November 2020

Our district prides itself on achieving Common Sense Media certification each year. At the middle school we are required to teach three lessons per grade level. This year I am using the Nearpod platform to create student self-paced lessons for students to complete. Most clusters assigned the first lesson during our November professional development/virtual learning day.

With the weather getting cooler we are bringing the pop-up library concept to the hallway outside of classroom doors. Teachers can sign up for a time and we come by to give students a chance to come out two at a time to peruse our offerings and inquire about titles they do not see. Four days of the week teachers have 100 minute block periods. A brain break may be just what everyone needs!

We are very fortunate to be a part of the RILINK consortium. They have been purchasing new eBook and audiobook titles each month for all to use. I have begun to add new titles to our catalog and send out a virtual "book tasting" sheet to teachers to use with students. Here are the November titles.

Login info:

• Go to Destiny Discover
• UN: lastnamefirstinitialYOG ex. heffleyg30
• PW: firstnamelunchnumber ex. hermoine102345

The library system that lets us borrow books from and lend books out to other school libraries is back in working order. It does not have every library participating this year but it is certainly better than when we could only draw from our own collection.

I put out six weekly book recommendations in blog form and in virtual bookshelf form. It is a great way to get new ideas. I also have links to where you can find these titles.

Do you ever find yourself looking for the title of the next book in a series? Or find yourself trying to remember the author of a series? Well, look no further. I am constantly referring to the Mid-Continent website and thought you might find it helpful as well. Be sure to bookmark it for future use!

This year we have adopted one of the three choices required by the state for ELA curriculum. This means processing thousands of new titles for students and staff. Mrs. Van Leer has had her hands full adding new books to the system and also making room for those books in our book room. I have been working to ensure students have access to titles in a digital format - both eBook and audiobook form.

For November 2 - November 30, 2020:

Total Books Checked Out: 320

Total Holds Placed: 145

Total ILL Books Borrowed: 10

Total ILL Books Lent Out: 22

Hour of Code Night - Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 6PM - more details to come!

Family Book Club - Choose Your Own Fantasy - January 20, 2021 at 5PM