the child.
Battle of the Books
The Battle of the Books is an extracurricular reading program that students in 3rd Grade through 5th Grade are encouraged to participate in. Students will work in teams to read a list of books and then compete against other teams by testing their knowledge of the books they have read in a fun trivia-style competition.
You can also check out the Round 1 Book List for this year and the Battle of the Books FAQ
Recommended Reading
Yinghua Academy Professional Presentations
A Collaborative Thematic Approach to Transfer Skills in Immersion Classrooms
By Dr. Luyi Lien, Academic Director, Yinghua Academy,
Jenessa Van Schooneveld, English Curriculum Coordinator & 2nd Gr ELA Teacher, Kailing Chen, 2nd Grade Immersion Teacher
November 19, 2010 ACTFL Conference, Boston, MA
Building Communication Skills Through Content-Based Instruction
By Dr. Luyi Lien, Academic Director, Yinghua Academy
May 1, 2009, National Chinese Conference
Resources for books & other materials in Chinese
Resources for Asian-American books in English
- NEA-compiled Asian-American book list by grade level
Scholastic Book Sales
- Yinghua coordinates a few Scholastic Books sales per year. Families will receive information about the sales in the weeks prior to each Book Fair.