Harrisburg Library Newsletter
In these monthly newsletters, you'll find news about library lessons, events, and new books at both the HEMS and HHS libraries. You'll also find tips and suggestions for integrating technology with user friendly web 2.0 tools and apps that will increase student engagement, meet 21st century learning goals, and support writing and information literacy goals for our students. We look forward to seeing you in the library and to working with you this month!
Find a world of library information 24/7 on the Harrisburg Library Website
News from the HEMS Library
We've been busy in K-5 library classes with expectations, procedures, and how to find a "just right book". In September our focus will be on Missouri Award Books and the first Scholastic Book Fair in addition to using the Destiny catalog to find books in the library. Middle school students are visiting the library once a week as well for a regular check out and quick library information/tech tools lessons. The middle school section of the HEMS library has a new collection of playaway audio devices that have been circulating like crazy. We are also looking forward to our first visit from our Pre-K students in Ms. Howard's and Ms. Murphy's classes. Pre-K students will be visiting the library once every month.
Fall Scholastic Book Fair News
Click here for information about our Fall Scholastic Book Fair coming to the HEMS library the week of Sept. 29 - October 3.
News From The HHS Library
The high school library learning commons has been abuzz the past few weeks. The transition of students checking out books, using computers, taking dual-credit classes, visiting with classes, and just popping in has made for an exciting start to our year. All freshmen had the opportunity to visit the HHS library this week with Mr. Fisher for an orientation which included tips for locating items in the library, using the library space, and for utilizing the resources available 24/7 on the Harrisburg Library Website.
Build Your Tech Toolbox
Check out this month's recommended educational web tools.
Use Kidblog to:
- create classroom discussions
- learn digital citizenship
- practicing writing skills
- create an e-portfolio
- reflect on learning
- formatively assess writing
Your free education account which is good for one year (I have reapplied three times and been approved each time) allows you to create videos that are up to 10 minutes in length (the free version allows only 30 seconds). Animoto is incredibly easy to use even for our youngest digital natives.
You know all those nifty infographics that are EVERYWHERE? Well, I have fallen in love with this visual method for sharing information. Here's one of my favorite infographic tools. Stay tuned next month for the other. Although this tool is still in Beta version, it has been reliable all but one time that I've used it in the past two years. Although it takes a bit of poking around to find what you need if you are not well versed in digital graphic design, easel.ly is easy to learn and your finished products are easy to share in either PDF, URL link, or embed code. Here's one I created for my high school students on the steps of the research process.