Image source: http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/images/snowpers.gif

One more week until Christmas holidays.  Be sure to stock up on your holiday reading through our Parkview library and also through the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).




Their fantastic Web Resources feature eresources for kids:







  

AND



Further you can get free music from      and ebooks and audiobooks from


Learn French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, etc. with their








And if you like magazines, try their  resource which will give you popular magazines ranging from sports, science, fashion and entertainment.  

Speaking of magazines, our very own School District 83 "World of Information" link also has a new magazine database (EBSCO product): the Teen link offers magazines such as Elle, Cats, BMX Plus, Dogworld, Dance, Read, Dirt Bike, Ride BMX, etc..

Ask your teacher-librarian or teacher for the user names and passwords.

Happy reading and learning about our amazing world!

Library News, Nov., 2012

Congratulations everyone, we surpassed our $2000 Book Fair goal and made $2307 up just over $250 from last year – fantastic!  That means Parkview Library had $1100 to spend on Scholastic items.

Many of your “favs” are being catalogued as you read!

Thanks to students, staff, and parent Angie V for your help: in particular Jordann was at the Book Fair almost as much as the books.  This generous student even came in 3 hrs on the weekend to help set up.  Thanks for filling the library bucket so generously!


Book Fair Family Event - Wed evening we tried a Book Swap: bring a gently used book take some books!  What a success.  Thanks to families for your generous donations and participating in this great event - let's make it an anual event with our book fair.  Thanks also to Ms. Truscott and husband Mr. Hilton for serving hotdogs and hot chocolate - yum.

Our library’s next event is Red Cedar Book Awards.  Participating grade 4-7 students read a min. of 5 books of fiction &/or 5 books of non-fiction before the spring and then vote on their favourites.  Ms. M is busy ordering these scrumptious Canadian books.  
 
Winners Red Cedar book winners 1998-2011

Happy reading & researching!
The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.  James Bryce   

"All Star" Scholastic Book Fair, Tue., Nov. 20th and Wed., Nov 2st

"All Star" Scholastic Book Fair is almost ready for you!
Big Nate and Friends
Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not So Graceful Ice Princess, by Rachel Renee Russell

Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu


Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai



Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney




The Secret of the Fortune Wookie by Tom Angleberger

How to make Origami Fortune Wookie!

Also check out Scholastic's Featured Author and Illustrator Spotlight to learn more about talented illustrators and authors like Dav Pilkey, Paul Romanuk, Barbara Reid, Bruno St. Aubin, Shane Peacock, Laura Wade and more.  Try Scholastic's Kids Fun Online for games, activities, author features, writing tips, book excerpts, book products by theme.   This link will show you visuals of some of Scholastic's featured books.  Check out Scholastic Teen Reads for 12 & up.

So when is the Parkview Bookfair, you ask?  Well not only is there a Book Fair, but also a Book Swap!  That's right bring some books (gently used) take some books (from our Parkview Give-Away Collection [Note the Scholastic "new" books are not part of the Book Swap])

BOOK FAIR & BOOK SWAP TIMES

• Mon., Nov. 19th, Scholastic Book Fair “Preview Day” - NO SALES; teachers will sign up classes to preview books (Activity Room)

• Tue., Nov. 20th - Scholastic Book Fair Officially Opens, Activity Room
• General Sales at recess and after school til 4:30pm
• Intermediate Class sales during regular library times

• Wed., Nov. 21st - Final Day, Activity Room
• General Sales at recess and after school til 8pm sharp
• Primary Class sales during regular library times

• FAMILY EVENT - Gently Used BOOK SWAP: “Bring Books/Take Books,” gymnasium, 2:20pm-7pm
• Hot dogs & hot chocolate served from 5:30-6:30pm, gymnasium Reply below with your book wish list! See you soon! Ms. M

Remembrance Day, November 11th

Source

Nov., 11th, Remembrance Day - a very mixed emotions day.  Please see the side bar for various links for your perusal.  My favourite from Nettrekker this year is Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market Flash Mob produced by Veterans Affairs Canada.  Enjoy.

Image Source 

Explore Halloween Virtually

Halloween is upon us!  For some amazing video clips (History Channel), interactive pumpkin carving patterns, rancid recipes and more, see the HALLOWEEN link on the right side bar:  scroll down to "Themed Information Pages."

Get your Halloween books - picture, fiction, and non-fiction -  @thelibrary!  Owwwwrooooooooooo!  See you Tue and Wed., Ms. M.

"A Spooktacular Halloween" at Haney Heritage, Salmon Arm

What are your plans for this weekend?  Try a spooky trail walk and a new book!  Haney Heritage offers a spooky trail walk for both little people,

                                                               and young adults:

Spooktacular - October 27 & 28                               

For two nights the village transforms into a scary attraction for the annual Spooktacular. With the terrifying spook trail and haunted house, there will be menacing creatures around every dark corner. This popular event has been a crowd pleaser for years and always brings something new. For the little spooks, enjoy the Story Book Trail, the Coloring Room and more.

Gates open at 5:00pm. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

New Book - A Spooktacular Halloween

Local author, Kay McCracken and local children's book illustrator, Bob Beeson collaborated on this new book.  The book will not only be sold at the event, but also acted out!  A Spooktacular Halloween is a story set at R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum's annual two-night Halloween Spooktacular. Author Kay McCracken (as Mrs. Orangebottom, a character from the book) and local historian, Dave Harper will read and act out the story.

Orangebottom

Books are for sale at the event (and at bookstores and other venues around

town) for $5.00 with $1.00 from every book sale donated to the Literacy

Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS).

Author Background - Kay McCracken

Local author Kay McCracken wrote the best-selling memoir A Raven in My Heart:

Reflections of a Bookseller. In 2003, McCracken co-founded Word on the

Lake...a festival for readers and writers; she continues to serve on the

board of the Shuswap Association of Writers (SAW). Her memoir workshop was

well received at Word on the Lake and at an event for the Literacy Alliance

of the Shuswap Society (LASS). She continues to turn out a monthly column

³Write On² for the Monthly edition of the Friday AM. She's a founding member

of Gracesprings Collective, and is an active member of the Federation of BC

Writers, having acted as a board member and regional rep for six years.

McCracken loves living in the diverse and friendly community of Salmon Arm.

Biographies of McCracken and Beeson

Spooky reading to you all!  Check the Alexandria reference link to the right to see what Halloween'ish books you may want to sign out and Nettrekker to see what web sites this database suggests.  Ms. M.

Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), Mon. Oct 22nd, 2012

Parkview, how will we celebrate our passion for reading Oct 22nd?  Check below for Parkland Secondary's creative approach


Parkview members enter the Video Testimonial Contest (scroll down below the bookmarks) that covers some aspect about our library: "What would your school be like without a library?  Why do you love your school library? What does your school library mean to you? What is the best thing about your school library?"  Prizes include the following: "First place prize includes a $150 Chapters/Coles/Indigo gift card for your school library. The student that submits the winning video will also receive a $50 gift card!"  While that is the provincial contest, I think we should set up our own contest at Parkview too!

Share your ideas for Parkview DEAR, Mon. Oct 22nd with Ms. Murrells, Ms. Chafe, &/or your classroom teachers.  See below for suggestions from the officical DEAR web site:

So, here's an unofficial 'DEAR toolkit' (of sorts):

• Host a 'read-in' with students in the main lobby of your school;
• Host have a pyjama and book day ("Flashlight Reading") or some other theme day like a "Dr. Seuss Day" or "Harry Potter Day";
• Invite the local junior hockey team (or other well known group) to read with students;
• Invite seniors (Grades 11 & 12) to buddy read with younger students;
• Invite your local MLA and/or municipal politicians to join your DEAR event;
• Create a video: "Why my school library is important", "Why I love my teacher-librarian", "Random Acts of Reading", etc. that can be uploaded to the DEAR YouTube channel;
• Invite a school trustee and/or superintendent to join your school event;
• Organize a flash mob focusing on the school library (remember capture it on video) to upload to our YouTube DEAR channel;
• Host a draw, for example: "Why I love my library" and offer iTunes or Chapters gift cards as prizes;
• Invite a local author or poet to read to students;
• Invite a member of local First Nations band to do a storytelling session

Happy Reading!

Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-13, 2012

1970's Canadian Fire Prevention PSA - Old Lady Who Lived In A Shoe

Save lives and prepare yourself and you home in case of a fire.

Info. Video Clips (Public Service Announcements)

1. Max the wall socket
2. Candle Safety
3. The Out-of-Control Pot!
4. Cigarettes Can Cause Fires

Teacher & Parent Resources

1. Fire Prevention Week by Fire Prevention Canada (Tips and activity Pages)
2. National Fire Protection Association

October Parkview Library Newsletter

October is Canadian Library Month and lots is happening at our Parkview library.  Send or email in pictures of your Special Spot (SS) of where you safely keep your library books at home.  Ms. M. will add them to her slideshow and enter your name in a book draw.  Drop by to celebrate libraries and set up a family account to sign out extra books this and all Wednesdays for Family Library Day (after school til 2:45pm).  Parkview classes have begun their field trips to the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL); make the ORL a regular stop in your Sicamous routines (Open Tue., Wed., Fri., Sat.; more info at www.orl.bc.ca).  Parkview library classes are exploring numerous themes such as the human body, the digestive system, harvest, seasons, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and more through books and online databases: World Book, EBSCO (Found at http://drc.sd83.bc.ca/ or the library blog) and Nettrekker (found at http://school.nettrekker.com [user names and passwords available from all Parkview staff]) to name a few.  

We need adult volunteers for the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair.  Please contact Ms. M.  

Scrumptious reading & learning to you!

Ms. Murrells, Teacher-Librarian, Library Hours 8-4pm Tue. & Wed.
smurrell@sd83.bc.ca, 250-836-2871

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.  ~Chinese Proverb  

The Dewey Rap

We like to read, learn, and DANCE in the Parkview Library!  Learn the "100'es'" themes by singing AND DANCING along to the Dewey Rap.  Note - some ad features may load, but you can "x" out of them at any time.  Cu@thelibrary!

Raise a Reader Day - Fri., Sept. 28th!

Dear Parents, see below resources for some great tips on reading rituals in your home.  Birth to grade three are crucial years to develop language skills and develop strong reading habits.  Parkview Kindergarten parents check out your soon to arrive "Stress free Reading" resource - an amazing little booklet.

• KidSource Online: Helping Your Child Learn to Read (nettrekker source)
• National Institute for Literacy: A Child Becomes a Reader (nettrekker source) (POWERFUL, INFORMATIVE READ)
• Raise A Reader Campaign Check out the campaigns in Kamloops, Kelowna, and Penticton.
• Ten Tips to Get YOur Kids to Love Reading
• Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society (LASS) our very own local literacy organization 

For NETTREKKER user names and passwords contact moi, Ms. Murrells (smurrell@sd83.bc.ca
250-836-2871), or classroom teachers.

Let's all make reading and exploring the world of information our daily culture at home, work, and in our communities.  Happy reading!  Ms. M.

Terry Fox - A Canadian Hero

Terry Fox still inspires us today.  Check out the links below to learn more about this inspirational young man.  Set some goals for yourself and make this amazing world even better ... then TAKE ACTION!  Start with bringing whatever change you can to the Terry Fox Parkview school run, Thu., Sept. 27th.

Feed your brain today - read, read, read!

Terry Fox Foundation

BC Sports Hall of Fame

Centre for Education and Training - take a quiz to test your knowledge about Terry Fox.

Spencer West, a Man with No Legs, Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

Climbing a Mountain with No Legs - Spencer West Redefines Impossible and Climbs Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa - WOW!  Click below to read more about Spencer's amazing journey & astounding accomplishment.  

And then ... take a moment to redefine your own possible.

Trees  and Fungi Talk!

View this interesting YouTube clip (4.5 mins) about trees communicating with one another from the Young Naturalist Club (YNC) homepage:  When trees and fungi talk- I wonder what they say? In Mother Tree, UBC Professor Dr. Suzanne Simard talks abouther research showing that Douglas Fir trees in the forest communicate with each other through the help of fungi.

http://www.ync.ca/ 

Enjoy.

Grade Two Suggested Book Titles

Grade Two Suggested Book Titles for Teachers and Parents:

Most review sites offer reading information based on lexile which is based on grade level and book complexity, but these reviews are also based on the books' contents.  The site explains: "For second grade readers, the recommended Common Core Standards reading levels are 450-790 Lexile. Lexile is a measure of the grade level and text complexity of a book. All books included in this site are within this Lexile range.

However, it’s a bit more complicated than that. For example, the classic novelGrapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck falls within this Lexile range. But the topics and emotional content of the book is high school level. We take into account the content of a book before including here. Books recommended here are within the correct Lexile range AND the content is recommended for second grade readers."
Ann Norris Director of 2ndGradeReading.NET

A grade three recommended site will be launched next month: 3rdGradeReading.NET

Note this is an American resource.  Happy researching!  Ms. M.

Thirteen sleeps til we meet again!  Are you wrapping your brain around school yet?  Try out the "Topical Hotties" section to find out about Olympic and Canadian difference makers ("Norton" says Silverlight is a trusted flash player to download).  Also, try out the "How's it Made" series (usually by Discovery, but other authors too).  Blowing bubbles is made possible because of plastics, rubber, and flavouring - yum!

Note always beware of further sidebar options on YouTube sources - most are wonderful, but some can be inappropriate.  So much to learn from so many sources - get reading!  See you soon, Ms. M.

Goddess Girls

I just finished Athena the Wise (book 5) by Joan Holub.  It's based on the Greek Olympus Gods, but when they're young and in training.  I really liked it!  Ms. Milton was looking for a good read aloud last year and I'm going to suggest this series to her.

What suggestions do you have for some good class novel readings?

The above links are to Novelist - check out the Goddess Girls series and much, much more.  You may need to use the user names and passwords I gave to you at the beginning of Sept., 2012.  The stickers with the information are on the inside cover of your agenda.  Otherwise, email me and I'll help you out.  Summer well wishes to you, Ms. M.

Summer Reading

So what are YOU reading this summer?  Check out the "Help...I Need a Book Suggestion" link on the right column for some ideas as well as the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).   Search the ORL's "enhanced catalog" and be wowed by its options! For example, create your own virtual library shelf and check out other's. Join their summer reading program too!
Also, join this Parkview Library blog discussion and add in your own suggestions - we'd love to hear from you.  


STUDENT BOOK SUGGESTIONS 

•  Grade 4 student Olivia, Vernon: 
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart, 
• Caddie Woodlawn   by Carol Ryrie Brink; 
• Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson 
• recommends all the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis 
• Grade 5 student Calvin, Salmon Arm - "Heroes of Olympus" series - The Lost Hero and The Son of Neptune (book 2) by Rick Riordan
• Grade 8 student Kieran, Salmon Arm,  is currently reading Divergent, by Veronica Roth. 
• Grade 9 student Alexa, Vernon: Veronica Roth's books, Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Lainie Taylor; Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo; The Selection by Kiera Cass; Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi; Cinder by Marissa Meyer; Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi; The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
  
  

Until next time, a great summer to you all and wondrous reading.  Ms. M.

Cartoonist Jeff Smith

Thank you Korbin for suggesting the great author Jeff Smith for the Parkview Library Blog Author Spotlight section.  Jeff Smith began drawing his Bone characters at the age of five!  For more information see the Scholastic web site about Jeff Smith (geared for students) or check out Jeff Smith's site boneville.com which will be for a broader audience of kids and adults.  I checked out five interview links to learn more about this cartoonist's life and passion (Note - there are many ads on some of these sites).

Beware that most author sites also have the "read between the lines" message of ... please buy something - which you are NOT obligated to do at all.  Happy reading!  Ms. M.

Author Visit, Thu. June 7th - Chris McMahen!

Author Chris McMahen comes to Parkview, Thu., June 7th for the last two blocks.  Thus, Ms Milton and Anderson's classes are the lucky audience of this informative, funny, and interactive presenter.  For other lover's of Mr. McMahen's work, see Ms. Murrells or your classroom teacher to see if we can arrange an extra seat for you.
 
Mr. McMahen's Books
For those of you that haven't tried out Mr. McMahen's new book Box of Shocks or his other titles Klutzhood, and Tabloidology, start reading! Parkview library has the first two titles while the Okanagan Regional library will have Tabloidology. 

Background Information
An esteemed teacher-librarian at Highland Park Elementary, Armstrong, BC, Chris writes the following in his blog profile: "When not wandering about, hopelessly lost, I live in British Columbia’s Spallumcheen Valley, only a short bike ride away from the small city of Armstrong. I am proud to be the self-proclaimed holder of the title, “Worst Ex-recreational Hockey Player in Canada.” I used my many years of on-ice futility as primary research for my 2007 novel Klutzhood (http://www.orcabook.com). I have also spun a lifelong fascination with tabloid newspapers into a novel for young readers–Tabloidology (http://www.orcabook.com). My first novel, published in 1996, was the cult classic Buddy Concrackle’s Amazing Adventure (Coteau Books), although I’m not exactly sure which cult thinks it’s a classic. Published in the Fall of 2011 is my fourth novel, Box of Shocks. When I’m not huddled over a keyboard or pad of paper writing, I can often be found in one of many places. I may be cycling the back roads or trails of the Spallumcheen Valley, lost somewhere on a ski trail, or in an elementary school in Armstrong where I work as a teacher-librarian and classroom teacher."

Happy reading & learning!  Ms. M.

What will you be reading this summer?

Ahhh, tis time to get prepared for summer reading!  The Parkview library sadly closes soon for inventory, so be prepared with options.  First of all stay connected to school happenings and especially the library ... virtually!  That's right visit the Parkview home page and especially the Parkview Library Blog.  Specifically check out the "Help I Need a Book Suggestion" link area and the "Author Spotlights."  There are more themes that I hope interest you such as crafts, young writers' sites, and social justice (working together to make the world a better place).  Make this blog a "go to" spot for you by passing along suggestions, themes, great authors, interesting web sites, etc. and I'll post them to the blog.  My email address is also listed in the profile section.  Sign up for library blog post alerts to stay Parkview library informed!  

Further, the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) has interesting and powerful information for you through their web site, and also, of course, by visiting their libraries.  Search the ORL's "enhanced catalog" and be wowed by its options! For example, create your own virtual library shelf and check out other's.  Happy reading and learning, Ms. M, smurrell@sd83.bc.ca

Edmodo

Edmodo is a web based "Learning Commons" where students and teachers can join together virtually for their learning, and even evaluation of projects.  One day software like this may lead to a paperless classroom ... if desire.  Post-secondary institutions have been using software like this for some time (i.e Black Board Learning). Edmodo is similar to Facebook, so users "get it" quickly.  It's easy to set up (no private information needed), and very safe.  Students need to be invited to groups created by myself (teacher-librarian) or participating teachers; thus, no outsiders can enter these learning groups. 

Any posts are public to that particular group.  For example, I created groups for both division 1 and 2 today; posts to each of these groups stay just in the specified division.  Thus, Div. 1 students cannot post to Div. 2 students for the groups created today.  Students are requesting for such a group to be created, but they need to understand and accept that Edmodo is a learning tool and not being offered to them for social networking. 

Myself, their teachers, and Ms. Chafe are all members of these groups and monitoring the activity. 

Div. 1 & 2 students see if you can figure out how to send me your Kidspiration files you created last week through Edmodo.  Kaitlyn and Tyler already know how to and kindly have offered to teach others.  May the force be with you!  Happy Learning, Ms. M.

April 15th, 100 Years After the Sinking of the Titanic

Yes, April 15th marks 100 years since the maiden voyage and sinking of the luxury liner, the Titanic.  For historical pictures as well as other Titanic news items see today's online Globe and Mail

And for a local connection and story to the Titanic, see this Salmon Arm Observer article.

There are 26 listings on Nettrekker from the Discovery Channel, to Postal Workers on the Titanic, to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution which assists you in looking at the Titanic 25 years after its first discovery in the ocean depths!  To see the other nettrekker suggested web links use Parkview School's nettrekker user name and password to log in (inside cover of your agenda).  Wondrous reading to you all.  Ms. M.