Partee Elementary Library

Black History Month

2012-02-03T16:31:00.001-05:00

For 3rd grade and up, the Encyclopedia Britannica has a Spotlight on Black History. Use the links on that page to explore biographies and more.

Also for 3rd grade and up, the World Book Student Encyclopedia also has hundreds of African-American biographies.

For 3rd grade and under, the World Book Kids has easier biographies.

And don't forget that PebbleGo has a good selection for those in K-2nd (click on the speaker icon to have the different sections of each article read to you)!

Want to go more in depth? Check out Gale's Biography in Context section on African Americans.

History.com has a good section on Black History Month and the Tuskegee Airmen.

And PBS has plenty of Black History Month films and resources for different age levels.

Of course, it's More Than a Month. This provocative filmmaker wonders, like Morgan Freeman, if we should continue celebrating Black history every February. What do you think?

Web 2.0!

2012-01-31T12:44:00.001-05:00

We had a fun presentation in the library this morning, sharing some "Web 2.0" tools for teachers, students or anyone to have some fun learning and sharing online.

Here's the links from the presentation: Web 2.0

Explore, have fun, and let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,
Mr. Randolph

Reading Is Not Optional!

2012-01-12T12:29:00.002-05:00

Walter Dean Myers has been named the new National Ambassador for Children's Literature!

Find out more about him here.

His platform for this two-year position is "Reading Is Not Optoional."

In this article, one of many about this exciting new announcement, says his his message comes from his own experience:

“I think that what we need to do is say reading is going to really affect your life,” he said in an interview at his book-cluttered house here in Jersey City, adding that he hoped to speak directly to low-income minority parents. “You take a black man who doesn’t have a job, but you say to him, ‘Look, you can make a difference in your child’s life, just by reading to him for 30 minutes a day.’ That’s what I would like to do.”

In another interview, he had this to say about his platform:

"'Reading is not an Option!' is my platform. The value of reading has escalated in my lifetime. As a young man, I saw families prosper without reading because there were always sufficient opportunities for willing workers who could follow simple instructions. This is no longer the case. Children who don't read are, in the main, destined for lesser lives. I feel a deep sense of responsibility to change this."

Congratulations, Mr. Myers!

Mirror, Mirror

2012-01-04T07:58:00.001-05:00

Inspire great poetry with this amazing book!

Booklist starred review

Grades 2-5. This ingenious book of reversos, or poems which have one meaning when read down the page and perhaps an altogether different meaning when read up the page, toys with and reinvents oh-so-familiar stories and characters, from Cinderella to the Ugly Duckling. The five opening lines of the Goldilocks reverso read: “Asleep in cub’s bed / Blonde / startled by / Bears, / the headline read.” Running down the page side-by-side with this poem is a second, which ends with: “Next day / the headline read: / Bears startled / by blonde / asleep in cub’s bed.” The 14 pairs of poems—easily distinguished by different fonts and background colors—allow changes only in punctuation, capitalization, and line breaks, as Singer explains in an author’s note about her invented poetic form. “It is a form that is both challenging and fun—rather like creating and solving a puzzle.” Singer also issues an invitation for readers to try to write their own reversos on any topic. Matching the cleverness of the text, Masse’s deep-hued paintings create split images that reflect the twisted meaning of the irreverently witty poems and brilliantly employ artistic elements of form and shape—Cinderella’s clock on one side morphs to the moon on the other. A book that will have readers marveling over a visual and verbal feast.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

2011-12-13T10:59:00.002-05:00

When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardized.

There's a great website that goes with this book if you want to learn more about what's true and what's fiction and how this unique and amazing book came to be: http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm
It even has clips from the original movies made by the man in the story!

Horn Book starred (September, 2007)

Over a sequence of twenty-one double-page wordless, illustrated spreads, a story begins. The tale that follows is a lively one, involving the dogged Hugo, his ally Isabelle, an automaton that can draw pictures, and a stage magician turned filmmaker. The interplay between the illustrations and text is complete genius, and themes of secrets, dreams, and invention play lightly but resonantly throughout.

It's a wonderful story with tons of great illustrations that sometimes make it seem as if you're watching a movie. So it's no surprise that it's now a great movie called Hugo as well. They are both great stories and include interesting aspects of early 20th century history in a fun way. There are some differences between the book and the movie (and what happened in real life) but they're both good and worth checking out!

Bink & Gollie

2011-12-08T11:52:00.001-05:00

Two roller-skating best friends--one tiny, one tall--share three comical adventures involving outrageously bright socks, an impromptu trek to the Andes, and a most unlikely marvelous companion.

A great read-aloud about friendship and compromise!

School Library Journal (August 1, 2010)

Gr 1-3-In three humorous interconnected stories, Gollie, a self-confident girl who lives in a fashionable, contemporary house, and Bink, her rumpled but lovable, impish friend, are adventure-seeking companions, each with her own strong will. In the first tale, Bink's outrageous socks offend Gollie's sartorial eye, but the two compromise for friendship's sake. The second story sends Gollie on an imagined climb up the Andes, shutting Bink out of the house until she arrives at the door with a sandwich, which they share on top of the "mountain." In the final episode, Gollie is jealous of Bink's new pet fish until Bink reassures her that no one can take her place. All three stories, written with short sentences, abundant dialogue, and some contemporary expressions, offer delightful portrayals of two headstrong characters who, despite their differences and idiosyncratic quirks, know the importance of true friendship. The delightful digitalized cartoon illustrations-mostly black and white, with color used for the two characters and in strategic splashes throughout-reinforce the humor of the text. Filled with movement, they successfully portray the protagonists' changing moods. Elementary listeners and readers will have no trouble relating to the two friends' antics and the bond they share.

Dave the Potter

2011-12-07T15:23:00.001-05:00

The beautiful book chronicles the life of Dave, a nineteenth century slave who has become an influential poet, artist and potter.

Horn Book (Spring 2011)

Slave and accomplished potter Dave (last name unknown) left behind a legacy of artistic work in the form of beautifully sculpted ceramic jars. In lyrical poetry, Laban Carrick Hill writes a tribute to the man; Bryan Collier's majestic watercolor collages reflect Dave's artistry. The book's pacing is especially well conceived, the illustrations shown in tempo with the text's descriptions of throwing a pot.

Even though not much is known about the man, we have been left with his work and it is a significant contribution. Sure to lead to some interesting discussions.

Read to Succeed!

2011-11-07T13:05:00.001-05:00

It's that time again. Now we all know you guys are all dutifully reading on your own for at least 30 minutes every night, right? I hope so because that's the best (and most fun) thing you can do to be a better student and lead a better life.

Well, it's that time of year where you can keep track of the reading your already doing and get a free ticket to Six Flags!

A regular children's ticket is $40! And you can get one for free for keeping track of six hours worth of reading. That's your regular 30-minutes a night for less than two weeks! They're practically giving them away! Get yours while the getting is good so you can have fun at Six Flags this summer. Between books, of course.

Have fun!

Six Flags Read to Succeed

See Wimpy Kid Author Jeff Kinney LIVE!

2011-10-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

From the Little Shop of Stories newsletter:

Jeff Kinney and SNOW!

Saturday, November 19 | 11 am
You can't trust the weatherman all the time, but you can trust your Little Shop friends when they tell you that it will snow on the Decatur square on November 19! So get your mittens and scarves on and come meet Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series.
At 11 a.m., the snow area on the Square will be open to the public. Let’s hope for cool, cloudy weather with no rain! Then at 12 p.m., Jeff will give a brief talk at the gazebo to all the Wimpy fans. Jeff will start signing books at 12:15 p.m. Even if you don’t have a ticket to get in the signing line, you’re still invited to come play in the snow! For all the details of the winter wonderland event, look at the details listed below. Looking forward to seeing you on Decatur's Snowy Day!
______________________________________________

Jeff Kinney is visiting on November 19, AND he is bringing snow with him! You heard us right -- it will snow on the Square courtesy of the Wimpy Kid Rolling Blizzard! Details about the event are above, but here is everything youneed to know to get a ticket for the signing line:

Pre-purchase your copy of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Feverstarting at 10 a.m. on November 5 at Little Shop of Stories and automatically get a free ticket for your family for the signing line on November 19, while supplies last. Tickets are available ONLY by coming into the store -- they are not available over the phone, by mail, online, or by e-mail. You can pick up your pre-paid copy ofDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever on (or any time after) November 15th at Little Shop of Stories.

If available, remaining tickets for the signing line will be given out the morning of the event, while supplies last. Everyone is free to come to the event and enjoy the festivities, regardless of whether or not you receive a ticket for the signing line.

Jeff will sign any and all books by him purchased at Little Shop of Stories for the event. In addition, Jeff will sign two books per person brought from home. Due to the expected size of the crowd, Jeff will not be personalizing books; he will be signing his name only.

Thank You for an Awesome Book Fair!

2011-10-20T16:15:00.004-04:00

We had the best Book Fair we've had since last August! Thanks to your support, we'll be able to buy over one thousand dollars worth of new books for our school library!

Look for the next Book Fair--a Book Fair Luau!--coming next March. In the meantime, help out our classroom teachers by buying your books from their Scholastic Book Clubs. You'll be helping them earn points so they can turn around and buy more classroom library books!

The President's Back-to-School Address

2011-09-29T14:04:00.001-04:00

To the Book Fair and Beyond!

2011-09-20T09:47:00.001-04:00

The Book Fair is coming and it's going to be awesome! We will be having previews next Thursday and Friday. Then you can go home and babysit, walk pets, mow lawns, whatever it takes to scrounge some $ to spend on some very cool books.

When you round up your purchases the money goes to book for the library!

Teachers can make wish lists and your folks can buy books for your classrooms!

Your folks can volunteer to help out at the book fair!

We will stay open late on Monday and Tuesday (early release days) so parents in the building can have more time to shop. Oh, and we'll be having drawings for free books those afternoons!

And while the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, Cabin Fever, won't be out until mid-November, you can pre-order it now and we'll have it for you as soon as it comes out! Only $8.49 for this specially priced paperback edition (compare that to the $13.95 hardcover). We have order forms in the library.

The link on the right will lead you to our Book Fair Home Page. It will be up from now until the close of the fair. Get books, get reading, and help raise money for our library! Thanks, Partee!

Reading Is Out of This World!

ARRRRRRR!

2011-09-19T08:04:00.001-04:00

Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Here's some more information for ye, Matey!

Have you heard about the new pirate movie? It's rated ARRRR!

Why do pirates take so long to learn the alphabet? They spend years at C!

What do dyslexic pirates say? RRAAAAA!

Knock Knock.

Who's there?

Interrupting pirate.

Interrupting pirate--

--ARRRRR!

Where did the one-legged pirate go for breakfast? IHOP!

Why are pirates called pirates? They just AARRRRR!

Skeptic's Dictionary for Kids!

2011-09-05T15:44:00.002-04:00

Curious about any weird stuff from acupuncture to zombies? Aliens to werewolves? Bigfoot or ghosts?

The have articles on all of these strange and interesting topics along with cool pictures and book lists for more information. And best of all? It's free and there are no ads. It's all for you if you are a curious kid from the ages of 9 on up!

Check out the Skeptic's Dictionary for Kids and get to thinking critically!

Pompeii: Lost & Found

2011-08-24T08:22:00.000-04:00

On this day in 79 A.D. an active volcano in southern Italy, Mount Vesuvius, erupted and destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

For so many years, nonfiction titles for children were predictably boring, offering photos, facts, and little else. Mary Pope Osborne’s Pompeii: Lost and Found, illustrated by Bonnie Christensen, shows how superb artwork can make nonfiction completely enjoyable for readers.

rant city have been believably re-created. Not only do you learn about Pompeii in this book, you also feel that you are truly walking its street, getting to know its citizens.

An excellent video showing Bonnie Christensen preparing frescoes extends the book which can be used to teach both Roman history and art history. I am just so grateful that artists with Bonnie’s talent have turned their hand to illustrating informational texts for the young. Not only do children benefit—so do the adults who read with them.

This book is part of this year's Gwinnett Reader's Rally challenge. Enjoy!

In a very clear text, Mary Pope Osborne provides the historical background of the events almost two thousand years ago. For eighteen hours poisonous gasses filled the air and hot ash poured down on the city, completely burying it. Not until 1763 did archaeologists identify Pompeii, and since then two-thirds of the village has been uncovered. Osborne provides readers with information about the town that has been gleaned from artifacts and engages them in speculation about various objects located in the ruins. She encourages readers to put themselves in the place of the archaeologists themselves.

Welcome Back!

2011-08-03T12:20:00.002-04:00

We hope you had a great summer and read or listened to some good stories! Share with us you favorite summer reading so we can add it to our bulletin board. And it's not too late to turn in your Summer Reading list to the public library and get some free stuff.

Summer Reading Links

2011-05-25T08:09:00.001-04:00

So not only is the public library having a summer reading promotion, but so is Borders Bookstore and Barnes & Noble!

So if you sign up at the library and Borders and Barnes & Noble, then write down your summer reading on all three lists, you can turn them in and really clean up on the prizes!

Gwinnett County Summer Reading: One World, Many Stories

Borders Summer Reading Double Dog Dare!

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination's Destination

Not sure what to read? The links in the post below will give you plenty of ideas. If you're going into fourth or fifth grade, the Reader's Rally list of books looks good (even if you don't wan't to compete, they are good reads) and the GA Book Award nominees is always a fun list of books for all ages.

Oh, and be sure to check out the gajillion ideas on the Reading Rockets Summer Reading site!

Enjoy the summer and read, read, read!

Listen to the Good Doctor

2011-05-22T07:29:00.000-04:00

Annual Report 2010-2011!

2011-05-20T15:55:00.001-04:00

We had a great year in the school library this year. Too much to really cover, but here are some of the highlights. Thanks to all the parents, volunteers, students, teachers and staff that helped it to be an amazing and memorable year. Please be sure to add comments below and tell us your favorite things about the library this year.

Smart board art.

Professional Development:

How to find books in media catalog by student reading level
How to find books on specific subjects (i.e., historical fiction)
How to check in and out materials for self/class
How to find and reserve items at the GCPS Professional Library
Mr. Randolph attended GA COMO (Council of Media Organizations); county development; the GA Children's Literature Awards and Conference; the Instructional Leadership Committee; the Media/Technology Committee; and worked with the Literacy and Parent Committees
Ms. Bridges attended county development; Media/Technology Committee

Finding the just right book!

Services:

Lamination for teachers
Websites and links for classes
Morning book pickup
flexible scheduling
book room processing
photography, printing, equipment help
technology help (projectors, microphones, videos, cameras, etc.)

I don't know, I just take the pictures...

Events:

Patsy Smith Roberts visit
American Revolution re-enactors
Guest Readers
Read Across America Day
Science Night
Math Night
Spelling Bee

Patsy Smith Roberts visit.

Ms. Bridges likes her some giraffes!

American Revolution re-enactor's visit.

Read Across America!

Classes:

All: Searching the Media Catalog; finding the right book
3rd - reference materials, research, landforms, GA habitats
4th - reference materials, research, American Revolution
5th - reference materials, research, World War II

FYI Broadcast:

included most 5th graders
added green screen technology
showed videos of presidential speeches, Shiloh MS event, 2nd grade's Seussical the Musical, etc.

Keeping the show running smooth.

For Your Information!

Book Fairs!

Three book fairs raised money for awesome new books and our cool new READ rug.

We wear this every day...

Reading Promotions:

READ slides
Reader's Rally Team and celebration
Six Flags "Read to Succeed"
Increased displays
Increased signage
Read alouds/booktalks

Clifford!

We love our volunteers!

Endeavour's Final Lift Off

2011-05-16T09:50:00.000-04:00

History in the making!

Teachers: How Weird Is Your Classroom?

2011-05-12T09:26:00.000-04:00

Teachers: if your students enjoy those Dan Gutman May Weird School books then this club is for you!

Sign up and get free activity sheets, teaching guides, book news, and other tips for your weird classroom.

My Weird Classroom Club

Games!

2011-05-02T07:56:00.003-04:00

Funschool

I SPY Games & Puzzles

National Geographic Kids Games & Puzzles

Simple Machines Games

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T07:22:00.000-04:00

Earth Day Network

Time for Kids: Earth Day

EEK! Environmental Education for Kids!

Earth Foundation

EPA Environmental Kids Club

Picnic for the Planet!

National Geographic Education: Earth Day

Drop Everything and Read!

2011-04-12T12:21:00.000-04:00

Today is Beverly Cleary's 95th birthday and it is the official D.E.A.R. time. I say lets' not make it just today but every day! When and where are your favorite places to read?

Here's a domain name I'm jealous of:

dropeverythingandread.com

Ready for Summer Reading?

2011-04-11T13:18:00.000-04:00

The Gwinnett County Public Library is kicking off their summer reading program. You make your own goal, sign up, read books and get free stuff!

Details on their website.

Shiloh Middle Field Trip on Good Day ATL!

2011-03-24T09:25:00.004-04:00

High 5 Field Trip: Shiloh Middle School: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Click on the link above to see even more videos from this event. Go Big Blue!

Look Up at the Stars - For Science!

2011-03-23T07:46:00.000-04:00

There's a problem you may not be aware of called light pollution. Wasted light from ground lights goes into the sky, washing out the stars and making it difficult for astronomers. But just how bad is the problem?

Orion

Globe at Night wants to find out. This is a science project for the world, and they need your help!

It's easy. All you have to do is go outside and find Orion (this time of year it's high over the southern horizon at sunset). Then look at the stars and try to figure out the faintest ones you can see. Compare that to a GLOBE at Night star magnitude chart and then report your results.

Teachers: if you're doing this with you class, here's information just for you.

This goes from now until April 4th. So go outside tonight and do one of the coolest things you can do: look up!

Rock Paper Scissors: You Vs. Computer

2011-03-21T12:31:00.000-04:00

You and your students may have heard all about the IBM computer, Watson, playing as a contestant on Jeopardy. You too can match wits with a computerized opponent in a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors. It’s not quite the same as Jeopardy, but this game from the New York Times pits humans against an artificial intelligence that learns from the style of play of its competitor (that would be you.)
The site notes:

A truly random game of rock-paper-scissors would result in a statistical tie with each player winning, tying and losing one-third of the time. However, people are not truly random and thus can be studied and analyzed. While this computer won’t win all rounds, over time it can exploit a person’s tendencies and patterns to gain an advantage over its opponent.

The game is simply played: choose whether the computer should be a novice or expert, and begin play by choosing if your hand is rock, paper, or scissors. What is interesting is that after a few rounds, the site begins to post messages about why the computer either won or did not win, making visible the computer’s decision-making strategies. For students, this might be a valuable tool for understanding some underlying logic of computerized players.

Rock-Paper-Scissors: You Vs. Computer

(via Instructify)

Don't Wait to be a Hero

2011-03-16T12:56:00.002-04:00

Thanks, Parents!

2011-03-16T10:38:00.000-04:00

We all had a ball at last night's Art Night/Book Fair Carnival! We gave away over $100 in free books, lots of yummy smelling popcorn and had a great turnout. All the money raised and donated will go to support updating our library collection.

It's okay if you missed out yesterday. The Book Fair will be here for the rest of the week. We're opening early and staying after bus call in case any more parents want to drop in and pick up a few things for summer reading or gift ideas.

Thanks All!

NASA - Rocketry!

2011-03-14T10:08:00.000-04:00

If you want to learn about rockets, who better to turn to than NASA? NASA’s Rocketry website covers everything elementary students want to know about rockets. The site has some serious geek bait, featuring multimedia, virtual rocket-building activities, the history of rocketry, and lesson plans for grades K-8. The site explains the various phases of rocket building and engineering, NASA-sponsored rocketry competitions, and even tells you how to talk like a rocket engineer.

NASA’s Rocketry site is a great starting point for any unit on rockets, engines or space travel, as well as for anyone who just wants to geek out on space ships for a while. Download the educator guide and blast off!
NASA – Rocketry

Read Across America!

2011-02-28T06:15:00.001-05:00

Dr. Seuss was one of the first children's book authors that showed us that books for kids didn't only have to be about learning lessons, but that reading was just plain fun! Celebrate the work of Dr. Seuss and other favorite fun children's books all this week, heck all this month!

NEA- Read Across America

SEUSSVILLE!

Read Across America at ReadWriteThink

Reader's Rally 2012!

2011-02-18T16:58:00.001-05:00

Here's the books to read for next year's Reader's Rally! All should be available at the upcoming Book Fair and at the public libraries over the summer.

Eleanor, Quiet No More by Rappaport

14 Cows for America

2011-02-17T16:16:00.000-05:00

Presents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Kirkus Review starred

Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah is about to return home, to a small village in Kenya. He has been studying to become a doctor in the United States. Amid a joyous homecoming, the children in the village ask if he has brought any stories. He has only one; one that has "burned a hole in his heart." Naiyomah was in New York City on September 11. In gentle yet piercing present-tense prose, storyteller Deedy introduces readers to a young Maasai scholar who wants nothing more than to help a nation heal. In Maasai tradition, cows are sacred, and Naiyomah asks the elders to bless his cow so he can offer it to grieving Americans. In an incredible show of compassion and strength, other villagers join him. Fourteen cows in all, from one tiny Kenyan village, prove that hope and friendship can cross all boundaries. Gonzalez's saturated paintings, glowing with oranges, reds and browns, radiate a warmth that is matched only by the Maasai's generosity. A stirring, heartwarming tale that made headlines when it happened--and is now, thankfully, preserved on the page for children.

One Crazy Summer

2011-02-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

In the summer of 1968, after traveling from Brooklyn to Oakland, California, to spend a month with the mother they barely know, eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters arrive to a cold welcome as they discover that their mother, a dedicated poet and printer, is resentful of the intrusion of their visit and wants them to attend a nearby Black Panther summer camp.

School Library Journal (starred review)

It is 1968, and three black sisters from Brooklyn have been put on a California-bound plane by their father to spend a month with their mother, a poet who ran off years before and is living in Oakland. It's the summer after Black Panther founder Huey Newton was jailed and member Bobby Hutton was gunned down trying to surrender to the Oakland police, and there are men in berets shouting "Black Power" on the news. Delphine, 11, remembers her mother, but after years of separation she's more apt to believe what her grandmother has said about her, that Cecile is a selfish, crazy woman who sleeps on the street. At least Cecile lives in a real house, but she reacts to her daughters' arrival without warmth or even curiosity. Instead, she sends the girls to eat breakfast at a center run by the Black Panther Party and tells them to stay out as long as they can so that she can work on her poetry. Over the course of the next four weeks, Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, spend a lot of time learning about revolution and staying out of their mother's way. Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.

Newbery Honor Book

Black History Month Resources

2011-02-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

Here is a great list of resources from PBS.

Bad News for Outlaws!

2011-02-09T11:46:00.000-05:00

An illustrated biography of Bass Reeves, a former slave who was recruited as a deputy United States marshal, based on his ability to communicate with the Native Americans in the area that was to become Oklahoma.

School Library Journal (November 1, 2009) starred review

Reeves is an unsung hero of the American West whose honesty and sense of duty are an inspiration to all. In a frontier brimming with treachery and lawlessness, this African-American peace officer stood out as a fearless figure of unparalleled integrity, arresting more than 3,000 outlaws during his 32 years of service as a deputy U.S. marshal, all without suffering an injury. He was a former slave who became a successful farmer and family man before accepting the appointment to serve as a lawman in the Indian Territory in 1875. Selected anecdotes ranging from a humorous encounter with a skunk to an intense gunfight with an outlaw provide a sense of the man's courage and character. The text is chock-full of colorful turns of phrase that will engage readers who don't "cotton to" nonfiction (a glossary of "Western Words" is included). Christie's memorable paintings convey Reeves's determination and caring, while rugged brushstrokes form the frontier terrain.

Open Book Clubs?

2011-02-06T14:49:00.000-05:00

Here's an article on a school that started something called Open Book Clubs. It sounds like a lot of fun. Let me know if you would like to start up something like this and I'll make it happen!

Thanks,
Mr. Randolph

Young People Protecting Libraries!

2011-02-04T13:10:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from Egypt. If you've seen the news at all you know that there are all kinds of crazy things going on there with violent clashes between protesters and the police. But these people, mostly students, have continued to form a line around the Library of Alexandria for the last few days making sure that nothing bad happens to the library. This gives me so much hope for the future!

Youth in Egypt Protect Libraries

Supporters in Egypt Continue to Protect Library

Protesters Protect Libraries in Egypt

City Dog, Country Frog

2011-02-01T11:14:00.000-05:00

When City Dog comes to the country, he meets Country Frog for the first time, and every season afterward, the two have a fun time playing together.

School Library Journal (starred review)

Spare, poignant, and ultimately upbeat, this tale depicts the natural cycle of friendship from an enthusiastic first encounter to contented companionship to the heartbreak of loss and eventual emotional renewal. Presented with a comfortingly consistent narrative structure, the events are set against the backdrop of the changing seasons, reassuring readers that winter will turn again to spring, sadness to joy. In "spring," City Dog runs free in the countryside for the first time ever and discovers an unfamiliar creature perched on a rock. Asked, "What are you doing?" Country Frog smiles and replies, "Waiting for a friend.but you'll do." The two play Country Frog games ("jumping and splashing and croaking") and when reunited in "summer," they enjoy City Dog pastimes ("sniffing and fetching and barking"). In "fall," Country Frog is tired, so the friends spend their time remembering. When City Dog arrives again in "winter," Country Frog is nowhere to be found (a wordless spread shows the pooch sitting on the rock, looking small and forlorn against a stark winterscape). In "spring again," a sad-looking City Dog befriends another critter with a familiar line, and then beams "a froggy smile" (shown in close-up, this warmly illustrated grin guarantees that Country Frog will not be forgotten). Making expert use of color and texture, Muth's expressive paintings clearly convey the tale's emotional nuances. This understated picture book allows plenty of room for young readers to interpret the animals' feelings for themselves and perhaps discuss their own emotions.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

2011-02-01T11:10:00.000-05:00

Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.

School Library Journal (starred review)

Living in the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain, Minli and her parents spend their days working in the rice fields, barely growing enough to feed themselves. Every night, Minli's father tells her stories about the Jade Dragon that keeps the mountain bare, the greedy and mean Magistrate Tiger, and the Old Man of the Moon who holds everyone's destiny. Determined to change her family's fortune, Minli sets out to find the Old Man of the Moon, urged on by a talking goldfish who gives her clues to complete her journey. Along the way she makes new friends including a flightless dragon and an orphan and proves her resourcefulness when she tricks a group of greedy monkeys and gets help from a king. Interwoven with Minli's quest are tales told by her father and by those she meets on the way. While these tales are original to Lin, many characters, settings, and themes are taken from traditional Chinese folklore. The author's writing is elegant, and her full-color illustrations are stunning. Minli's determination to help her family, as well as the grief her parents feel at her absence, is compelling and thoroughly human.

Newbery Honor

This is one of the best books you'll ever read! -Mr. Randolph

Knuffle Bunny Free

2011-01-31T12:35:00.001-05:00

While traveling with her family to Holland to visit her grandparents, Trixie once again loses her beloved Knuffle Bunny.

School Library Journal

Knuffle Bunny goes international when Trixie and her family fly to Holland to see Oma and Opa. Trixie, excited and slightly sleepy, leaves her toy rabbit behind and doesn't miss him until the plane is on the way to China. Although the grown-ups encourage her to be brave because she's "getting bigger," Trixie remains in a funk until she dreams about her special toy and all the children he encounters on his travels. Soon the visit ends, and Trixie is back on the plane where Knuffle Bunny is waiting in the seat pocket. Just when the story might end, Trixie shows just how brave (and grown up) she is. She gives him to a crying baby and becomes Knuffle Bunny free. At the end, Daddy includes a note to his daughter with the hope that the toy might return years later when she has her own child. Willems once again conveys a range of emotions through limited text and outstanding illustrations. His sensitivity to children's needs allows the humor to come through without devaluing the feelings. The familiar style of photographs with original drawings takes readers along on the journey from New York to Holland, but also from babyhood to childhood. Friends and fans of Knuffle Bunny will readily notice the passage of time since the lovable bunny made his first appearance. Mommy and Daddy have new hairdos, and Trixie is a big girl now. This one is a must-have.

Mirror, Mirror

2011-01-31T12:29:00.001-05:00

A collection of short poems which, when reversed, provide new perspectives on the fairy tale characters they feature.

School Library Journal

This appealing collection based on fairy tales is a marvel to read. It is particularly noteworthy because the poems are read in two ways: up and down. They are reverse images of themselves and work equally well in both directions. "Mirror Mirror" is chilling in that Snow White, who is looking after the Seven Dwarves, narrates the first poem of the pair. Read in reverse, it is the wicked queen who is enticing Snow White to eat the apple that will put her to sleep forever. "In the Hood" is as crafty as the wolf who tells of his delightful anticipation of eating Red Riding Hood. The mirrored poem is Red Riding Hood reminding herself not to dally since Grandma awaits. The vibrant artwork is painterly yet unfussy and offers hints to the characters who are narrating the poems. An endnote shows children how to create a "reverse" poem. This is a remarkably clever and versatile book that would work in any poetry or fairy-tale unit. A must-have for any library.

Notable/Best Books (ALA)

Turtle in Paradise

2011-01-31T12:25:00.001-05:00

In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West, Florida.

Booklist starred

Eleven-year-old Turtle is not one to suffer fools gladly. And she runs into a lot of fools, especially the no-goods her starry-eyed mother meets. So it’s a tough little Turtle who arrives in Key West in June of 1935. She’s been sent to Florida to stay with relatives because her mother’s latest housekeeping job doesn’t allow children. Unfortunately, Mama has neglected to tell Aunt Minnie she’s coming, and Turtle gets the stink eye from cousins with monikers like Buddy and Beans. As Turtle soon learns, everything is different in Key West, from the fruit hanging on trees to the scorpions in nightgowns to the ways kids earn money. She can’t be part of her cousins’ Diaper Gang (no girls allowed), which takes care of fussy babies, but when she finds a treasure map, she hopes she’ll be on Easy Street like Little Orphan Annie. Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era. Reminiscent of Addie in the movie Paper Moon, Turtle is just the right mixture of knowingness and hope; the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure. Many references to 1930s entertainments. An author’s note (with photos) shows Holm’s family close-up.

Newbery Honor Book

Notable/Best Books (ALA)

New Books!

2011-01-28T17:08:00.000-05:00

Check out the new books in the library!

There are funny ones, sad ones, scary ones, action-packed ones and many many more.

There are picture books and chapter books (and new teacher books too)!

Series, fiction, biography, poetry and even a few monsters in there somewhere.

I'll makes some posts about some of them with their reviews so you can read more about them here.

Stay tuned and go! Go find something new to read!

And be sure to click on the "Suggest Library Materials" over on the right side of this page if you think of anything we need to get next!

Six Flags Read to Succeed!

2011-01-21T13:17:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Six Flags is offering their all new reading program. I'm sure most of you have been doing a ton of reading already. Track what you have read and are reading for a free ticket to Six Flags! All the information you need can be found by clicking on the link below.

Six Flags Read to Succeed!

We Should Avoid AR

2011-01-04T11:06:00.000-05:00

As your school's librarian I do not make sweeping decisions like whether to purchase or not purchase any kind of material without the input of the Media Committee and any stakeholder in our student's education. I listen to you all and try to balance out what our needs and wants are and what will best serve our mission to ensure that staff and students are effective users of ideas and information. So if all of you think purchasing an expensive commercial program like Renaissance Learning's Accelerated Reader program is warranted, then we will do it. In the interest of fairness, however, I would like to take some time over the next few days to explain why I think this would be at best a waste of money and at worst detrimental to our desire to foster readers and lifelong learners.

I will be primarily summarizing and quoting the work of researchers Mark Pennington and Dr. Stepehn Krashen along with other interested parties.

AR comprises four components: selection of books, allots time for reading, testing of low-level facts of each book read, and points (and often prizes) awarded on the quiz scores. We all know and agree, I hope, that the first two components result in substantial gains in reading (for the massive evidence on this, read Krashen's The Power of Reading: Insights from the Research or Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook). What we don't know is whether tests and rewards add anything, but the research does not look good for them.

There is no clear evidence that AR has a lasting positive effect on reluctant or any other kind of readers. Only one study has examined the long-term affects of AR (Pavonetti, Brimmer, and Cipielewski, 2003) and they reported no difference in children who had AR in elementary school and those who had not, suggesting that AR does not result in better reading ability in the long term.

In contrast, there is evidence suggesting that the use of incentives can inhibit reading (McLoyd, 1979). In reward versus no reward reading groups, the reward groups only read what they had to in order to get the reward. The no reward groups went far beyond that and read more than twice as much with no incentives.

According to the What Works Clearinghouse, AR software, without books, costs a school $4 per student per year with a one-time fee of $1599 (not to mention the annual cost of full implementation). Partee, in other words, would be spending about 1/3 of it's book budget on software that has not produced any concrete evidence that it helps children.

Personally, I'd much rather focus our time, effort and funds on what has been proven to work, the first two components mentioned above of access to lots of interesting books and allotted time to freely choose and read them.

McLoyd, V. 1979. The effects of extrinsic rewards of differential
value on high and low intrinsic interest. Child Development, 50,
1010-1019.

Pavonetti, L., Brimmer, K., & Cipielewski, J. 2003. Accelerated
reader: What are the lasting effects on the reading habits of middle
school students exposed to Accelerated Reader in elementary grades?
Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 46(4), 300-311.

Reading Rockets 2010 Book Buying Guide

2010-12-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

Books as Gifts!
Reading Rockets: 2010 Book Buying Guide

A Book On Every Bed

2010-12-10T10:35:00.001-05:00

From the Washington Post:

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Dear Readers:
My first book was Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs and Ham." My family's copy landed in my hands after my older siblings had practically read the covers off of it.

My mother read it aloud to me (repeatedly) until I finally unlocked the code and started to read by myself.
Everybody has a first book; or, rather, everybody should have a first book.

Unfortunately, in a season that has already seen record-setting pre-orders for a video game, statistics on reading and literacy are alarming:

According to literacy organizations, less than half of young children in this country are read to regularly. A high percentage of American families have no children's books in the home.

This holiday season I am putting my column where my heart is, and so I'm asking readers to celebrate by giving a book to a child, through a homegrown campaign called "A Book on Every Bed."

Here's how it works:

Take a book. Wrap it. Place it on a child's bed so it's the first thing she sees on Christmas morning (or whatever holiday you celebrate). That's it.

I'm working with the Family Reading Partnership, a literacy organization in my home town of Ithaca, N.Y., to spread the word about the importance of reading with children.

A million stories: Our goal is for a million American children to wake up to a wrapped book on their beds.

This is not a fundraising appeal. This is not about buying books (the book you give can be passed down).

"A Book on Every Bed" is an appeal to spread the love of reading from parents to children. We also want to encourage families to share books by reading aloud.

Santa brings a Pulitzer: This idea was inspired by one of America's favorite writers. Historian and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner David McCullough says that every Christmas morning during his childhood, he woke up to a wrapped book at the foot of his bed, left by Santa.

McCullough's children (and now grandchildren) are also recipients of this literary largess, creating a wonderful tradition.

When he heard about this effort, Mr. McCullough e-mailed me: "I think my love of books began on Christmas mornings long ago and the love has never gone stale."

Start a tradition: My hope is that other families will enjoy a tradition that revolves around reading together. I further hope that librarians, teachers, bookstore owners and literacy advocates spread this idea as far and wide as it will go, making it possible for any family that wants a child to receive a book to get one.

Reading is a vital life skill. Reading leads to a life filled with ideas, feelings and creative expressions.

Reading will make you smart. It will also make you less lonely, because a person with a book is never alone.

Books can be lifelong friends - ready to be opened when a person has an extra minute in the carpool line, or stacked in an unruly pile next to the bed, awaiting that next dark night of the soul - when a reader craves illumination and the company of beloved characters.

Literacy starts early: Thoughtful parents introduce books very early in life. They read to their own bellies while pregnant, let their infants chew on cardboard books and encourage their toddlers to leaf through picture books.

Kids who grow up surrounded by books and stories have a leg up in life. Because children who love books grow up to be good and attentive listeners. And kids who read for pleasure have ready access to heroes.

I would love to hear (and share) your ideas and stories of book giving and receiving - before, during and after the holiday season. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter and through the address below.

Readers can also see a home video of me reading with my favorite toddler; posted onfamilyreading.org.

Write to Amy Dickinson at askamy@tribune.com or Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611. Distributed by Tribune Media Service

Book Fair Dec. 6-10!

2010-12-01T07:55:00.001-05:00

The whole school is excited about our upcoming Book Fair. An amazing selection of books is headed our way! At the Book Fair you will find the latest and finest titles for kids, as well as books of interest to parents. Mark your calendar for our Family Event where the whole family can join in the fun. And, you can contribute books to your child's classroom library. The Book Fair is a great way to get everyone excited about reading. See you there!

PARTEE ELEMENTARY BOOK FAIR SITE!

Make checks payable to: SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

Patsy Smith Roberts

2010-11-18T13:03:00.001-05:00

2nd and 4th grade had a great time hearing stories from Ms. Robert's travels on safari in Africa. Other grades asked to see her as well, so we'll definitely be inviting her back!

If you want to order a signed book at a discount or a signed bookmark, just let us know and we'll get her to ship it for you.

Be sure to share her website with your parents and tell her all the fun stories and information she shared with us!

http://www.patsysmithroberts.com/online_store.html

Author Visit Next Week!

2010-11-06T10:10:00.000-04:00

Second and Fourth Grades!

Don't forget to keep reading Patsy Smith Robert's cool website and look at her books so we can have a great conversation with her when she visits on November 17th--next Wednesday!

Ask her about her books, writing, visiting Africa, living on St. Simon's island, being a photographer, or being a speaker! So many things to ask about. Get your questions ready...

How to Create Nonreaders

2010-11-06T10:04:00.000-04:00

Dear Teachers and Parents,

Here's a provocative and thoughtful essay to think about:

How to Create Nonreaders: Reflections on Motivation, Learning, and Sharing Power
by Alfie Kohn

I'd love to hear what you think about it.

Thanks,
Mr. Randolph

Make your own Arthur comics!

2010-11-04T14:44:00.000-04:00

Make new ones from scratch, or finish one by clicking on the "Story Starter."

Cool and fun writing practice. http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/comiccreator/index.html

Frankenstein Friday

2010-10-29T12:06:00.000-04:00

What is Frankenstein Friday?

Click this link to find out: Frankenstein Friday

Patsy Smith Roberts Visit!

2010-10-22T15:42:00.000-04:00

Patsy Smith Roberts is a St. Simons, Georgia author and photographer who has confirmed that she will be visiting our 2nd and 4th graders on Wednesday, November 17th!

She has visited Africa many times and has taken beautiful photographs and collected stories from Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. She has written books for children on elephants, giraffes, lions, and even warthogs!

I'll order some of her books as soon as I can. Get your questions ready, Panthers!

In the meantime, check out her wonderful website: http://www.patsysmithroberts.com/

I Believe In Myself

2010-10-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

Someone asked me today if I could think of books that have "I believe in myself" as the theme. Here's what I came up with:

Chrysanthemum - Henkes
Notes From the Dog - Paulsen
Ish - Reynolds
I Like Me! - Carlson
The Dot - Reynolds
A Bad Case of Stripes - Shannon
The Little Engine That Could - various
Arthur's Nose - Brown
Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon - Lovell
Leo the Late BLoomer - Kraus
Amazing Grace - Hoffman
Stellaluna - Cannon
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed - Chodos-Irvine
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed - Willems
The Ugly Duckling - Anderson
When I Was Little - Curtis
Thank You, Mr. Falker - Polacco
Olivia - Falconer
The Paper Bag Princess - Munsch

What others can you think of?

Thanks,
Mr. Randolph

Today is HAGFISH DAY!

2010-10-20T07:20:00.002-04:00

Pretty, no?

Today is HAGFISH DAY: the celebration of the beauty of ugly.

There are plenty of activities for you and your class to do. Just click on this link to learn all about Hagfish Day!

GCPS TV 10/18-10/22

2010-10-18T09:35:00.000-04:00

"Broad Prize Watch" LIVE!
Gwinnett County Public Schools is one of five finalists for the country's largest education award--The Broad Prize for Urban Education. One hundred of the largest urban school districts nationwide are considered for The Broad Prize each year. Join GCPS TV for a special live viewing of the announcement from New York City. 60-min. program is airing LIVE Tuesday, October 19 at 11:30 a.m. on cable and online

"Love That Book! Carmen at the Library"- NEW!
Love That Book!, a new series exploring the wonderful world of books, premieres this week on GCPS TV. Hosted by storyteller and New York Times bestselling children's book author Carmen Deedy, this dynamic and engaging new series is sure to delight children and the child in all of us. Join us for the exciting first episode as Carmen takes viewers along for a visit to the Decatur Public Library, and shares why she loves the books Bats at the Library, Library Mouseand The Library.Air Dates and Times: 15-min. program airing Oct. 18-24 at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Target Audience: Grades K-5. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Available: Online. Record Rights: Unlimited. For more information, log on to the Love That Book! website at www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/lovethatbook.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:

Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24 or 26 (digital tuner)

For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-301-7800, or send an e-mail to gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gcpstv.org

Igraine the Brave

2010-10-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

This is a fun book! It has magic, dragons, knights, giants, action, adventure, and it's funny too!

Igraine loves her magician parents but doesn't want to be a magician herself when she grows up. She'll leave that for her brother Albert. She wants to be like her grandfather and learn to be a brave and bold knight!

She'll have to learn to be brave and bold quickly because a misfortunate magical mistake turns her parents into pigs right when some bad guys decide to attack their castle and steal her parent's magic books! She'll have to leave her brother to try to defend the castle while she rides of on a quest to find the one magical ingredient her parents need to turn themselves back: some hair from a giant!

This is a great Reader's Rally book. Highly recommended.

Links for Teachers

2010-10-16T14:23:00.000-04:00

"Dip and Tip" is an easy two-step strategy for quick reading conferences that helps teachers determine if students are selecting appropriate books and provides support at the same time.

Here's a fun Halloween infographic to share.

The Wimpy Kid Parade Balloon!

2010-10-10T14:28:00.000-04:00

This is kind of awesome. Chad Beckerman in the man who designs the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book covers (among others). On his blog, he has some great photos of Jeff Kinney, the author of the books working with the people that make those gi-normous Thansgiving Day parade balloons.

It's cool because I never knew how they made those things and it's a neat process. Also, you'll get a sneak preview of this upcoming balloon that you'll be able to see on TV on Thanksgiving Day.

Read for the Record!

2010-10-05T18:46:00.000-04:00

This Thursday...October 7th...is Read for the Record Day. This year's book is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Please make plans to read this wonderful story to students and encourage your classroom teachers and administrators to read as well.

The readings (in order to count toward the record) must be read in a face-to-face situation. Reading over the intercom does not count.

How Much Does A Hurricane Weigh?

2010-10-04T17:46:00.000-04:00

from this article on NPR.

GCPS TV 104-10/12

2010-10-04T07:43:00.000-04:00

Coming up (Oct. 4-12) on GCPS TV

Read for the Record - NEW
Join us on read for the Read for the Record Day and read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack on October 7. Let's set a world record. http://www.readfortherecord.org
Tune in to watch and read along with Nesbit Elementary Principal Clayborn Knight. Air Dates and Times: 5-min. program airing Thursday, Oct. 7 at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 noon, 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Available: Online Oct. 7.

"Our One Ocean - Shamu TV" - NEW!
Our oceans are all connected, so really, there is only one ocean on earth. And it affects all life on the planet. No matter where we live, the choices we make everyday have an impact on its future. In this program, we'll explore our relationships with the ocean and discover diverse projects and inspiring people dedicated to preserving this essential resource. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing Oct. 4-9 at 1:30 p.m. and Oct. 4, 9, & 10 at 7 p.m. Target Audience: GCPS parents, students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: Shamu TV. Record Rights: Oct. 2013.

PBS Links of the Week

2010-10-01T10:37:00.000-04:00

Martha and Arthur together? Enjoy the craziness at "Marthur"!

Also:

Should Every Kid Get A Kindle?

Policymakers suggest that distributing e-readers to students would save school districts millions on textbooks and save kids and parents from lugging heavy books and reading old editions.

Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change

Help kids understand how to readjust to a new life when an injured parent returns from military service and changes the family dynamic.

The Girl with 500 Middle Names

2010-10-01T09:25:00.000-04:00

Janie has to move to a new school for a good reason: her old school is a run-down terrible mess. Her mother, a fabulous knitter, hand-makes wonderful sweaters with other girls' names on them to sell so she can try to move the family to an apartment in a nicer part of town and Janie can go to a better school.

Her Dad was hurt in an accident and hasn't been able to work. Money is tight.

At the new school, Janie does well, but notices the other kids have much nicer clothes. She starts wearing some of the new sweaters with other girls' names on them both to have something nicer to wear and to hopefully sell some more sweaters!

When the other kids start asking about the different names she says, "Maybe I have more than one middle name" and things go from there!

This is a good book for anyone who has ever had to move to a new school. Trust me, even if you've had to you haven't had it as hard as Janie!

And be nice to the new kid. You never know what their story is.

The Cricket In Times Square

2010-09-30T14:20:00.000-04:00

This was a fun little book I read for the Reader's Rally. It was first written way back in 1960, but it has a wonderful timeless quality to it like all the best kids books.

The illustrations are perfect and done by Garth Williams, the same illustrator for Charlotte's Web.

It's about a cricket named Chester from up in the country. He jumps into a picnic basket one day and finds himself transported into a train to New York City! There, he meets a mouse named Tucker and a cat named Harry who are not only friends, but become great friends of his as well. They all live in and around a newsstand near the train station in Times Square.

Like all books, there are some adventures and some problems until Chester displays and extraordinary talent!

If you like other classics like The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Charlotte's Web, Mr. Popper's Penguins, or James and the Giant Peach, then you're sure to like this one as well. I've even herd that Mr. Selden wrote some more about these characters in other books. I'll have to check them out...

--Mr. Randolph

PBS Links of the Week

2010-09-24T15:44:00.000-04:00

Reading Rockets: Nikki Grimes: a video interview
Video
Grade Range: K-2, 3-5
Hear author Nikki Grimes describe her difficult childhood and how challenging circumstances inspired her to read and write.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/5439/preview/

need to know: 5 Things You Need to Know about Jupiter
Learn some surprising facts about Jupiter, the brightest celestial object (besides the moon) in the sky this week.
http://to.pbs.org/blbTZp

Parent Helpers: Cooking with Kids
Enjoy making a meal as a family while also teaching kids about nutrition and math.http://www.pbs.org/parents/parenthelpers/cooking.html

August/September Library Report, 2010

2010-09-20T09:23:00.003-04:00

What's been going on in the library, you ask? Well, check this out:

August/September, 2010

Book Fair: $2,250!

Circulation: 2,388 check outs for August; 4,185 for September!

Displays: Seymour Simon, What Did You Do This Summer?, Aliki, Football Season, Hurricane/Storm Season, Autumn Books

Guest Readers: Aliki and Back-to-School Books

Professional Development: How to Help Students Find Books by Reading Level

Reader's Rally: over 30 initial members!

Rotation Classes: Success Maker, Maps and Globes, Atlases, Habitats, Pollution, Web Searches, Media Catalog Searches, Table of Contents, Indexes

GCPS TV 9/10-9/24

2010-09-20T09:23:00.000-04:00

"The Author in You - Matt Tavares" First NEW show for 2010-2011 school year!
When Matt Tavares was studying art at Bates College, he had no intention of becoming a children's book writer and illustrator. Then, during his junior year, a friend showed him several books by author/illustrator Chris Van Allsburg and Tavares was hooked. He began his new career right away, with his college thesis, and created a story that embodies every young baseball fan's wildest dream. Originally titled Sebastian's Ball,the book was published two years after its original creation as Zachary's Ball.Tavares has used the game of baseball as a theme for his other self-illustrated titles as well, including Mudball,Oliver's Game,and Henry Aaron's Dream.Air Dates and Times: 15-min. program airing Sept. 20-26 at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Available: Online 9/21/2010. Target Audience: ES students. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

"ArtStage - Elementary Honor Chorus" A Special Encore Presentation!
Join GCPS TV for a special presentation of ArtStagefeaturing the 2010 Gwinnett County Elementary Honor Chorus and the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde. Over 48 Gwinnett County elementary schools are represented in this lively and energetic concert performance. Air Dates and Times: 60-min program airing Sept. 20-26 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Fair Use.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:

Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24 or 26 (digital tuner)

For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-301-7800, or send an e-mail to gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gcpstv.org

Links for Teachers

2010-09-19T14:22:00.001-04:00

Can teaching similes, synonyms, homophones and metaphors be fun? It sure can if you know the right children's books to use as mentor texts. Franki Sibberson shares her favorites for language study and word work in a new booklist.

In a new podcast, Mary Lee Hahn gives her top picks for read alouds to build community early in the school year. A transcript is included if you'd prefer to read the interview.

The list of Ten Things Teachers Should Unlearn would be a terrific prompt for discussion at a study group or staff meeting, especially if you give colleagues a chance to add to or challenge items on the list.

100 Cupboards

2010-09-18T13:32:00.000-04:00

So this kid named Henry moves to this town named Henry (I know, that's weird, but it gets much weirder) and moves in with his cousins for a while. They put him up in their attic. So far so boring. No big deal.

But he notices something strange about the wall in the attic and peels a bit of plaster away. There's a couple of knobs. Like on a dresser or something. So he scrapes away more plaster and finds some cupboards. Eventually he and his cousin Henrietta (yes, another "Henry") uncover nearly one hundred cupboards and they're all different. And they are each some kind of...portal...to another place. Other worlds?

It is an exciting and scary book, let me tell you! And I just found out this is only the first one. There's two more! I can't wait to read them all just to be sure Henry and his family are all right in the end...

You gotta check this out. Unless you don't like being scared and exited at the same time!

Part of this year's list of Reader's Rally books.

Haiku

2010-09-16T07:47:00.000-04:00

Social commentary in haiku form!

Wonderful!

President's Back to School Speech

2010-09-15T09:26:00.002-04:00

Links for Teachers

2010-09-14T06:38:00.000-04:00

Ways to show videos in your class more effectively, by Mathew Needleman at Creating Lifelong Learners

What are the ten picture books you wouldn't teach without? by Esme Raji Codell

Gwinnett County's own Aimee Buckner describes how she chooses mentor texts for reading in this video.

If you know of any mentor texts we need in the library, be sure to add them to my shopping list!

GCPS TV 9/13-9/19

2010-09-13T07:43:00.000-04:00

President Barack Obama will deliver his second annual Back-to-School Speech at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 14 at Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia, PA, a 2010 National Blue Ribbon School. The President’s Back-to-School Speech is an opportunity to speak directly to students across the country. Last year, President Obama encouraged students to study hard, stay in school, and take responsibility for their education. This event will be streamed live at http://www.whitehouse.gov/live. GCPS TV will air the event at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and provide a link on GCPS TV's on-demand library by Tuesday morning.

"GCPS Focus" NEW SEPTEMBER SHOW!
This month, GCPS Focus takes a look at the Positive Behavior Support system, spotlights a home-grown approach to nutrition education, and celebrates a notable achievement of the award-winning broadcast team from GCPS TV...join us for these stories and more on GCPS Focus-your news show about Gwinnett County Public Schools. Schools visited include: Archer HS, Bethesda ES, Sweetwater MS and Twin Rivers MS. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing this week at 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Available: Online 9/14/2010. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:

Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24 or 26 (digital tuner)

For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-301-7800, or send an e-mail to gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gcpstv.org

Constitution Day, September 17th!

2010-09-13T06:51:00.003-04:00

"In the spring of 2005, Congress passed legislation requiring educational institutions receiving federal funding to hold educational program pertaining to the United States Constitution on September 17 of each year (section 111 of Public Law 108-447). GCPS schools should commemorate Constitution Day sometime during the week of September 13- 17, 2010"

Center for Civic Education - Constitution Day - Free K-12 lesson plans and selected audio recordings

And here's more from the county office:

Recommended Resources for Celebration of Constitution Day

(To be used sometime during the week beginning September 13, 2010. The actual date of the event, Sept. 17, 2010, falls on Friday.)

Most people are aware that July 4^th is our nation’s birthday. However, few people know that September 17^th is the birthday of our government. This is the date on which the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention completed and signed the Constitution. The ideas on which America was founded-commitment to the rule of law, limited government, and the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice-are embedded in the United States Constitution, the oldest written constitution of any nation on Earth. Today we remember this special date in history, declared by the U. S. Congress as Constitution Day, celebrating not only the birthday our government but the ideas that make us Americans.

Websites with instructional and historical resources:

www.constitutionday.com

www.archives.gov

www.civiced.org

www.constitutioncenter.org

www.BillofRightsInstitute.org

www.crf-usa.org./constitution_day

Bud, Not Buddy

2010-09-11T12:10:00.000-04:00

This is the hardback cover and I like it better than the paperback one because it reminds me of why I like this book. I'd read it before when it came out, but I'd forgotten how funny it is. This cover gets across that it has music and a cool kid in it.

It has sad stuff too. It takes place during the Great Depression, a time in the 1930s when the economy was even worse than it is now. Many people were out of work and hungry. Bud (don't call him Buddy!) is an orphan. His mother died a few years back and he has a bad (but sometimes funny) experience with a foster family and decides to hit the road and find his father. His mother never talked about him, but Bud has clues. She kept some posters about a traveling jazz band and some other things that makes him convinced his father is the leader of the band.

He goes out on the road alone to find his father. This is back in a dangerous time for him to try such a thing. Luckily, he meets some wonderful, caring, and yes, funny, people that help him on his way.

This is probably my favorite Reader's Rally book so far. If you like it, you'll probably like Christopher Paul Curtis' other books for sure.

Oh, Reader's Rally! Ms. Bridges is doing a fantastic job running it and I can't believe how many panthers have been showing up! And they've been reading the books! It's quite impressive. I hope we all have many great discussions about some great books. There are around 30 members coming to the meetings and only 10 can actually represent Partee in February, but I think it's the reading of the books and getting to talk about them that keeps this amazing club such a big one.

Thanks, Panthers!

--Mr. Randolph

September 11th

2010-09-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

9/11 Commemorations and Information

September 11: National Day of Service and Rememberance

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers

GCPS TV Sept. 6-12

2010-09-07T07:26:00.000-04:00

"Career Day - Alternative Energy"
The first program in the Career Day series focuses on alternative energy and green design. Students get an up-close look at a working solar home with a one-of-a-kind tour from an energy efficiency engineer, go through an energy audit with an energy services consultant, and get a special peek at the research and development being conducted at the University of Maryland’s Energy Research Center. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing Sept. 6-11 at 1:30 p.m. Target Audience: Grades 5-8. Program Provider: Fairfax Network. Record Rights: Unlimited.

"Meet the Author - Susan Stockdale" Author and illustrator Susan Stockdale began her children’s book career with the publication of Some Sleep Standing Up.Soon, Nature’s Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You,selected as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children by the National Science Teachers Association, followed—along with Carry Me! Animal Babies on the Moveand Fabulous Fishes.On the program, Susan Stockdale describes how she creates her work in terms of words, images, and format. Air Dates and Times: 30-min program airing Sept. 6-11 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Target Audience: Grades 3-5. Program Provider: Fairfax Network. Record Rights: Unlimited.

Gwinnett Prep Rally
Gwinnett County's original high school sports television program, featuring high school sport highlights from across the county, returns exclusively to GCPS TV this week. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing Tuesday's at 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., and Wed.-Fri. at 7:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: Gwinnett Prep Rally. Record Rights: Unlimited. See www.gwinnettpreprally.com for more information

"English...Yes, I Can!" Series 2
English...Yes, I Can (Series 2) is a video telecourse designed to teach English literacy skills to adult learners. This 60-minute program airs Monday–Thursday at 9 p.m. and again at 1 a.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Air Dates and Times: Programs 9-12 (60-min. programs) air Sept. 6-9 at 9 p.m. and reair Sept. 7-10 at 1 a.m. Programs 9-12 will run in a four-hour block on Sept. 12 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Target Audience: Non-English speaking adult learners. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

Spanish for Educators - Level 2
Spanish for Educatorsis a valuable language resource and learning opportunity provided by GCPS TV. This 10-part series, taught by Elisa Brown - assistant principal at Hopkins ES - is tailored especially for educators and other school employees. Viewers will have the opportunity to learn key phrases and basic vocabulary for use during the school day and in the community. The course also provides important insight into the rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The syllabus for each class session and a "Spanish for Educators" workbook is available online at the GCPS TV website. Air Dates and Times: Program #2 airs Sept. 6-12 at 11 a.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights:Unlimited.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:

Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24 or 26 (digital tuner)

For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-301-7800, or send an e-mail to gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gcpstv.org

September is National Library Card Month!

2010-09-01T07:57:00.003-04:00

A library card is a passport. It permits its owner to travel to other places and times through the pages of a book. Membership in the community of the public library places thousands of resources at students' fingertips. Celebrate National Library Card Month with a trip to the library to explore all the many resources available!

Get yours at the Gwinnett County Public Library today!

Websites:
Between the Lions

Explore the public library that is home to lion cubs Lionel and Leona and their parents, Cleo and Theo, at this PBS Kids companion site.

Library of Congress

This website, from the Library of Congress, offers a wealth of information about life, history, government, and culture in the United States. The online resources are searchable, or visitors can use the site map and index tools to locate information.

Presidential Libraries

From the National Archives, this site links to ten Presidential libraries and two Presidential materials projects. The site includes Presidents George H. W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Herbert Hoover, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Franklin Roosevelt, and Harry Truman.

KidsReads

This site promotes quality reading through book reviews, related games, author biographies and interviews, and more. Students can also learn how to set up a successful book club and find discussion guides for select books.

25 Books All Young Georgians Should Read

2010-08-31T16:41:00.000-04:00

According to the Georgia Center for the Book, anyway.

Here's a link to the whole list at their website, which includes more information about these local authors.

"The list, selected by the writers, educators, librarians, and media representatives who comprise the Center’s advisory council, represents the first time a compilation of some of the best of children’s literature by Georgia writers and artists has been made available. Many of the authors and illustrators on the list will participate in free public readings throughout Georgia libraries and schools over the next two years."

Here are all of the honorees:

Picture Books (Pre K+)

Liz Conrad (illustrator) – Little Duck
Carmen Deedy (author), Thomas Gonzalez (illustrator) – 14 Cows for America
Elizabeth O. Dulemba (author & illustrator) – Soap, Soap, Soap – Jabόn, Jabόn, Jabόn
Nathaniel Lachenmeyer (author), Aki Sogabe (illustrator) – The Origami Master
Eric Litwin (author), James Dean (illustrator) – Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Danny Schnitzlein (author), Bill Mayer (illustrator) – The Monster Who Did My Math
Diane Z. Shore & Jessica Alexander (authors), James Ransome (illustrator) –This is the Dream

Early Readers (grades K – 3)

Lola Schaefer – Mittens

Graphic Novel (grades 4+)

Andy Runton – Owly

Middle Readers (grades 4-8)

Evelyn Coleman – Freedom Train
Ted Dunagan – A Yellow Watermelon
Gail Karwoski & Loretta Johnson Hammer – The Tree that Owns Itself and Other Adventure Tales from Out of the Past
Shelia Moses – Joseph
Mary Ann Rodman – Yankee Girl
Vicky Alvear Shecter – Alexander the Great Rocks the World
Kim L. Siegelson – Honey Bea
Doris Smith Buchanan – A Taste of Blackberries
Laurel Snyder – Any Which Wall
Deborah Wiles – Each Little Bird That Sings

Young Adults (grades 7+)

Jodi Lynn Anderson – Peaches
Lynn Cullen – I Am Rembrandt’s Daughter
James Dashner – The Maze Runner
S.A. Harazin – Blood Brothers
Terra McVoy – Pure
Walter Sorrells – First Shot

GCPS TV 8/30-9/5

2010-08-30T09:46:00.001-04:00

Coming up (Aug. 30-Sept. 5) on GCPS TV

"ParenTVision: Behind the Scenes" New!
Join host Margaret Cheeley and Connect With Kids(CWK) Network President/CEO Stacey DeWitt for this exclusive behind the scenes look at ParenTVision and the upcoming season. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing Aug. 30-Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Target Audience: GCPS parents, students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

GCPS Focus New!
This month, GCPS Focus salutes the inaugural class of the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame, welcomes new teachers and leaders to a new school year, and celebrates an extraordinary act of giving at Lilburn Middle...joins us for these stories and more on GCPS Focus - your news show about Gwinnett County Public Schools. Schools visited include: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Lilburn MS; Maxwell HS; and Peachtree Ridge HS. Air Dates and Times: 30-min program airing this week at 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11 p.m. Available On line. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

Gwinnett Prep Rally New!
Gwinnett County's original high school sports television program, featuring high school sport highlights from across the county, returns exclusively to GCPS TV this week. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing Tuesday's at 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., and Wed.-Fri. at 7:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: Gwinnett Prep Rally. Record Rights: Unlimited. See www.gwinnettpreprally.com for more information.

"English...Yes, I Can!" Series 2
English...Yes, I Can (Series 2) is a video telecourse designed to teach English literacy skills to adult learners. This 60-minute program airs Monday–Thursday at 9 p.m. and again at 1 a.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Air Dates and Times: Programs 5-8 (60-min. programs) air Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at 9 p.m. and reair Aug. 31-Sept. 3 at 1 a.m. Programs 5-8 will run in a four-hour block on Sept. 5 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Target Audience: Non-English speaking adult learners. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

Spanish for Educators - Level 2
Spanish for Educatorsis a valuable language resource and learning opportunity provided by GCPS TV. This 10-part series, taught by Elisa Brown - assistant principal at Hopkins ES - is tailored especially for educators and other school employees. Viewers will have the opportunity to learn key phrases and basic vocabulary for use during the school day and in the community. The course also provides important insight into the rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The syllabus for each class session and a "Spanish for Educators" workbook is available online at the GCPS TV website. Air Dates and Times: Program #1 airs Aug. 30-Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights:Unlimited.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:

Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24 or 26 (digital tuner)

For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-301-7800, or send an e-mail to gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gcpstv.org

Links for Teachers

2010-08-28T13:45:00.001-04:00

(image cc by worldsandinfo)

Putting Ourselves in Our Teaching by Debbie Miller. This is a wonderful essay to read early in the year if you're feeling rushed, and already want to hit the "pause button" to remind yourself of what really matters in the classroom.

Learning About My New Students? by Lisa Parisi. The start of the new school year often presents a dilemma for teachers -should you talk with your students' former teachers or not about last year's performance? She weighs the benefits and drawbacks of discussing current students with former teachers in this provocative blog post.

Parents as Partners by David Truss. He shares practical examples of materials to include in a "Parents as Partners" section of a classroom or school newsletter.

How Do You Define a Great Teacher? by Megan Palevich. Defining what makes a "great teacher" through a simple list.

PBS Links of the Week

2010-08-26T12:43:00.000-04:00

Arthur: Arthur’s Communication Adventure
Lesson Plan
Grade Range: PreK, K-2

Understand how children who are blind or deaf are able to communicate with others and how children of all abilities can communicate better with each other.
http://www.pbs.org/parents/arthur/lesson/communication/index.html

The Music Instinct: Frequency Explorer
Interactive
Grade Range: 3-5, 6-8
Reveal the underlying scientific and mathematical structure of music by playing with chord structure, frequency, and rhythm.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/7105/preview/

A Place of Our Own: Habitat Map
Lesson Plan
Grade Range: PreK, K-2
Ease the transition back to school by building mixed media habitat maps of children’s homes.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/4993/preview/

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot about That!Lesson Plans and Activities
Grade Range: PreK, K-2
Make way for the Cat in the Hat and his friends as they explore the natural world and learn about science.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/catinthehat

PBS PARENTS

Understanding and Raising Girls: Raising a Girl with a Positive Body Image
Catherine Steiner-Adair advises parents about how attitude and activity can help girls develop and maintain healthy ideas about their bodies. http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisinggirls/bodies/image.html

Upcoming Book Festivals!

2010-08-24T12:33:00.000-04:00

The Suwanee Book Festival August 28-29

Here's the link for more information.

The Decatur Book Festival September 3-5 (this one is huge!)

Here's the link for more information.

The Chocolate Touch

2010-08-23T21:09:00.000-04:00

I just finished this for this year's Reader's Rally. It's short and fun. It's like a Twilight Zone episode for kids. John Midas (get it, like King Midas?) is always getting in trouble because he'd rather eat sweets, especially chocolate, instead of what his mother refers to as "sensible food."

But how would you like it if every single thing you put in your mouth turned into chocolate? At first it's fun, but soon John is craving a nice cool drink of water and maybe some crunchy apples--anything that isn't made of chocolate!

And when his pencils start turning to chocolate at school and he can't even finish his math quiz, things definitely start to get worse before they get better. How can he cure this condition? Read it to find out.
-Mr. Randolph

PBS for week of August 23

2010-08-23T20:59:00.000-04:00

Great Performances: Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert 2010
On-Air | Wednesday, August 25, 8pm
Grade Range: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Listen to stellar music about the moon, planets, and stars as Franz Welser-Möst leads the Vienna Philharmonic in selections such as the theme from Star Wars and Gustav Holst’s The Planets.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/

Fizzy’s Lunch Lab: Mixie’s Boogie BuffetInteractive
Grade Range: PreK, K-2, 3-5

Dance, wiggle, and spin around the kitchen (or the classroom) with cool new moves demonstrated by the cooking crew from Fizzy’s Lunch Lab.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/7657/preview/

Jazz and Math: The Beat Goes OnLesson Plan
Grade Range: 3-5, 6-8

Enjoy listening to jazz classics while collecting data about beats to learn about ratios, proportions, graphing, and reporting.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/3512/preview/

AdLit.org: Free Writing with Sensory Stimuli
Video
Grade Range: 3-5, 6-8

Observe how sounds, visual cues, and tactile sensations affect students’ writing about a related topic.
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/5805/preview/

We Can Waste Wise: Recycling Game
Interactive
Grade Range: K-2, 3-5

Learn what can be recycled and what can’t and how to be smart with trash.
http://wfsu.org/wcww/

Nature: RhinocerosOn-Air | Sunday, August 22, 8pm
Grade Range: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Meet rhinoceroses, some of the most ancient animals in the world, which have nearly been driven to extinction by humans eroding their habitat.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/rhinoceros/introduction/1179/

NOVA: The Four-Winged Dinosaur
On-Air | Tuesday, August 24, 8pm
Grade Range: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

The fossils of the microraptor reveal a tiny flying dinosaur with four wings that have prompted great debate and study into how the creature evolved.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/microraptor/

PBS PARENTS

Parent Helpers: Make a Difference Children do care about the world, and with a little parental guidance can act on their empathy by helping others in a meaningful way.http://www.pbs.org/parents/parenthelpers/change.html

Thanks for a Great Book Fair!

2010-08-23T12:58:00.001-04:00

Go ahead and save up for the next one in December!

GCPS TV, August 16-22

2010-08-17T15:22:00.002-04:00

Coming up (Aug. 16-22) on GCPS TV

"GCPS Focus" Season Premiere!
This month, GCPS Focus salutes the inaugural class of the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame, welcomes new teachers and leaders to a new school year, and celebrates an extraordinary act of giving at Lilburn Middle...joins us for these stories and more on GCPS Focus - your news show about Gwinnett County Public Schools. Schools visited include: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Lilburn MS; Maxwell HS; and Peachtree Ridge HS. Air Dates and Times: 30-min program airing this week at 6:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 11 p.m. Available On line. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

"CNN Student News" Season Premiere!
CNN Student News is a daily commercial-free, ten-minute broadcast of the day's news geared for middle-and high-school students. On the CNN Student News homepage, www.cnn.com/studentnews, you can access the show and free related curriculum materials, including Learning Activities, Discussion Questions, Newsquizzes and One-Sheets. If you want to be the first to know what's coming up on CNN Student News and CNN Classroom Edition programs, sign up for the CNN Student News Daily Education Alert. Registration is quick and simple on the CNN Student News homepage. Air Dates and Times: 10-min. program airing Monday-Friday at 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Target Audience: MS & HS students. Program Provider: CNN. Record Rights: Fair Use.

Gwinnett Prep Rally Season Premiere!
Gwinnett County's original high school sports television program, featuring high school sport highlights from across the county, returns exclusively to GCPS TV this week. Air Dates and Times: 30-min. program airing Tuesday's at 7:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., and Wed.-Fri. at 7:30 a.m., 7:00 p.m., and 10:30 p.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: Gwinnett Prep Rally. Record Rights: Unlimited. See www.gwinnettpreprally.com for more information.

"English...Yes, I Can!" Series 1
English...Yes, I Can (Series 1) is a video telecourse designed to teach English literacy skills to adult learners. This 60-minute program airs Monday–Thursday at 9 p.m. and again at 1 a.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Air Dates and Times: Programs 33-34 (60-min. programs) air Aug. 16-17 at 9 p.m. and reair Aug. 17-18 at 1 a.m. Programs 33-34 will run in a two-hour block on Aug. 22 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Target Audience: Non-English speaking adult learners. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights: Unlimited.

Spanish for Educators - Level 1
Spanish for Educatorsis a valuable language resource and learning opportunity provided by GCPS TV. This 10-part series, taught by Elisa Brown - assistant principal at Hopkins ES - is tailored especially for educators and other school employees. Viewers will have the opportunity to learn key phrases and basic vocabulary for use during the school day and in the community. The course also provides important insight into the rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The syllabus for each class session and a "Spanish for Educators" workbook is available online at the GCPS TV website. Air Dates and Times: Program #9 airs Aug. 16-22 at 11 a.m. Target Audience: GCPS students, staff and Gwinnett County citizens. Program Provider: GCPS TV. Record Rights:Unlimited.

Tune in to Gwinnett County Public Schools’ educational access channel for education programs and information. TV cable channels and providers include:

Charter on Channel 22 Comcast on Channel 24 or 26 (digital tuner)

For more information, call the GCPS Broadcast and Distance Learning Department at 678-301-7800, or send an e-mail to gcpstv@gwinnett.k12.ga.us. A list of this week’s programming may be found on the GCPS Web site-- www.gcpstv.org

WATER Exhibit at Fernbank this Fall

2010-08-17T07:28:00.000-04:00

From the Fernbank press release:

This fall, Fernbank will present the timely exhibition, WATER, where students discover the amazing things that water can do—from sustaining life to shaping Earth's peaks and canyons.

Get swept away in this new hands-on, family-friendly experience.

Look beneath the oceans, above the clouds and all around the world and discover the amazing things that water can do—from sustaining life here and now to shaping the peaks and canyons of tomorrow!

Explore an oversized interactive globe, experience immersive walk-through dioramas that mimic the effects of erosion and learn how some animals have adapted to deal with water challenges through live animal displays.

Follow water cycle from the air to the land to the sea and back again, and in doing so, shapes our planet—and nearly every aspect of our lives. Along the way, guests will learn how each of us can help conserve and protect this precious resource.

Links for Teachers

2010-08-14T06:30:00.000-04:00

The blog Two Writing Teachers has a great round-up of their favorite practical back-to-school posts and suggestions.

Some tips on boosting attendance at teacher study groups.

Bloggers Cathy Mere and Mandy Robeck asked teachers to complete a cool task - listing the "10 Picture Books You Can't Live Without." The "jog" through the web with the compiled lists is at this link (scroll down to the comments to see all the other lists).

(image cc flickr)

My Father's Dragon

2010-08-12T17:59:00.000-04:00

This would be a good book for an imaginative second or third grader who is tired of the same old Magic Tree House books. Have you ever read Harold and the Purple Crayon? This is kind of like that, but it's a short chapter book.

The writer tells a tale about when her father, Elmer, was a little boy and went off on an adventure to an island full of wild animals. He's there to rescue a dragon being kept prisoner. He has to be very sneaky and very smart so he can trick some hungry lions and tigers and crocodiles!

The pictures are light and fun and there are even maps at the end of the islands he visits. If you like it, I hear there are more adventures with Elmer...

PBS Links of the Week

2010-08-12T15:25:00.002-04:00

Arthur: Go Green Challenge

Grade Range: PreK, K-2

Find new ways to be ecologically smart and keep track of your accomplishments with Arthur’s seven go green challenges.http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/6984/preview/

Cyberchase: The Fractionator
Grade Range: K-2, 3-5
Super math hero The Fractionator explains how to divide a banana into different fractions to eat with his cereal.http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/7684/preview/

The Electric Company: Shock’s Beatbox
Grade Range: K-2, 3-5
Engineer your own hip-hop music while learning the sounds of different letters and parts of words to create new sound combinations.http://www.pbs.org/teachers/connect/resources/6967/preview/

NATURE: Violent HawaiiOn-Air | Sunday, August 15, 8pm
Grade Range: 3-5
The geography of the island paradise of Hawaii was paradoxically shaped by volcanoes, blizzards, rockslides, and waves.http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/violent-hawaii/introduction/1861/

NOVA: Lizard Kings
On-Air | Tuesday, August 17, 8pm
Grade Range: 3-5
Monitor lizards are fierce, muscular, intelligent reptiles that in many ways resemble mammals and have thrived on Earth since the era of dinosaurs.http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/lizard-kings.html

PBS PARENTS

Going to School: Starting School As families prepare for a new school year, parents can ease the transition by initiating some conversations and trying new routines. http://www.pbs.org/parents/goingtoschool/starting_school.html

Listen to the 70s Robots

2010-08-10T16:24:00.002-04:00

PBS Links of the Week

2010-08-10T11:46:00.002-04:00

Put down that paintbrush and have a ball by creating art with balls in this unusual art activity that helps kids think about painting in a whole new way.

Here's some other links from PBS this week:

Count coins and dollars as you shop for food.

Parents: try playing with words in this interactive opportunity to compose Haiku with your kids!

The Smithsonian Institution

2010-08-10T06:56:00.009-04:00

Founded in the United States in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution is considered the "nation's museum." Today, the Smithsonian is comprised of 16 museums and 129 affiliate museums—including the National Zoo and the National Air and Space Museum.

In addition to the exhibits at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Institution has an extensive website , with information on exhibits and special events. Many online resources are available right in your classroom. Visit the Students Page and explore a variety of interactives. You and your students can build a sod house, play a Viking board game, and learn about the American presidents.

After exploring an exhibit online, have students use the information that they learned, along with some imagination, to write "A Day in the Life" narratives that tell about a person, animal, or object that they saw in the exhibit. Urge students to make connections to the specific details and facts they learned.

other sites:
Smithsonian's History Explorer
Smithsonian Education
Smithsonian Idea Labs

Partee Elementary Library

Black History Month

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Mirror, Mirror

Inspire great poetry with this amazing book!

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret

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Bink & Gollie

School Library Journal (August 1, 2010)

Dave the Potter

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ARRRRRRR!

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More Summer Reading Links

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Games!

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NASA - Rocketry!

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14 Cows for America

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One Crazy Summer

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Open Book Clubs?

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Knuffle Bunny Free

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Turtle in Paradise

In 1935, when her mother gets a job housekeeping for a woman who does not like children, eleven-year-old Turtle is sent to stay with relatives she has never met in far away Key West, Florida.

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New Books!

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Patsy Smith Roberts Visit!

I Believe In Myself

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GCPS TV 10/18-10/22

Igraine the Brave

Links for Teachers

The Wimpy Kid Parade Balloon!

Read for the Record!

How Much Does A Hurricane Weigh?