Coming up...Get Caught Reading Month!

Hey there,
May is Get Caught Reading Month! In the spirit of all things literary, the library is holding a few events. Here's what's happening:

* "Get Caught Reading" photo contest. See Ms. Emili or Mr. Stevens for details. Winner will receive an iPod Shuffle!

* The library will be teaming up with Student Council to run a book drive. Make sure to listen to the morning announcments for details.

* After NJASK, advisory classes will be holding DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time.

* Celebrity READ posters have been posted around the school

* May Lunch Bunch will take place on May 17. Sign up- it's the last one for the year!

For more information on Get Caught Reading Month, see the official website: http://www.getcaughtreading.org/


                                                                                  


             
                      
                                                                  

France Tourist Attractions, Burkhardt 4/28

Bonjour, French students! Here are some links to help you with your project on tourist attractions/sites in France.

About France: http://about-france.com/tourism/tourist-attractions.htm

I-Explore France Travel guide: http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/France/Where+to+Go

Nice, France: http://www.lastminutetravel.com/Destination/Nice-Attractions.aspx

Free Tourist Attractions in Toulouse, France: http://www.freeineurope.com/france/toulouse.html

Lonely Planet- Activities in France: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/france/activities

Bonjour La France: http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-tourist-attractions/france-tourist-attraction.htm

Regions of France: http://www.bonjourlafrance.com/france-regions/france-regions.htm

CountryGuide 360: http://www.countryguides360.com/france-europe-tourist-attractions.html

French Embassy: Things to do: http://france.embassyhomepage.com/france_holiday_activities_water_sports_france_hiking_paris_touring_cannes_walking_paris_french_embassy_london.htm

USA Today Travel: http://traveltips.usatoday.com/france-tourist-attractions/

Happy Poetry Month!

There sure are a lot of things going on in April! Aside from School Library Month (see our last post), it's also National Poetry Month. We have a bunch of books on display to check out in our library to celebrate. If you're normally not into poetry, you might want to try a "novel in verse." In these books, there's a story/plot unfolding just like in a regular novel-- but they're quick reads because the text is written in poem form. You might want to try Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham, Love that Dog or Hate that Cat by Sharon Creech, or The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez.

As for online stuff, you might want to check out these great sites:
National Poetry Month
Favorite Poem Project
Teen Ink- Poetry
Fooling with Words

Have a GREAT spring break!
-Ms. Emili

April is...School Library Month!

That's right, we get a whole month to celebrate libraries. Come on in to check out some of the new books we just got (3 big boxes came in last week), attend this month's Lunch Bunch (tomorrow!), or ask Ms. Emili for help with your research paper (she's happy to help!). Tell us what would make our library even better, recommend some books for us to buy for next year, or tell us why you love the library (we like compliments). Happy reading!

Skype recap

So this post is coming to you a little late, but I wanted to share some pictures of Mrs. Chodkiewicz's 8-9 class Skype visit! On March 15, Mrs. C's class participated in virtual book talks with a partnering school in Rosele, NJ as part of Read Across America. After communicating with their pen pals for several weeks, students finally got to "meet" via video conference. The kids did a GREAT job with their book talks! Take a look.
-Ms. Emili

The Outsiders research project, Elsbree 3/29-4/1

Hi Mrs. Buonomo/Ms. Elsbree's classes! In order to give you some background information on the time period in which The Outsiders is set, you'll be working on a research project on life in the 1960s. This project will require you to use all kinds of resources: websites from a Webquest, books, and database articles. You will be writing a written report with a partner and then creating a Glogster project on your own. A Works Cited is required!!

Directions, resources, and requirements for this project can be found here: http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=91884. You can access this post 2 ways: by scrolling down until you find it, or by looking under Tags on the right hand side of this page. This post is tagged under: Buonomo, Elsbree, Research, and Webquests. Happy researching!

Animoto projects: Mrs. Joyce, 3/28

Hi Mrs. Joyce's students! This post is where you'll find information for your Animoto Autobiography projects. There are two ways to access these directions: scroll down on the main page until you get to this post OR click on either "Joyce" or "Animoto" under Tags on the right side of this website. Have fun!!!

Directions: You have been assigned to be a producer, director, and main character in a video about...yourself! This will be your autobiography. You won't be writing a paper, researching intense topics, or presenting a long narrative. You will be starring in and presenting to our class a homemade video using the computer-based program Animoto! This will be a timeline of important events in your life. Here are the requirements:
-Catchy title
-Written, directed, and produced by YOU (first name only)
-Dedication
-Music (a song that represents you)
-PICTURES: baby pictures, important happenings in the world on the day you were born (may have to research), toddler pictures, important milestones, school days, best friends and pets, favorite hobbies/sports, dreams and aspirations, your job in 20 years
-Include a caption for EACH picture you use! Be creative!

Here's the link to Animoto:  http://animoto.com/

How to create your video:

1. Brainstorm the content of your video and find any images you will use. Save images to your Pictures folder.

2. You will need to register for Animoto. Click "Sign Up" in upper right corner. Enter your information and click on "Do you have a promo/referal code?" Use Mrs. Joyce's code

3. Once you are signed in, click on “Create Video” button in the upper right hand corner. 

4. Choose a style.

5. Load your video images by either uploading them from photos saved to your account OR select from the Animoto collection.

6. Add photos by clicking "Add more" and text by clicking the "T" button. Arrange the slides in the order you want them to appear. You can go back and edit later if you need to.

7. Then click “Done.”

8. Select music from Animoto’s collection.

9. Click “Create video.” It will take several minutes for Animoto to create your video.