Village Media Center

November 9, 2010

Water Damage - OH NO!!!!

Every year, a large number of books become ruined because of water damage. Usually, this is due to library books and water bottles being put into backpacks and the water bottle spilling. Books that have water damage almost always have to be discarded because they become moldy.

If you notice a wet book at home, it is important to try to dry it as quickly as possible. Dry up any major spills with a towel (by blotting, not wiping). Then, I usually lay them open near a sunny window and fan the pages every few minutes to keep them from sticking together. Make sure your child comes to me to tell me that the book got wet so I can give it a thorough check up.

I reinforce frequently with all students that honesty is the best policy and I will never be angry or sad about book accidents if they tell me what happened.

Remember to keep books and water bottles away from each other!

November 3, 2010

Golden Shelf Elf - October

Congratulations to Mrs. Bell's 4th grade class for winning the Golden Shelf Elf Award for October. Mrs. Bells class earned 35 Shelf Elf Points for returning their books on time, keeping the shelves neat and tidy, and following rules. They will keep the Golden Shelf Elf for the month of November while all classes in 2nd through 4th grade compete to try to earn it from them!

Golden Shelf Elf Trophy

October 27, 2010

Birthday Books!

Birthday books are coming back to Village!

During conferences, stop by the library to browse our selection of Birthday Books available for purchase!

Here's how it works:

1. Stop by and buy a book (your $18 donation goes to buy even more new books for the library!).

2. Fill out the Birthday Book slip.

3. I will make a personalized name plate to put in the book indicating that it was donated to the library in honor of your child's birthday.

3. On your child's birthday (or half birthday if it falls between May and September), he or she will be the first person to check out this special book. They can take it home, share it with the family, share it with the classmates and enjoy it, just like a normal library book.

4. When they are finished with it and return it to the library, the book becomes part of our normal circulating collection, so everyone can appreciate the donation that you've given. I also add it to a special collection in our library catalog .

5. I use the donation money to purchase additional new books for the libary.

Don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions!

November 3, 2010

Schedule and Library Policies

Want to know my checkout rules and policies? Read this:

Download file "mediapolicy.pdf"

Below is a schedule of library classes. Remember that all library books are due by the day before you come to library!

Specials	A 11/4, 11/10, 11/17, 11/23	B 11/5, 11/11, 11/18, 11/29	C 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/19, 11/30	D 11/3, 11/9, 11/16, 11/22
4th 9:10 - 10:05	Reed	Spranger	Bell	Cone
Kindergarten 11:10 - 12:05	Redford	Decheim	Quinn	Bishop

Weekly classes:

Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
	Meier (1st) 10:10 - 11:00	Haaseth (JK) 10:40 - 11:05	Jessen (1st) 10:10 - 10:40
Rumble (2nd) 12:40 - 1:10	Your (2nd) 12:40 - 1:10	Morrison (2nd) 12:40 - 1:10	Butzier (1st) 10:10 - 10:40
		Bonds (3rd) 1:40 - 2:15	Birgy (3rd) 12:10 - 12:45
			Ross (3rd) 2:05 - 2:40

October 27, 2010

Welcome HOME!

After a year away, I have finally come home to the media center at Village. While I enjoyed my time at the middle school and working with my seventh graders ("miss you!") I missed being in the library. I missed the books. I missed the teachers. But, most of all, I missed the kids. I want to thank everyone for making me comfortable while I was at the middle school, and I also want to thank everyone for the warm welcome I received coming back to the Village.

I spent the summer going over the collection; getting to know it again. I ordered some new books, planned some new lessons, and settled myself back in. I'm currently working on getting my schedule set and am so excited for the opportunities this year is going to bring for me.

Right now, I'm only seeing Kindergarten and Fourth Grade, but I should start seeing everyone else next week! YAY!

Here's what we're doing this week:

Kindergarten

Read Norma Jean, Jumping Bean by Joanna Cole
Practice coming in and moving quietly to the work tables
Help Mrs. Dennis learn everyone's name
Color the cover of our Leo the Library Mouse books

4th Grade

Read Our Librarian Won't Tell Us Anything by Toni Buzzeo
Make work folders
Start Library Alphabet activity

Book checkout will begin next week. Everyone will be able to check out one book next week. Remember to help your child find a safe place at home to keep his or her book when it isn't being read.

The library is missing quite a few books. If you happen to come across any at home, please send them in with your child.

Thank you and here's to a wonderful year!

June 18, 2010

Mrs. Dennis' Homework

I've been busy working on a couple of different things for my class (which I love, by the way). One of the things I had to do was to create a video tutorial of one of the "Things" we've been working on. Because I've had so many teachers ask me where I'm getting all this great stuff, I decided instead to do a tutorial on the course itself. The course is available at http://www.21things4teachers.net/index.html . Here's my video (requires Windows Media Player and the file is kind of large):

Download file "21things.avi"

The other thing I had to do for my class was to create a podcast. I'm not going to lie: I've been learning about podcasts for about 3 years now and, for whatever reason, I've been terrified to give it a go. Thanks to 21 Things, the wait is over. I was forced into the present thanks to an assignment.

What I decided to do was to create a book review (because this is very likely how I'll use it). I have a blog where I post young adult book reviews for adults, so I took one that was applicable and created a little audio file review of it using a program called Audacity. Without further adieu, here's a podcast review of a not-so-great (in my opinion) book, Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach.

Download file "shakespearessecret.mp3"

October 27, 2010

Welcome to Summer Vacation

So, we've been out of school for a week now. Like I told you all on the last day, I'm heading back to the Village Media Center for next year. This year was challenging for me (in a great way!) and I loved working with all of you and learning from you. You were amazingly supportive to me and I learned so much about being a teacher from all of you. For that I will be eternally greatful and I wish you all the best of luck with whatever you do.

I've been using my first week of summer vacation going to meetings, ordering my new skates for roller derby, and getting my house ready for my mom's upcoming visit. Busy, busy, busy! Oh, and I've been reading (and, not going to lie here, I've been spending a lot of time on my Facebook catching up on my various games) and will be sharing some book reviews in case you're looking for something to read!

Keep checking in with me and drop me a line! Hope you're having a wonderful summer!

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 5/18

Today, we went over the kinds of information the students will need when they write their formal investigation journal. Fortunately for us, Mr. Jellison shortened the amount of work students will need to complete, but what they will complete is a HUGE grade that requires time, effort, and detail. It will be worth around 50 points (almost twice as much as that last set of tests that we took). Below are the handouts we went over today. Also below is the permission slip for Monday's Cystic Fibrosis walk.

Tomorrow, there will be a materials check at the beginning of each class (to make sure the students came prepared to do our outdoor lab). I will be looking for:

pencils
planners (very important!)
appropriate outdoor clothing (for sitting on the ground / walking around)
permission slip for the CF walk (5 points)
Science folders

Extra Credit Opportunity: Friday, the High School is hosting a Hands-on Science Night from 5-8. I will provide 10 extra credit points to anyone who attends, takes a photo of themselves at one of the stations, and shows the photograph to me (can be emailed to me, printed, or on a camera phone). There is a suggested $5 donation for attend with money going to the Hartland Science Olympiad. These 10 extra credit points are especially helpful this marking period. For more information, contact Kate Hagerman at the High School.

HW: Permission slip (and Note-taker for 5th and 6th Hours)

Download file "scan0004.jpg"

Notes from today. Just look over and review. No writing necessary.
Download file "scan0005.jpg"

Download file "scan0005.jpg"

Download file "scan0006.jpg"

Download file "PermSlip 5-10.doc"

Permission slip for CF walk

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 5/17/10

oday, we started preparing for our formal investigation that we will be working on all week. For today, we talked about the two kinds of variables: independent (which we change on purpose) and dependent (which changes as a result of the independent variable).

Down below, find today's notes.

HW: Notetaker Ch 1 - Due tomorrow, unless you're in 5th hour (side one for 6th hour)

Download file "scan0001.jpg"

October 27, 2010

Project for Mrs. Dennis' class

Hi, all -

I needed to create a photo story for the class I am taking, so I decided to use the water cycle. Below are two files. One is the powerpoint presentation (saved as a .pdf) that I used to create the images (and has the complete text). The other is a story itself, created in Photo Peach.

Rainy Takes a Trip on Photo Peach

Two glorious extra credit points to anyone who leaves constructive comments on the presentation. I need feedback for my homework, so feel free to tell me how I can improve it!

Thanks!

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 5/12/10

Sorry for the lack of updates. Between Interim Reports, my trip to Chicago, and trying to cram in that last bit of content before out test, I've been a little bit busy lately.

Here's what's been going on:

5/10 - Worked on Study Guide for upcoming test

5/11 - Checked the study guide and took notes over the second half of the test (see below)

5/12 - Reviewing for test

Tomorrow, we'll be taking our last common assessment for the year. It is worth 35 points and covers Ch. 12 plus some additional material that was not in the book. There are no retakes allowed on this test (in preparation for the expectations of 8th grade), so STUDY A LOT!

Friday, we will be going to the library to work on Career Pathways with Mrs. Otto.

Download file "Notes for Unit 3B Test.doc"

October 27, 2010

Class Work 5/4/10

We conferenced our drafts today for the writing sample that is due tomorrow. We also took notes on the water cycle and transpiration. I will post a copy of the notes tomorrow, once I remember to ask someone to allow me to scan theirs. Anyone want to volunteer their NEAT AND THOROUGH notes for a point of extra credit?

Thanks!

October 27, 2010

Class Work 4/29/10

Class Work

The classroom is a mess, but in a good way! We made cotton ball clouds showing the characteristics (color, texture, altitude, shape) of each of the 10 types (plus fog). It seemed enjoyable to everyone, even though it was a little messy.

I'm attaching some pictures of 5th hour at work.

I won't be here tomorrow (YAY, doctor's appointment for ear infection!) and hope to have a WONDERFUL report when I come back Monday. We're going to be watching a few Bill Nye videos on the Water Cycle and Oceanography. Monday, we're going to do our 2nd semester writing piece, so be ready to write. Have a great weekend!

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/28/10

Class Work - 4/27/10 and 4/28/10

Checked our in-book quiz yesterday. I'll go over them this weekend, add them to Zangle, and return them Monday.

Today, we made notes on the layers of the clouds presented in our book (pg, 351) along with descriptions to prepare us for tomorrow's "art project" or, as I like to call it, "Old Skool Cloud Science Throwdown." I'm attaching the notes down below for those who missed them (thanks to Rachel for letting me scan hers - extra credit point coming your way!), but I also wanted to provide you with a couple of links to some great cloud sites:

Wild, Wild Weather - Dan has some great information on clouds and a "Cloud Boutique".

The Cloud Appreciation Society - I'm not going to lie, I went here strictly because of the name when I first found it.

Download file "scan0001.jpg"

These are a scan of the notes from class.

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/26/10

Class Work

We finished working on the quiz that we started on Friday. Anyone who isn't finished needs to do the following for homework:

pg 368 1-15
pg 369 16-18
pg 370 1-6
pg 371 7-9, 12-14, 16-20

Also, 6th hour had a homework assignment to do tonight. For class tomorrow they need the bring in a weather report for Tuesday that includes high and low temperatures, any precipitation, and wind speed/direction.

Tomorrow, I will be showing off our blog to the staff at our monthly staff meeting. I'll offer two points of extra credit to any student that comments on this post. :D

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/23/10

Class Work

Open book, open note quiz today from the book. There will be a few minutes on Monday to finish up.

Enjoy your weekend!

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/22/10

Class work

We watched the Eyewitness video on weather today. In the video they talked about:

Charles Hatfield, a man who claimed to have created a blend of chemicals that, when evaporated, would cause rain. He became pretty famous for this (even inspiring some modern day songs), but, to this day, no one knows what chemicals he used. Of course, most scientists believe that this was all luck that caused rain to fall in the places he used his chemicals, but others think he might have been on to something.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge was a suspension bridge that opened in 1940. Known as "Galloping Gertie" this bridge swayed under even the slightest wind and on November 7, 1940, it collapsed after only 4 months of being in operation. The winds that day were only clocked at 42 miles per hour.
That desert that hasn't had rain in 400 years? The Atacama Desert in Chile. This huge desert has places that haven't seen rain in tens of thousands of years!!! Can you believe that there are still plants and animals (and even people) that manage to make their homes there??? By the way, this desert also plays host to a mysterious set of ancient visitors. The Atacama Geoglyphs are giant (and by giant, I mean hundreds of feet in length) carvings drawn into the desert sands a thousand years ago. (These are similar to the Nazca lines that were on a Social Studies assignment I think you had at the beginning of the year, though I could be making that up.)
The video mentioned a lot of weather folklore and proverbs used for predicting the weather!

Homework:

Aurora article due Friday!

Get notes together for tomorrow's open note "test."

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/21/10

Class Work

Today, we learned how to read satellite and radar images to determine what the weather is actually like and how to predict what might be happening. The activity came from page 363 in our textbook.

Satellite images are pictures taken by satellites that show cloud cover. Because they show what the Earth actually looks like from space, satellite images are only available during daylight hours. Thicker clouds show as brighter whites and usually indicate some form of precipitation while thinner, wispy clouds are more the of "fair weather" (non-leaky) variety.

Radar images are taken by sending radar waves up towards the clouds. The radio waves bounce off of precipitation and reflect back to the transmitter. This helps to determine where there is precipitation, how heavy it is, and in which direction it is traveling. Greens indicate light rain, yellows are moderate, reds indicate severe storms, and purples would indicate the presence of extremely severe storm conditions (like tornadoes).

This link, from accuweather.com will take you to a map that shows a combination of the two images in motion. Going to this link shows you where the various fronts and the Jet Stream are currently located. What do you predict the weather is going to be like this weekend based on these maps?

Iceland volcano: This has been ALL OVER the news lately what with the problems it is causing with European travel. NASA has some GREAT images of the volcano's ash cloud. View them here.

Homework (all classes):

Doppler radar article due tomorrow with the option of completing the Aurora article that will be due Friday.

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/20/10

Class Work:

We finished the Internet Weather lab today and then took a quiz over reading the weather symbols.

Homework:

6th Hour Only:

Download file "6th Hour Weather homework.doc"

October 27, 2010

Class Work - 4/19/20

Class Work

Today, we continued working on the online weather lab. We will finish this up tomorrow and have a quick quiz over the process of forecasting the weather.

Homework (6th Hour only):

Answer my two questions about rewards/punishments.

Enrichment Opportunity:

Want to become a trained weather spotter? The National Weather Service will be conducting a weather spotter course in Hamburg Township on Thursday, April 22nd. The Skywarn Training course will take place from 7-9pm at the Hamburg Township Fire Department at M-36 and Pettysville Road. For more information, you can E-mail: http://www.co.livingston.mi.us/EmergencyManagement