News from
the Library Media Center
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2008
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007
SEPTEMBER 2007
JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2008
GARDEN STATE BOOK AWARDS
Any student
can participate in voting for the 2008 Garden State Book Awards. Ballots
may be picked up in the Media Center and must be returned by January 9.
Students can stop by the Media Center anytime to check out a
nominated book! Votes can also
be made online before January 11:
FICTION
http://www.bccls.org/teens/gstba/fiction6to8.shtml
NONFICTION
http://www.bccls.org/teens/gstba/nonfiction6to12.shtml
EVERYDAY LIFE IN ANCIENT ROME
Sixth grade Latin
students will research topics
relating to life in Ancient Rome. Topics such as Roman homes,
education, food, laws, theater, the baths, and the Roman legions will be
explored by using books, pamphlets, databases, and web pages.
The history database, Cobblestone, will be
introduced. This database
contains thousands of articles from the award-winning magazines of
Cobblestone Publishing, including two that focus on classical
civilizations: Calliope and Classical Calliope. Students
will also have an opportunity to practice research skills presented
earlier this year.
ELEMENT BROCHURES
Sixth
grade Science students are learning about the
elements in the periodic table. Students research an element by using
books, web links, and databases. Brochures
are designed that share information about the element, such as historical
background, properties, and uses of the element. For more information, see
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/ELEMENTS6.htm
EIGHTH GRADE FORMAL RESEARCH PROJECT
Eighth
grade English students will begin to explore issues raised in the reading
of To
Kill a Mockingbird, Forgotten Fire, Breaking Through, and
Crossing Jordan. Brainstorming sessions in the media center expose
the students to possible areas of inquiry, such as racial prejudice, legal
injustice, famous people who succeeded despite discrimination, and civil
rights.
In February,
students actively work through the steps of the BIG6™ Information
Problem-Solving Model. They narrow a broad topic,
formulate a thesis statement, and complete a written report using a
variety of sources for this project.
The Report
Style Manual will be used as an essential tool during this
project. Each student received a manual when they entered the middle
school to aid in research. The manual provides examples for narrowing
topics, note taking, citing sources and more. Take a look at your
child's manual to see how research projects are organized. (The manual
is also available online at:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/RSM/RSMWeb.htm)
View topics, a
research checklist, and information about the assignment on our web
page:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/Mockingbird.htm
A DAY IN THE LIFE…
In preparation for
the annual Holocaust Day on February 28, seventh grade English students
are exploring how the events of the Holocaust and World War II affected
people. Students will imagine that they are living during this turbulent
time period, and will create diary entries, letters, or a journal to
share their experiences. Topics include the bombing of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki; Japanese American internment camps; the bombing of Pearl
Harbor and London; the resistance movement; Warsaw ghetto survivors;
life in concentration camps; Hitler Youth; the role of women in the U.S.
during war; children hidden or sent away; people who helped the Jews;
soldiers liberating camp survivors, etc.
Research skills reinforced during this
project include:
§
locating and using web
pages
§
using online databases,
such as Infotrac and Facts on File
§
locating and using books
and reference sources
§
taking notes and citing
sources
See the Grade 7
English web page:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/English7.htm for more
information and topic links.Encourage your child to make
use of media center resources.
The center is open each day before and after school,
and during the lunch period. The computer lab (in room 227) is also open
before school.
Students should sign up in the media center before
the end of their lunch period if they are interested in using the center
after school. Passes are
available in the auditorium and cafeteria for early morning use. Passes
are in the cafeteria for use during the lunch period.
Students may come to the center during the “delayed lunch”
period, with permission from their teacher and the media center staff.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2007
ENVIRONMENTALLY
SPEAKING
Sixth grade English
students have identified environmental topics to explore in November and
December. Their findings will be shared in a traditional written
report. Students will use the Report Style Manual, which
will help guide them throughout the entire research process. Parents
are encouraged to review the Report Style Manual with
their children and be aware of project deadlines.
(The manual is
available online at:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/RSM/RSMWeb.htm)
Students follow the
steps of the BIG6™ (an information problem-solving process) as
they consider these ideas:
- What is the
topic? What questions need to be answered?
- What
information is needed?
- Where will I
locate sources and how will I select the best sources to answer
questions about the topic?
- How will I use
the information? (read, take notes, record sources, view videos or
DVDs, etc.)
- How will I
organize my research to create an interesting, unique written
report?
- Was I
successful completing the entire process? What would I do
differently the next time I research a topic?
Go to
http://www.big6.com/kids/3-6.htm for more information on the BIG6™.
Two important
information literacy goals are addressed in this unit:
1.
using online databases to access articles, and
2.
evaluating Internet web pages to select trustworthy information.
Students will also
review use of the Infocentre library catalog, and will
locate a variety of resources in our school media center. For more
information, go to:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/Environment.html
OPPOSING
VIEWPOINTS: School
Uniforms. Year-round School. Recycling. Global Warming.
What do these ideas have in common? They are a few of the many
topics that were researched and discussed in eighth grade
Communication Arts classrooms in October and November. Students
identified topics for a persuasive speech, completed research using a
variety of sources, and prepared for an oral presentation. Students
reinforced the steps of the BIG6™ used in earlier grades. Go to
http://www.big6.com/kids/7-12.htm for more information on the BIG6™.
For more information, go to the Eighth Grade Communication Arts Project
Page:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/WebEvalCA8.htm
HELPING YOUR CHILD ACCESS SCHOOL AND ONLINE RESOURCES
§
NETSTORAGE
Students can access their school
personal drive from home by following simple directions to “map a drive”
on their home computer. Go to the “Research Links” web page and click on
NETSTORAGE
for directions.
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/research.html
§
PASSWORDS FOR RESEARCH
– ONLINE DATABASES
All students are provided with user
names and passwords that enable access to online research databases from
home. Encourage your child to keep these passwords near the home
computer for ease of use. Extra fliers are available in the Media
Center. All databases are linked from the school website:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/research.html
Click on "Magazine and News Articles" or
"Online Databases." Passwords are also printed in the student handbook.
SEPTEMBER 2007
Welcome Back to School!
Students are encouraged to make use of our media center facilities,
including over 20,000 materials that support the curriculum and twenty
computers with Internet access and software intended to maximize the
middle school learning experience.
STUDENTS LEARN
ABOUT MEDIA CENTER RESOURCES
By the end of
October, all students visit the media center to learn about library
resources and services:
§
Sixth graders locate
areas of the media center on a map and review ways to visit and use the
center independently.
§
Seventh graders
participate in an overview of available databases for research.
§
Eighth graders begin
research in Communication Arts.
More information
about Media Center services and procedures can be accessed online:
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/media.html
DEAR:
Most months, students and staff "drop everything and read" for thirty
minutes. Please help your child remember to bring something good to
read on these days:
Friday, September 21 Thursday, December 20
Monday, March 3
Thursday, October 11 Friday, January
11 Friday, April 4
Friday, November 16 Friday, February
1 Friday, May 2
ONLINE RESEARCH:
Surf to
http://www.bernardsboe.com/wams/cybrary/research.html and
explore the "Internet Research and Project Links." Several online
databases are linked on this web page. Your child will receive a flier
with updated passwords for each database. We recommend that this list
be kept on or near the home computer for quick reference. The passwords
are also listed in the student assignment pad.
HOURS:
The media center is open from 7:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Classes are
scheduled for information skills instruction, book selection, research,
and computer use. Students may visit the media center independently
during the school day with a pass from their teacher. Students may also
visit the center before school, during lunch, and after school as long
as other classes or meetings are not scheduled.
BEFORE SCHOOL:
Students may use the media center before school starts for the purposes
of reading, borrowing and returning materials, research, using computers
and other equipment, or working on projects that need library resources.
Passes are available from the teacher on duty in the front hallway
starting at 7:15 AM. Passes for the computer lab are also available.
LUNCHTIME:
Lunch passes are available in the cafeteria. Passes may be limited
depending upon the daily instructional schedule.
AFTER SCHOOL:
Students must sign up, in advance, to use the media center after school.
Students should sign up in the media center anytime from 7:15 AM up to
the end of their lunch period to reserve a space. Students coming at
this time should have specific reasons for using the media center
(research, borrowing materials, using computers, etc.) Doing homework
that does not need media center resources is generally not an acceptable
reason.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED
to shelve books, help prepare displays and bulletin boards, and
advertise our monthly DEAR program. Please contact Debra Scharff
908-204-2610 (x136) if you can help
DROP EVERYTHING AND
READ (D.E.A.R.)
This popular program provides thirty
minutes of uninterrupted time for everyone to read for pleasure. On
most months, students and staff "drop everything and read" for thirty
minutes. Please help your child remember to bring something good to
read on these days:
Friday, September 21 Thursday, December 20
Monday, March 3
Thursday, October 11 Friday, January
11 Friday, April 4
Friday, November 16 Friday, February
1 Friday, May 2
GET
CAUGHT READING!
Students are invited to "get caught reading"
something good in the media center in the morning, at lunch, and after
school!
Students and faculty can advertise something
good to read by creating "Get Caught Reading" posters. Click
here
for more information.
Encourage your children to make use
of media center. We are open every day before and most days after
school, and during the lunch period!
RESEARCH
REMINDERS