New books!

Wow, the past two weeks have been very hectic. We got everyone into the media center and found them something to read last week. This week I think they all came back and got something new! Also, I have been working on getting the new books processed and into the system. We got several new fiction books, but the bulk of the order was social studies related. 6th grade started their research today, so there were a ton of books that I had to hurry to process and get to Mrs. Stahl.

Some of the new fiction books included: The Kill Order (the prequel to The Maze Runner), At Wit's End (the sequel to Surviving the Applewhites), and The Angel Experiment (a replacement because kids read the other copy to death!).

I just finished reading Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter. It's the newest book in the Gallagher Girls series. I absolutely love these books. Thank goodness for authors who write strong girl characters. Up next, The Kill Order by James Dashner. I have to finish the series!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to the start of another GREAT school year. I am very excited to get started. We will be doing tons of research projects to meet the Common Core Standards this year, so the media center will always be packed! I am so excited. You know I don't like it quiet in here! :) I have some great ideas for projects that I'm going to test out with my partner in crime, Mrs. Coats.

Barnes & Noble offers free books!

Barnes and Noble is offering free books to kids who read. Just read 8 books and record them on the reading journal. Turn it in at your local Barnes and Noble and pick your free book. Here is the link for more info: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570?cm_mmc=Targeted-_-Misc-_-120523_NH_SUMMER_READING_KICK_OFF-_-summ3 

Easy Bib App

EasyBib released their citation app for Android devices. It allows users to scan the barcode of any book and automatically create the citation in either MLA, APA, or Chicago format.

Library Search is now an App for your phone!!

Just go to you app store and search Destiny Quest. The app is free and allows you to check your account, write reviews, etc. You must enter the url for the media center (destiny.bremencs.com), select your school, and enter your username and password. If you don't know your username, see Mrs. Wilson

Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari (5.4/12.0)

I finished Ashes, Ashes over the weekend. It wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be- it had such promise- but on the plus side, it did end! It is not a series, thank goodness. I was so tired of reading a book and then having to wait a year to find out what happens next!  Lucy is the sole survivor of her family after a plague kills the majority of the worlds population. She is struggling to survive on her own in the wilderness, but she eventually meets a boy named Aidan who lives in a camp of other survivors. The people of the camp accept Lucy and she works in the field to earn her keep. However, they are not safe. Sweepers will randomly invade the camp and take some of the survivors. Eventually, the reader discovers that the Sweepers are actually after Lucy, because she is the only known person to have survived the plague despite not being vaccinated. There is more to the story, but I'm not going to give away anything else. This is another distopian book, so of enjoy Hunger Games, River Rats, etc, you will enjoy this one too.

What I'm Reading

I finished Son of Neptune over the break. I enjoyed it, but I still like the Lost Hero better. I am currently reading Ashes, Ashes (5.4/12.0) by Jo Treggiari. It is another dystopian novel. Lucy, the main character, is the only from her family to survive a world wide plague that took out 99% of the population. She is living just outside what was New York City in a shelter hidden in the woods. She soon learns that the Sweepers, people who are supposed to help contain the plague, are after her. It seems pretty interesting so far.

How to Extend Your Desktop

Teachers- this will allow you to show a video clip on your SmartBoard while still allowing you to continue to work on your computer.

How to Extend Your Desktop Instructions


Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Break. I am going to be finishing up Son of Neptune and working on my crafts for the Christmas Shoppe!

Free Scrapbook Fonts

Below is a link to a website that offers free scrapbook fonts. They are available for you to download and install on your computer (mac or pc). They are super cute and new ones are published each month.



http://www.kevinandamanda.com/fonts/freescrapbookfonts/

GaETC... and other "stuff"

Just got back from GaETC. This was my first year going and I loved it. So much great information and I got a ton of samples for the teachers!

I attended sessions on everything from BrainPOP to the LDS to Georgia PBS to online professional development. I think one of the main things that I am going to focus on will be making my RSS feed manageable. Mine is SO NOT!! I think by cutting it down to fewer feeds I will actually get more from them. I also want to make a personal goal to feature at least two resources to teachers each month.

On another note, I finished The Death Cure, the 3rd book in the Maze Runner series. It didn't really end the way I wanted it to, but I can't complain. At least it didn't leave me hanging! There have been a ton of kids who have gotten hooked on the series this year. I know they are super excited to get their hands on the last one. Also, 5th grade book club is going great. We have about 5 girls who show up early in the mornings to read. We have a great time eating breakfast and discussing our books!