Do a Library Search!

Do you want to help your child create a list of "just right" books? Watch the video below and learn how to make a book list at home.

Press Here

McGowen LMC just received the most adorable book recently.  It's called Press Here.  It's a book for primary students, but I bet even my oldest students would think it's cute and fun.  The book will have you turning and shaking and pressing and certainly smiling!  Check out this video and you'll know what I'm talking about:

2nd grade bloggers?

Two 2nd grade teachers approached me today about working with some of their kids.  The first teacher who came didn't have a plan or any ideas for me, but I immediately suggested a book club.  I hope the parents of those young 'uns won't mind them blogging!  When we start this next week, I'm going to have them blog - probably by posting projects or audio files (such as a Blabberize, fotobabble, voicethread...) some web 2.0 tool, not just text.  I need book suggestions now...

Book Fair Volunteers Needed!

Please sign up to help at the book fair!  Follow the link below to volunteer:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/reading255

Contact me if you have any questions!

Reading is Out of this World!

To the Book Fair and Beyond...Reading is Out of This World!

This is the theme for this year's Fall Book Fair.  McGowen's Fall book fair is scheduled for November 9th (set-up day) till noon on November 18th.  Make plans now to shop and volunteer at the fair in order for it to be a success!

Library News - September 13th

Let's see...what have we been up to in the library lately...

Kindergarten is getting the routines down!  They know how to check their books out, use shelf markers and participate so well during story time!  Parents, be sure to return the library book to the backpack every night.  It's a great habit to get into so the book does not get lost - and our schedule does get moved around occasionally.  Your child may end up with a "surprise" library visit on a different day and we want them to be prepared!

1st grade is going to start the "Terrific 2x2" program next week.  The teachers seem excited about it - it's a great (and easy) way to connect kids to great books!  For more information about Terrific 2x2's, click here .

I'll be working with a 2nd grade class this week using Glogster EDU.  The teacher and I will teach them how to maneuver the site and create an "All About Me" glog.  So exciting!

Some 3rd graders are obtaining their "library computer licenses."  I teach them how to use the library search (online catalog) to find books that interest them or books they need.  Then, they're going on a scavenger hunt around the library to find the books by locating them at the correct addresses.  (aka call number)

4th and 5th graders will be participating in a Skype author visit soon. Tom Angleberger, author of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, will visit with our students on October 10th.  Another exciting event in the library!  I can't wait:)  I am also working right now to set up student blogs for our older students to use.  Our primary use of the blogs will be to discuss our book club books and chat with students at other schools.

We're the Mighty (busy and hard-working) Mavericks!  Stop by anytime to chat with us and see what we're about:)

Melanie

I am so excited to be the NEW Library Media Specialist at McGowen Elementary. I would like to welcome everyone back to another GREAT year of learning and reading great books! We have lots of wonderful things planned in the library this year. In a couple of weeks, we'll kick off a new reading program for our students in first and second grade. We’re calling it “Terrific 2 by 2’s.” The 2 x 2 books are geared towards younger children and they are excellent picture books! I have a page on the school website about this program. To find it, click here.
More important library events coming up: Bluebonnet Books, Read Across America, a Read-it-Forward program and much more.
I plan to use the blog to inform you of library events, books that I recommend and other news. I hope you find it useful for yourself and your family
Ms. Gerton, our fabulous library assistant, and I look forward to a great year of serving your children in the library. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at mburford@mckinneyisd.net.

I go back to school in two days! I'm ready, but then I'm not. I will be sad to say good-bye to summer, but so happy to get started with school, seeing teacher friends again and sending my own kids off to their new classrooms! The start of a new school year is so very exciting:)

I'm ready to start the new school at my new school, McGowen Elementary. I've been brainstorming ideas for the new year as well as updating the school website. I'm excited to meet the staff and students at McGowen.

Here are some of my plans for this year in the McGowen LMC:

1) Bluebonnet program - promote the books through book trailers, ads, and a celebration at the end of the program.
2) Terrific 2x2's - an incentive program for 1st and 2nd graders. Read 10 2x2 books and you get "crowned" as a 2x2 reader.
3) Possibly a Read-it-Forward incentive program. I've done this program before and here's a little bit of info about it:
Students read a pre-determined book (possibly a Bluebonnet book?), then "read it forward" to another student by hiding it the student's desk, locker, etc. It's fun to see how many students read the book. We will celebrate at the end of the program for everyone who has read the book.
4. Tech Stars (tech incentive for teachers) - MISD has a tech star wiki (which I helped create). Learn more about it here.
5. Student and Teacher PLN's (Personal Learning Networks) - I just found out that a colleague and I were accepted to present a session at TCEA this year! So... I'll be working with groups of students to create reading blogs, having reading discussions and create projects based on literature. It's so exciting! We'll be collaborating with students at Minshew Elementary and maybe Press Elementary, as well.

It's going to be a great year in the McGowen Library. If you're a McGowen parent and you're reading this, please stop by for a visit. I'd love to meet you.

3)

Summer is here! My summer reading list is getting longer and longer. I am attending MISD's Battle of the Books for grades 3-5 (or Reading Rumble...whatever it's being called) in July. Some of the books I'm going to read are Masterpiece, Moon over Manifest and Chasing Vermeer. Have a great summer and take some time to READ!

Melanie

Wow! What a year it's been. We've done so many exciting things in the library this year:

• Terrific 2x2 program has been very successful. Students in grades 1 and 2 are voting tomorrow (May 12) for their favorite 2x2 book.


• Bluebonnet program was great. It's wonderful to see students excited about reading, and to hear students recommending books for others to read.


• Research projects


• Book trailers


• Susan Stevens Crummel visit and the wiki we made that involved her books. Here's a link to the wiki: http://crummelbooks.wikispaces.com/


• Tech Stars - the teachers are Press are using lots of technology with their students.


• We have circulated over 37,000 books this year.

A few reminders about the end of school:

• The last day for students to check out books is Tuesday, May 24th.


• Student books are due on Friday, May 27th


• Please take care of lost/damaged books by paying for them by the last day of school.

Thanks for another great year at Press Elementary!

Spring Break and Beyond...

Spring Break is coming to an end. It's back to school for the final stretch! I hope everyone takes some time to explore the Press Pride wiki, as well as the Press Library wiki. If you're ever wondering what's going on the library, or what sort of learning activities take place through the library, you can find out quite a bit by visiting these links.

In May, some schools in MISD are participating in a Literacy and Digital Festival. It's called the "Adventures with Maybelle...A Literacy and Multimedia Festival." If your child participates, you will certainly find out about it ahead of time. To learn more about the festival, click here.

I hope everyone is enjoying this spring weather! Take some time to read some new books to your child. A bedtime story is a wonderful way to bond with your child, as well as encourage literacy and learning.

Happy Spring, Everyone!

2011 is off to an interesting start, to say the least! Technology Night was a HUGE success. Thanks to everyone who came to school that night and showed support. You can always access our tech projects at home by visiting presspride.wikispaces.com.

We've had 6 snow days in 2011. Hopefully that will be it!! We missed 4 days in a row the last week of January/first of February, which caused big problems for our book fair. Our book fair sat there in our library that week with not a single customer:( We stayed open the next week (February 7, 8) Hopefully the children were able to buy the books they wanted.

Our next big event: Susan Stevens Crummel is coming to visit on Tuesday, February 22! Our students have been reading some of her books and doing projects with her stories. Check out our latest wiki: crummelbooks.wikispaces.com. This wiki is a work in progress, so check back often for updates - especially the next couple of weeks!

One last thing...we started our Read to Succeed program (Six Flags Reading Program.) The reading logs and information went home with the school newsletter last week. If you don't have one, please let us know! We have extra copies of the reading log in the library if your child still needs one.

Happy Reading,

Happy New Year! Here is the scoop on activities that are coming up:

~ Thursday, January 13th is our first ever Technology night! We hope many parents, families and students will be able to come. The children will be so excited to show off their technology projects. The event is from 6:30 - 7:30 that evening.

~ Bluebonnet Voting will take place on Monday, January 31st. Students in grades 3 - 5 are eligible for this program. Students all must have read a minimum of 5 books from the 2010 - 2011 Bluebonnet list. The list of books can be found here: http://www.txla.org/TBA-nominees

~ Spring Book Fair is coming early this year! Book fair will be held January 31 - February 4th. We're looking for volunteers! If you are interested in helping, click here. Or, call Mrs. Burford at 469-742-7617.

~ Author visit: Susan Stevens Crummel is coming to Press! She is the author of last year's Bluebonnet winner, Help Me, Mr. Mutt! She will be visiting our school on February 22nd. I will post a schedule for her visit at a later date. Parents are welcome to come enjoy the visit! I have heard that she is an excellent presenter.

If you have any questions about library events, or your child's library account or books, please contact us or visit the library any time.

Happy New Year!