March 2015
HMS Media Center Update
March Author and Illustrator Birthdays
What We've Been Learning
Next we thought about how in many ways kids today have it much better yet much harder because they have so many choices out there on the internet when researching a topic. I told them it is my job to make sure they become critical thinkers when deciding if a website is reliable and accurate. We watched a video to learn how to evaluate websites using the 5 Ws.
Rubric We Used to Choose an Open-Ended Question to Guide Our Research
Fifth Graders Determining if My Questions Are Closed or Open-Ended #formativeassessment
The Five W's of Web Site Evaluation
World Read Aloud Day - Wednesday, March 4
(Please click on the title above to read Barbara O'Connor's thoughts on her visit to HMS)
Barbara O'Connor Visits HMS
Teachers emailed me the names of their biggest Barbara O'Connor "super fans" and I chose 4 names from a hat to interview her for a Barrington Times Kids Corner article. The reporters met the day before to go over their most pressing questions. They met with Barbara on Thursday morning before the school day began for the interview and a picture.
Fourth graders loved hearing Barbara O'Connor's author talk. Some said they were inspired to write. Some said they wanted to read more of her books. Barbara is warm and down to earth. She loved visiting just as much. Click here for her blog post about our school. It was definitely a worthwhile and memorable event!
Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia
Greetings from Nowhere
Characters from Barbara's Books
Reporters Have a Pre-Meeting to Determine Questions They Will Ask
Barrington Times Kids' Corner Interview in Progress
Happy Reporters/Super Fans with Author Barbara O'Connor
Fourth Grade Feedback
Fourth Grade Feedback
Library Statistics
Total Books: 10,172
Total Circulations: 3,326
Total Holds Placed: 573
Top 10 Titles:
1. Sidekicks by Dan Santat - 23
2. On the Road to Mr. Mineo's by Barbara O'Connor -22
3. Smile by Raina Telgemeier - 19
4. El Deafo by Cece Bell - 14
5. The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis by Barbara O'Connor - 14
6. Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia by Barbara O'Connor - 13
7. Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor - 13
8. The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester by Barbara O'Connor - 12
9. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - 12
10. Amulet. Book 6, Escape from Lucien by Kazu Kibuishi - 11
Top Circulations by Homeroom:
1. Mrs. Carroll - 196
2. Mrs. Myszak - 183
3. Mrs. Ginalski - 171
4. Mrs. Bailey - 160
5. Mrs. Waring - 159
6. Mrs. Mitchell - 157
7. Mr. Farley - 156
8. Ms. Wilson - 146
9. Mrs. Clegg - 139
10. Ms. Safran - 137
11. Mrs. Cunningham - 129
12. Ms. Reynolds - 114
13. Mr. Tibbetts - 111
14. Ms. Testa - 107
15. Mr. Cassarino - 104
16. Mr. Tedino - 100
17. Mrs. DeLory - 98
18. Mrs. T. Couto - 81
19. Mrs. Hunt - 74
20. Mrs. C. Couto - 73
21. Mrs. Burke - 66
22. Mrs. Cabral - 55
My Favorite Book of the Month
KIRKUS REVIEW
A multilayered novel set in turbulent times explores music’s healing power.
Sweeping across years and place, Ryan’s full-bodied story is actually five stories that take readers from an enchanted forest to Germany, Pennsylvania, Southern California and finally New York City. Linking the stories is an ethereal-sounding harmonica first introduced in the fairy-tale beginning of the book and marked with a mysterious M. In Nazi Germany, 12-year-old Friedrich finds the harmonica in an abandoned building; playing it fills him with the courage to attempt to free his father from Dachau. Next, the harmonica reaches two brothers in an orphanage in Depression-era Pennsylvania, from which they are adopted by a mysterious wealthy woman who doesn’t seem to want them. Just after the United States enters World War II, the harmonica then makes its way to Southern California in a box of used instruments for poor children; as fifth-grader Ivy Lopez learns to play, she discovers she has exceptional musical ability. Ryan weaves these stories together, first, with the theme of music—symbolized by the harmonica—and its ability to empower the disadvantaged and discriminated-against, and then, at the novel’s conclusion, as readers learn the intertwined fate of each story’s protagonist.
A grand narrative that examines the power of music to inspire beauty in a world overrun with fear and intolerance, it’s worth every moment of readers’ time. (Historical fiction. 9-14)
Barrington Public Library Children's Room News
The next chapter begins at the Barrington Public Library
Come hear about plans to renovate and redesign the second floor
of the library including the Children’s Room, Auditorium, and Gallery.
As a result of the redesign of the Children’s Room, your children will have:
• Added areas for computers, group study and shared reading
• Brighter, more open space
• Easier browsing of library materials
• A more functional space for story and craft programs
Join us to learn more:
Thursday, April 30
7:00-8:00 pm
Barrington Library Auditorium