December 2019
BMS Library Media Center
Generous Book Donations from the Community Leads to Book Giveaways in the Media Center!
Mrs. Van Leer and Mrs. Roy Model How to Identify Reading Gaps to Balance Your Reading Diet
BMS Hour of Code Family Night
- Google CS First Code Your Hero led by Ben Choi-Schattle
- Code.org Dance Party 2019 led by Rebecca White
- Code.org Unplugged Activity: Algorithms Card Sort Game led by Wesley Van Leer
- Code.org Star Wars led by Nate Hennings
- Code.org Coding with Elsa and Anna led by Sam Bishop
- Code.org Unplugged Activity: Electric Maze led by Ivan McKenzie
We also had two back tables filled with books about coding and famous coders.
It was a great night with about 45 children and adults who participated.
We received a 2019 Hour of Code mini grant from the American Library Association to do Google CS First Code Your Hero activities with students at Barrington Middle School.
Sixth graders are out in force
Lots of discussion about coding
Dr. Anderson learns about the Google CSFirst Code Your Hero station
Wesley has a crowd for the Algorithms Card Sort game
Ellery and her mom are all smiles
Sam assists peers at the Coding with Anna and Elsa station
Dance Party 2019 was a popular station
Ben shows his mom how to Code a Hero
Second grader Daniel enjoys Dance Party 2019
Dr. Anderson works with Ivan at the Electric Maze station
Mr. Davis explains each of the stations
Mr. Davis shares out Nate's coding creation
Sixth Grade Math Teacher Mrs. Oswald Enjoys the Hour of Code Family Event
BMS Family Book Club
Our next book we will read and discuss is a 2020 RI Middle School Book Award nominee titled Greetings from Witness Protection by Jake Burt. Dr. Fernandes will send an Eventbrite invitation after the new year. Be prepared to discuss for the beginning of February!
Kendal and her dad check in about their favorite character before discussion begins
An informal discussion filled with both hilarious and poignant moments
Allena's college age sister read the book and came for discussion too!
Collaboration Opportunities
Orange Cluster - Note Taking Strategies
I modeled the strategy and then students had the chance to log into Wonderopolis to read and take notes on a wonder. Students then switched notes with their partners to read and determine if their partner took effective notes.
Yellow Cluster -Five Nonfiction Text Structures
I ordered books through the public library for this lesson.
Students sat at five different groups. We did an overview of the five text structures:
1. Description- -topic, idea, person, place or thing is described by listing its features, characteristics, or examples
Signal words: for instance, specifically, in particular, in addition, characteristics are2. Sequence/Chronology- describe events in the order they happen
Signal words: first, next, finally, earlier, after, later3. Compare & Contrast- explain how two things are alike and how they are different
Signal words: both, alike, similar, also, different, in contrast, unlike, however4. Cause & Effect - explain what happens (an effect) and why it happens (a cause)
Signal words: because, led to, caused, as a result, consequence, effect5. Problem-Solution - describe a problem and offer ways to solve it
Signal words: problem, issue, question, solution, in response, answerStudents then worked in groups to read through their three mentor texts and determine which text structure their books were. They used sticky notes to feature a page or spread that they wanted to share out. Each group had a chance to come up and share out to the rest of the class.
Cause & Effect text structure
Compare & Contrast text structure
Sequence/Chronology text structure
Problem-Solution text structure
Cause & Effect text structure
Description text structure
Library Hours
Ways to Come to the Library Media Center:
1. Get a pass from us the day before and show it to a TA the next morning so you can come upstairs before school.
2. Get a pass from the front office at 8:10am to come to the library media center.
3. Get a pass from your teacher to come at a convenient time throughout the school day.
4. Come after school Monday through Thursday and take the late bus home home or arrange a ride home.
How to Log Into RICAT to place holds and check your library account:
1. Go to www.ricat.net
2. Click on Barrington Middle School
3. Click on "Log In" in the top right corner
4. username: lastnamefirstinitial2digitsofgraduationyear
example: heffleyg31
5. password: Firstnamelunchnumber
example: Hermoine102654
STAT Team
STAT HOURS:
8:10 - 8:35am - Students should get a pass from the office when arriving before school in order to come upstairs
Period 5 -LUNCH
3:20-4:15pm - Monday - Thursday
BMS Chromebook Repair/Replacement Menu
Screens $30.00
Keyboards $50.00
Protective Case $20.00
Grade 8 Power Cord $10.00
Grade 7 Power Cord $35.00
Grade 6 Power Cord $35.00
Circulation Stats
Total Books Circulated: 1,400
Total Holds: 58
Total ILL Books Borrowed: 50
Total ILL Books Loaned: 25
Top Circulated Titles:
1.Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova - realistic fiction/graphic novel - 7
2. Dry by Neal Shusterman - science fiction - 4
3. Ghost by Jason Reynolds - realistic fiction - 4
4. Illegal by Eoin Colfer - realistic fiction/graphic novel - 4
5. A is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z by John Robert Allman - picture book/biography - 3
Top 5 Homerooms for Books Checked Out in December 2019
2. Ms. Abbruzzi's homeroom - 46 books checked out
3. Mrs.Scott's homeroom - 46 books checked out
4. Ms. August's homeroom - 45 books checked out
5. Ms. Oswald's homeroom - 43 books checked out
Looking Ahead
Scholastic Book Fair
Monday, January 13: Staff Wish List Breakfast 7:45am
Every Day: Students can obtain a pass in the office to shop from 8:10am until homeroom!
Parents: Looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Here is a link with more information.