Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Freedom to Read

Did you know that the American Library Association actually has a "Freedom to Read" Statement? What this explains in simple terms is that we Americans have the freedom to read and write what we would like to.

Unfortunately, that is not true in every country. So, let's celebrate our freedom to read and read everything that we can! Here is a start:

Reading Blogs

Top 15 Blogs on Reading and Literacy

A Website with Lots of Great Links

I hope you enjoy the above blogs. Feel free to comment!



Monday, November 26, 2012

Edmodo for Parents

Did you know that parents can also join Edmodo?

Teachers create an account for their classes and then pass along a joining "code" for parents. Parents can then create their own account and join various "groups". For example, a parent could join a middle school group and high school group.

Teachers decide to what extent they use Edmodo. Some may use it only as a communication tool to inform parents of projects and news going on in the classroom. Some may go as far as using the gradebook.

Students can put documents in a "backpack" and work on their schoolwork at home. Now, that is good news!
www.gettingsmart.com

There are also Apps (many for free), a library, and social networking.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Turkey Facts and Cool Projects

The above is a link to a kidzone webpage chockful of information about Thanksgiving, vocabulary, and turkey crafts. Click on the tabs at the bottom to navigate the grade levels. The pictures are beautiful, too!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Vocabulary and Games...

Scrabble - I can honestly say I have learned a lot of vocabulary from Scrabble, a game of words.

Today students from an English classroom were sent to the library for reward time to play Scrabble or free Internet reading (all with supervision from me).

Students playing Scrabble learned three new words:

  • wan (pale)
  • wane (to fade away)
  • pare (to peel)
It is a great opportunity to talk about the "waning of knights in the Middle Ages" and many other bits of history using these words. Scrabble games makes great gifts and are great for family time!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

It's Alabama School Libraries Week and We're Writing Poetry!

We've expanded our gaming
to include quite a thrill
of putting pen to paper
but not using a quill!

It's concrete poetry we're naming
not swallowing a pill
let's turn our thoughts to dapper
we only have until...
the bell rings!

So, readers out there, you get the idea! We are writing quick poetry and brainstorming words like rhyme scheme, alliteration, simile, and metaphor. If you have ever been a student in any school, you have heard those words before. They all have to do with poetry and writing!

I invite you to read, write, recite and enjoy poetry with your own child/student! It's a great diversion from our daily tasks.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Our Next Big Event!

Please come to our next fundraising event! We will meet at Barnes and Noble on Tuesday, December 4th. See you there!
 

Thursday, November 8, 2012

A Great Flashcard Website

Have you ever heard of Study Blue? Study Blue is a website to help students study with flashcards. It's ingenious because most of the information is already there.

What you do is create an account and start searching for your topic. It is so easy that you will have a stack of cards in no time! Then you can give yourself a quiz on the material.

Study Blue actually makes study a lot of fun - at least to me!

From flashcards on fractions to flashcards on France, it's all there just waiting for you to use it for free!



Monday, November 5, 2012

Please visit our Book Fair one more time online at www.scholastic.com/fair. Select Alabama, then Birmingham, and Irondale Middle School. Thank you for your support parents and students!

Friday, November 2, 2012

Our Scholastic Book Fair Moseys Down the Road Today...

Our All Star Book Fair is moving on today! I hope you have enjoyed seeing a few of the pictures as much as we have enjoyed having the fair. Here is one more picture of Coach Joe who has given out hundreds of baseballs and baseball cards in keeping with our All Star theme.


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Here is "umpire Joe" asking more baseball questions about Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Hank Aaron and other famous baseball players. The kids have learned a lot!

He also discusses the negro baseball leagues with the students. Everyday during the Scholastic Bookfair they have learned something new!