So have I confused you with the blog background change or was it refreshing? What information do you like to check on the blog and what do you tend to ignore? I created this blog to find yet another rich way for us to learn, but is it working for you?
We're at Parkview (early morning to late afternoon) learning and sharing, but why does our learning have to potentially stop there? The world is our oyster either through print materials (books) or non-print material: the internet, on-line databases, e-readers, etc.. Well, let's make the Parkview Library blog a place to continue our learning at any time. Students, teachers, support staff, and parents let me know about themes you want to explore; suggest some WOW books and websites (see Ms. Murrells for templates), and sign up to be a follower to this site.
To follow this blog/site scroll down the bottom right to "Join this Site." Note, however, that you must have one of the following accounts to join (& that may not be everyone's cup of tea): Google, Twitter, Yahoo, Aim, Netlog, or OpenID.
Spring has finally arrived - hence the Spring background and look to the blog! See you Wed.! Ms. M.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Black History Month Draws to a Close
Black History month along with First Nations resources was this month's thematic feature. From fiction (easy picture books and chapter books), to non-fiction, students signed out some great resources and we had some fantastic discussions about residential schools and the struggles of people who are deemed as different whether that be of skin colour, ethnic backgrounds, abilities, and more. Please continue these rich discussions outside of Parkview walls and on this blog (respectful writing is our mandate). Thanks for being part of this important dialog, and awareness. Together we can be Paperbag Princesses and not Prince Ronald's (Robert Munsch, Paper Bag Princess).
Reading and knowledge are the powers of anyone who choses such adventurous paths. Ms. M.
Reading and knowledge are the powers of anyone who choses such adventurous paths. Ms. M.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Parkview Library is Buzzing with Activity.
Me to We Meetings (Aboriginal Spotlights & jewelry making), Origami workshops with student Malcolm, Red Cedar Book Club meetings, teacher resource sharing & collection development, and volunteers galore fill our library every lunch hour, as well as in the mornings and after school! Parkview students thanks for making learning such an exciting and great company experience! Thank you also to the numerous student volunteers who have been helping with creating displays, shelf reading confused book shelves, shelving returned books, and planning fun activities for the library and all students and staff. For example, stay tuned for "Reading in Unusual Places," Library Video, dust jacket designs, and virtual scavenger hunt competitions, and more.
A special thanks to Cathy Doudican who volunteered in our library numerous, numerous hours in Feb. and helped with a back log of many library needs - Ms. M, students, and staff really appreciated your efforts. We hope to experience her talents again in May. Any other parent and student volunteers are always welcome.
Lastly, if anyone has recipe books, especially to assist students with bake sales and/or learning about the cultures of the world (Italian, Asian, Mexican, Greek, etc.), please drop them off with Ms. Northway or to Ms. Murrells (Wed & Fridays). May the force of reading fill your hearts and minds daily. Ms. M.
A special thanks to Cathy Doudican who volunteered in our library numerous, numerous hours in Feb. and helped with a back log of many library needs - Ms. M, students, and staff really appreciated your efforts. We hope to experience her talents again in May. Any other parent and student volunteers are always welcome.
Lastly, if anyone has recipe books, especially to assist students with bake sales and/or learning about the cultures of the world (Italian, Asian, Mexican, Greek, etc.), please drop them off with Ms. Northway or to Ms. Murrells (Wed & Fridays). May the force of reading fill your hearts and minds daily. Ms. M.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Family Library Days, Parkview Library, Each Wed., 2-2:30pm
Family Literacy Week inspired me to begin “Family Library Days,” modelled after Bastion Elementary, Salmon Arm – great idea Mme Gervais and parent volunteer Suzy Taylor!
Wednesdays from 2-2:30pm generous parent volunteer Peter Sims (with wonderful daughter Maya) will be here to run Parkview Family Library Days. Drop by to read your children some books and, if you’d like, sign some out to take home (1 week loans). Mr. Sims will set up accounts for interested families. Ms Murrells “passionate about reading” teacher-librarian will be close at hand too. We look forward to seeing you - Mr. Peter Sims and Ms. Shannon Murrells.
The more you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss
Wednesdays from 2-2:30pm generous parent volunteer Peter Sims (with wonderful daughter Maya) will be here to run Parkview Family Library Days. Drop by to read your children some books and, if you’d like, sign some out to take home (1 week loans). Mr. Sims will set up accounts for interested families. Ms Murrells “passionate about reading” teacher-librarian will be close at hand too. We look forward to seeing you - Mr. Peter Sims and Ms. Shannon Murrells.
The more you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Have you a little worrier?
Reta Moerike, District Area Counsellor, suggests the following video resource for potentially anxious children: "Parenting the Young Worrier: Tips and Strategies." Approx. 1 hr long this video defines anxiety, lists common characteristics, and offers useful tips of how to help worriers. I listened to it while cooking dinner! The video ties nicely into Mr. Rainer Abramsik's, district counsellor, school parenting sessions.
At the site, go to "Care Services" (at top)
Then go to "Psychology"
Then go to "Parenting Videos"
You'll see the video in the list
The IWK Health Centre website not only offers this informative video, but also many other videos and resources about health, families, woman, youth, and parenting (a Maritime website).
At the site, go to "Care Services" (at top)
Then go to "Psychology"
Then go to "Parenting Videos"
You'll see the video in the list
The IWK Health Centre website not only offers this informative video, but also many other videos and resources about health, families, woman, youth, and parenting (a Maritime website).
Online Databases - What does this jargon mean?
World Book, EBSCO, netTrekker, ERAC what do these words and acronyms mean? Well ERAC stands for Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium which is basically a buying group, aiming to decrease resource costs by buying on mass: "a cooperative member based organization. We work in partnership with our members, BC public school districts as well as independent schools. Our goal is to support quality education for public and independent K-12 students." Their services include "evaluation, licensing and acquisition of print, software, and digital learning resources"
World Book & EBSCO are two of many products ERAC offers as resource bundles to their buyers. World Book is the digital version of the go-to encyclopedias we all know well. Encyclopedias are good starting points for most research as they offer basic information about mass topics. The digital version, unlike the print 24 volume set, is updated daily, available 24/7, and offers special features such as video, suggested web links, interactive time lines, citation builders, dictionary definitions, and more.
EBSCO also offers encyclopedia articles and dictionary features but further offers quality resources such as magazines and academic journals. These latter quality educational resources are acquired only through paid subscriptions - thus, information which is only part of the "hidden net.” Thus remember the adage "you get what you pay for" - much of the internet's credible, accurate and current information exists only in the HIDDEN NET).
In contrast, NetTrekker offers educationally sound websites. An American company founded in 1999, netTrekker offers over 300,000 Canadian curriculum-aligned digital resources hand-selected by expert educators to keep searches safe, focused, and relevant. The websites offer credible, accurate, and current information as well as special features such as read-aloud support, reading levels, games, video, and “my portfolio” organizational potential (See Ms. Murrells to create individual accounts for this feature). Try out this netTrekker Video for a 5 min overview. For an example of a suggested netTrekker website try this informative and fun site on liquids, solids, and gases - a topic currently being studied by Ms. Quinton's class
Phew – that was a lot of information!
Try em out!
See District Teacher-Librarian help stickers front inside covers of agendas for user names and passwords. Also, drop by or contact me for further information. Together let’s test these resources out and critically think if they are worth spending decreasing budgets on. Thanks for your time, Ms. Murrells. smurrell@sd83.bc.ca , 250-836-2871 (Wed., Thurs).
World Book & EBSCO are two of many products ERAC offers as resource bundles to their buyers. World Book is the digital version of the go-to encyclopedias we all know well. Encyclopedias are good starting points for most research as they offer basic information about mass topics. The digital version, unlike the print 24 volume set, is updated daily, available 24/7, and offers special features such as video, suggested web links, interactive time lines, citation builders, dictionary definitions, and more.
EBSCO also offers encyclopedia articles and dictionary features but further offers quality resources such as magazines and academic journals. These latter quality educational resources are acquired only through paid subscriptions - thus, information which is only part of the "hidden net.” Thus remember the adage "you get what you pay for" - much of the internet's credible, accurate and current information exists only in the HIDDEN NET).
In contrast, NetTrekker offers educationally sound websites. An American company founded in 1999, netTrekker offers over 300,000 Canadian curriculum-aligned digital resources hand-selected by expert educators to keep searches safe, focused, and relevant. The websites offer credible, accurate, and current information as well as special features such as read-aloud support, reading levels, games, video, and “my portfolio” organizational potential (See Ms. Murrells to create individual accounts for this feature). Try out this netTrekker Video for a 5 min overview. For an example of a suggested netTrekker website try this informative and fun site on liquids, solids, and gases - a topic currently being studied by Ms. Quinton's class
Phew – that was a lot of information!
Try em out!
See District Teacher-Librarian help stickers front inside covers of agendas for user names and passwords. Also, drop by or contact me for further information. Together let’s test these resources out and critically think if they are worth spending decreasing budgets on. Thanks for your time, Ms. Murrells. smurrell@sd83.bc.ca , 250-836-2871 (Wed., Thurs).
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Parent Presentation about Online databases
Parkview Parents - Tue., Jan. 17th, Leanne Kujat, Parkview CEA and Hillcrest PAC president, kindly invited me to show the Hillcrest PAC the wealth of online databases available to all district students, parents, & staff in our district. While I probably overwhelmed the participants giving them an overview of 17+ databases (in 30 mins), they at least have a starting point for some rich elementary (& adult) resources to start dabbling with. There are other digital landscapes to learn from besides Google!
Parkview parents please experiement with theses databases too as we purchase them, so let's use them and decide whether to keep em or turf em. Contact me if you would like assistance individually or as a group training session. Best wishes to you, Shannon Murrells.
Parkview parents please experiement with theses databases too as we purchase them, so let's use them and decide whether to keep em or turf em. Contact me if you would like assistance individually or as a group training session. Best wishes to you, Shannon Murrells.
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