Calling All Loyal Library Users!

Coming soon...our library loyalty card! If you frequently visit our library, you can start earning prizes for taking part in various activities. Just ask Ms. Emili or Mrs. Weissman for a card! 

How it works:

1. Ask for a punch card. Write your name on it- if you lose it, you'll have to start earning points all over again.

2. Start earning points. After each completed activity, you'll get your card punched. 

3. Once you've earned enough points, cash them in for prizes! 

How do you get your card punched?
Earn 1 point for doing any of these activities:

*Attend Lunch Bunch
*Read a genre of the month book and hand in a mini review slip
*Submit a book review for our library blog
*Volunteer in the library during your study-hall. Help Ms. Emili out by putting away the fiction books, straightening the shelves, helping with displays, etc.

What can you earn?

Earn 3 points: pick 2 (small) prizes from the prize box. Small prizes include things like pencils, candy, bookmarks. 

Earn 5 points: pick 1 (bigger) prize. Big prizes include things like posters, books, and small toys.

Earn 12 points: win a $10 gift card! Your choice of Barnes and Noble, Dunkin Donuts, or iTunes.

Welcome back!

Greetings from the MAMS Media Center! I hope you had a wonderful summer. I'm excited to meet our new 6th graders and to see our returning students back in the library! Whether you're new to MAMS this year or you're an 8th grade library regular, here are the top 5 things you need to know. See you soon and best of luck this school year!

 

 

1. When can you visit the library? 

Unlike in elementary school, there is no "library class." However, your classes may come in sometimes for research, projects, or to listen to book talks. You can visit the library by yourself during your study hall or lunch periods, as long as you have a pass. Sixth graders may visit the library AFTER your class has come in for library orientation (sorry- you have to know where things are before you can check out books!)

2. What's the deal with study hall? 

Coming to the library during studyhall is a PRIVILEGE. In order to keep that privilege students must: have a pass from their studyhall teacher, sign in when entering, have something productive to do while you're here, and leave the library the way you found it.  You may come to the library to do any of the following: use a computer for research, print out an assignment, find a book, or read a book or magazine. Homework should be done in studyhall, unless you need a computer or help with research! Because we have limited computers, students playing games or wasting time on a computer will be asked to leave.

3. How do I check out a book?

Have your ID with you. You may take out 2 books at a time and keep them for 2 weeks. Most of our fiction books have stickers on them, telling you which genre they fit into. Ms. Emili and Mrs. Weissman can always help you find what you're looking for- don't be afraid to ask!

 4. What else does the library have to offer?

In addition to regular books, we have:  e-books that you can read on any device (Kindle, Nook, iPad, smart phone, etc), magazines, databases to help you with your research, daily newspapers, and lots of other resources available on our website.

5. Are there any special activities that happen in the library?

YES! Most months we have a reading contest with prizes and a Lunch Bunch event, when a librarian from the public library comes in to tell you about new books, shows you how to make a craft, and you can eat your lunch in the library with your friends.  Some of our language arts classes have Skyped with authors. We had a dressup day last year for School Library Month in April. Sixth graders participate in Six Flags Read to Succeed. This year we'll be starting a Library Loyalty program, where you can earn prizes for participating in contests and volunteering in the library. Stay tuned to the morning announcements, read the blog, or stop in to find out what's going on!

 

End of year stuff

Summer vacation's only a month away! Just a few reminders before the end of the year:

*The LAST day to check out will be Friday, June 7. 

*All books must be returned by Friday, June 21!!!!!!! Your fines must also be paid by the 21st!!!!!!!!!!

* May is Mystery Mayhem Month in the library! Read mysteries for prizes. This will be the last contest of the school year.

*E-books will be available all summer! We will not be lending out any Nooks after June 7, but if you have your own Kindle/Nook/iPad/ipod/Droid device, you can still check out books this summer! Just click on the link "E-books/Nooks" on the Media Center page OR stop by the library before the end of the year and I'll show you how to download e-books. The best part is, they automatically return themselves after 2 weeks, so no late fees!

*Do you (or would you) ever read magazines in our library? Fill out our magazine survey so that I can make sure we have the magazines that you want to read! 

1 month to go!
Ms. Emili 

Great job!

Hello friends of the library,

April's over and so are the School Library Month celebrations! Here are some of the highlights:

*We had a successful Dress up Day fundraiser, where we raised $135 to send to Belmar Elementary School to help re-build their library after Hurricane Sandy! Lots of teachers and students dressed up and you all looked great!

*We finished the puzzle!!! It took 14 days for kids and staff members to finish placing all 1,000 pieces!

*The Scavenger Hunt Challenge winner was sixth grader Samantha Siragusa!

There are still I <3 my library bookmarks left- stop on by to pick one up.

Mescal- Publications

Hi Mrs. Mecal's classes!

Today you'll be using the information you found on your volcano to create either a travel brochure or a newspaper front page. Here is the link to Read Write Think's Printing Press, as well as some tips:

ReadWriteThink

*Make sure you pick a layout that will include enough space for the minimum number of images

*Think of your audience: remember you are trying to SELL your publication; make it interesting and informative!

*Headlines: should be short, draw the reader in, and appear in a larger font

*Bylines and captions should be small and appear under your article or photo

*you might want to type your work in Word and save it and then copy and Paste into your publication!

*make sure to Save As draft so that you can go back to your work!

*Printing brochures: print in landscape mode!

Mescal- Volcanos (4/22)

Hi Mrs. Mescal's students!

This week you'll be researching a volcano and then creating either a travel brochure or a newspaper using the information you found. Below are some links to help you with your research. Good luck!

Discovery Kids Volcano Explorer

http://kids.discovery.com/games/build-play/volcano-explorer

Earth’s Active Volcanos

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/world.html

FEMA’s Ready website:

http://www.ready.gov/volcanoes

Global Volcanism Program:

http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm

Michigan Tech’s Volcano page:

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/volcanoes/Volcanoes/Index.html

National Geographic Kids- Volcano pictures

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/photos/gallery/volcanoes/

Natural History Museum- Kids

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/kids-only/earth-space/volcanoes/index.html

Scholastic’s Facts About Volcanoes:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/general-facts-about-volcanoes

Volcano World

http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/

Volcanoes

http://www.learner.org/interactives/volcanoes/entry.html

Weather Wiz Kids:

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-volcano.htm

Happy Poetry Month!

Did you know? April is National Poetry Month! Whether you're a poetry lover or you'd like to learn a little more about the genre, check out these links for some literary fun:


Children's Poetry Archive: http://www.poetryarchive.org/childrensarchive/poemsHome.do

Giggle Poetry:
http://www.gigglepoetry.com/

Teen Ink Poetry:
http://www.teenink.com/poetry/

Poet's Corner:
http://www.theotherpages.org/poems/

The Poetry Foundation:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/

Shocked Poetry (online magnetic poetry):
http://www.shockedpoetry.com/