We have new books!

Check out our other blog, Knight-time Readers!, for a list of some of our new books! Come by and check out something fun to read during the holiday break.

Upcoming Workshops from Lucy and Ethel!

We are going to host several workshops for students in January. Please advertise these to the students and tell them to sign up in the media center.

January 9th, 2007: Yoga for Stress Relief This will be conducted by Kimble during each lunch and after school. Students will be taught simple yoga stretches that can be performed while seated during exams without disruption.

January 10th, 2007: How to Tie a Tie Workshop This will be conducted by Mr. Porr during each of the 4 lunches.

January and February, 2007 Knitting lessons. Students can sign up for individual beginning knitting lessons from Mrs. Simmons to be conducted during lunches. Students need to bring a set of knitting needles with them--if they can't purchase them, we'll try to get them a set at a reasonable cost.

Library Bonanza! Media and Curriculum workshop

Paul has featured pictures and a write-up of our Library Bonanza! Media and Curriculum workshop on his Media and Tech blog. To read the write-up and view the photos, click here!

We feel the day was a success and thank all of the folks who helped us present this workshop! We will try to make this an annual event! If you missed the workshop, stop by and collect the handouts.

Microsoft PhotoStory workshop-December 19th in the lab adjoining the Media Center! Be there, or be square!

Mike and I are conducting a workshop on Microsoft PhotoStory on Tuesday, December 19th, 2006 in the lab adjoining the library. Check out the following links I found on Microsoft PhotoStory:

Download the software free at: (download Media Player 10 first, then PhotoStory)

Microsoft PhotoStory3
Windows Media Player 10

Learn to use it and integrate it into your classroom:

TeachNet IE Creating your PhotoStory & Digital Storytelling
Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling An exhaustive list of resources and links

Find images or store your digital images:
Flickr
Picasa

Find free music here:
FreePlayMusic
Sounddogs
Soundzabound

Hello. So nice to be in such great company. Your stuff on the new DVD makes me wish I was teaching science. I suppose I'll stop messing around and go back to grad. project stuff. Argh! I can't wait for the Knightly reads thing. I've just finished Margaret Maron's new book Winter's Child. It was way cool--and, no, Deborah's not pregnant. That's for another book soon I guess. More later. Jeanne

What's New and Notable in the MC

We have several new Science DVD's that have just been added to our collection. Glaciers: Alaska's River of Ice (call number DVD 551.312 GLA) allows students to join the US Geological Survey as they explore the world of glaciers. Students will learn about the location of the world's glaciers, the formation of glacier ice, the glacier ecosystem, and much more. The running time for this award-winning DVD is approximately 90 minutes. While searching for a photo of the DVD, I did come across the USGS website that is full of resources for science education. Go to http://education.usgs.gov/

It's here, and I just saw the Oprah show on this movie yesterday--An Inconvenient Truth (location DVD 363.738 GOR)! Running time for this DVD is approximately 60 minutes. We have the DVD--and my mind just runs rampant with the teaching possibilities. I picture showing the DVD to a class, and then,students could use a digital camera to take pictures of local evidence to support some of the tenets in the film (such as increased flooding). They can use Photo Story to make a slide show of their evidence. Or, have students search the Internet for evidence, photos, or videos that refute An Inconvenient Truth and prove or disprove the theory that the movie is "junk science". (NSTA choose to refuse free copies of the DVD being distributed to members). Certainly, the movie could serve as a springboard for a great debate! While these are surely a really simplified ideas, I am betting you folks can come up with a technology rich unit on this movie that is even better. To see more about the film, check out the NPR story on the film at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5441976

Pair the showing of An Inconvenient Truth with the showing of Global Warming: the signs and the Science, (location: DVD 363.738 PBS)a PBS DVD, and have students write a brief essay comparing and contrasting the viewpoints of the two. Which one sells its message more effectively? What are the sources for information the DVDs use? How are the alike or how are they different? Which one is more scientifically based? Does the narrator (Al Gore vs. Alanis Morissette) make a difference in the message delivery? or, explore the PBS lesson on Global Warming at http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/globalwarming.htmlJust let your mind Rock n' Roll!

Lucy and Ethel on Cyberspace--how scary is that!

The Lucy and Ethel of the library have hit the big time in Cyberspace with our own CCHS library blog!! Our goal will be to inform and sometimes, just through our innate wit and humor, to entertain! On this blog, we will set up posts to inform you of what is going on in the CCHS media center, new books or materials we have received, great things we've learned or come across in our readings or travels, and websites and links to information that will you may use in your classroom or even at home. On this page we will link to our student-faculty reading blog--Knight-time Reads! Join us there to discuss what you are reading currently, or any terrific books you've read recently.

We hope you find our blog fun and informative!