Here are some interesting resources about books and reading!
Have you wondered how to "read" QR codes - those funny 3D barcode "boxes" popping up everywhere? Watch this video tutorial . . .
Tumblebooks Now Work with iPad and iPhone
About 50 Tumblebooks in various languages have now been configured to work with Apple devices such as iPads, iTouches and iPhones [link will work from school]. This should be good news for parents as it enables convenient mobile access to this wonderful multilingual resource. Also, we have iTouches in the library to use in connection with our Mac media lab. Is anyone interested in piloting a small iTouch learning experience with Tumblebooks? I would envision possibly dividing a class into two groups and alternating 15 minutes of listening to several Tumblebooks with time for book checkout. Perhaps we could ask each group to do a quick "book talk" about the book that they read. Please let me know if you have ideas about how to use this new potential!
New Look to OASIS Library Catalog
The library catalog has a new look! The OASIS program has been upgraded -- it mostly works the same. One exception is the Enhanced Search. To search for PYP units by subject, you must Browse, select the PYP subject heading for the unit, then click on Copy. That will put the heading in the Subject search window. From there on, all works as before.
Clickers Add Interest to Classes
Third, fourth and fifth graders have had lots of fun with Mimeo Vote, the new interactive board voting system that we are using in the story room. Third graders have voted on their favorite books, fourth graders have practiced deciphering citations in a bibliography and fifth graders have expressed their opinions on how to properly paraphrase text. The overwhelming conclusion? Clickers make everything more fun!
 |
| Special thanks to our IT colleagues for giving us the opportunity to pilot the Mimeo program in the Story Room. |
Did You Know?
- Number of books checked out by Grades 2 through 5 so far this school year - Over 6,000!
- Number of ebooks for PS students - Over 750 ebooks in various languages through our Ebook Library with EBSCO [accessible through our Oasis library catalog], Tumblebooks, Sylvan Dell and Bookflix.
- Total number of books read based on AR quizzes passed this school year - 2,478 (as of Feb. 27)
- New books in the PS Library - Over 500 added to the catalog so far this school year.
- Mac Media Lab - The library has four Mac computers with large monitors and ten iPod Touches available to PS classes especially for work with video, audio, photos and other forms of visual media.
Flat Classroom Book Club
We are still looking for some teachers who imagine a global classroom collaboration in their future to join us in reading (and sharing ideas about) the newest book by Julie Lindsay and Vickie Davis, entitled Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds: Move to Global Collaboration One Step at a Time. We can read the book, which was released in February, at a pace which fits the group -- when several teachers put their minds together, interesting things can happen. We want the library to be prepared when the classrooms flatten and the walls come down . . . come think and learn with us about what the journey might look like. Send any one of us here in the library an email expressing your interest and we will get back to you with more information.
Curriculum Review
We are presently reviewing the K-12 information literacy curriculum in light of the Standards for the 21st Century Learner of the American Association of School Librarians. Those standards include benchmarks for the end of grade two and grade five, as well as grades eight, ten and twelve. We hope to send a very brief questionnaire out soon, asking you to identify where in your grade certain information literacy skills are taught. As these skills are transdisciplinary in nature, we know that much great work is accomplished in the classroom and by other specialists. We want to make sure that our new written curriculum and the taught curriculum are consistent as we all help students make progress toward these benchmarks. We look forward to your responses and appreciate your taking your time to respond to the questionnaire!
Language Book Talks and the Anytime Book Clubs
We are continuing with language book talks in French, German and Spanish approximately once during each unit. Pascale, Elke and Lucie respectively will be posting about the books that they shared with Grades 4 and 5 on the Anytime Book Clubs blog. If you teach those grades, please encourage your students to add comments. We want to know what they think of the books and we want to encourage discussion about books in all languages throughout the spring. All comments are moderated.
