MVMS Library Media Center
January/February Newsletter
What's Been Going On:
On January 9th-14th, the Library Media Center hosted the half-way check in of the Reading Marathon. 60 students and staff stopped by the check in and get their refueling prize, and we registered 12 additional readers. Some speed readers have already finished their contract (26 books in 13 weeks!!), but for those of us who haven't, we have lots of quick reads, novels in verse, and graphic novels that could help us achieve our reading goals. Hailey O'Brien, Travis Pendelton, and Noah King won the free book raffle.
6th Grade Winner
7th Grade Winner
8th Grade Winner
Projects Around the Building
We have had numerous visitors this month to work on a variety of topics! Be sure to let us know if there is something you need from us in the upcoming months-print resources, database lessons, citation instructions, etc. If we know in advance of your needs, we are happy to assist!
Throughout the month of January, we've hosted several 6th-grade reading groups. Most of these groups have been "keeping it real" by checking out biographies, autobiographies, non-fiction texts, and realistic fiction novels; however, Mrs. Lochhead's group came in to escape reality with Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels. Additionally, the 6th-grade social studies classes continued their Mesopotamia research with a visit to the computers.
7th-grade science classes have been working on geological time period research and creating brochures to communicate their learning with others. They utilized Google Classroom to organize and facilitate their productivity.
The 8th grade has been busy meeting for Community Projects, and in language arts they continued working on social issues speeches, writing business emails, and finding appropriate media to support their speeches. 8th-grade art students created and displayed fabulous portraits of a person they felt had significance and are moving on to sculptures.
To aid in the research process, each 8th grader set up an EasyBib Education account last month. If you are having students cite sources, please look into having them create accounts on EasyBib. If you need assistance, I'd be happy to show you how it's done.
Upcoming Events
We LOVE Books- Book Swap & Sale
Swap a book for a book or purchase a book for 25 cents.
Flyers will be put in teacher mailboxes within the next few days- please hang up in your classrooms.
*If you are interested in an adult novel book swap, that will take place in the teachers' room on an honor system basis.
Monday, Feb 13, 2017, 07:45 AM
Merrimack Valley Middle School, Concord, NH, United States
For the Love of Reading D.E.A.R. Days
Wednesday, Feb 1, 2017, 07:45 AM
Merrimack Valley Middle School, Concord, NH, United States
New Materials and New Organization
Rather than enjoy the new space on the shelves, I have continued to order the latest and greatest books, fulfill student requests, and provide entertainment for our patrons! To see what is new, go to the Library Catalog Homepage and click "What's New" and "See All."
See specific titles of interest below.
Fan of Fiction?
27 Magic Words by Sharelle Byars Moranville
"Although Kobi's parents sailed into a storm five years ago, she believes they are alive, and when she is sent from her grandmother's luxurious Paris apartment to live with an uncle in Iowa, Kobi tells lies that soon catch up with her."- Follett Summary
Talons of Power by Tui T. Sutherland
This series, Wings of Fire, is extremely popular with our middle school fans of fantasy novels. This book, the 9th installment, already has a reservation list! If you're interested in trying out the series, start with Wings of Fire- The Dragonet Prophesy.
Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
"Throughout her high school years, as her mother battles cancer, Lupita takes on more responsibility for her house and seven younger siblings, while finding refuge in acting and writing poetry."- Follett Summary
If you like novels in verse, we have MANY excellent books to choose from including Brown Girl Dreaming by Jaqueline Woodson, Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, and The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan. To find more novels in verse, use the "List" tab on the Library Catalog page and choose "Novels in Verse".
Just the Facts, Ma'am- Nonfiction Options
Special Operations: SNIPERS by Don Nardo
If military titles interest you, we also added Fighter Planes: Masters of the Sky by Taylor Baldwin Kiland and Karen and Glen Bledsoe to our collection.
Seven Wonders of Space Phenomena by D.J. Ward
No Summit Out of Sight by Jordan Romero
At the Risk of Being a Nag...You Really Should Explore Our Databases
All the sciences in video, reviews, teacher resources & more...Earth, Life, Space, Life & Health, Physical, Tech/Math/Engineering. Check it out!
User Name: merri Password: mack
This is an annual subscription so “use it or lose it!” This resource has been under utilized this year, so please...if you are a science teacher, take the time to explore the dozens of topics found in this online encyclopedia.
Gale Virtual Reference Library : 100+ Reference E-books
History, Science, Biographies - your research starts here! Be sure to sign into Google Classroom once you login to make citing sources quick and easy!
Features: Read aloud; 12 languages available- Password: nhais
Teaching & Learning
Battling Fake News in the Classroom- Here's an Edutopia article exploring how one educator helps students develop media literacy—a critical 21st-century skill.
The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Source Credibility- From Education World, and they aren't kidding when they say this is the "ultimate guide"- lots of websites and resources for teaching this important skill.
Faked Out- In this editorial, School Library Journal explores the pervasive problem of fake news and students' inability to sniff it out.
How to Spot "Fake News"- One library provides easy strategies to help teach yourself and your students how to suss out a false news story.
Identifying Fake News: An Infographic and Teacher Resources
Fact-Checking Sites:
FactCheck- factcheck.org
Politifact- politifact.com
Snopes- snopes.com
For Your Borrowing Pleasure
Krystal Searah, LMS
Email: ksearah@mvsdpride.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/mvsdpride.org/mvms-library/
Location: Merrimack Valley Middle School, Concord, NH, United States
Phone: 6127
Twitter: @mvmspride