THANK YOU P.T.O.

The Fall Book Fair was this past Tuesday and Wednesday. While there weren't enough sales to give the P.T.O. a cash profit, the IMC staff was able to pick out books for the IMC based on a percentage of the sales. Choosing carefully, the IMC staff picked 19 books. These books will be cataloged, processed, and ready for student checkout after winter break. Thank you very much P.T.O.
Last week the IMC was is great demand. 8th grade social studies and health classes were using the computers for projects. Also the 6th grade social studies used the IMC computers and 7th grade social studies and 8th grade Language Arts had laptops in their classrooms. Next week the computers continue to be heavily used by 6th grade social studies and language arts, health, and 8th grade language arts and social studies. There will also be book checkout by6th & 7th grade. After that we can all rest up over winter break -- computers included!

P.T.O. BOOK FAIR COMING

The Fall Book Fair is Tuesday, December 6th, and Wednesday, December 7th. Sales will be conducted from 8:30 AM to 3 PM and again before and after the Winter Concert each night. This is a great place to pick up a couple holiday gifts OR purchase the 2012 Rebecca Caudill nominee you are dying to read. The selection will include everything from books for preschoolers to some selected adult literature highlighting books for the junior high aged reader. And by the way, there are Quick Sales before school on Thursday for any last last-minute purchases. Proceeds from the Book Fair help to support P.T.O. activities at Lakeview.

FROM RESEARCH TO BOOK CHECKOUT

On Monday, I will prepare the 8th grade social studies classes for a research project called Political Spectrum. Students will be researching various political viewpoints and the people who supported those viewpoints. As an introduction students will receive a "road map" outlining what resources are available at Lakeview that will help them with this project. We will also take a look at several online resources -- subscription database for reference books and magazines/newspapers. If students follow my road map their research will be smooth and easy.
Also on Monday several 7th grade Reading classes will come to checkout books for their next book report. Since they have free choice of any grade appropriate fiction, there are hundreds of possibilities. I will st up several table displays for some of my favorite choices.
And following up on the Rebecca Caudill presentation this week, there are an eager bunch of 6th graders digging into the 2012 Caudill nominees. Mrs. Wilson, our library aide, reported seeing many students avidly reading their books this morning before school.

IT'S CAUDILL TIME AGAIN

Next Monday I will introduce the 6th grade students to the nominees for the 2012 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award. Across Illinois students in grades 4-8 will chose which of the nominees is to receive this award. At Lakeview all 6th graders participate so their next three book reports will be from these nominees. Then in February, 2012 they will vote through our online library catalog for their choice. All of our results are sent to the state committee. Then in March, 2012 the state winner is announced. Both Mrs. Wilson and I have read all 20 nominees and we agreed that there is no clear cut winner like The Hunger Games of last year. However, all 20 books are great! There is something for everyone -- from fantasy and scifi to historical and adventure to sports and animals. We can also boast this year that we have 12 of the nominees in audiobook format, mostly as Playaways, self-contained, electronic devices. On Monday the 6th graders will listen as I booktalk all 20 nominees and then make their choice for their first book report. I will also show students how they can place their own reserves online for other nominees they want. To see the list of the 2012 nominees, check out the link on our webpage.

LOTS OF COMPUTER USE AGAIN

There are some amazing computer projects going on -- which is why the IMC computers are getting such heavy use. The projects that I know about include 8th grade Advanced LA/Reading using Photo Shop to present information about the Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and monsters; 6th grade social students using Comic Life to create movie ads for the Greek myths; 8th grade Reading writing up biography book reports as though they were interviewing the person in the book. Next week 8th grade Science has reserved computers for a day. I wonder what they will be doing!

LOTS OF COMPUTER USE

The IMC computers were in heavy use this week, and next week looks even more busy. This week computers were used by 6th & 8th grade music, 7th & 8th grade social studies, and 6th, 7th, & 8th grade language arts. Next week 8th grade language arts/reading classes dominate the computers. Nothing else is scheduled in the IMC next week, so Mrs. Wilson and I can return to preparing new books for checkout. Our production rate has tapered off the last few weeks as other activities such as the Halloween Trivia Contest and various book checkouts were scheduled.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

The Halloween Trivia Contest is a big success this year. There is only 1 more day left. All answers must be submitted by 3 PM on Monday, October 31st. Then names will be drawn to award Grand Prizes of Computer Games Day passes. Thank you to all who have and will participate. I hope this contest has honed your research skills. Be ready -- there may be similar contests later in the school year.

I have a special treat for 6th graders on Monday. I will visit the language arts/reading classes for a spooky story from Patrick Carman's new book, 3:15. Mr. Carman, who I met at the Anderson's Young Adult Literature Conference, combines Internet audio/visual components with his short stories. We will listen to a short audio introduction, then I will read the story, and finally we will watch the video ending online -- ALL IN 15 MINUTES! Mr. Carman combines Internet activities with most of his books to attract reluctant readers. It was fascinating to hear him talk about how he prepares both the written and Internet parts of his books. "It's like writing the book twice!"

COMPUTER GAMES DAYS START

Today was our first Friday Computer Games Day at Study. Study teachers could send students, individually or with a partner, to play CD-ROM games in the IMC. The IMC has a large variety of game CDs in its collection. All CD-ROM games are loaded on specific computers so students can sit down, double click the icon, and start playing. Partners are allowed to unplug the headphones so both gamers had listen to the soundtrack. The first Games Day is a little slow, but all attending students had a good time. Word will spread. While sports games like Madden Football and NHL hockey are always popular, other favorites include SIM City, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Battleship, and the Zoombinis. Visitors are always welcome to watch the flurry of activity. It can be crazy at the beginning of each study period, but once everyone is settled the gamers are very into their game.

HALLOWEEN TRIVIA CONTEST

The IMC announces a Halloween Trivia Contest! Answer a question -- Win a prize. There is a large can on the Fiction bookcase next to the IPAC computer that contains multiple copies of 50 questions about Halloween. All questions (and answers) were found in World Book Online. When you have the answer written on the Trivia Card, give it to Miss Hagensee. If your answer is correct, you get to pick a prize from the Witch's Cauldron. All correct answers are kept for the Grand Prize Drawing on Halloween. Grand Prize winners will receive a special pass for the IMC Computer Games Days which begin Friday, October 21st. On Games Days you and a partner at study can play one of the exciting CD-ROM computer games in the IMC collection. New games have been added. Joining old favorites like NBA Live and other sports games, The Sims, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Battleship, many Tycoon games, and I Spy games, the IMC has added Mall of America Tycoon, Sims Carnival Bumper Blast, and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? So flex up those fingers, log on to World Book Online, and answer as many different Halloween trivia questions as you want between now and Halloween Day. For more information, ask a librarian.

SHORT WEEK AHEAD

Computers were again in use all week. I had the opportunity to meet with the 6th grade language arts/reading classes to begin our introduction to Accelerated Reader, the computerized book report program we use at Lakeview. This first session concentrated on how to choose a book for an Accelerated Reader book report. Then on Friday I meet with half of the 6th grade LA/Reading classes for part 2 of the introduction. In Part 2 students learned how to log in to Accelerated Reader and how to take a quiz. Together we took the quiz for Babe, the Gallant Pig (the basis of the movie Babe about the pig which herded sheep). Students learned that at the end of the quiz the program automatically prints a TOPS Report which is given to the teacher for a grade. After the demonstration students, on their own, took the quiz for Taking Sides, a novel they just finished reading in class. If there was time students could take additional quizzes with the warning that once you take an AR quiz you cannot take that quiz again while you are Lakeview. 6th graders should be well prepared to take AR quizzes on their own. The other half of the 6th grade are coming next week Thursday for their AR introduction part 2.

Next week is a very short week with Columbus Day on Monday and a teachers' institute on Tuesday as days off school for students. But during that short week ahead computers will again be in use on Wednesday for 8th grade LA and on Thursday for a variety of classes including 6th grade LA/Reading, a music class, and an 8th grade LA class. The laptops will be in 7th grade science on Wednesday and Thursday also.

LOTS OF ACTIVITY

This past week the IMC have been a beehive of activity. The computers were in use every day. 8th grade Social Studies spent the week working on a group project. And 7th & 8th graders checked out books for their next book report.

In the week ahead IMC computers continue to be in use - Monday-Wednesday for 8th grade Science, Wednesday and Thursday for 7th grade Advanced LA/Reading, and Friday for 8th grade LA/Reading. Also the laptop computers will be utilized by the 6th grade Health classes. AND the 6th graders will be introduced to the Accelerated Reader program (a computerized, multiple choice book report) and select a book for their first AR book report.

MORE ACTION

I thought that this week would be quiet but it ended in organized chaos with Mr. Safranski's 8th grade social studies classes and Miss Cerney's advanced language arts classes co-existing in the IMC working on projects. Still there were enough quiet times for Mrs. Wilson and I to get 39 more new books ready for checkout.

Next week the IMC computers are booked all week -- Monday and Tuesday for 8th grade social studies, Wednesday for 8th grade reading classes, Thursday for 7th grade language arts, and Friday for 8th grade science. In addition 7th and 8th grade reading classes will have book checkout for their next book report. It's shaping up to be a busy week ahead.

QUIET WEEKS

This past week and next week are quiet weeks for the IMC in terms of class usage. The health classes have been using the IMC computers and that's about it except for walk-ins. However it really picks up the week after next! The low usage has allowed Mrs. Wilson and myself time to dig into the pile of new book processing. It feels good to be working on new books again. Both of us are tempted -- there are soooo many books we want to read. The good news for students is that there are 31 new books in the New Book Display area by the windows this week. If you can't decide what to read, take a look at the new books. There's something for everyone!

BACK TO LIBRARY BUSINESS

It felt good to get back to library business this week. There was some computer use and some book checkout. The IMC was open before school and during study so we are back to a regular schedule.

Next week the only reservations are for computers on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for some of the Health classes which means that Mrs. Wilson and I will have time to work on new books. Keep watching the new book display shelves by the windows because there are some really great books just about ready for checkout.

CRAZY WEEK

Well, the MAP testing is finished (at least we hope it is!), so maybe the IMC can get back to being a library again. Library Orientation did take place for each grade with only a few strange quirks. Because the IMC computers were needed a third day for MAP testing, the 8th grade orientation and book checkout took place in the classroom with the library on a cart. I wheeled a selection of books to the classroom on a cart and proceeded as though we were in the IMC. 7th and 6th grade classes were able to meet for orientation in the IMC, but it was a bit chaotic as Mrs. Wilson was trying round up students who still needed to finish their MAP tests. The usual smooth operation wasn't with us this year.

No matter what has happened -- it is past. On Tuesday the IMC opens for full service. Just to review: the IMC is open during the regular school day including study. Students coming to the IMC during study need a pass. Written passes are 10 minute browsing passes. Laminated Research and Computer passes (2 of each per study classroom) are for the full study period. In addition the IMC is open before school at 7:35 AM Tuesdays through Fridays. Before school use also requires a pass. Forty laminated Before School passes are given to morning gym monitors for distribution to students.

After the dizzying speed of this first week, it will feel very nice to get back to library business next week.

WELCOME BACK

It's nice to see everyone back at school and to meet the new 6th graders. Next week is a busy time for the IMC. On Monday and Tuesday the IMC will conduct MAP testing. Wednesday through Friday will be library orientation for each grade and the first book checkout of the year. Here at Lakeview students check out IMC materials with a library card. Next week all students will get a temporary card to use until the picture IDs come in. Then the IMC staff adds the library barcode to the back of the ID card making it a library card too. Either the temporary card or the ID card can be used for book checkout. Each student is also allowed one free checkout (without their library card) each trimester in case they forgot their card. If a student loses their card , they should report the loss to a librarian. We often have a collection of cards that were left in the IMC or were turned in at the IMC. See you all next week!

W.O.W. Day

W.O.W. (Widen Our World) Day was a 6th & 7th grade project where students could investigate anything they wanted and then report to their Homebase with a presentation. Based on my Homebase, there was a wide variety of ideas. Some students made posters, some create computer presentations and programs, some demonstrated sports techniques, and some even made food. The IMC was used by a group of students who were preparing posters (table usage) and/or researching (computer use). It was a nice way to round out the week and the school year.
The 8th grade graduated last night. There was an Award Assembly yesterday. And the school year is very nearly over. I hope many students will consider participating in our Summer Reading Program -- Read S'More -- and follow my reading adventures in my Summer Reading blog. No matter what you do, have a great summer and see you in August!

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE...

But the school year is almost over. Today was the last Computer Games Day at study. We have passed the last due date for IMC materials and started summer paperback checkout for grades 5, 6, & 7. I am almost finished telling those same students about our Lakeview Summer Reading Program. On June 1st information on our program will be linked to the Lakeview Library webpage. Indian Prairie and Woodridge Public Libraries have visited and told 6th & 7th graders about their summer reading programs. Information flyers for Indian Prairie summer reading program and events are available at the main IMC desk. (Any Lakeview student may register, even if they don't have an Indian Prairie library card.) Woodridge has "gone green" this year and put all their information on their website. Links to Indian Prairie and Woodridge summer reading programs are on the Lakeview Library webpage.
Next week the IMC Club members will be helping put things away for the summer, take down all the posters and bulletin boards, and make sure all books are back on the shelves ready for us to begin again in August.
It has been an incredible year and now it's nearly over. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer. Please follow my summer reading blog (it activates June 1st) and follow my reading adventures over the summer. Feel free to use the blog to tell me what you are reading, comment on my choice of books, or suggest titles for me to read.

WINDING DOWN

While the IMC computer lab is still busy, the rest of the IMC services are coming to an end for this school year. Today marks the end of check-out for this year. ALL IMC MATERIALS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY, MAY 25TH. A list of items not returned has to be turned over to the school office at the end of Wednesday. Please check everywhere carefully and find those items you thought you returned or have forgotten about. Remember you can log into the Lakeview I.P.A.C. online to find out what is still on your account. Use your last name and network password. If you discover a problem, let a librarian know on Monday so we have time to investigate.
On Monday, May 23rd during the lunch/study periods, representatives from the public libraries will speak to 6th and 7th graders about their Summer Reading Programs. Then beginning Wednesday, I will meet with classes of 5th, 6th, and 7th graders to present the Lakeview Summer Reading Program. Prizes can be won just by reading over the summer. I'm thinking about sitting on the patio or by the pool with a good book and a tall ice tea. I hope many of you Lakeview students will join me in this activity.

6th GRADE RESEARCH PROJECT CONTINUES

6th grade LA students have finished their research for their sports/hobby demonstration speech this week. Next week those students will return to the IMC beginning Tuesday to start work on their bibliography. I will take them through the steps to create an account in NoodleBib (our online bibliography maker), to open a a project folder, and begin working on citations. Thanks to NoodleBib, the long, laborious process of creating a bibliography is reduced to a few simple questions and a fill-in-the-blanks data entry. If students come with their Bibliography Worksheets (filled in, of course), they will have very little trouble with their bibliography. Also next week 8th grade music classes will continue working on their world music projects.

As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, the IMC wants to remind all students that all IMC books currently checked out are due Wednesday, May 25th. Any book not returned will require a replacement fee equal to the cost of the book. Please check lockers, classrooms, and homes carefully so all books can be returned for next year's students to enjoy.

6th GRADE RESEARCH PROJECT

Now that MAP testing is completed for this year, the IMC is back is usual role at research center, This past Friday I presented the 6th grade Language Arts classes with a road map for research on their Sports and Hobbies Project. The road map outlines a research progression that covers the variety of resources available through the IMC in both print and online formats. If students follow the road map they will have plenty of reliable information for their speech. Actual research for 6th grade begins next week.

Also next week several music classes will be using the IMC to work on projects. And on Monday 8th grade Language Arts classes will be checking out books for their next book report (probably the last one of the year). With library business returning to normal, we librarians look forward to getting the last group of new books (for this year) shelf-ready.

MAP TESTING ALMOST OVER

Monday and Tuesday were MAP testing days during the social studies classes. Thanks to the generosity of 7th & 8th grade social studies (unfortunately 6th grade social studies had plans that couldn't be changed), many of the more timers were able to finish their tests on Wednesday. Due to the music trip on Thursday and Friday additional make-up tests and more timers have been postponed to the coming week. Fortunately there is only a small number of students left to finish the final MAP testing round of this year. I believe the special conferencing and goal setting done with all students in Homebase made a great impression on the students. They took their time with the MAP tests and really worked hard. Teachers in Reading and Math will have a very good look at student abilities based on this round of testing.
Coming up next week, some Health and Music classes will be using the IMC computers Monday through Wednesday. Thursday is reserved for 8th grade Language Arts. On Friday the computers are open and I will be preparing 6th graders for their Sports and Hobbies research project with an introduction to the resources available for this project both print and online

MAP TESTING RETURNS

The past week, for a short week, was very busy as 7th grade was wrapping up their career research, typing their bibliographies in NoodleBib, and preparing and typing their outlines. Career speeches begin next week in the classroom.

Looking to next week, MAP testing returns for the third and final time this year. In order to reduce the number of days for testing and the restrictions on IMC use during that time, three locations will be used. 8th graders will test in the IMC. 7th graders will test in Mr. Rodda's Applied Technology room. And 6th graders will test in Mrs. Foellmer's computer classroom. All students will test during their social studies classes on Monday and Tuesday for the Math and Reading tests. Make-up testing for absent students and extended time for students who need it will take place in the IMC on Wednesday. With luck this last round of MAP testing will be completed by mid-week. The MAP testing results will be reviewed by math and reading teachers to prepare class placements for the next school year.

Lots of Computer Activity

This week the 7th grade Language Arts classes continued their research for their career project. Students were taking notes from books, reference materials, online databases and web sites. This year the teachers had the students entering their bibliography information into NoodleBib (an free online bibliography maker) as they went along so some students were ready to print their bibliographies today. NoodleBib is a junior version of the NoodleTools program used at Downers Grove South High School and is basically a fill-in-the-blank setup where students enter the bibliographical information with correct spelling and capitalization and the computer generates each citation with the correct punctuation and in alphabetical order. Next week there are a number of different classes using the IMC computers -- 7th grade math, health, music, 8th grade language arts, and 7th grade language arts returning to type their speech outlines. Also the laptop computers are signed out for the entire week.

Career Research

This week the 7th grade Language Arts classes began their research for their career project. On Monday students took a career assessment survey using a website called Career Cruising which we have on a 30-day free trial. On Wednesday I gave them a Research Road Map and showed them the various types of resources available in the IMC. Thursday students found a book with information on their career and started taking notes. Today most students were ready to start their bibliographies using an online bibliography maker called NoodleBib (a junior version of the one used at Downers Grove South) with the library staff's assistance. Research will continue through next week. Speeches will start April 27th. In addition to the 7th grade research next week, 6th grade Social Studies and some music classes will be working in the IMC. It looks like the library staff is in for another busy week!

I'm Ready...for Spring Break

What a week! 8th graders have been researching for their persuasive speeches --- the P.T.O. Book Fair was Wednesday and Thursday --- 7th graders took their Constitution Test online AND selected book report books based on themes from Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. Now we have spring break to recuperate.
When we return on April 4th, there will be book check-out for the 8th grade LA classes and 7th grade will begin their Careers Unit. That's Monday and I haven't looked any farther yet.
I hope everyone has an enjoyable, relaxing, and safe spring break.

Another Busy Week

The IMC had another busy week and next week is more of the same. This past Thursday I gave an introduction to research for the 8th grade Language Arts classes as they prepare to begin research for their persuasive speeches. Students took notes as I described a road map for research which begins with an encyclopedia, follows through an IPAC keyword search for books in the IMC, then a reference search using the Gale Virtual Reference Library (an online database shared with us from Downers South High School), on to magazine and newspaper online database, and a folder of links to websites that I think are most helpful. Students were given all the necessary login and password information so they can work from school or from home and where all the links are located (most on the Lakeview Library webpage). I also reviewed how to collect bibliographic information from the various media to use in our free online bibliography maker, NoodleBib.
Next week the 8th graders will research in the IMC Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Thursday 7th grade Social Studies classes will be using the IMC computers for their Constitution test. And on Friday 7th grade Language Arts classes will be checking out books for a new book report.

Busy Week

The IMC was busy this week with various classes using computers and laptops. There was also book check-out for Miss Coppoletta's classes. They selected from the genres of mystery or horror.
Next week looks to be equally busy. 6th grade science is signed up for computers on Monday. Then later in the week we will see the health classes on computers.
On Thursday I will give an introduction to research for the 8th grade Language Arts classes as they begin their persuasive speech unit. I have a lot of new books on controversial topics to show them as well as such online sources as Gale Virtual Reference Library, Middle Online Package, eLibrary, and a couple of websites that are very useful for debates. All of these online sources are linked to the Lakeview library webpage for easy access. Students will receive all the necessary login information so they can continue their research from any Internet computer. Also included in the research introduction is a review of how to collect bibliographic information from the various media to use in our online bibliography maker, NoodleBib.

Lots of Computer Use

Even with ISAT testing last week, the IMC computers have been busy. The 6th grade Language Arts were in the IMC almost every day. One of their big projects is to create book trailers - same idea as movie trailers. Some students are using Movie Maker and some are using Google Sketchup. I can't wait to see the finished projects later next week.

Consumer Ed will also been using the IMC computers next week, along with 8th grade science on the laptops in the IMC. Ending the week. Miss Coppoletta's Reading classes ar coming for book check-out.

Even with all this activity in the IMC Mrs. Wilson and I are proud of the number of new books we have been able to catalog and process so they are ready for check-out. Keep your eyes on the New Book display shelves by the windows. You will have lots of new choices!

Voting Results

Voting for the 2011 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award is now completed at Lakeview. I will send the results listed here to the state committee to be tabulated. In a few weeks we should know the official 2011 winner.
17 - 11 Birthdays -- LOCAL 1st RUNNER-UP
6 - The Alchemyst
3 - All Shook Up
3 - The Boy Who Dared
0 - Chains
3 - Diamond Willow
4 - Fablehaven
10 - Found -- LOCAL 2nd RUNNER-UP
0 - A Friendship for Today
5 - The Great Wide Sea
44 - The Hunger Games -- LOCAL WINNER
6 - The Mailbox
8 - Notes from the Midnight Driver
2 - Savvy
4 - Scarlett
4 - Scat
7 - Schooled
1 - Trouble
3 - Waiting for Normal
3 - Yellow Star

Two additional questions were voted online by the 6th graders. Those results are:
Which form of audio book do you prefer? Total votes = 72
3 - Cassettes
15 - CDs
54 - Playaways
Should the IMC purchase eBooks? Total votes = 76
49 - Yes
27 - No
Thank you to everyone who voted. The IMC appreciates your help in making decisions for the future.

2011 Caudill Voting

Voting for the 2011 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award begins next Tuesday and continues throughout the week. 6th graders will be voting online through the IMC automation system as we have done the past few years. 6th grade students will vote during their LA classes since they have been reading the Caudill nominees since November for book reports. 7th and 8th grade students who have read or listened to at least 3 of the nominated books will be eligible to vote as well. They will need to contact a librarian for a ballot.
From a librarian's point of view, I'm glad I am not eligible to vote. (The award is selected only by students in grades 4-8.) I found all 20 nominees to be excellent reading. I would have a very hard time choosing just one book to vote for. If you have not seen the nominee list, here is the link. The list of nominees for 2012 is also available at this website, as well as past winners and nominees.

A Good Week

The week has gone smoothly. Since the computers were occupied with class projects most of the week, Mrs. Wilson and I were able to spend some time working on new books. The workshop, "What's New in Young Adult Literature.," that I attended was excellent. In addition to gathering a great number of book ideas to purchase for the IMC, I picked up some wonderful book project ideas which I am sharing with the Language Arts teachers. So far they have been very enthusiastic about the projects.
Next week looks to be a similar week with computer use by Spanish and some Health classes. Maybe Mrs. Wilson and I can get more new books ready for checkout.
Coming in two weeks -- Voting for the 2011 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award. Voting will be done online through the IMC automation system as we have done the past few years. 6th grade students will vote during their LA classes since they have been reading the Caudill nominees since November. 7th and 8th grade students who have read or listened to at least 3 of the nominated books will be eligible to vote as well.

Snow Days

The snow days this week have left teachers scrambling to rethink and reschedule their lesson plans. Next Monday and Tuesday 6th grade social studies will finish working on their class newspaper based on Roman history that was scheduled for this week. 6th & 8th grade science will use the IMC computers next week also.
I will be attending a workshop on Monday entitled "What's New in Young Adult Literature." I am looking forward to coming back week with lots of great ideas for new books for Lakeview.

Active IMC

It was a pleasure this week to observe the 7th grade science classes as they continued to work on their genetic disorders project. Students could choose to make a PowerPoint presentation or a poster to present to the class. A couple of students even presented in the IMC and did an excellent job. On Tuesday 8th grade LA/Reading classes come to the IMC to select books related to Romeo and Juliet for their next book report. The suggested books will covered themes like romance, parent/child conflicts, suicide, and violence. Of course, most of the girls went for the romance books and most of the boys went after the suicide/violence books.
Coming up next week we have a quiet start (more time to work on new books), then the 6th grade social studies classes will be using computers for a project.

Back to Business as Usual

MAP testing is over for now and the library is returning to normal. Next week will see the 7th grade science classes using the IMC computers for a genetic disorders project. On Friday 7th grade Health will be using the computers. Next Tuesday 8th grade LA/Reading classes come to the IMC to select books related to Romeo and Juliet for their next book report. These books will cover themes like romance, parent/child conflicts, suicide, and violence.

MAP Testing

I know librarians are pictured as always shushing people to be quiet in the library, but Mrs. Wilson and I admit that the quiet of MAP testing is too much for the modern school library. We are used to a busy, active library with students working on a variety of projects. The quiet of testing seems very unusual. Being open before school and at study helped us feel more like a library. Fortunately MAP testing should finish next Wednesday. Then the IMC can get back to "normal" library business -- book check-out, research, group projects, Brain Pop, etc.

Back from Winter Break

We are back from winter break and the IMC has been busy. Music classes have been researching world country music and culture (8th grade) and musical eras (6th grade). 7th graders selected and checked out books for their next book report. Health classes, 7th grade science, and 7th grade Advance LA classes have also been in to work on projects.
Next week things quiet down because the second round of MAP testing will take place in the IMC. From January 10-19 all students will test in math and reading. This time with the MAP testing the IMC will be open before school Tuesday through Friday and all week at study. There are a number of ongoing projects so the before school or study time will give many students an opportunity to get some extra work time on those projects.