Raccoon Report
News from the Roosevelt Media Center
In September....
We added many new books from the Book Fair including...
There's a Fly Guy in my soup by Tedd Arnold
Legend of the Ghost Dog by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Secret of the Fortune Wookiee by Tom Angleberger
Caught by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Selena the sleepover fairy by Daisy Meadows
Tony Baloney : school rules by Pam Munoz Ryan
Apps to Try
Story Wheel
Free, Language Arts-- Story creation app. Players take turns spinning the wheel and recording 30 seconds of a story based on whatever picture the wheel landed on. Good for reluctant writers.
Multiplica -tion+
Free, Math-- Multiplication facts practice. You can choose which sets, 1x-9x will appear and whether they appear sequentially or in random order. Will also show statistics for player (These aren't savable, but can be reset for new students)
Little Writer-The Tracing App for Kids
Free, Language Arts-- For the younger ones. Trace upper and lowercase letters, numbers, shapes, and words. Digital handwriting practice!
Election Websites
Election Websites for Elementary Students
PBS kids Democracy Project (Election activities and information)
Tech Wednesdays 3:00-3:20
Wednesday October 3- Edmodo--Create a teacher account, join the Roosevelt community, post, comment, and explore using Edmodo.
http://mankatopublicschools.edmodo.com/
School code: t73sko
Wednesday October 10- Staff Meeting (Meet 15-20 minutes after) Apps--Bring a few favorite app ideas to share and how you might use them with students.
Wednesday October 17- No session
Wednesday October 24- Google Drive-- How is this different than Google docs? How can you use it to store files?
Wednesday October 31- Mackin Via E-Books--Learn how to access Roosevelt's collection of e-books that can be used with Smart Boards or from any computer.
Username: Roosevelt77
Password: raccoon
Wednesday November 7-Online Databases (World Book Online, Britannica Online, and
others)--Learn what these are, how to access them, and how
to use them with students.
Wednesday November 14-Learn 360--Find, organize, and download videos to use in
your classroom.
Wednesday November 21-Thanksgiving, No School
Wednesday November 28-Screencast-o-matic--Record what is on your computer
screen. Great for creating how-to videos or for subs.
Apps to Try
Scribble Press
Free-- Write and illustrate your own book. Includes templates to follow or a blank book feature. Could be used with any grade level or as a group/class.
Pearl Diver
Free-- Math app that focuses on number line and fraction skills. For grades 3 and up.
Top-It
$1.99-- Two player Everyday Math game to practice addition and comparing sums
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award
The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award is a children’s book award decided on by Minnesota children. Students in grades 3-5 who have read at least three of the twelve nominated fiction books during the year are eligible to vote for their favorite at the end of March. The winning book and next year’s nominees will be announced April 25th. Books read as read alouds count toward the three books needed to vote.
Nominees...
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
Beef Princess of Practical County by Michelle Houts
Calvin Coconut, Trouble Magnet by Graham Salisbury
Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity (Brixton Brothers) by Mac Barnett
Diamond Willow by Helen Frost
Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch
Dying to Meet You (43 Old Cemetery Road) by Kate Klise
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
Faith, Hope and Ivy June by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Piper Reed, Navy Brat by Kimberly Holt
Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell
Top of the Order (4 for 4) by John Coy
MHL Read Aloud Ideas
Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
Abby Carson needs to do some extra credit work, or she will have to repeat 6th grade. Her project is to be pen pals with a student in Afghanistan. The only student in the village who knows English well enough to respond is a boy and it isn't proper for a boy to write to a girl, so he dictates the letters to his sister. This brings up more questions of education for girls and contact with America. Children from two very different parts of the world learn about each others culture and about themselves.
The Secret of Zoom by Lynne Jonell
Christina lives in an old stone mansion surrounded by an electric fence and isn't allowed to leave the house. She becomes friends with an orphan named Taft and together they uncover a sinister mystery about the laboratory Christina's parents work for. Secret tunnels, a mysterious substance called Zoom, mini airplanes, and kidnapped orphans are all part of the excitement and mystery. A Roald Dahl-like read with lots of excitement, humor, and mystery. Minnesota author!!!
A Dog on His Own by Mary Jane Auch
K-10, named because he is a step above other dogs, wants to be on his own. Humans have disappointed him too many times and he has escaping from shelters down to an art. Then, during his latest escape he meets a tough dog named Pearl and an overly perky Chihuahua named Peppy he starts to wonder if having friends and a family isn't such a bad thing. Told from K-10 point of view. Kids will love the humor. Great story about friendship too.
Mandy Stenzel, Media Specialist
Email: astenz1@isd77.k12.mn.us
Website: http://www.re.isd77.org/
Location: 300 West 6th Street, Mankato, MN
Phone: 507-207-5705