World Book Online: Current Events Game

Did you know?

Read current events and check how well you know the news.
In two clicks, you will open entertaining challenges from WorldBook Online!

1. Click One:
Open WorldBook Online and Find Behind the Headlines section. Open the current event that draws your attention.

2. Click Two:
Open Current Events Game

BookFlix: Fiction and non-fiction pairs

BookFlix is an online literacy resource for grades PreK-3 that pairs classic video storybooks from Weston Woods with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic. It helps early readers develop and practice essential reading skills and introduces students to a world of knowledge and exploration.

Students can access Scholastic BookFlix anywhere there is an Internet connection – in classroom, the computer lab, the library, even at home!  

The collection includes:

• 110 fiction and nonfiction paired books, each featuring an animated fictional video storybook and an online nonfiction book
• Spanish language versions of 32 pairs
• Read-Along options for both fiction and nonfiction books
• Interactive educational games to assess vocabulary and reading comprehension
• Definitions and narrated text supports throughout the program
• Author biographies and selected interviews
• Safe, age-appropriate Web links so students can extend their learning on a topic Educator resources, including comprehensive lesson plans for each fiction-nonfiction pair

Scholastic BookFlix is perfect for group reading activities, as well as independent reading practice at school and at home!  

Stop by the library or email me to learn how to navigate BookFlix and find books by themes, genres, grade levels, Lexile and GRL.

Happy reading!

Tech Orientation in the Library

These pictures demonstrate teachers' learning at tech orientation stations set in the Library Media Center by Tech Department this Tuesday. The goal was to lay a foundation and help teachers organize their laptops for their work with students in the new school year. Teachers are getting acquainted with technology resources.

Library has presented on how to use its online catalog and digital collection (databases, electronic and audio books).

Research Detectives: ELL Humanities class

The ELL Humanities II class studies cold climates. Reading and conversing are two main ways students develop their language skills and knowledge of the content. By asking questions, clarifying and discussing the topic students practice sharing their understanding.

Mrs. Sullivan's class is delving into library resources. Students learn the structure of informational books and find materials that best meet their needs.

Activity Around the table: Which book should I check out?












Library is an authentic environment where students hear others speak and have a chance to practice their verbal skills.

Library Technology Week 2014

March 10-14 is Library Technology Week (LTW) that celebrates library digital collections and services. Librarians modify their services and create new deliveries of information.

At WBAIS, we have a rich collection of databases that our students use to find academic articles for their research projects. We offer audio- and e-books that enrich our print collection.

 Do It Yourself @ Your Library

The motto "Do It Yourself @ Your Library" encourages creativity and recognizes it as a highest level of learning objectives.

How can you participate?

• Create an avatar or a digital story about your library or school event with one of the digital resources. Submit your product to LTW Evaluation Committee to  win a coupon to cafeteria (send the link or the picture to mbrodsky@wbais.net). FYI: Free Avatar Makers
• Share a sentence about your favorite technology: an audio book or e-book you've recently read or listened, a gadget, App, database, other technology. You can record it, choose in the poll, or stop by and tell your librarians in the library.
• Find a QR code hidden in the library. Use your iPhone and QR Reader application to read the codes in the library - click here to choose one that best suits your device.
• Recommend a book to your friends via Library Catalog (log in with your PowerSchool credentials)
• Read book recommendations
• Join us in the library during lunch time to see the Robot created by the Robotics crew in action.

What have you "shipped"? (copying Doug Johnson)

I've just read Doug's posting in his Blue Skunk blog and was very much encouraged not by the long list of publications and demonstrations presented by him in 2010 but by him saying, "I "shipped" - you can too". Indeed, we can share our "shippings" with others and by doing this enspire our colleagues to evaluate their productivity of the past year and project future achievements.

My "shipping" list is much shorter but anyways I want to make one to see where I am at the beginning of 2011:
In 2010, I've got a new title. Now I am Librarian/Technology Integrator and Periodicals and AV Equipment Assistant.
Our e-book collection has grown, and I am learning how reading books in digital format effects students' interest in reading.
I am working on integration of Information Literacy skills into core curriculum. Two collaborative projects, High School course on Information Literacy and Middle School Elective "Web Cafe"can be put into the basket.
Let the number of start-up projects be listed here as well:
Preparation for a presentation at NESA Spring Conference in Bangkok, April 2011
Organization of NESA librarians' gathering and round table presentations at ECIS in May 2011
Development of a Middle School course "Books Digitally" where students will read books on Kindles, iPads, and their PCs and create digital projects about them.

Many digital tools are added to the MBtoolbox collection,  and a few articles are written for the school newsletters and NESA News.

Thank you, Doug, for showing us what fun it is to summarise our "shippings"! For us, librarians working in American International Schools, shipping is even more vital than for those working in the Land!

New School Year, Library program, collections and services

Have you missed the library during the break?

As we approach the new school year, it feels like time goes even faster!
Soon, everybody will meet at the cafeteria to chat about their exciting activities. We all will be busy preparing classrooms and planning the year. I've decided not to wait till this time and send the Library Buzz now.
***
During this summer break I often went swimming. I liked its cool water and seeing my granddaughter enjoying the pool! Once I've watched a father and his son competing in swimming. When it became obvious that his son was loosing, the father stopped. To my disappointment, so did the son who although tried hard to win just a minute ago. His motivation vanished as he saw his father's attitude changed. I've caught myself on a thought that it could be a great example of "how not to": as educators, we should not stop moving forward and leading our students to win. They watch us and learn not only from what we say but much more from what we do. So true indeed!

We all have had many good days during the break and gained vigor and strength for new opportunities. We are ready to swim long distance inspiring our students to succeed.
***

As you know, our goal is to make our library media program strong and effective. Doug Johnston describes strong school library programs as ones that help students and staff

love reading and writing and thus improve reading scores,

use information resources in a variety of formats

be knowledgeble and comfortable with technology

develop critical thinking skills and advance in learning

grow as motivated and self-directed life-long learners

.
Effectiveness of the programs is measured by the degree they impact their schools.
Getting the Most from Your School Library Media Program.
We build our activities around this goal:
Integration of Information Literacy program into the school curriculum is a significant step. This year, Information Literacy course for Grade Six and in Elementary classes are added to an IL unit of the Nineth Grade Study Skills course.

Another step is to continue developing collaborative units . You can use the librarians' expertise in the area of how to use online databases, search library catalog and digital collections, evaluate materials found in the Web, cite sources, compile bibliography, and use social networking tools safely.

Our online collections help you find reliable reference resources, eBooks, professional journals, articles from magazines and newspapers, and learn how to use technology.

We would like to announce a new subscription for Bookflix.com - a source for Elementary students that "pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic". It has a password-free access from campus. From home you have to log in (read more information on Online Collection page).

Besides online databases, you may like to use the collection of educational links at Teachers' Favorites . Let us know how we can save you hours on looking for materials this year!

Come to chat about technology: should you wonder what tool to use or how to incorporate new technology into curricula, let the library and the tech team come to your mind first!
This year we have a school subscription for VoiceThread. This new software allows teachers organize discussions around a picture, video or text and "transform media into collborative space". Last year we used it in Foreign Language, Elementary and Middle school classes. Once tried, you will like it and realize that VoiceThread is much fun for students. VoiceThread Library is a collection of ideas and successful projects run with the help of this tool.
***
Two projects that were started last year are also in the list of our goals:

• Adopt a young student aims to build tighter bonds among AIS students and promote reading. Pupils from High School read to reluctant or slow readers from Elementary School and


• Media Helpers (students work in the library as their community service) encourages interactions between students and the library staff.

This year we would like to maintain both projects and involve more students in them.

Please help us expand our services, collections, and professional resources by sharing what you create and letting us know how we can improve our services and collections.