Google Docs Add-ons

Our 8th graders are digging deep into their Civil Rights research project and I shared with them the directions for using the new thesaurus and EasyBib apps available within Google Drive - really good stuff!! I read constantly on teacher/librarian sites the differing opinions on how much time is spent on the foundations of citation and at what point we take advantage of technology and let students focus on making deeper inquiries with their research. Nevertheless, our 8th graders have experience with the nuances of citation style and are allowed to use EasyBib. We encourage students to utilize Google Docs because of its ease and convenience. These add-ons are just   another way to make work more streamlined.

I would like to personally thank the six students who read, practiced and studied for another great Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl experience! We participated in both the APS and Metro-area competitions and are looking forward to the announcement of the 2014-15 Georgia Children's Book Award Nominees. Thanks, Reading Wolves (and parents and supportive staff)!!

The team poses with new buzzers (thanks PTCA!) and some of the reading material.

A very heartfelt thanks from Ms. Linahan to the PTCA and community members who supported the Middle Campus Media Center during the Barnes and Noble book fair. I am happy to see some oft-requested and award-winning books on our new arrivals shelf. Here is a sampling of some of our new titles:

The Book Fair Begins This Week!

The Scholastic truck pulled up yesterday to deliver the goods for our book fair! I am excited, but even more charged about the enthusiasm from our students. I hope every can make it out to support this reading initiative and fundraiser for our school!

One feature this year is the ability for parents to shop our fair online. Please check it out if you don't have a chance to come by. The online fair is available now until November 2.

The fair will begin Friday, October 18 and end Friday, October 25. Operating hours are as follows:

Mornings: 8:00-8:25

Lunch/Recess: 11:00-12:15 **11:40-1:10 on Wednesday 10/23

Extended hours for parents: 4:00-5:00 **only Monday 10/21 & Thursday 10/24

Hope to see you there! Contact me if you have any questions.

Scholastic Truck at Essie Ave - 10/15/13

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl 2013-14

It is Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl time! Last year, ANCS Middle Campus competed for the first time in this Jeopardy-like quiz competition for super readers. Preparation is intense, yet fun, and the competition is VERY EXCITING!! I would like to extend the invitation to our students to participate in this state-wide event. Here are the details:

• Participate by Reading Club option or Competitive Team option
• Reading Club members may attend practice but will not participate in the Bowl. Competitive Team members must adhere to these requirements:
• Sign up in the media center with Ms. Linahan
• Must read 10 out of the 20 books (on which the competition is based) by Nov 1, 2013
• Must submit a summary of each of those 10 books (characters, plot, etc.) to Ms. Linahan by Nov 1, 2013.
• Attend meetings 1x per week with Ms. Linahan and other team members for practice. This will begin in November.
• Commit to becoming an expert on several assigned books and helping create the trivia questions.
• Commit to attending competition dates. Note to parents: set aside 2 - 5 hours depending on the level of competition we attend:
• Local: Saturday, Jan 25, 2014
• Regional: Saturday, Feb 1, 2014
• Divisional: Saturday, Feb 22, 2014
• No more than 10 students are allowed on the team.
• If more than 10 students sign up, team members will be determined by an elimination quiz.
• All team members will participate in the competition by an equal rotation process.
• You may purchase your own books, borrow from the local library, or use the copies in the media center.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

tlinahan@atlncs.org

Banned Books Week - Sep 22-28

As Banned Books Week approaches, I always like to see a list of the year's most provoking titles.  This year, the week to showcase challenged or banned titles begins September 22. The event began in the early 1980s when there was a surge of opposition to books in schools and libraries. While most challenges come with good intentions (protecting children), to remove others' access to materials is censorship, a violation of the First Amendment. I found this great excerpt on the American Library Association's website.

The following were the top three reasons cited for challenging materials as reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom:

1. the material was considered to be "sexually explicit"
2. the material contained "offensive language"
3. the materials was "unsuited to any age group"

Although this is a commendable motivation, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights states that, “Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents—and only parents—have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children—and only their children—to library resources.” Censorship by librarians of constitutionally protected speech, whether for protection or for any other reason, violates the First Amendment.

 As Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., in Texas v. Johnson , said most eloquently:

If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.

As a media specialist for middle-grade students, it can be tricky to navigate the "appropriateness" of some books, as the maturity and reading levels at this age group can vary greatly. While most books in our media center are geared for this age-group, we also have select high school and adult level level reads available. Although I try my best to be sure students are selecting wisely, even award-winning classics have a history of rocking the boat. Here are the top five most challenged classics:

1. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
3. The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
4. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
5. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

During Banned Books Week, our media center will highlight some of the novels which have been challenged over the years, bringing awareness to the stories and the controversies they have stirred.

What is your favorite Banned Book? I urge families and teachers to check out Banned Books Week YouTube channel for next week's virtutual read-out.

source: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/about

New Extended Hours in the Media Center!

As of September 9, the media center will be open for students to use for

school-related work on Monday and Thursday afternoons. Great uses of time include:

• Homework
• Computer research
• Work on portfolio pieces and "exceeding" options
• Group projects
• Reading Bowl practice

There are just a few simple rules and expectations:

• Arrive no later than 3:55. *Late arrivals must go to after-school with Ms. Santina

• Sign in and stay on task *Students, take responsibility for your actions!

• Leave at 4:50. *No earlier. Adults picking up students in cars must wait until we all dismiss at 4:50. Students whose ride has not shown up by 5:00 will go to after-school.

See you in the media center!!!