Mrs. French's Media Blog

RIF, New Books, & Graphic Novel Grant

frenchd — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:12:26 +0000

Edinbrooks’ second RIF (Reading is Fundamental) give-away will be held on March 25 and 26, right before Spring Break. RIF is funded by a federal grant and the District 279 Foundation. Through this wonderful program, students at Edinbrook get to choose 3 books each school year that are theirs to keep. We encourage parents to read their children’s RIF books with them and also to volunteer to help with the give-away event. Mr. Pietari’s 6th grade reading group will be creating a commercial for the RIF event in March. Through the commercial students will learn about the variety of books that they will be able to choose from.

We are fortunate to have received several new books this year. You can find lists of these new books on the media center’s home page.

Earlier this year, I wrote a grant to purchase Graphic Novels to encourage reluctant intermediate readers. Thanks to the District 279 Foundation classroom grant program, I have ordered $1500 worth of new graphic novels and comic books. These books will initially only be available to the group of students that the grant was written for, but will be added to the Edinbrook media collection next Fall. The Edinbrook students will be excited about the new graphic novel/comics section that will be created as a result of receiving the grant.

New at Edinbrook- Jake Maddox Series

frenchd — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:49:46 +0000

Try Reading A Maud Hart Lovelace Nominee

frenchd — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:27:28 +0000

The third-sixth grade students heard about the Maud Hart Lovelace Nominees during the month of November. You can read more about the MHL nominees and the Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Contest on the MHL website . This year, I am asking students to record their reading of the MHL nominees by filling out three simple questions on a tracking form. The form will help me keep track of which students can vote for their favorite book (must read at least three) and which students will be invited to a MHL celebration in April (must read at least six books). You can view the Maud Hart Lovelace nominee list and find the tracking form by visiting our library website.

Mr. Lewis’ sixth grade reading class promoted the Division 1 Nominees to EB third-fifth graders. They made Power Point Slides that we played during morning announcements, hung posters around the school, talked to classrooms and made video commercials. There are now long reserve lists for all of the Division I nominees. If parents or grandparents are looking for holiday gifts, a 2010 Maud Hart Lovelace nominee would be appreciated by most our 3rd-5th grade students.

TumbleBooks Are Here!

frenchd — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:41:46 +0000

Edinbrook teachers and students now have access to TumbleBooks. TumbleBooks are online electronic storybooks. Take a few minutes to explore this wonderful resource. You can get the password by calling the Edinbrook Media Center.

October Happenings

frenchd — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:09:09 +0000

Students at Edinbrook Elementary use the media center for many reasons. Our third and fourth grade students have been using our computer labs to learn keyboarding skills using Type to Learn. Many classes have already taken their STAR reading tests which assigns students a reading level range for Accelerated Reader. You can find a list of Edinbrook’s Accelerated Reader test collection on our website.

I have been reading stories to kindergarten and first grade students (Wild About Reading and Book! Book! Book!) that help teach them about using libraries and how to take care of books. I have been gradually introducing the different sections of the media center to second grade students. At the end of October, they will be choosing books from the Everybody, Fiction or Non-Fiction sections of the media center. They should be looking for books in those sections that they can read on their own. The third grade students learned about using dictionaries and will be reviewing how to use the media catalog to help them locate books.

Mr. Lewis’ sixth grade reading class is currently reading the Division I Maud Hart Lovelace nominated books. They will help me promote the books to the third-fifth grade students. Each book was chosen by two-five students. Each group will run an ad campaign for their book from November-April. They will get monthly updates about how many students are reading the books that they are promoting. The Maud Hart Lovelace books will premiere in the EB Media Center the first week of November.

The media center has been a very busy place this school year. In September, students checked out 3,546 books. Students are welcome to check out books as often as they need new books. Many students visit the media center several times a week. It is great to see students excited about reading!

Back to Books- September

frenchd — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:40:50 +0000

Welcome to the Edinbrook Media Center Web Log. I will be posting news about happenings in the Edinbrook Media Center on this blog site.

During the month of September, students at Edinbrook will visit the media center for an orientation session. During that time they will review how to use the media center. Students will also began checking books out of the media center. Kindergarten and first graders can check out one book at a time. Second graders check out two books at a time and third – sixth graders may check out up to three books or magazines at a time.

I am looking forward to a fun and exciting year in the Edinbrook Media Center.