Finch Elementary Media Center
August Newsletter
Welcome Back!
Hello my name is Nartasha Smith and I am your media specialist. I will be sending out online newsletters to keep you up to date about all of our eResources. If you need to find a newsletter throughout the year, all newsletters will be added to the school website under the Media Center link. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.
SEL Book
This month's Social Emotional Learning book is Be Kind. It is written by Pat Zietlow and illustrated by Jen Hill.
What does it mean to be kind? When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better and what it means to be kind. From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind.
*Summary retrieved from https://books.google.com/books/about/Be_Kind.html?id=HaPMDwAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description
My ON
MyON is a digital platform that has over 6,000 books. It is located on MyBackpack. Students are able to access this app from their devices.Teachers, you have the ability to create projects for students to engage in as well. All of the ebooks in MyON have Accelerated Reader quizzes. I will be visiting your grade level meetings to give you a refresher on how you can use it in your class. In the meantime, please remind your kids to log on and start reading. Students in grades first through fifth would use their Network Login credentials to access. Pre-K and Kindergarten students will go to myon.com to get access.
Race2Read
Race2Read is now in effect. We are partnering with Urban League of Greater Atlanta to challenge students, teachers, staff, parents, community members and business partners to read daily to help us collectively reach 10 million minutes. Together, we can build a city that reads! I will provide a refresher course on the Race2Read initiative in grade level meetings.
Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader is a computer-based program that is used to monitor reading practice and progress. It helps teachers guide kids to books that are on kids’ individual reading levels. Kids take short quizzes after reading a book to check if they’ve understood it. Students have access to Accelerated Reader through the Mybackpack Platform. Please remind students that they can use books read from MyOn.
Copyright/Fair Use Information
Many publishing companies have extended permissions to read their books aloud over the internet. However, there are certain things you should remember before you begin.
- Make sure you are reading in a closed forum.
- Reading to your class on Zoom or Google Meet is permissible.
- If you decide to post the recording of the Zoom or Google Meet, it must be posted in a closed forum like Google Classroom. However, it must be removed by the end of the school year.
- If you are uploading a video of you reading into YouTube. The link must be marked as unlisted. This will only allow those with the link to gain access. You should not post this link on any platform that will be public(i.e public web pages, twitter post or Facebook).
- Last, please acknowledge to the Publishing company's permission by saying, "This book is being shared with permission of ___________________(insert publishing company's name).
Ms. Nartasha Smith, Media Specialist
Email: smithfn@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Phone: 404-802-4015
Twitter: @WfinchMedia