Tidbits...

The IB school at Shades Valley is in the library today speaking about engineering.

Did you know that undergraduates at Auburn majoring in engineering have a 100% success rate in getting into medical school? It makes sense! Just think about what orthopedic surgeons do with inserting working parts into knees, shoulders, and arms!

On another note, I am so excited to have won a CBS News One Class at a Time Grant for $1,000!

I will be purchasing four Flip Video Cameras for the library for student and teacher projects! The students are going to love them!

Digital Learning Day

Digital Learning Day is February 6, 2013!

Get ready for events like BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and digital learning. The purpose of Digital Learning Day is to bring awareness to and celebrate learning with technology.

Here's a great blog to read more about Digital Learning Day and technology:
http://blogs.techsmith.com/for-educators/digital-learning-day-and-techsmith/

Downloadable Fablevision Poster for Digital Learning Day - Print and give to your teacher to display!

Some Great Books to Read This Year!

Get your year off to a great start with these great books!

 

Son by Lois Lowry (which just happens to be our Breakfast over Books selection!)

 

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer

 

Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altabrando

 

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington (We just got this one in!)

 

 

 

 



7 Things to Know About the New Tax Deal

Since everyone is talking about taxes, wouldn't it be great to talk about taxes with your kids? After all, they will be the leaders of our country and our caretakers one day.

Here is a link to share with them. The link includes information directly from The White House. It's never too early to talk about important issues going on in our country!

The Fairy Ring; or How Else and Frances Fool the World

How Else and Frances Fool the World

The above link will take you to a new book about how two girls who take their pictures of fairies, mount them on sticks and take photographs with them.

This was in 1917 and they fooled everyone! They even fooled Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Apparently, they kept it a secret until they were elderly.

The facts in this book confirm what one of our Social Studies teacher was talking about. How can people keep all of their facts straight when they don't have time to double-check what an author writes or what a newscast is broadcasting?

I guess it means that we all have to decide if we believe in fairies or not. It also means that we have to fact check, ask others, read authoritative sources, and check publication dates. We have to constantly strive to be smarter than the reporters, so tonight when you are watching or reading the news you will have to be the one who decides whether you believe in fairies, Santa, or other things that go bump in the night.

Irondale Middle is Featured in the Scholastic Idea Book

Some of last year's students are featured in the Scholastic Idea Book that goes to all middle schools in the country!

Click here to see all of the ideas for spring bookfairs!



Congratulations!

Be sure to congratulate Andrea M., a 6th grader, for winning the IMS Spelling Bee!

She will move onto the next level at Gresham Elementary School on Friday, January 25, at 1:00 p.m.

Andrea won a one-year online subscription to Encyclopedia Britannica for Kids.