@your School Library
February 2016
February Fun Library Event
*Also, stop by and take a look at the "Blind Date With a Book" display later this month. Books will be wrapped up and brave students, willing to take a chance, will check out a book without knowing what's inside. Fun!
Black History Month
February is Black History Month. Below are resources available when discussing the accomplishments of leaders in the African American community with your students.
Time for Kids - http://www.timeforkids.com/news/then-now/5416
Smithsonian Education -http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/resource_library/african_american_resources.html
Shout out to all our Louisiana peeps here at PC:
Hmmm.....I wonder!
Grant Opportunity
The following information is provided by The National Literacy Directory:
They would like "to recognize and reward innovative literacy and education programs that are finding solutions to persistent challenges. That's why they are issuing this call for brief applications to support your efforts. The second in a series of $1,000 grants is available to programs with up-to-date member profiles listed in the National Literacy Directory".
Grant applications are also open to organizations that complete a National Literacy Directory profile by the February 12, 2016 deadline.
To become a member, click here to create your account and submit your program information by February 12, 2016 in order to be eligible for this grant opportunity.
Existing members: Click here for the online grant application form.
Literacy, Culture, Technology and Local Events..........Oh My
Needing some new visual timers to spice things up in your classroom ( and yes... I am a nerd because I actually get excited about finding new tech tools like these) ?
My favorite is the snail racing timer but be sure and turn down the volume to avoid distracting the kids further:
Alice in Wonderland will be presented by the Salzburg Marrionette Theater in the Bass Performance Hall, on February 7th. To read more about this fun, family event, just click on this link.
For all of you adventure seekers out there:
The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, in McKinney, will host Zip Line Day on February 13th. Info here.
What's new in the library?
We have playaways! Playaways are an all-in-one-audiobook. It is a device with the audiobook already loaded onto it. Students just need to plug their earbuds and go. Think differentiated learning or potential literacy station. Our titles include: Every Soul a Star (recommended by Ms. Olive), The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, The Great Unknown Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, and a Spanish Bundle that includes Clifford the Big, Red Dog.
PTA donated Scholastic dollars to the library and we will be getting a new subscription to BookFlix! I am so excited about this! It is an "online literacy resource that pairs classic video storybooks with related non fiction ebooks in an engaging way to link fact and fiction". The teachers at Central Elementary LOVED using this resource, I hope you do too! Username: pcolony \ Password: flix Go to this link to get started: http://auth.grolier.com/cgi-bin/go_up_login?formu=261131&formp=bk&link=bkflix.grolier.com
Free Trial for Trueflix!
Kid Friendly Search Engines
Doing some research with your students? Please let me know and we can collaborate on a Research Boot Camp together. We could include topics such as copyright & plagiarism, note-taking skills, and paraphrasing with your students. I always encourage our students to first check out our district approved search engines under the Bookmarks for Research link on the LISD website but if you are still wanting more kid friendly choices when conducting research then check out the following sites:
Kidzsearch - http://www.kidzsearch.com/
KidRex - http://www.kidrex.org/
Mymunka - http://mymunka.com/
KidsClick (created by librarians) - http://www.kidsclick.org/index.php
If you have special needs and need help with differentiated learning, just let me know and I can create personalized sites for your students' specific research needs.
School House Rock Live!
https://www.casamanana.org/performances/school-house-rock-live-jr
The Emmy Award winning 1970's Saturday morning cartoon series, School House Rock, that taught history, grammar, math and more through clever, tuneful songs is lighting up Casa Manana's stage. Follow Tom, a nerve wracked school teacher who is apprehensive about his first day. He tries to relax by watching TV, when various characters emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through such songs as "Just A Bill", "Lolly, Lolly, Lolly" and "Conjunction Junction".
Friday, Feb 5, 2016, 07:00 PM
Casa Manana Inc, West Lancaster Avenue, Fort Worth, TX, United States
Lights, Camera, Action...........
This special event is "an opportunity to provide students in Lewisville ISD an authentic audience for the synthesis of their learning through the medium of short films". There will even be a Red Carpet Awards Event for the award winning film makers! Check out the posters hanging outside the library and go to this website for more deets.
GET ABOARD THE COLLABORATION TRAIN!
Who's been keeping their New Year's Resolution?
ON A TOTALLY UNRELATED ISSUE TO.......WELL.....ANYTHING IMPORTANT.....
Just in case you're really into this great confectionery newsbreak, watch this video, from the Wonder Vault: https://youtu.be/Bji57u_F4