Featured Books in the LMC

Bridget's Beret by Tom Litchfield

Swindle by Gordan Korman

Thanksgiving at the White House by Gary Hines

Dogku by Andrew Clements

Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories by Sandra Markle

The Graves Family by Patricia Polacco

Dying To Meet You by Kate Klise

Eagles' Book Choice Award List

Eagles' Book Choice Award List

The 2011-12 list has been announced. Students in grade 3 - 5 can participate. Read at least 5 of them and vote for your favorite one in May. Happy reading!

Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories
Because of Mr. Terupt
Bigger Than a Bread Box
The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity
Cheesie Mack is Not a Genius or Anything
Dying to Meet You
Flight of the Phoenix
The Girl Who Threw Butterflies
Just Grace
The Magic Thief
One-Handed Catch
The Other Felix
Out of My Mind
Powerless
Riding Freedom
Secrets at Sea
Swindle
True (… sort of)
Waiting for the Magic
The World According to Humphrey

Books Featured this Week!

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison

A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown

A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch

Point of View Lessons - 5th Grade

The 5th grade students completed their UbD research project on Point of View. During their library lessons this week, books written with specific or multiple points of view were discussed. This style of writing and reading connected their research project to books we have in the LMC.
Featured books on point of view:
Because of Mr. Terrup by Rob Buyea
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The World According to Humphrey by Betty Birney

Kindergarten Update

The kindergarten students practiced their letter sounds this week using Starfall. It is a fun and exciting way to learn to read using a phonics website.

Click here to see Starfall.com

Kerpoof Club a Success!

I am pleased to say we had 16 very motivated 4th grade students attend the first after school Kerpoof Club for the year! They learned how to use the tools, experimented with them, and are beginning to plan out their first animated movie.

If any 4th grade student would like to join Kerpoof Club, the sign out sheets have moved out of the classrooms and are now in the LMC. Join in on the fun!!

1st Grade Animal Research

The first grade students used PebbleGo to gather facts about an animal of their choice. They wrote down their facts and could choose Pixie (text and illustrations) or PhotoBooth (video) to share what they have learned. We are so proud of their first research project!

Click here to check out their work!

Kerpoof Club Sign-Up

The 4th grade students are hearing commercials about Kerpoof Club. They have the opportunity to sign up for this after school club to make animated movies. Too see more information about the club, click here.

5th Grade Update on their UbD Project

The students have been researching current day debate topics. They are using their new Google search strategies to more efficiently find the information needed. Note taking is on their PrimaryPad. They are clearly enjoying taking notes electronically. We are finishing the note taking process this week and will begin to write a persuasive speech that will be filmed using Photobooth. Let's see how convincing they will be!!!

1st Grade Research

Mrs. Tazi's first grade class just finished their first research project on animals. They used PebbleGo to find information on an animal of their choice. They read, listened, and watched videos about their animals. The students then wrote 1-2 facts that they thought were important to share. Some of the students selected Pixie to draw a picture of their animal and write their facts. Others selected Photobooth to record their information. Check it out!

Click here

Kindergarten Update

This week Kindergarten used the program Pixie to learn how to double-click, click and drag, and create a picture of their name using lettered blocks. They also used Espresso Primary to find letters on the keyboard.

http://espresso.definedlearning.com/

5th Grade Research Project Update

The 5th grade students are completing their research on their assigned historical figure. Today they began creating a Fakebook page on that person. This fake cite allows the students to post comments, create fictitious friends, and be creative when sharing the information they have been gathering.

Fakebook:
http://classtools.net/fb/home/page

Featured Books in the LMC

All Stations! Distress! by Don Brown

Memoirs of a Goldfish by Devin Scillian

Testing the Ice by Sharon Robinson

Duck at the Door by Jacki Urbanovic

Kindles in the LMC!!

The LMC is excited to announce that students in 4th and 5th grade will have the opportunity to check-out a Kindle. The Kindles will be loaded with books from the Bluestem and Caudill list. A Kindle can be checked out for one week only. Students will be randomly selected each week.

Top 4 Reasons to Get a Library Card

September is Library Card Sign-up Month. It is so important to get a library card at your local public library. Here are the top 4 reasons:

1. Student Success
2. Getting Connected
3. Expert Help
4. Opening New World

44% of Americans do not have a library card! Make sure you and your family have one!!!

5th Grade's Research Project Update

The 5th grade classes have begun their UbD (Understanding By Design) project on Multiple Points of View. This week they have selected their topic and started practicing Google search strategies using keywords. Their enthusiasm has been wonderful and they are already searching for sites more efficiently!!

Internet Safety

Mrs. Williams' 3rd grade class attended an Internet Safety lesson in the LMC this week. After brainstorming a list of internet safety rules, the students selected 4 rules to place on their poster. Check out these cute faces!

Click here.

Stay Tuned!

Check out this brand new book that will be coming to the Ivy Hill LMC soon!
Click here.

Featured Books the Week of September 5th

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen

The Recess Queen by Alexis O-Neill

Wow! School! by Robert Neubecker

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

Illinois School Library Media Association Grant!

We are pleased to announce that Ivy Hill received a grant for the entire set of Bluestem Book Award Illinois' Grades 3-5 Readers' Choice Award books. This grant came compliments of the ISLMA/LBSS Endowment Fund. We are so pleased to add these 20 books to our library.

Welcome Back to Another Year in the LMC!

We are looking forward to a great year of reading, research, and fun in the LMC!

To see our webpage, click here.

Skype with Rob Buyea - Part 2

Skype with an Author

The 4th grade class had the opportunity to Skype with Rob Buyea, the author of Because of Mr. Terupt. He answered our questions, showed us his graphic organizer, and gave us a sneak preview about his sequel coming out in October 2011.

1st Grade Research

Students have been busy creating videos about their insects or fish. The students learned how to take notes using the IIM method. The videos were created using PhotoBooth and are a nice tool to share their research facts. To see their videos, click here.

Exciting News!

The 4th grade class is excited to hear that Rob Buyea, author of Because of Mr. Terupt, wants to Skype with us!! He is going to talk about the writing process and give us some hints about his sequel coming out in the fall of 2012. Stay tuned!

5th Grade's New Research Project

The 5th grade classes have begun their Westward Expansion research project in the LMC. They are studying the Orphan Train Movement. Our students will be assigned an Orphan Train Rider. They will research their background, experiences, and lives during this time period. Next week the 5th graders will record themselves telling "the stories" of their assigned person. Our students are finding this project very interesting and intriguing.

3rd Grade!

The 3rd grade students have been working hard on their eBooks on Chicago. They are including text, clipart, video, and their very own illustrations from Art. Each eBook team is finishing their books and getting ready to publish. These books will be viewed on our iPod Touches and iPads.

Featured Books the Week of May 9th

Dog and Bear by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Spaceheadz Series by Jon Scieszka

Epossumondas by Coleen Salley

Books Featured the Week of April 25th

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates

Miss Brooks Loves Books by Barbara Bottner

I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman

The Three Questions by John Muth

Because of Mr. Terupt

Check out Rob Buyea's website. Kindle Klub is currently reading Because of Mr. Terupt and using this website to learn more about the book.
Click here

Kindle Klub!

Thank you to Andy, Gustavo, Matt, Joseph, and Chris for participating in our first 'all boy' Kindle Klub. The discussion was lively and interesting. The boys enjoyed reading Because of Mr. Terupt and are excited to get the sequel when it comes out!

3rd Grade Update!

3rd grade completed their research, sorted their facts, and are now ready to begin creating eBooks using Pages. They have been placed in their eBook team having an expert on transportation, culture, and architecture. The students are excited to become famous authors and illustrators!

Kindergarten!

The Kindergarteners began drawing fish using the Pixie program. They have taken their drawings back to the classroom to begin writing stories about their fish!

1st Grade Research

The 1st graders have begun their insect/fish research using the PebbleGo database. The students are gathering information on their animal's body, habitat, food, life cycle, and fun facts. Once their research is complete, they will create PhotoBooth videos with a partner.

Mother's Day Cards

Kindergarten just finished making Mother's Day cards using ComicLife. They learned how to turn on the cameras on their computer and take a "loving" picture of themselves. Ssshhh, don't tell - it's a surprise!

Chicago Research Project

The third grade class is currently taking notes for their Chicago Research Project. The essential question is: How did Chicago change over time? They are looking into transportation, cultures, and architecture. The class will complete their note taking this week and begin sorting their facts into categories. The students have also created their own student blogs to reflect, share ideas, and comment on each others' questions. It has been an exciting project so far!! Keep up the good work, 3rd grade!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to our first group participating in Kindle Klub. We had a fabulous meeting discussing Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. The group also discussed the advantages of reading a novel on an eReader. Overall, the group loved the entire experience!