This isn't your Ordinary Book Report!

Vickie Johnson's 3 Language Arts classes at Mary Lillard Intermediate are learning how to create book trailers for books they have read.  Not only is this their book project, but we are also tying in to Media Literacy and Persuasive Writing.  The students learned about appropriate places to search for pictures they have the right to use, how to cite them and then how to create their video!  Once the videos are created, they will be uploaded to Book Trailers for All's website, I will create QR codes to put on the books.  The students will be able to scan the QR code either in the library using a webcam or at home using their own device to watch the trailer.  I'll post again when we have some finished products to share! 

Carolee Wilson
Lillard Intermediate

Researching in the Library

My November and December calendar has been filled with Language Arts classes and I am so excited!  I asked to visit with the LA teachers during one of the Department meetings.  I shared with them some information about the Big6 research process and let them know that I would gladly share it with their students, as well as, teach a lesson on Citing Sources.  To date, I have had 6 LA teachers bring all of their classes to the library for 2 lessons...one on how to cite their sources and one on the Big6!

Carolee Wilson
Mary Lillard Intermediate

Latte Day in the Library!

Mary Lillard Library sponsored "Latte Day" in the Library Thursday, December 15!  Each Language Arts teacher selected 10 students to attend.  The criteria for being selected was being a student who would love to be rewarded with time to kick back and read!  We served "lattes" to 200 students throughout the day.  The students loved having time to just read!

Math in the Library @ Mary Lillard

Today, Mr. Roe's 6th grade GT math class stopped in the library to apply what they had been learning in class.  The class had been studying decimals.  We decided to show them one real-world application....the Dewey Decimal System!  Students rotated through stations using Destiny Quest, arranging non-fiction books in order, and locating non-fiction books using a call number.  Simple, but fun and relevant!

Sunflower Seeds Press - Author Ronda Friend

Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary had a wonderful visit from author Ronda Friend on September 27th.  She is a professional storyteller, published author, and song writer.  She included a little bit of everything during her visit at our campus.  She presented in the morning with story presentations, she directed grade levels in the afternoon in writing workshops, and she came back at night for a family night.  The highlight of the evening was her recruitment of students and their families for a play for one of her books entitled P.U. You Stink!  Parents, teachers, and students absolutely loved Mrs. Friend!

ELL Extravangaza - Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary

On the last Friday of each month, our ELL population will celebrate the different cultures with an Extravaganza.  This is collaboratively led by Andrea Roberts (ELL teacher) and Sharon Prince (MJS LMS).  Our first meeting was held on September 30 with a focus on Mexico.  We had Mexican books, songs, slideshow, craft, and cultural food.  Our next meeting will be on Oct. 28th with the focus on Middle Eastern countries.  We have 11 cultures represented in our ELL program and the plan is to touch on all of them.

Character Education - Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary

During the week of September 26-30, Teresa Franklin (MJS counselor) and Sharon Prince (MJS LMS) collaborated and co-taught grade level lessons on character education.  This first six weeks dealt with respect.  We are using a curriculum entitled PopCorn Park.  We will focus on six different pillars of character education.  We will meet with the students during the last week of each six weeks.  This will also create an extra hour of available time for teachers to work on report cards and SST paperwork.

Battle of the Books

We had a meeting pertaining to Battle of the Books in September and the librarians were there as a large group.  The librarians volunteered to help direct all of the activities.  Tammy Ledesma is in charge of the t-shirts.  Teresa Caddell is in charge of running the district competition.  Trisha Robison is getting questions together. Lora Crews is in charge of book pricing and finding high school students to write questions.  I was proud to see all the librarians willing to work hard for our kids so that they can enjoy the BOB experience.  :)

An "aha!" moment...

Student: “Mrs. Buckles, do you know what I like about the library?”

Librarian: “What?”

Student: “When I come in I see your smile.”

Connecting Kids with Authors @ Lillard

Sept 22, 2011
Today 4 classes of GT students had an awesome opportunity to connect with a published author via Skype.  Author Jennifer Nielsen spoke to the students about reading and her experience with writing and publishing from her home in Utah!  The kids were enthralled with her.  She allowed the students to drive each 40 minute presentation by answering their questions.  The students were a great audience and asked truly amazing and inquisitive questions!! 

To find out more on Jennifer Nielsen, visit her website.

Thank you to Kimberly Brown for helping make sure everything was installed and working properly!
Carolee Wilson
Librarian
Mary Lillard Intermediate

Book Care Lesson

Book Care Lesson

http://www.prezi.com/lnlkng0p4k8p/book-care/

Cindy Gray

Willie Brown Elementary Librarian

Icenhower Intermediate Library Husky Pride Lives Here!

Students at Icenhower Intermediate are exploring their Goals and Dreams this week in an effort to realize the impact they can have on our local/global community in the future.  Huskies in Mr. Michael Le's 6th grade science classes on Team Denali are researching inventors/inventions and how they can be improved upon for the future as part of this integrated unit. Each student has selected an inventor and an invention and will present their 'new and improved' version to their classmates soon!

Mr. Le and Ms. Rambo, Library Media Specialist at Icenhower, collaborated on research methods and print and electronic resources to help students find as much information as possible. What exciting new inventions could be born out of this unit? How about a glow in the dark basketball? For all those off-key singers on your favorite reality show, there will soon be a new microphone that not only amplifies your voice but also tunes it to be on-key! We also have a faster, more effective cure for Yellow Fever victims in Africa on the way and I'm sure the medical teams who will be going in to villages to deliver that cure would love to have the newest high-tech walkie-talkie. It has a Google Maps app and doesn't need a satellite signal to work! The future looks bright in the hands of our Huskies!

Icenhower Intermediate Library Husky Pride Lives Here!

Icenhower staff enjoyed Book Bites in the library on August 26, 2011! Snacks were available and teachers could spend a little time visiting about the first week of school! We are off to a great start here at the Ice House! Stop by and see what Husky Pride is all about!

Louise Cabaniss Library

Last year the library received a grant from the MISD Education Foundation called Passports to Adventure. The children read books from areas of the library that they might not "travel" to! These Adventure books take them to another time or place. The books are labeled with a special spine label and upon completion of the book, and an AR quiz if possible, they receive a dated travel stamp in their passport books. The children receive special  prizes upon completion of a designated number of passport stamps. Great fun and a very popular activity here at Cabaniss.

National Geographic Reading & Teaching Resources

Micheal Cupples, Librarian at Roberta Tipps Elementary, gave a short presentation to fellow Librarians after school today on an innovative way to include Science and Social Studies into the library curriculum. National Geographic classroom magazines offer digital content, interactive whiteboard lessons, as well as traditional print to encourage students to explore the world around them. Her students responses have included reminding her if she misses a week using the magazine, and teachers say that the students talk about the magazines and what they have read when they get back to the classroom! Thanks! Micheal for sharing with us!

If you weren't able to attend the training, please contact Micheal for more information.

Reading Goes to the Dogs!

     Boomer, a Brazilian mastiff, will again be visiting the Gideon Elementary Library this year on a weekly basis to participate in the R.E.A.D. program.  Students are invited to share stories with Boomer, who is an excellent listener as he helps kids recognize the joy of reading.  Boomer and his owner, Sam Moore, volunteered last year as well, and we are excited and grateful to have them return.

Tears and Cheers

Tears and Cheers

Kindergarten, Pre-K, and PLC Parents
Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary
Sharon Prince, Librarian

The counselor and I co-hosted a Tears and Cheers breakfast for the parents of kindergarten, pre-k, and PLC.  After serving refreshments, I read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  This is a book about a small raccoon who is going to school for the first time.  He is very hesitant to go but Mom shares a secret with him - the kissing hand.  She places a kiss in the palm of his hand and he has her love close to him all day.  The counselor shared some ideas for separation anxiety as well as other ideas to make this first year a successful one.  We passed out handprints with a "kiss" in the middle.

Chit Chat and Chow

Friday, Aug. 19, 2011 - Sharon Prince - Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary

I met with grade level teams during a Chit-Chat and Chow session. I had an agenda with ideas I wanted to incorporate into our school year. I served food to keep everyone happy.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back!

Librarians have been busy making new connections between ourselves, the curriculum, teachers, and the students we all serve.

The library is often thought of as a book. We've been turning the many pages exploring the resources available to us all to help fulfill the needs of our students and community through common point of access.