Savvy Students
Spring Newsletter, Wyman/Holden Libraries, 2018
Helping Warwick Meet Technology Goals
Library Media Specialists are teaching Computer Science lessons to meet the 2016 statewide comprehensive initiative called CS4RI. Computer Science 4 Rhode Island's website describes the intent, "All Rhode Island students should have the opportunity to take CS-related classes as early as kindergarten."
My Robotic Friends
Fourth graders program their friends to stack cups with simple code in this unplugged lesson from code.org. An unplugged lesson teaches the fundamentals of code without using a computer.
Keyboarding
Second graders practice their keyboarding skills with fun typing games like Underwater Typing on Turtle Diary.
Rings of Responsibility
In this lesson from CommonSenseMedia.org third grade students learn about digital citizenship and that "good digital citizens are responsible and respectful in the digital world (and beyond)."
Keeping Warwick Connected
Warwick Library Media Specialists teach Internet Safety lessons, which allows Warwick to receive discounted rates for "telecommunications, Internet access and internal connections". The Internet Safety lessons taught keep the school district computers and phone lines at a reasonable e-rate.
Library Projects
Family Basics
First graders learn about authorship, title pages and copyright by illustrating books about their own family traditions.
Book Interviews
Students in third grade interviewed each other about books they've read. They recorded their interviews, which are located on my library page. The two buddies pictured above did an outstanding job. I use soundcloud to host their recordings: audio track 1 and audio track 2.
Getting Ready for Middle School
Fifth and Sixth Grade students are researching their own questions. They are using books, databases, and websites to find answers. Some students have even earned the right to be Tech Super Stars as they help their peers with technology.
Book Trailers
In February, 5th grade students completed their book trailer projects using a combination of DoInk for Green Screen and Animoto. The rest of the trailers are located on my library page. I think we have some budding actors!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=53&v=ZOgfKHt47NA
Preparing for a March Month to Celebrate Reading
Wyman is making an Olympic sized event out of Reading Week this year! Among the festivities there will be door decorating, guest speakers, opening ceremonies with class flags and a torch hand-off, Olympic trivia mystery readers, and a special visit by guest author, Eric Sturtevant!
Home Connection
AskRI.org is a great FREE source of information for all families in Rhode Island. Use World Book encyclopedia online, learn a language with Mango Languages, get help with careers and resume writing in the Career Center. There's even information on Auto Repair! Don't miss out on the opportunity for your family to utilize this website of valuable resources.
Our Very Own Author!
Congratulations to our very own author, Jessica Carnevale Forcier. She donates her time each week as a library volunteer and has also bestowed on us the gift of her beautiful book, The George Before Me.
2018 Winner of the Rhode Island Children's Book Award
Wish by Barabar O'Connor won the Rhode Island Children's Book Award. Students in 4th-6th grade participated by voting for their favorite book.
Tara Castro - Library Media Specialist
"Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one."
–Neil Gaiman
Website: http://mrscastroslibrary.weebly.com/
Phone: (401)734-3180
Twitter: @MrsCastro2