Accelerated Reader Team Update - January

Here is the January update on AR team standings.  The Water team is ahead, but the team standings could change at any time.  Also, students who earned points for their team through the first week in January are encouraged to stop by the library if they would like an AR team bag tag to show their participation for their team.  We will acknowledge subsequent participation in early spring.  KEEP READING!

Upcoming Events in the Library

Current Events:

February 2 and 3 - French Book Fair

February 6 through March 2 - Reading through the Diaspora:  Black Writers' Exhibit

February 23 and 24 - Visit by illustrator Michele Wood

Past Events:

• PowerPoint presentation on Second Language Reading
• PowerPoint presentation on The Virtual Library
• PowerPoint presentation on Multicultural Children's Literature (selected slides)
• Ashley Bryan Traveling Exhibit of Illustrated Africana Children's Literature

Language Book Talks and Anytime Book Club Blog

Each month at the end of the month, the library will be offering book talks in French, Spanish and German featuring books from those collections that are new, are related to the current inquiry in the classroom or that are simply well-known works for children in the language.   Pascale, Lucie and Elke, respectively, with share with the children and help them find books in the language that are good for them.  They will also post a summary of the books that were discussed on the Anytime Book Club blog and encourage students to comment in the language.  Please encourage your children to take a look and to participate in our anytime, anywhere online book club!  The more participation, the better, and this provides an authentic opportunity for students to use their language skills!

New Technology Fun

In the library story room this year, we have been piloting the use of Mimeo Studio and related tools that enable a plain white board to function as a "smart",  interactive board.  A favorite feature of Mimeo for both teachers and students is Mimeo Vote, whereby students can register their vote on Yes, No and multiple choice questions via clicker.  We've had great learning experiences using Mimeo Vote to rate books in book talks and to express opinions in a session on plagiarism.  It's nice to use technology that's just plain fun!

Exhibition and Noodletools - What's That, You Say?

If you are the parent of a fifth grader, you have probably heard of Noodletools, the online research tool that students have been using in the Exhibition.  With Noodletools, each Exhibition student group is managing the research process by keeping a collective bibliography, working on digital notecards and linking to resources and a collaborative group Google Doc.  All AIS community members are encouraged to come by the library to see these wonderful projects once they are completed at the end of January.