December Newsletter - Videos come to TumbleBooks, Native American Stories, Common Core Lessons, etc.

Menasha Joint School District Library News

December 2012

 If you have suggestions for future topics please feel free to email me!

Did you ever need to find out the order of a book series?  Well look no further then this website: http://www.mymcpl.org/books-movies-music/juvenile-series

Common Core Lessons: Every Friday the New York Times publishes lessons that correlated with the common core. They use articles that were featured in the newspaper and tie a writing activity to those articles. The lessons can be found on the New York Times education blog http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/category/lesson-plans/common-core/ 

TumbleBooks New National Geographic Videos Included with TumbleBooks Tumblebooks is now more then just fun books to watch and read along to.  It offers audiobooks, chapter books, graphic novels, and now videos from National Geographic.  These short videos offer insights into science, history, biographies, geography, and space & technology.  They are a great way to bring to lessons to life.  They also pair them with fiction and/or non-fiction book.  Tumblebooks is available on our various library sites.

Native American Stories for grades 6-12

Wisconsin Media Lab is proud to present The Ways, a new ongoing series of stories from Native communities around the central Great Lakes. The online educational resource for 6-12 grade students features videos, interactive maps, and digital media exploring contemporary culture and language. The Ways supports educators in meeting the requirements of Wisconsin Act 31, seeking to expand and challenge current understanding of Native identity and communities.

From a music video exploring Ojibwe language and identity in an urban landscape to a glimpse inside a Native family fishing business on Lake Superior, The Ways explores connections between traditional ways and those of today. The engaging series features tribal communities of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. An interactive map shows story locations and compares treaty lands, reservations, and Native population around the central Great Lakes.

Meet the Library Staff                                Linda VanderZanden Position: Library Paraprofessional Buildings: Clovis and Jefferson Hometown: Menasha, WI    Education:  R.T. (Radiology Technologist), B.A. Business Administration Favorite Book: Too many to name     Hobbies: Walking, Biking, Reading, Crocheting, Traveling Family:    Husband, Ron. Children: Scott, Mark, Lisa, Julie, and Lori Grandchildren: Emily, Nathan, Cailyn, Lauren, Miriam, and one on the way. Fun Fact: When my kids were 4, 6, 8, 10 and 15 years old, I decided to take them to Florida during Easter break. That wasn't my husband's idea of a dream vacation, so he opted to not join us. The youngest got car sick on the way there, and we had to drive miles to get to an exit so I could clean up the car. The 6-year old broke out in chicken pox while we were there. The oldest had the job of reading the map (no GPS back then) and keeping the other kids in line while I drove. He did such a fabulous job and I couldn't have done it without him! We only missed one turn the whole trip. In spite of the tribulations, we had so much fun and created wonderful memories. Every year after that, as long as the kids were available, we took a road trip to a warm destination during our break. All of my kids are grown up now, so I am working on the grandkids as my next set of traveling companions.

Winter Movie Tie-In Books from Overdrive If you have not tried it yet, Overdrive is our district site where you can download eBooks and Audiobooks for free. Overdrive has recently upgraded it's format.  You now need to enter your library card number to enter the site.  Students can use their student ID number to login, and all staff uses their library number (which you can get from any library paraprofessional).  Read the book before seeing the movie: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (ebook) Grades: 11+  Short Description: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way," writes Tolstoy in his literary masterpiece Anna Karenina. Commonly regarded as one of the greatest realist novels ever written, Tolstoy himself saw it as his first true novel.  Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcias (eBook & audiobook) Grades: 8-12 Short Description: Sixteen-year-old Ethan Wate is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena Duchannes moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. Little does he know that Lena is hiding a secret curse The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (audiobook) Grades: 9-12 Short Description: Follows the adventures of Jay Gatsby as he tries to win back the woman he loved and lost. Presents a classic portrait of the Jazz Age and the life of the wealthy in Long Island, New York. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (audiobook) Grades: 10+ Short Description: Victor Hugo's tale of injustice, heroism and love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean, an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience, when, owing to a case of mistaken identity, another man is arrested in his place; and by the relentless investigations of the dogged policeman Javert. Life of Pi by Martel Yan (audiobook and ebook) Grades: 10+ Short Description: Pi Patel explains how he was shipwrecked and travels in a lifeboat with a 450 pound Bengal tiger for 227 days, but when they reach Mexico, the tiger escapes into the jungle, and no one believes the story Pi tells them about the tiger. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks Grades: 10+ Short Description: Max Brooks documents the first-hand experiences of a range of survivors from the Zombie War. From the New Dachang village in the United Federation of China, where the trail began in twelve-year-old Patient Zero, to the United States of America, the testimonies of men, women, and children reflect the fear and horror as well as the scope and duration of the Zombie War. Not on Overdrive but available from the Butte des Morts Library and soon to be a movie: Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon Grades: 2-5 Short Description: Horrid Henry and his neighbor Moody Margaret decide to make the most sloppy, slimy, sludgy, sticky, smelly, gooey, gluey, gummy, greasy, gloppy glop possible. Is it the best glop in the world or the worst thing that's ever happened to them? Plus three other stories so funny we can't even mention them here.  Spanish Titles Now Available on Overdrive    Looking for Cheap Stocking Stuffers? Scholastic Books is having a warehouse sale December 12-13 from 10am-7pm.  Best Western Green Bay, 780 Armed Forces Drive, Green Bay, WI 54304 For More Info Visit: http://qrs.ly/bg2dvxb Congratulations to our winners last month.  One lucky reader even received a new car (does it really matter if only Stuart Little could drive it?).   Stay tuned to future newsletters for more contests.

District Library Newsletter November - PBS LearningMedia, Common Core Blogs to Follow, Meet the Staff, and Books on Overdrive

Menasha Joint School District Library News

November 2012

 If you have suggestions for future topics please feel free to email me!

PBS LearningMedia Free Educational Videos/Smartboard Activities powered by PBS Looking for a great video, or how about a Smartboard template to help teach that perfect lesson?  Besides CCC Media, we also have a subscription to PBS Learning Media through the state of Wisconsin.  Without an account you can access up to 3 resources each visit, but with a free account you can access unlimited resources.

Great Resources - Common Core and Non-Fiction Blogs to Follow

The Uncommon Corps: http://nonfictionandthecommoncore.blogspot.com/

Great Common Core Non-Fiction: http://www.greatcommoncorenonfiction.com/

Interesting Non-Fiction for Kids: http://inkrethink.blogspot.com

Not a blog, but here is a Pinterest page full of Common Core Resources: http://pinterest.com/cwiseok/common-core-ccss/

Common Core Lesson Videos - Free

LearnZillion - Grades 3-9 Math and Literacy lessons and assessments related to the common core standards.
Illustrative Mathematics - Grades K-12 illustrates meaning of common core math standards.

Meet the Library Staff                              Jennifer Peterson Postion: District Library Media Coordinator Buildings: All Schools in District.  Office located at Maplewood Middle School Hometown: Howards Grove/Neenah, WI    Education:  Masters  from UW-Oshkosh in Library Science and Educational Leadership.  Bachelors from UW-Oshkosh in Elementary Education PreK-6 Favorite Book: Too many to name, but recent favorites are: Hunger Games, Gone Girl, and David Sedaris and Lisa See books.     Hobbies: Gardening, Hosta Collecting, Traveling, Reading, Blogging Family: Husband: Corey  Pets: Two Annoying Cats and multiple goldfish/koi Extended Family: 5 nieces and 3 nephews                                        Fun Fact: Have recently had some of my photos published in a gardening magazine.

Books from Overdrive If you have not tried it yet, Overdrive is our district site where you can download eBooks and Audiobooks for free. Overdrive has recently upgraded it's format.  You now need to enter your library card number to enter the site.  Students can use their student ID number to login, and all staff uses their library number (which you can get from any library paraprofessional).  Here are some books available on Overdrive: Never Fall Down by Patricia McCormick (audiobook) National Book Award Finalist 2012 Grades: 9-12  Short Description: This stunning, well-researched piece of fiction brings to light the true story of Arn Chorn Pond, who at nine-years-old saw his family brutally murdered by the Khmer Rouge and was forced to flee Cambodia. Drawing from this child's history and various other resources, author McCormick depicts the horrors that Pond experienced. (also on order for high school library) The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (eBook) Chaos Walking series book 1 Grades: 8-12 Hunger Games Read-Alike (also available from high school library) Short Description: Residing in an all-male town where everyone is infected with the Noise germ -- which allows people to hear each other's thoughts -- Todd Hewitt, the only boy on the planet of New World, anticipates that the town is hiding a secret from him as he approaches manhood. Todd escapes with his loyal dog, whose voice he hears as well, and begins to question everything he has ever known when he stumbles upon Viola -- a girl -- in the woods. Chomp by Carl Hiaasen (audiobook) Grades: 5-9 Short Description: Teenager Wahoo Cray has lived in a zoo his whole life, next to all manner of dangerous animals. Iguanas, however, appear to be the most dangerous of all: Wahoo's father, Mickey, is soon put out of work after an iguana drops dead on his head. After this injury, Mickey and Wahoo are approached by the reality TV show “Expedition Survival!” to help the host, Derek Badger, in his animal escapades. On a shoot in the Everglades, it becomes apparent that the empty-headed Badger has no skill with animals or wilderness survival.  (also available from Maplewood library and on order for most elementary libraries) The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr Seuss (audiobook) Grades: PreK-3 (also available for Maplewood, Gegan, and Butte des Morts libraries) Short Description: Collects Dr. Seuss stories originally published in 1950 and 1951 magazines about scheming and greedy creatures, whale-sized gold fish, and a boy with strange career fantasies. You Mean You Actually Made it to the Bottom of my Newsletter??  Hooray!  Just enter your name and building into this entry, and you could win a free prize.  What will the prize be?  A free book?  A candy bar?  A new car????  You won't know unless you enter.

October Newsletter - Graphic Novels, Common Core Booklists, Novelist

Menasha Joint School District Library News
October 2012

Welcome to the first district library newsletter.  In the newsletters I hope to inform staff about new materials, databases, and technology available to them through the library.  If you have suggestions please feel free to email me!

What to Read Next? Just finished a book and now want something similar? Have you ever finished a book or a series, and wanted to continue to read books that were similar?  The district has a subscription through Badgerlink to a program called NoveList that can help you or your students find that next book.  Simply type in the name of the book you have read, and then click on one of the links below the book description that say Title Read-alikes, Author Read-alikes, or Series Read-alikes. Students and Staff can find links to Novelist under students links and then Libraries.  NoveList is also a great site for finding books based on genres, subjects, reading levels, writing style (descriptive, conversational, pun, etc), pace, tone, etc.

Graphic Novels in Elementary Age Appropriate Graphic Novels Graphic Novels help meet visual and verbal literacy, as well as divergent text structure mandates of the Common Core Standards.  Over the past five years or more there has been an increase in the number of graphic novels published. Do you need help finding a graphic novel that is age appropriate for elementary students?  Here is a starter list of some graphic novel series that are appropriate for elementary students: Graphic Novel Starter List for Elementary

Science Books for Middle School Common Core Part of the shift of the Common Core Standards is reading throughout different disciplines.  So I have put together a short start list middle school level science books available through our district libraries along with various resources to use with them.  Science Book List

Informational Text for High School Common Core The high school library offers many informational texts.  Here is a starter list of several informational text titles, many with additional resources such as lesson plans. Informational Text for High School

Searching the Libraries

Looking for a book or video?  Do you know you can search all of the district libraries from a single page? Under the staff links and libraries is a link where you can search all libraries at once. If you find something you want from another library, simply email or call the library paraprofessional at that building and they will send it to you via interschool mail.

New eBooks on Overdrive If you haven't tried it yet, Overdrive is our district site where you can download eBooks and Audiobooks for free. Students can use their student ID number to login, and all staff uses their library number (which you can get from any library paraprofessional).  Here are some books new to Overdrive this month: