One for the Record Books
September 2020
B. L. Gray Jr. High Library Ambassadors Ride the Wakelet Wave
By Wenndy Pray
The Wakelet Student Ambassador Program was designed by dynamic duo of Deb Zeman (@DebZemanLMS) and Tisha Poncio (@TxTechChick). It provides a digital platform for students to learn the six Cs of digital learning: curation, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and citizenship. It is the newest addition to the B. L. Gray Library Ambassador curriculum, and Sierra Cavazos, Emilio Iuvone D’Escrivan, and Ariel Salinas have had a strong start to accomplishing great things in digital learning.
Planning for on-campus instruction at SNJH
by Darvin Koenig
Principal Lorene Bazan has included Mr. Koenig in the Campus Team that is in charge of planning for the return of students to campus. They have had several meetings, and Mr. Koenig has contributed his Passing Period Plan and Lunch Period Plan to the group. There are so many details for which we need to plan, but by working together and utilizing each person’s area of strength we will create a successful plan!
Shimotsu State Finalists for Texas Youth Creators Awards
By S. Zulema Bewley
Harry Shimotsu Elementary is proud of its students who placed at the 2020 Texas Youth Creators Award competition this spring: In grades 6-8, Pearl B. 1st place in Color Photography. In grades 3-5, Coby B. 1st place in Black & White Photography and 3rd place in Color Photography, Selah G. 1st place in Color Photography, and Ashira J. 3rd place in Black & White Photography. Congratulations!!
JHS Celebrates World Play-Doh Day
As the world celebrated National Play-Doh Day on September 16th, students learned some fun and exciting facts about the history behind Play-Doh with a hands-on, interactive approach. They were encouraged to create their favorite book character using Play-Doh and download the free Play-Doh Touch App on their device. They shaped their book character, put it against a white surface, scanned it into the app with the camera, and saw it come to life in a virtual world.
As the world embraces technology and online learning, we can use apps as great tools to stimulate student's minds.
RD Martinez Celebrates International Dot Day
RD Martinez teachers and students celebrate International Dot Day with a read aloud, information about the author, and an activity. Librarian, OAleman read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. It was amazing to see our students enjoy and participate. Students used their creativity to "make their mark." Students and teachers did an exceptional job. It was incredible to see many faces during these difficult times.
Celebrating Virtual Dot Day
O. Garza students participated in their first International Dot Day virtually. Students meet with their librarian, Ms. Wheat, who gave a short book talk about Peter H. Reynold’s book The Dot. After the book talk students watched a video clip where author Peter Reynolds showed viewers how a dot could become a beautiful drawing. Students were then given a few minutes to see what drawings they could create from a dot, and were encouraged to share their drawings with the group.
We are very proud of our Garza students for sharing their beautiful artwork and expressing their creativity.
Teaching and Learning at Home
by Thanya Montemayor
The year is 2020. Teaching and learning has migrated to the home due to the novel Coronavirus. As teacher librarians, we have assumed many new responsibilities. We are not only the curators of digital resources, but also all the devices that are necessary to maintain distance learning. However, I want to highlight how much I enjoy actually teaching in my library class. We read books, sing songs, and try to establish relationships through this new environment.
Google Certification Goal
by Patricia Ramos
Mrs. Ramos, Wernecke Librarian, has started working on her Google Certification. She recently received her module completion certificate and will be taking her test soon to be a Google I certified educator.International Dot Day Celebrated at Lloyd & Dolly Bentsen Elementary
Bentsen students made their own mark and celebrated International Dot Day on September 15. This day encourages students to be creative, curious, and brave. Every student was excited about making their own mark after listening to The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. This was also a great opportunity for students to learn how to use the drawing tools in Google Doc. Students quickly learned how to use these tools and created their own mark. Overall students had a fun time being creative which is exactly what International Dot Day if for. The following are some of the drawing students turned in.
BCM Club Promo Video Debut @ Virtual Shary Showcase
Librarian Nicole Cruz created an promotional video of the BCM Club. BCM stands for Books, Comics, and Movies. The Shary Showcase previewed to all SHS and SA3 students during 4th block on Monday, September 14th. The BCM Club had their first meeting that same day from 4-5 pm via Google Meets. The members enjoyed a special guest visit by Sharyland ISD Lead Counselor Al Crixell. Mr. Crixell shared tips on positive mental health with the students.
Pioneer High School Students Encouraged to Join Book Club
by Elizabeth Moreno
Pioneer High School librarian, Elizabeth Moreno, created a promotional video to encourage PHS students to join book club. She then added the video to the Extracurricular hub in Google Classroom for all students to view. Students were invited to join in the first virtual book club meeting through Google meets! Creating such excitement for book club, what a great start!!Promoting Your Library’s Services for Remote Learning
Promoting Your Library’s Services for Remote Learning
By Wenndy Pray
To say this year has been a rollercoaster to navigate is an understatement. Though many would say that challenges abound, I would reply with, “so have opportunities.” Remote learning has proven to be why promoting my digital library and how librarians can use technology to support student social-emotional learning during this difficult time is so important. For my campus, I recorded a digital library orientation using Loom. Check out the video below or click here. I also connected with the Texas Library Association to write Coping, Healing, & Persevering: Social-Emotional Learning with Technology.
Rapid Review
Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II By Douglas A. Blackmon
If you are like most people you think slavery ended with Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation. Sadly, that is not true. After the Civil War the White men in the South devised several methods of returning Black people to forced labor, which in many ways had them living in worse conditions than they had already survived. These are there stories.
SHS / SA3 Librarian Featured on Librarian Influencer of the Week Podcast
Librarian Nicole Cruz was interviewed by Dr. Laura Sheneman in July. She was asked to provide tips and advice for new to the profession school librarians. Nicole shared stories about her early years as a middle school librarian in San Benito CISD. She also shared her goals for this school year. In the first day of broadcast, the podcast garnered over 100 visits.
#WhyApply Campaign
Pioneer High School librarian, Elizabeth Moreno, collaborated with Mrs. Melinda Zuniga the PHS Go Center Counselor to promote the #WhyApply campaign for Pioneer High School. This campaign will be shared with students and throughout social media to encourage all students to apply to several colleges and universities.
Guest Reader for International Dot Day
by S. Zulema Bewley
Make Your Mark! On Tuesday, September 15, Mrs. Rocha's 2nd grade class celebrated International Dot Day. Mrs. Bewley was invited to read The Dot written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds (with permission from the publisher, Candlewick Press) and talk about Mr. Reynolds' work.
Curation of Screencastify Videos
by Patricia Ramos
Mrs. Ramos has been creating videos on Screencastify for her staff and students at Donna Wernecke Elementary. She plans to continue growing her video collection to be effective in her collaboration with staff and students and to offer quick tutorials and solutions to library programs being used.Nicole H. Cruz, SISD Lead Librarian
Email: ncruz@sharylandisd.org
Website: https://www.sharylandisd.org/departments/library_services
Location: 1216 North Shary Road, Mission, TX, USA
Phone: 956-580-5300
Twitter: @Cruz23Mac