Library Newsletter - November, 2009

Library Newsletter

November, 2009

•Web 2.0 in the Classroom

Blockbuster Book Club

Were the Witch-Hunts Misogynistic?

Lesson Highlight:

Author Visits

This month we'll be reading and discussing Stephenie Meyer’s New Moon. We’ll discuss the book before school on Nov. 18th and we’ll go see the new movie after school on Nov 20th. Come join us and encourage your students to do so as well!

SIRS Issues Researcher

New Database:

Did You Know 4.0

This month, we’d like to highlight Ning, a free and easy service that allows you to create your very own social network. There are a number of ways Ning could be used in the classroom to liven up your class projects. Having your students do research on a historical or modern-day figure? Set up a Ning for your students to present their research in a fun way as they create profiles for their figure and role play, interacting with classmates. Want your students to have group discussion outside of class? Ning works great for that too. Plus, your Nings can be made private so that only you and your students have access. Ning also makes it easy for you to set limits and moderate posts. We encourage you to try it out and would be happy to provide you or your students with instruction on using Ning.

This year’s Teen Read Week was a big success! Thanks to all of you who participated with your classes or agreed to let students wrap you in toilet paper. Click here to see pictures of the week’s festivities!

Dr. Gantt brought his AP World History classes down to the library last month to get tips on researching the European witch-hunts. The students brainstormed search terms and discussed the importance of evaluating where their information comes from. For this project, they were also taught how to turn their papers in to TurnItIn.com as a way of checking their work. Looking forward to seeing how the new service improves students’ research writing!

Health writer Leslie Goldman will be here on Nov. 13th to talk to our female students about body image and healthy living. In case you missed it, young adult author Justine Larbalestier came to our school on Nov. 3rd to talk to creative writing students about the writing process

One of our old databases has a new look: SIRS now has an Issues database that examines the pro and con sides of today leading issues. Great for debates, contemporary issues, or global studies research!