Lucy's Library Blast
August 15, 2016
Book Club!
How to Log In to MNPS
- All students login names are in a new format this year:
- The first name (up to 12 characters), followed by the first letter of the last name, followed by the last 5 digits of the student's ID number.
- A couple of examples of this new format would be:
John Smith with ID number 190123456 would be johns23456
Cassalahandra Stevens with ID number 190654321 would be cassalandrs54321
Connect to school.mnpsl12-wifi
USERNAME: schools\username (see above)
PASSWORD: student ID number
Please stress that passwords must not be changed!
PBS Free Content to Accompany Your Lessons
PBS LearningMedia™ is your destination for direct access to thousands of classroom-ready, curriculum-targeted digital resources. PBS LearningMedia builds on the strength of public media and is designed to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Resources are aligned to Common Core and national standards and include videos and interactives, as well as audio, documents, and in-depth lesson plans. You can browse by standards, grade level, subject area, and special collections. You can also favorite and share resources with your class and colleagues. Best of all, PBS LearningMedia’s basic service is free for PreK-12 educators.
How to Install MNPS Approved Software:
Before you do anything, click on the start button and go to All Programs and see if the program is already installed on your computer.
Not there?
- Start
- All Programs
- Microsoft System Center
- Configuration Manager
- Software Center
- In blue lettering on the right side, click on Find Additional Applications...
- Locate the software and click on it to install (note there are two pages of applications) Always try the latest version first
Benefits of Audio Books or Reading Aloud to Students
Did you know that 85% of what we learn, we learn by listening and that 30% of people are auditory learners?
Audio books or reading aloud to students:
- Increase reading accuracy by 52%
- increase test scores by 21%
- improves fluency
- improves comprehension by 76%
- increases motivation by 67%
- can raise reading levels by two grades
- increases reading speed
- expands the vocabulary
- improves pronunciation of English, dialects, and non-English words
- models for appropriate phrasing, intonation, and articulation
- encourages higher level critical thinking, interpretation, and imagination
- creates a personal connection and a sense of intimacy
- combining print and audio increases recall 40% over print alone
Adding the element of coloring while listening, allows the visual and kinesthetic learners to use their learning style to improve their attention, comprehension, and retention. Listening skills improve with practice.
Want to Use Pokemon Go to Your Advantage?
Don't try to fight it. Embrace it like these clever Britains have...
http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/computing/ways-to-use-pokemon-go-in-the-classroom
Maker Space
it is a hands-on, DIY approach to learning and play. Maker projects include creativity, innovation, and support academic learning in STEM. We include fabrics, yarn, knitting needles, toothpicks, clay, jewelry, paints, paper, calligraphy, origami, circuitry building, basic robot design, 3D printing, checkers, backgammon. The only thing I closely supervise is the 3D printing. Otherwise, the kids are on their own. I have a list of items they can make if they need inspiration.
Kids may come to the Maker Space if they finish their work early or have earned a reward. It is NOT a replacement for rainy physical activity time. I can only have 6 kids at the most at a time so please only send one or two of your students at a time. The cost is one Birdie Bill per visit. You MUST clearly write on their agenda what time they are expected back in class. If students are disruptive or leave the area a mess, they will have lost the privilege of using the Maker Space. This rarely happens but it's a good idea to let the kids know this in advance.
Reading Log for 2016-2017
The student reading log program is up and running. Students are encouraged to fill out the form for each book read. Names will be drawn each month for an Amazon gift card and bi-monthly for a Kindle.
In order for kids to access the log, they click on the Internet Explorer button, The link is in blue at the top of the page and says "Reading Log."
This was a huge hit last year with lots of giveaways and over 125 books logged in.