March Grades 1-5

Media Grade 5

Rooms 39, 36 (grade 5), 41 and 42 have all finished learning how to Use Groupwise Email. Room 40 and the 4th graders in room 36 are now learning about email. We also used >www.netsmartzkids.org/activities/index.htmto view videos about how not open unknown files or click on you have won a contest because they may cause computer viruses. We are learning to UYN (use your netsmartz) when using the Internet for email.


STANDARD 4: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information related to personal interests.
4.1 Uses School Library Media Center and Public Library Resources to Pursue Personal Interests (K1)
4.1.1 Independently selects print, nonprint, and digital resources to satisfy recreational goals and pursuits
4.1.2 Uses telecommunications to communicate with others
4.1.3 Observes proper etiquette for using telecommunications
4.1.4 Uses information and communication technologies for recreational purposes (K1)

The students are also practicing using the World Almanac for kids 2004 edition to find information of the 50 states of United States and the two commonwealths Puerto Rico and Guam. (Standard 1.2.4 Understands general organization of an almanac and Encyclopedia, Standard 1.3.1.2 Locates resources for class assignments and uses them independently, Standard 1.9.9 Uses a variety of reference materials to locate information).

We are also learning about Plagiarism and Internet and Digital Piracy by using Weekly Readers Crime Fighting Canines Unit .
Crime Fighting Canines The students are learning about plagiarism, intellectual property, digital piracy, copyright laws, Internet piracy, where they can go for legal downloads, and Lucky and Flo, the Motion picture Association of America (MPAA)'s Crime fighting canines. ( Standard 8.1.1 Understands the purpose of an Intellectual common and fair use, and why plagarism, violating copyright and illegal or unethical use of information are unacceptable., Standard 8.1.6 Understands the value of an intellectual commons, as well as the consequences of Plagarism for self and society)

Grade 4

Students are still working on reference centers on encyclopedia, online card catalog (CATS), Almanac, and thesaurus. They are completing the following standards:
1.2.4 Understands the general organization of a print dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, atlas, almanac
1.3.5 Identifies reference materials
1.3.9 Locates and knows general contents of the reference section
1.9.9 Uses a variety of print and digital reference materials ( dictionary, atlas, thesaurus, encyclopedia, almanac) to locate information.
1.6.1 Understands the general purpose of the automated library catalog
1.6.2 Uses computer software graphical elements and navigation tools (e.g. buttons, icons, and fields) to search automated library catalog 1.6.3 Performs a basic search by title, author, subject, and keyword using the automated library catalog
Grade 3
Standard 5.1.1 Understands the purpose of Children s and Young Adult book awards (California Young Reader medal).
We heard the book orally, viewed the illustrations, did readers theatre plays, and discussed the following books: I wanna Iguana and The Giant Hug As we viewed each book, we practiced our knowledge of parts of a book (Standard 1.2.1 Identifies parts of a book cover, title, title page, author, illustrator, spine, and spine label. Standard 1.2.2 Identifies parts of the book
publisher, page numbers, copyright date, and call number. Standard 1.2.3 Identifies parts of a book dedication).
We also learned about Theodore Seuss Geisel "Dr. Seuss" for read across America Day,
reviewed the reference materials of dictionary and thesaurus, and started learning about another reference material/book the Encyclopedia .
Standards 2.4 Understands the general organization of a print dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, atlas, almanac
1.3.5 Identifies reference materials
1.3.9 Locates and knows general contents of the reference section
Grade 2 Media
We celebrated and learned about several of the March holidays--Dr.Seuss Read Across America Day, St. Patricks Day, Women's History Month ( Amelia Earhart and Florence Nightingale)and Cesar Chavez day. This helped us to review the biography section (Standard 1.3.8 locates and knows general contents of the biography section.) we discussed poisons and poison prevention and we celebrated national Poison Control Week.
Standard 5.1.1 Understands the purpose of Children s and Young Adult book awards (California Young Reader medal).
We heard the book orally, viewed the illustrations, did readers theatre plays, and discussed the following books: I wanna Iguana and The Giant Hug.

2nd Grade Music
Standard 1.5 Identify visually and aurally individual wind, string, brass, and percussion instruments used in a variety of music.

The media center just received the Disney's World of Music Discovery Video series, This series has been great for reviewing the percussion, keyboard, brass, woodwinds, strings, and woodwinds family. We also listened to the different instrument sounds and identified the different instrument families.

1st Grade
Standards
1.3.1 Understanding the difference between fiction and nonfiction
1.3.6 Locating Fiction and nonfiction in a variety of formats ( easy and 398.2)
1.9.8 Selects and reads unfamiliar and familiar material independently
2.1.1 Compares characteristics of Fiction
2.1.4 Comprehends basic plot and structure of imaginative literature
5.1.3 Reads and understands a variety of genres ( fiction, fairy tales,Biography, Nonfiction)
Standard 5.1.1 Understands the purpose of Children s and Young Adult book awards (California Young Reader medal).
We heard the book orally, viewed the illustrations, did readers theatre plays, and discussed the following books: I wanna Iguana and The Giant Hug.
We celebrated and learned about several of the March holidays--Dr.Seuss Read Across America Day, St. Patricks Day, Women's History Month ( Amelia Earhart and Florence Nightingale)and Cesar Chavez day. We learned that books about people and holidays are fiction or true. We also talked about what we learn in Science class and the Science fair and learned about the 500-599 Section (Science)

February Media Grades 1-5

Grade 1
Standards
1.3.1 Understanding the difference of fiction
1.3.6 Locating Fiction in a variety of formats ( easy and 398.2)
1.9.8 Selects and reads unfamiliar and familiar material independently
2.1.1 Compares characteristics of Fiction
2.1.4 Comprehends basic plot and structure of imaginative literature
5.1.3 Reads and understands a variety of genres ( fiction, fairy tales,Biography, Nonfiction)

The shortest month of the year had one extra day with 2008 being a leap year. We had so many holidays to celebrate. Groundhog day came on February 2nd. We learned about how the groundhog predicted weather, sang groundhog songs, watched a movie about groundhog day and read the book Geoffrey Ground Hog predicts the Weather

Then came the two week long holiday of Chinese/Vietnamese/lunar/ New Year/ Tet Spring Festival. We got to hear the legend about how the rat came first, the Chinese Zodiac Animals, nonfiction books about Chinese New year, and we also heard the folk tale The Empty Pot By Demi. This led us into a discussion as to what were fiction books ( books that are not true) and introduced us to the 398.2 or fairytale section.

Then came Presidents day and we learned about our first President George Washington and our 16th President Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves and ended the war between the North and South regions of our country United States of America.

We are continuing to explore the Fiction sections ( easy and 398.2) and have fun as we are hearing and learning some different versions of famous fairy tales like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel and Rumpelstiltskin. We also know that Fiction books are not true and the two places that we can find Fiction books in the media center are Easy and 398.2 Fairy tales.

Grade 2 Media
Standards
1.3.1 Understands the difference between Fiction and Nonfiction
1.3.6 Locates Fiction and Nonfiction in a variety of formats
1.3.7 Knows that books and videos may be located by subject in the Nonfiction section
1.3.8 Knows the general contents of the biography section
1.4.1 Understands the basic organization of the 10 major Dewey Decimal system classes
1.4.2 Uses Dewey Decimal System to locate resources independently
1.8 Selects appropriate Library materials
5.1 Learns about children's literature, authors and illustrators

We continue to check the students understanding of Fiction ( easy and Fairy tales, Folktales, Tall tales, Fables, Mother Goose) and the Dewey Decimal System (000 to 999). we saw the video The Dewey Decimal Delimma and read the books:What Marion taught Willis and The Shelf Elf helps out .

We also learned about the biography section by hearing books about our first president George Washington and our 16th president Abraham Lincoln. We also learned about African American/ Black History month by hearing biographies about Harriet Tubman and Molly Banneky and also watched the video Follow the Drinking Gourd

We also were introduced to the 2007-2008 California Young Reader Medal nominations and heard the first book I wanna Iguana by Karen Kauman Orloff.

Grade 2 Music
Standard 1.5 Identify visually and aurally individual wind, string, brass, and percussion instruments used in a variety of music.

The media center just received the Disney's World of Music Discovery Video series, This series has been great for reviewing the woodwinds and brass families, percussion, and keyboard families. The series comes with lots of questions and we get quizes to check our listening comprehension. We also are finding out that we recognize a lot of music pieces like Peter and the Wolf , The Nutcracker, and and are able to know the different sounds of many instrument families.

Grade 3 Media
Standards
1.2.1 Identifies parts of a book: cover, title page, author, illustrator, spine, and
spine label.
1.2.2 Identifies parts of a book: table of contents, publisher, page numbers, copyright date, and call number
1.2.3 Identifies pars of a book: glossary, index, dedication
1.2.4 Understands general organization of a dictionary and
thesaurus
1.2.5 Identifies online terms and their uses ( browser, world wide web, URL)


We continued to review reference materials such as the dictionary and thesaurus and practiced looking up definitions, synonyms, and antonyms on
http://www.Dictionary.com
We also read the book Boy who cried Fabulous by Leslea Newman.

Grade 4 Media
Standards
1.2.4 Understands the general organization of a print dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, atlas, almanac
1.3.5 Identifies reference materials
1.3.9 Locates and knows general contents of the reference section
1.9.9 Uses a variety of print and digital reference materials ( dictionary, atlas, thesaurus, encyclopedia, almanac) to locate information

We also are learning about and reviewing reference books that we learned about in grade one such as the Encyclopedia. ( Standard 1.3.9 locates and knows general contents of the reference section). We are practicing reading an article on "California" from the Student Discovery Encyclopedia and answering questions about the state we live in. (standard 1.2.4 Knows the general organization of an encyclopedia. We are also using the Heinemann First Encyclopedias to search for information and write the answer to the questions in complete sentences.

We also viewed the following vidoes Media Mania Catalog, Charley Chapters Thesaurus Synonyms and Antonyms,, and The animated Encylopedia and Almanac . We are using the media center computers
http://www.Dictionary.com to practice using a thesaurus, and the World Book Encyclopedia CD-Rom. We are using print copies of World Almanac for Kids 2004 .

We will be learning how to use CATS, our online Catalog for Authors, Titles, and Subjects (Library Online Catalog). This catalog can be accessed anywhere someone has a connection to the Internet at http://library.nhusd.k12.ca.us/

Standards:
LIS
1.6.1 Understands the general purpose of the automated library catalog 1.6.2 Uses computer software graphical elements and navigation tools (e.g. buttons, icons, and fields) to search automated library catalog 1.6.3 Performs a basic search by title, author, subject, and keyword using the automated library catalog
Technology
E: Technology Research Tools
1. Use online resources to gather information

Grade 5 Media

Groupwise Email

All students in room 39, 36 (5th grade only), 41 and all but two students in room 42 now have a Groupwise email account and practiced using the address book. Students practice emailing their classroom teacher three things that they learned about their state. Now that all students in room 40 and the 4th graders in room 36 have email accounts, they will start learning how to use them in media.

STANDARD 4: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information related to personal interests.
4.1 Uses School Library Media Center and Public Library Resources to Pursue Personal Interests (K1)
4.1.1 Independently selects print, nonprint, and digital resources to satisfy recreational goals and pursuits
4.1.2 Uses telecommunications to communicate with others
4.1.3 Observes proper etiquette for using telecommunications
4.1.4 Uses information and communication technologies for recreational purposes (K1)

The students are also practicing using the World Almanac for kids 2004 edition to find information of the 50 states of United States and the two commonwealths Puerto Rico and Guam. (Standard 1.2.4 Understands general organization of an almanac and Encyclopedia, Standard 1.3.1.2 Locates resources for class assignments and uses them independently, Standard 1.9.9 Uses a variety of reference materials to locate information).

Grade 5 January Media News

Groupwise Email

All students in room 39 and 41 now have a groupwise email account and practiced using the address book. Almost all of the girls in room 36 also have email accounts and now Room 42, Room 41, and room 36 5th grade books and 4th graders will learn how to use groupwise. Students practice emailing their classroom teacher three things that they learned about their state

STANDARD 4: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information related to personal interests.
4.1 Uses School Library Media Center and Public Library Resources to Pursue Personal Interests (K1)
4.1.1 Independently selects print, nonprint, and digital resources to satisfy recreational goals and pursuits
4.1.2 Uses telecommunications to communicate with others
4.1.3 Observes proper etiquette for using telecommunications
4.1.4 Uses information and communication technologies for recreational purposes (K1)

Big Six and Information Literacy

All 5th grade students are learning about the fifty states in their classrooms and part of their Social Studies Curriculum.

Thanks to the Internet, the world is an entirely changed place with all the information now available to us. In the good old days, when looking for answers, we could head for the library to read an encyclopedia or check out a few good books. Now, thanks to the Internet, we can tap into knowledge from more than a million sources that changes on a minute-by-minute basis.
A downside of this information swell is that not all of the information we can access is accurate or indeed even relevant to our purpose. We need to be able to separate-out what is useful to us from all the information that is now available! To help New Haven students’ bridge this gap; our district has adopted an Information Literacy model of the Big6 Grade 4-12. Some people call the Big6 an information problem-solving strategy because with the Big6, students are able to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task. Find out more about the Big6 at the website: http://www.big6.com/kids.

Big6 stands for
1. Task Definition (What Do I Need to Know? Facts about the state my teacher assigned Ex: What is the capital? Who is the Governor?)
2. Information Seeking Strategies (What can I use to find it? Use websites, state books 900 section, Almanacs, Encyclopedias, State Fact Cards)
3. Location and Access (Where can I find it? At home, at the library, in my classroom, etc.)
4. Use of Information (What is important? What do I need to answer my questions and what don’t I need?)
5. Synthesis (How will I share what I learned? A class presentation, a state report)
6. Evaluation (Will I change anything the next time I do research such as allow myself more time?)



By learning the Big6 Information Literacy skills, our students will be well equipped to move forward with life-long learning and have the necessary tools to help them find information and solve any problem!

Source:
Teresa Squaglia
Library Media Teacher at Searles