January 2020
BMS Library Media Center
Congratulations to Barrington's Own Anika Denise!
Lime Cluster - Nonfiction Text Structures
Some of the Lime Cluster even came back during their FAST period to explore nonfiction text features.
Problem-Solution
Problem-Solution
Nonfiction texts waiting to be checked out
Blue Cluster - Book Tasting
Looking through titles
Jotting down titles of interest
Giving a book shout out
Talking about titles
Sharing titles
Looking through books on the sill
Red Cluster - Book Tasting
Reading through to determine if the title is a good fit
Lots of options
Students look and recommend to others
Orange Cluster - Book Tasting
Taking time to peruse titles
A student models the login process for placing holds
Students jot down titles on their TBR lists
The Power of Time, Access, and Choice
Blue Cluster - Common Sense Media
We talked about how companies and individuals design successful products by knowing what consumers need, like, and want. They do surveys and focus groups, and they look at online behavioral data:
- what their customers like to do
- which sites they visit
- which other products they buy
- from their own websites
- from other companies' websites
- from companies that collect data about people's online behaviors
We defined targeted advertising as apps or websites that use information they have collected about you to show you certain types of advertisements.
We talked about how targeted advertising can be helpful, but it can also:
- cause people to buy things they don't need or can't afford
- makes them more vulnerable to identity theft because there is more risk of private information being stolen
We then discussed three ways we can limit what is tracked:
- Turn off cookies -
Cookies are used to identify your device, give you a personal experience, and track your behavior. You can turn them off using your privacy settings. Cookies can be defined as Small text files stored on a computer that keep track of what a person does on a website.
Adjust privacy settings - Most apps have privacy settings you can adjust to limit what information is collected. You can make your account private and deny access to location information and contacts.
Limit what you share - If it isn't necessary, don't provide an email address or link your profile from another app or website. If these are required, check the privacy policy to see how that information is being used.
Blue Cluster - Common Sense Media
We talked about the benefits of social media:
- Can connect with friends
Share pictures of what you are doing/thinking
Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings
It’s distracting
You feel you have to be on it
There’s pressure to be perfect
There’s pressure to look like your life is great
It can make you feel sad or depressed
We defined a red flag feeling when something happens on digital media that makes you feel uncomfortable, worried, sad, or anxious.
We then talked about a strategy to combat the red flag feeling: Feel-Identify-Reflect-Enact.
Feel. Take stock of your emotions. Are you feeling sad, anxious, jealous, excluded,
or uncomfortable? If not, what emotion captures how you feel?
Identify. Think about what caused you to have this feeling. What happened? Was it something you—or someone else—said or did?
Reflect. Consider possible responses. What choices of action are available to you? What are the benefits or drawbacks—for you and for others—of each step you might take?
Enact. Take steps to act. How can you move forward to address the situation in a way that is positive and productive—for you and for others?
Students worked in small groups
Students completed two handouts
Students shared out ideas
Students brainstormed
Illustrator Debbie Ohi shared a real life example
Strategies to combat those red flag feelings
Blue Cluster - Common Sense Media
Purpose- the purpose of the new work is educational or the original work is transformed into something very different
Nature - the nature of the original work is nonfiction or based on fact (rather than creative or fictional)
Effect - the effect of the new work does not include any negative impact on the creator or the value of the original work (think $)
Amount - the amount used is only a small portion of the original work or does not include the "heart" of the work
We talked through examples and even watched a mash-up video and discussed whether that was fair use. It was a really great lesson because the students were highly engaged. They said it was interesting because it is part of their real lives.
Learning about the Four Factors of Fair Use
Students worked in partnerships
Students had a two-sided handout to interact with
Green Cluster with Mr. Henderson
The scene from above
Students are 100% engaged
Scientists at the ready
Green Cluster with Mr. Dalessio
Just like being in your living room
Lots to choose from
Decisions, decisions
Orange Cluster in the Makerspace
Creative juices flowing
Working collaboratively
Planning it out
ALA Youth Media Awards Viewing Party
Rebecca, Eilidh, Allena, and Isabella
Such a cozy way to start the day
Kendall, Leah, and Lily
RI Middle School Book Award Voting Coming Soon!
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: 1906
Total Holds: 195
Total ILL Books Borrowed: 269
Total ILL Books Loaned: 31
Top Circulated Titles:
1.One of Us Is Lying - McManus - mystery - 19
2. Lifeboat 12 - Hood - historical fiction/novel in verse - 11
3. Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad #1) - Reintgen - fantasy - 10
4. Six of Crows (Six of Crows Duology #1) - Bardugo - fantasy - 8
5. Love From A to Z - S.K. Ali - realistic fiction - 6
6. Spy School Goes South - Gibbs - mystery - 6
Top 10 Homerooms for Books Checked Out in January 2020
2. Mrs. Roberts's homeroom - 75 books checked out
3. Mrs. Bento's homeroom - 71 books checked out
4. Mr. McFarland's homeroom - 71 books checked out
5. Mrs. Williams's homeroom - 69 books checked out
6. Mr. Borgueta's homeroom - 64 books checked out
7. Mr. Blasi's homeroom - 59 books checked out
8. Ms. Abbruzzi's homeroom - 58 books checked out
9. Mrs. Watson's homeroom - 55 books checked out
10. Ms. Ferry's homeroom - 52 books checked out
*8 out of 10 of these top homerooms participated in a book tasting this month!
Looking Ahead
RI Latino Books Month - RI Center for the Book generously donated the 6 middle school titles to our library. We are hoping students will read and enjoy them as we prepare for this celebratory month! Two of the titles just won Pura Belpre awards at the ALA Youth Media Awards!