Keep them reading this summer!

Well, summer break is almost here and many school kids will have 2 months off. One way to keep their brains functioning during this period is by encouraging them to read.  And the best part about summer is that they can read what ever they want!!!  Not a text book for one of the their courses, not an assigned novel selected by their English or French (or Spanish, etc) teacher.  They can, and you should encourage them to, read anything they want!

By letting them choose what they want,  it will be of specific and particular interest to them, and it won't be considered a chore!  Let them read magazines, graphic novels, an informational book on digital photography perhaps, something they can use on their summer break. 

There are so many genres: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, Humour.  There are children's story books and novels, poetry books, "YA" (young adult) fiction, classics, non-fiction/informational books.  What kind of hobbies do they enjoy?  There is probably a book about that!

Encourage them to read a book that has been made into a movie, when they are done you can rent or borrow the movie so they can watch the audio visual version.  Ask them which one they like better and why?  Have them explain a couple of the major differences between the two versions.

Kids can sign up for local summer reading programs.  Check out your local library and see what they have to offer.  There is usually a theme and participants can win prizes for signing up and keeping track of their reading.  My children did this for many years and loved it.  They enjoyed reaching the milestones set out by the library, and at the end of the summer getting a small prize (usually a book).  It kept them busy, and they had fun doing it!

Our students here at St. Monica had a visit in June by one of the Calgary Public Library staff, who told them all about the summer reading program they are offering, and about all the things you can do at, and borrow from the Calgary Public Library.  Now's the time to take them to the public library and get them to sign up for the summer reading program, and have them check out all the great things the library has to offer! For more information click on the caption below.


Calgary Summer Reading Program



The Human Connection to Digital Resources and Academic Success

With so many people becoming "Internet Experts" are libraries really that important any longer?  And what about librarians?  Do they add any value to schools, students and learning?  Read the interesting article below from the "Independent School Magazine."  See how the human connection can make a difference:

The Human Connection to Digital Resources and Academic Success

Elisabeth Abarbanel; Sarah Davis; Dorcas Hand; Matthew Wittmer

Summer 2013

Page Content

Without question, the Internet has changed the way we think and learn, and will continue to do so as our technology evolves. In particular, the ability to access enormous amounts of information at any time from almost any place is forcing schools to redefine the idea of a classroom and the way we approach teaching. It is also reshaping the notion of school library services — what libraries look like and how they and librarians best serve schools.

Increasingly, we hear the questions: “Are libraries necessary today? Isn’t everything on the Internet? Can’t we use the library space for better purposes?” We read about prominent independent schools that have chosen to eliminate most or all of their print collections in favor of digital resources. Other schools have replaced trained librarians with technologists who are expert at connecting students with digital tools and websites, but not at maintaining and expanding the carefully curated and already owned print and digital collections. Some independent school librarians are being asked to dramatically weed their print collections to accommodate a move to a space smaller by half or more. More than a few school leaders see this as a good time to cut library funding in order to save money in the overall budget. Clearly, a popular impression out there is that the plentiful free information on the open Internet will answer all academic needs.

We respectfully disagree — and the research is on our side.

Read the rest of this article here.

The human touch, the connections between the school librarian and staff, teachers, students and parents can make all the difference to a school community's success. Let's continue to support school librarians and all that they do!!

Article Source: http://www.nais.org/Magazines-Newsletters/ISMagazine/Pages/The-New-School-Library.aspx

Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind [TED Talk]

Here's an interesting 7 minute TED Talk. Enjoy!

Click Here

Newbery and Caldecott award winners at the St. Monica Library

Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it!!!  Hundreds of new books have found a home in the St. Monica School library. Over the last few weeks, picture books, non-fiction books and many, many  fantastic new novels for all ages have migrated into our library collection.
 
Excitingly, some of these books are even awards winners!!  Each year kids are thrilled to find out which new books have won the Caldecott and Newbery Medals.  Here are the 2013 winners:
 
 
The Caldecott Award:

This clever, unassuming, and fun book won the Caldecott Medal for best artwork.  John Klassen is both the author and illustrator of this wonderful book that appeals to children and adults alike!  Click here to learn more about John Klassen and to go to his blog.


John Klassen

The Newbery Medal (for ages 8-12) 2013 award winner is:
  

An easygoing gorilla named Ivan is the narrator of this year’s Newbery Award winner, “The One and Only Ivan,” written by Katherine Applegate.  Ivan has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall where humans come to watch him and his friends, Stella, an elderly elephant and Bob, a stray dog. Mostly, though, Ivan thinks about art and how he can capture tastes and sounds with colour, until he meets Ruby, a baby elephant who has  been added to the mall attractions and he decides it is up to him to find her a better life.  Go Ivan!!!

We also have many of the runner-up honour books for both awards. Look for those distinctive medals on the front covers!  Winning medals are in gold, honour medals are in silver.

Newbery honour books:

• "Bomb: The Race to Build—and Steal—the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon" by Steve Sheinkin
• "Three Times Lucky" by Sheila Turnage

Caldecott honour books:

• "Creepy Carrots!" illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds
• "Extra Yarn" illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
• "Sleep Like a Tiger" illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue

If you would like to learn more about the two awards, click on the medal captions below.  The links will take you to the American Library Association's pages that describe the awards and list past and present winners.

The Caldecott Medal

 

The Newbery Medal
 

And remember parents, whenever you see a book with one of these medals on the cover, you child is reading an outstanding book!!!

Curriculum Information for Parents

I often get parents coming into the library asking for curriculum information for the specific grades that their children are registered in.  A great website to check out that will answer many questions is from the Government of Alberta.  It is the "LearnAlberta" website.

A specific page on this site titled: "My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource" is a fountain of information!!!  You can click on any grade, from Kindergarten to High school and it will load information outlining the topics covered under the curriculum for that particular grade.

It is a fantastic resource!  Check it out here: "My Child's Learning"

St. Monica Spring Book Fair

Our latest Scholastic Book Fair was a great success!  Thank you to all our students, families and staff for support this worthwhile cause.  We always want our kids to be reading, but best of all  50 % of the profits comes back to our school library and your children's classrooms.

 

We are now able to get over $ 1000.00 in new books and school resources!!!  Look for them in the library and classrooms!! 

 

And a huge thank you also goes to our Grade 9 book fair assistants who volunteered to help run the book fair.  Great job: Alana, Clemenzia, Dominic, Greg, Hermela, Kalvin, Pamela and Tomi!!!

If you need someone to talk to.......

You can always contact "ConnecTeen."  Hearing YOUth. Helping YOUth

Being a teen can be tough. You have more independence than ever before, but you probably have more questions, concerns and responsibility than ever before too. If you ever have a question, a problem or just need someone to talk to – give "ConnecTeen" a call, drop them an email or chat with them online.



They can connect you directly with a peer who understand your unique perspective and can help talk through your problems.

Check out their website for more information.