Volume 1
Anytown Elementary School August 2009
In this issue Introducing the Media Center’s blog ……………….p. 2 Techie tip MS Word series ………………..p. 1 Professional development workshops ……………………p. 1 Forgotten treasures: the digital camera ……….p. 2
August 2009
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. --Dr. Seuss
Professional development in the M.C. Once again we’ll be offering monthly professional development workshops in the media center. We’ll alternate between lunch hours and after school. If you are interested in a topic but can’t attend, call or e-mail me. We can set up a time to talk or a demo. Wednesday August 12 , 11:45-12:15 Speaking of blogs, is your cyber-reading getting out of control? If so, come to our session on RSS feeds and organizing your blog reading with GoogleReader
Written by Beth Thornton Technology in the Modern Media Center EDIT 6000 July 31, 2009
Future topics: Thursday September 10, 3:15-3:45 Googlecalendar Friday October 9, 11:45-12:15 A brief introduction to Google Earth Monday, November 16, 3:15-3:45 Googledocs Have an idea for a techie session? Let me know. We’ll get it on the calendar.
Techie tip MS Word series – selecting text Tired of selecting and reselcting? Try this: To select a word, double click on it. To select a line, click in the left margin. To select multiple lines, drag in left margin. To select a sentence, ctrl click on it. To select a paragraph, triple click anywhere on it. D’oh!
pe sidebar content. A sidebar is a standalone supplement to the main document. It is often aligned on the left or right of the page, or located at the top or bottom. Use the Text Box Tools tab to change the formatting of the sidebar text box. it out! Type sidebar content. A sidebar is a standalone supplement toCheck the main document. It is often aligned on the left or right of the page, or located at the top or bottom. Use the Text Box Tools tab to change the formatting of the sidebar text box.]
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If you are wondering why blogs are such a big deal, take a look at the Blogs in Plain English video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI
The media center has a blog! It’s a place where students and teachers can go to get the latest news about media center acquisitions and programs. It is also a place to read book reviews. Categories include: News, Ms. T. Pick (reviews by Ms. Thornton), Teacher pick (reviews by teachers), and Student pick (reviews by students). Future posts will include podcast booktalks! Visit us at: http://mrsthornton.edublogs.org/ I’m always looking for reviewers. Talk to me if you or one of your students would like to write. Thinking about starting your own blog? Edublogs (http://edublogs.org/) is a free blog host for educators. Edublogs uses Wordpress, which is an open source software. I’d love to help you set up a blog. Stop by the media center for some tips and a help sheet!
Forgotten treasures: the digital camera Literary Birthdays: James Howe Barbara Cooney Frank Asch Betsy Byars Teachers Resource File Marjorie K Rawlings Cross Creek Lesson Plan Joanna Cole Brinton Turkle Vicki Cobb Ogden Nash Teacher Resource File Tasha Tudor Laurent de Brunhoff Virginia Lee Burton
August 2 August 6 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 11 August 13 August 19 August 19 August 28 August 30 August 30
Don’t forget about the Media Center’s digital camera. It can be used in many ways to enhance students’ learning experiences and improve visual literary skills. You might: • have students take pictures representing different letters of the alphabet; • have students take pictures of different shapes and/or angles; • instead of a traditional book report, create a photostory; • create a photostory which shows a sequence of events; • photograph special events in your classroom; • upload pictures to your class blog; • much, much more. Even children as young as pre-K can learn to use a camera, and they love it! If you are photographing students, make sure their parents have given permission and make sure their names do not display in the photo.