EC Library Services
Explore, Engage, Enrich
January 2020
National Braille Literacy Month
With the advancement of technology and accessibility to audio books, some people believe that Braille has become a less needed tool for the blind and vision impaired.
According to the Royal Blind Organization, there are still over 150 million people who continue to use braille around the world today for a multitude of reasons. Although, listening to audio books is a great resource for reading comprehension, the 'literacy argument,' is that braille allows users to learn spelling, punctuation, and gain an understanding of how text is formatted on the page. There is also evidence that shows students who can read braille tend to have higher literacy rates as well as a higher chance of securing employment.
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant, writes how the inventor lost his sight at the age of five in an accident in his father’s workshop. Braille had a strong desire to learn as much as he could but became disappointed in the lack of books for the vision impaired. Even at the school for the blind in Paris, there were no books for him. By the age of 15, Braille created a new system of writing that could be read by touch. His system consists of six raised dots within a braille cell to represent the letters of the print alphabet.
It is actually due to today’s advanced technology of downloadable as well as portable software that braille is more accessible and able to reach a much wider audience than ever before. Louis Braille made it possible for the visually impaired to have access to a wide range of reading materials as well as meeting the need to feel independent.
If you know someone who is visually impaired or blind, visit Braille Works website to learn more about how you can help teach blind children and/or help connect someone with other like families.
~Malia Stanush, Tradition Elementary
Digital Resources
Teaching this 21st generation of students is an educator’s daily challenge. Educators are always looking for innovative ways to motivate and engage students in skills such as, problem- solving , communicating , and collaborating with others. One way that this has been successful with other educators is through the use of Minecraft Education Edition app.
This game-based learning platform engages and sparks the imaginations of students. In this virtual environment, learning happens through creating, producing, and collaborating with others. Minecraft Education frees up students to take ownership of their work. They can appreciate their finished product in real time.
Minecraft Education Edition offers a free trial app (with limited resources) or can be upgraded with more options though purchase. It is designed to work with ages 3 on up. It provides teachers with hundreds of standard-aligned lessons in Math, Science, Language Arts, History, and Visual Art.
Minecraft Education provides endless opportunities for exploration and creativity.
Check to see if have an account through your school for Minecraft:Education Edition. If you do not have a license, you can still use Minecraft: Education Edition with a limited number of logins.
For more on Mindcraft Education Edition go to https://education.minecraft.net/
~Susie Havard, Harmony Elementary School
Book Reviews For All
Emergent Reads
A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele
~Anna Silva, Salado Elementary
Preteen Reads
This adventure story shows the inner struggles of culture identity from the mind of a young adopted Korean girl growing up in a family who looks nothing like her. The racial identity dynamics is crucial to character development and helps the reader understand the character’s actions and decisions.
Twelve-year old adopted Mia does not know quite what to think about the vacation she is taking with her father and brother. North Korea does not exactly ooze vacation vibes; however, she is somewhat excited to see more people like her, Korean. But then, the family vacation turns into survival as her father is arrested for spying. Mia will need all her courage to get help for her family. She and her brother have no money, no food, and no friends. How will they not only save their father but also survive on the run in a restrictive police enforced country?
~Angie Cooper, Heritage Middle School
YA Reads
This Dystopian novel is a tale of female strength and perseverance, but ultimately, the power of friendship even in the darkest of circumstances.
Left abandoned by the outside world, their families thinking they are dead, the girls of Raxter Island contend with the "Tox" as it overtakes all life on the island, including their own bodies, in horrifying ways.
When Byatt goes missing, Hettie violates the one rule that is keeping the girls safe in order to find her.
Wilder Girls is in many ways a metaphor for climate change and even the life changes of a female and how the power of women to support each other can be stronger than the dangers of the world.
~Lisa Merrifield, East Central High School
Collaboration
Asking Questions and Finding Answers
Inquiry, Problem Solving, Research, Information Literacy - It’s All About Asking Questions and Finding Answers
Every day, we all have questions to ask, information to find, problems to solve. How do you find answers to those big and little questions? How do you help your students learn to solve their own problems?
Problem solving is a process that our students need to be taught explicitly. Our librarians are well-versed in problem solving strategies, specifically the Big 6 model (and Super 3 for elementary levels).
This model breaks down the steps of making a decision through the use of information:
- Task Definition
- Information Seeking Strategies
- Location and Access
- Use of Information
- Synthesis
- Evaluation
Your campus librarian/library professional would love to work with you on integrating a problem solving process into your class, year-round.
~Jennifer Smith, Legacy Middle School
Highland Forest Library
Innovative Tool
Alibris
Do you need to build up your classroom library or just books for you. Alibris is a great site for new or gently used books at a great price. If you are going back for your masters or have a child in college they sell textbooks too! They also have music and movies. Check it out.
~Kandi Housholder, Sinclair Elementary
Tech Tips and Tricks
Pin a Tab
Sometimes while busy trying to complete a lesson you may have several tabs open that you are moving in and out of as you work. When you look up at the number of tabs you have open, you decide it’s time to close the ones you have already finished using. You gasp as you accidentally close a tab you needed open. Yes, you could undo the closed tab easily; however, why not pin those important tabs so you cannot close them in the first place?
~Angie Cooper, Heritage Middle School
Check out the video below for more information.
Try it Out!
Looking for a new avenue to share storybooks with students? Vooks in another option in engage readers at the elementary level in PK -5th grade, Stories come to life with animation as the text is read. A variety of stories for all ages can help assist in delivering story content and hook those students who need extra help with comprehension.
PDF resources are available which include information and a summary of the book, activities for the classroom, and a parent connection activity that students can take home. This is a subscription service which offers a 1-month free trial, however, this website and app is offering teachers a 1-year subscription for free to explore and use their stories. Teachers can then choose to subscribe for a fee after the initial free year. The cost is $4.99 monthly or $49.99 for an annual subscription. No ads or in-App purchases are allowed in this subscription service. However if you fall in love with the book you’ve read, Vooks will show you where it can be purchased--which is usually through Amazon.
Check it out! https://www.vooks.com/
~Diane Howes, Pecan Valley Elementary
Digital Citizenship
Do you know about Story Monsters Ink? It's a digital monthly publication that features profiles on well known authors as well as newly published authors. There are also book reviews and articles written by reading specialists. Kids, teens, teachers, librarians and parents will find lots of great information about books and reading. This digital publication has won many awards including Great Magazines for Kids and Teens by School Library Journal. The annual subscription is $4.99 and includes 12 issues. You can get a trial subscription before committing.
The author interviews are excellent and can be used for author study resources. This month's featured article is on one of my all time favorites, Lois Lowry. The Book Briefs are consistently intriguing and come with an up close picture of the front cover of the book. One of my favorite features is STUDENT WRITERS WANTED. Here is a place for students to submit original drawings, poems, articles and essays. They will even pay students $15.00 for their submissions.
Story Monsters Ink is well worth $4.99 a year!
~Josie Martinez, Highland Forest Elementary
Win a Gift Card!
The drawing will take place on the Monday on or after the 10th of each month there is a newsletter.
ECISD Library Services
Carolyn Ellison-- Library Services Secretarial Support
Jennifer Smith -- Systems Librarian
Lisa Merrifield -- Lead Librarian
Email: Carolyn.Ellison@ecisd.net
Website: https://www.ecisd.net/Domain/34
Location: 7173 Farm to Market Road 1628, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-634-6142
Twitter: @ECISDreads