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Cool Things to Do During Winter Break
Enjoy this article written for the December Lovett Lines by Stephanie Bullock, LS Academic Technologist. While the article suggests ways parents can get their children 'unplugged' during the holidays, there are suggestions adults will enjoy as well.
Tis the Season to Unplug
Personal computers, tablets, eReaders, and other computing devices are often high ranking wish-list items for young people around the holidays. When the gift-giving dust has settled and all that’s left in your home are piles of discarded wrapping paper, stacks of boxes, and the zoned-out faces of your children lit up by their [insert-device-here], you may find yourself asking: “What can I do to get my children [and me] off the couch and out from behind these screens?” The Academic Technology and Library teams are eager to share: Our Favorite Things 2015, a tried-and-true list of recommendations for ways your family might unplug during the holiday season.
Holiday Favorites!
A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks
London, the week before Christmas, 2007. Over seven days we follow the lives of seven major characters, including a train driver whose Circle Line train joins these and countless other lives together in a daily loop. A powerful novel that melds the moral heft of Dickens with the satirical spirit of Tom Wolfe. With daring skill and savage humor, "A Week in December" explores the complex patterns of modern urban life.
A Kosher Christmas by Joshua Eli Plaut
Christmas is not everybody’s favorite holiday. Historically, Jews in America, whether participating in or refraining from recognizing Christmas, have devised a multitude of unique strategies to respond to the holiday season. Their response is a mixed one: do we participate, try to ignore the holiday entirely, or create our own traditions and make the season an enjoyable time? This book, the first on the subject of Jews and Christmas in the United States, portrays how Jews are shaping the public and private character of Christmas by transforming December into a joyous holiday season belonging to all Americans.
The Stupidest Angel: a heartwarming tale of Christmas terror by Christopher Moore
Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, and reeking of pine. But there's an angel waiting in the wings seeking a small child with a wish that needs granting. Unfortunately, this angel hasn't got the brightest halo in the bunch and, in an instant, he's sent the town headlong into Christmas chaos, culminating in the most hilarious and horrifying holiday party ever.
Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithian
Told in the alternating voices of Dash and Lily, two sixteen-year-olds carry on a wintry scavenger hunt at Christmas-time in New York, neither knowing quite what--or who--they will find.
My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories Edited by Stephanie Perkins
If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you're going to fall in love with this!
Greenglass House by Kate Milford
At Greenglass House, a smuggler's inn, twelve-year-old Milo, the innkeepers' adopted son, plans to spend his winter holidays relaxing but soon guests are arriving with strange stories about the house sending Milo and Meddy, the cook's daughter, on an adventure.
Featured Magazine
Faculty Spotlight - Haiku Supeheroes
Superman, Batman.
Hang up torn and tattered capes.
Haiku saves the day!
~ Ben Posten
Faster than a speeding bullet, we find ourselves at the end of semester, one filled with the antics of a villain named Haiku. Once you conquer the challenges that come with such a villain, we often discover there are some bright spots to such an annoying character.
Two of the MS super heroes that have discovered the positive character traits of Haiku are Jennifer Achilles and Kristen Pariseau. Below, they share a few highlights (with some paraphrasing).
- Dropbox makes it very easy for students to electronically submit assignments (more organized than submitting via email) and easy for teachers to grade. Grades are automatically entered into the gradebook, which is also nice to have all together with my class.
- Students enjoy creating math problems and submitting them to a discussion. All students then solve at least two other problems created by their classmates. They love the interaction and ownership it allows.
- Students love having a page for each Unit. We post videos, links to online practice, answer keys to classwork/homework, and anything else related. We also love the ability to publish certain pages to certain classes so that all preps are organized under one umbrella.
- We have created a Teacher Share Page (separate Haiku class) for all of 8th grade math teachers where we can post things individually and share with one another. This saves us from having to email video links and other supporting documents.
Thank you, Jennifer and Kristen for fighting the good Haiku fight. If you ever need help saving the day, don't forget these two super heros.
Some other resources you may find useful:
Cool Smartphone Camera Tricks
Lynda.com
Remember, as a Lovett employee, you have unlimited access to lynda.com, an online library of high-quality instructional videos on the latest software tools and skills.
Some MORE videos you may enjoy:
Register and/or sign in here. Check out the How to use lynda.com video for a quick introduction.