Happy BRRR Year! January in the Media Center!

Welcome Back!

The two extra days of "break" were sure nice.

BUT....

Now that we are back, the shortened week means that many of you have missed out on book choice time.

NORMALLY, this is something that we just chalk up to the "fates"!
 

Our kids have already been without new books for a long time.

It doesn't seem fair that they need to wait another week for new books.


So here is the plan.....with an explanation of how it will work. 

Please read this carefully, even if you DID NOT miss your book choice time.

Another wrinkle in the schedule is that MAP testing starts this week!  (The window runs from Jan. 9-Feb. 7)
That schedule will be shared with you as soon as Corey and I review it!
When the testing is going on, it is very difficult for me to assist with that AND do media lessons during book choice time!

During the month of January, plan to bring your students at the regular time for book choice.  Assume that I WILL NOT meet with the kids other than to get them set to check out their books.

You can plan to be in the center for about 20 minutes.

THIS WEEK....if YOUR class missed book check out because of the "POLAR VORTEX"....look at the schedule and sign up for a time that works for you to come in and do a 20 minute book choice!

Jumpstart will be cancelled for the entire MAP testing window. 

This is necessary because of the need to have the tests set up and ready for kids.

I hope this all makes sense.  If you have any questions, you can always stop in and ask.

Here's to a great start to 2014!

Mark Your Calendars for the THIRD ANNUAL Make and Take Holiday Extravaganza!

 On Monday,  December 9th 
the PSI teacher lunchroom will become....

A Holiday Decor Workshop!

This will be the 3rd Annual Edition of this fun event!

Time: Dec. 9-3:30-5:00

Location: PSI Teacher Lunchroom

Cost: $10 (your contribution will secure your spot at the table)

If a picture is worth a 1000 words....these photos will let you see the fun we have had in the past!!

 

As you can see.....this is a gender neutral event!!!  Without this Freddie would have to figure out something else to give his Mom for Christmas!!!

 

Your $10 gets you all the greens you will need.....wire,,,,,ribbon.....floral foam and other fun accents for your creations!

You should bring your own containers.....a quick trip to the new Good Will might be in order!  If you want a candle or any other "special" ornaments....bring those and you will get LOTS of good advice for incorporating them into something wonderful!

 

Maybe it is a door swag that you need.....a few greens, a bow.....how easy is that?

RSVP with your contribution before December 4th! 

 I need to know how much STUFF to Buy!!!!

Have A Wonderful Week!

What's New?

You might wonder what I have been up to while you all have been busy getting ready for and having your conferences!

Noooo....I haven't just been sitting around drinking coffee and eating leftover Halloween Candy...DARN!  Here are a few things that have been happening around here!

I used the Media Center PTO money to purchase an additional wagon for the upstairs kids to use to move books to the library!

Watching the kids try to bring those big boxes of books down the stairs......made me nervous!

The wagon is stored in the little Science storage room.  Encourage your kids to get it to put the "returns" in. 
Have them put the wagon in the elevator....then go down the steps to "meet" it.....wheel the books in to the center and then send the wagon back upstairs.

No....we didn't buy a GOLD plated iPad for PSI.....

BUT this might make you even happier!

Nate and Angela have been working with me to create a process to streamline our syncing process for the student iPads!!!

The goal is to set up a "GOLDEN iPAD" that will be the model for how all student iPads look.  This will allow us to set up screens for the APPs...and more easily manage them. 

I will keep you posted!

We have started doing an inventory!

If you see me crawling around on the floor beeping books....you will understand how much FUN this is!

Imagine....every single book needs to be scanned!!!  Well at least we do it with the scanner and not the drawers of cards like in the olden days!

I would ask that if you have a secret cache of books in your room that you might be able to return....that will help when we get to the end of the process and need to go searching for items!!!

Look at all the books that came to us for FREE!

Thanks to the Book Fair!

Diane has been feverishly getting them cataloged and out on the shelves.

What Fun!

So there you have it....what's new around here!!!

Have a great week!

New Look for Student Resources Page!

You may have noticed that the PSI Student Resource Page has a new look!!!

I decided to use Weebly for this important portal to our resources.
I tried to make sure that everything transfered over from the rSchools site....but of course I am sure I have missed something.


This is how the page looks now!

• I need to hear from First, Second and Third grade to be sure that I link the right page for your "Grade Level Links", so let me know and I can do that. 
•  I decided that 4th and 5th grade students probably use the grade level links under your classroom tab.  If that is NOT the case, let me know and I will add a link.

I do want your feedback, so let me know what you think!

Have A Great Week!

Random Stuff Worth Knowing!

Fall Map Testing is over.....making me feel like doing a Happy Dance....

That also means that the computer labs are once again available for the "good stuff"!

Hope to see you there soon and often!

Please remind students that they are NEVER supposed to log in to their own network accounts!

All computers need to be logged in as guest!
The username is:  guest
There is NO password!

IXL now has an APP which has been added to all 30 student iPads!
This opens up some interesting possibilities for small group activities in your classrooms!

We will be adding first grade to the IXL subscription very soon!  I will let you know when that is.


If you would like help with setting up your classes in IXL, let me know!

 

Link to Hooda Math

 This is a website and an APP!

There are a wide variety of math games to explore (sorry, they are all in English)!

I even found one where I had to shop and exactly meet the targeted budget!

Well worth a look!

I will add it to the Math section of the Student Resources!

 

Remember to think of me when you find a Writing Craft lesson that needs a read-a-loud book that is not available in Spanish!  I am happy to read those to your class!

 

Have a Great Week!

 

Media News Sept. 23-27

More MAP Testing this week!  Here is the Schedule!

As you can see it is all about Math....and the kids need lots of time to complete the test!

In the meantime...I purchased a great little Spanish Language App...it is the FEED ME App that we have been using, but the full Spanish Version.

It is great for first and Kindergarten!



So...remember if you can't use the lab....the iPads are a way to use technology with the kids!





This week during Book Choice time...as often as I can....I will focus on using the library catalog with 3-5th grade....

In K-2  there will be stories read when I can be there....and that will be a treat for ME!

Many of you know the troubles we have been having with the circulation system, so be patient while we try to work through that!

Have a Great Week!

Media News Sept. 16-20

Monday is the start of MAP testing.

This will last for the next 3 weeks.

Luckily, now that we have the doors installed to close off the computer labs from the library, we can continue book choices as usual!

Well.....almost as usual!  I will need to be available to help with testing sessions, so I will probably miss a few book choice times.  I will let you know ahead of time if your class is one of those affected.

Lisa will always be there to help with check-outs!


This is the testing schedule for this week!

 Sorry about it running off the page....but I thought you would want to be able to read it!!!

The Computer Schedule reflects the test schedule!

Kindergarten Computer times may need to be adjusted because of the tests...or we can use the iPads!

Just a reminder that many of the document cameras are still available to check out!


Just let Lisa know and she will check one out to you for your classroom!









I know this is a busy week with our Parent Information Nights....so good luck all with your presentations....I know you will all be STARS!

Have a Great Week!

This Week In the Media Center

AND SO IT BEGINS!

This week begins regular Book Choice for all classrooms.

I will be going over the "Rules" and "Procedures" with each class.

Students with overdue materials from the past will only be allowed to take ONE book until those materials are returned!

It will be a pretty jam packed week....so please make every effort to come on time so that your kids have plenty of time to choose those new books!!

If you need my help with a computer session, be sure to check the book choice schedule when you sign up!  I will not be able to leave those sessions to help you!  You should pick a time when there is NO library book choice on the schedule.

 

Would you believe that MAP testing starts NEXT MONDAY!!!

YIKES!

I will be working on the schedule and sending it out to 2-5 grade teachers.

If you have any "special events" on your schedule for the testing window...

Sept. 16-Oct. 4

I need you to let me know ASAP!

 

Here are a couple of fun websites you might want to take a look at!

School Girl Style

This blog is one that Judy Contreras shared with me...

All about fun decor for the classroom!

Rockalingua

This site has great short videos with basic Spanish themes.

I think they would be great transition activities for the early grades!

Kim Wieber and I are thinking about holding a little work session on Wednesday after school for anyone interested in learning how to create a BLOG in WEEBLY.

More info will come by email when we actually have a plan.

If you have been thinking about moving to the BLOG format for your weekly newsletter...this might be a workshop for you!

Have a Great Week!