The Nerd Herd Makes Reading Cool Again
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hat do you call a group of students who meet with their friends to excitedly discuss the latest book they just read? Well, the Nerd Herd, of course! This club of voracious readers is led by Manya Glavach, the “hubrarian” who presides over Westminster Elementary’s innovative “library,” the HUB. The HUB replaced the traditional library for elementary students when the new elementary campus building opened in 2013. Just like a library, the HUB provides over 10,000 print volumes, hundreds of audio
books, eBooks and DVDs, and Microsoft Surfaces and iPads for students and teachers. What makes the HUB even more unique is that it can be found in the center of each floor, surrounded by classrooms with sliding glass walls. This intentional design encourages collaboration among grade levels, teachers and students, and is a mark of excellence in learning. The Nerd Herd was a natural extension of Glavach’s desire to develop a love for books in young learners and to encourage reading among students. A voluntary book club for students from first to fifth grade, the Nerd Herd meets weekly (first and
THEN & NOW
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