Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Epic! Read Free This Summer!

No more summer reading loss. Kids ages 12 and under can get free access to the world's largest library of high quality books FOR FREE this summer!

Let's foster lifelong, passionate readers. Please check it out: https://www.getepic.com/summer




I'm grateful for Mrs. Floyd for sharing this with us!

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Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Burlington Public Library 2016 Summer Reading Programs

Amanda Hogue-Lavallee (also known as Miss Amanda), the Youth Librarian at the Burlington Public Library, is talking to all Memorial students today and tomorrow about the Summer Reading Programs.

Registration begins on Monday, June 20, but programs officially begin on Monday, June 27 and goes until August 19, 2016.

Handouts about the program, as well as library card applications, will be sent home by the end of this week.

Special Events
  • Hula Hoop Classes
  • Ghostbusters Party
  • Book Clubs
  • Guard-Up
  • Character Visits
  • Force Awakens Movie
  • Gizmos and Gadgets Club
  • Animal Show
  • Toto the Tornado Kitten

Here is more information about the programs broken up by grade levels:

Miss Amanda
Burlington Public Library Youth Librarian

Please let Miss Amanda know if you have any questions.
Phone: 781-270-1692

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Friday, April 8, 2016

Charlotte and the Quiet Place

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Deborah Sosin, author of Charlotte and the Quiet Place, was at the American Library Association Midwinter Meetings & Exhibits in Boston last January. Porter Square Books, her publishing company, gave me a copy of the book and Deborah signed it (pictured below).




This week I read the book to most kindergarten, first, and second grade students. Students learned that even though most places in Charlotte’s world is noisy, she was able to learn how to find her quiet place amongst the noise by breathing deeply and slowly while thinking about her quiet place.


We meditated for five minutes. Students were really quiet. After meditating, some students reflected that they were able to relax and think about a peaceful place. Other students had a difficult time keeping their eyes closed and staying silent. Most students agreed that with practice, they can improve.


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Kindergarten students meditating. 
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Wednesday, April 6, 2016

MCBA 2016 Winners Announced!

This post was originally published here by Rose A. Magliozzi on April 5, 2016. 


And the Winners are.....


MCBA 2016 Winner



                                                            The One and Only Ivan
by 
Katherine Applegate 

2016 MCBA Honor Books
(in random order)

 




Dragonet Prophecy: Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland 


The School of Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

 

Click below for a pdf form of the MCBA 2016 Winner and Honor Books

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Thursday, March 17, 2016

Memorial's MCBA Election

The Massachusetts Children’s Book Award (MCBA) program is an award given to a book each year voted by fourth, fifth, & sixth grade students who reside in Massachusetts. 

Today all fourth and fifth students who read at least five of the MCBA twenty-five books voted for their favorite book. Every student who was able to vote received a certificate. If students read ten books they received a get out of homework pass. Students who read fifteen books got a pass to read independently for an hour during ELA time (the most popular prize). And the four students who read all twenty-five books will receive a book of their choice (thanks to our successful Scholastic Book Fair).

Students in Mrs. Burns' ELA class created persuasive book trailers and ran the election. Mrs. Burns orchestrated the entire event for Memorial.

I'm incredibly pleased to announce that Memorial students selected The One and Only Ivan by Christina Applegate as our 2015-2016 MCBA winner.




5th grade students running the election.
This is where students cast their ballots.
Mrs. Burns filming a iMovie to teach the different election responsibilities to next fifth grade class.
Students voting.



Students suggested MCBA books for the 2016-2017 school year. 







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Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Britannica School Edition: Elementary School

Thanks to Memorial being a part of the Massachusetts Library System, we have access to many wonderful resources. Britannica is one of my favorite resources for research. Excellent information is provided in different reading levels. There are many great informational images and videos as well. Memorial students can access Britannica at anytime, from any place with a device connected to the internet. (Only those logged into a Burlington Public Schools Google Apps for Education Account will be able to access the database information via a Google Document.) 

Use the following steps to access Britannica:
  1. Go to “Databases”
  2. Click on the Britannica School Edition: Elementary School link/web address
  3. If asked, enter the password provided in the Google Document






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Thursday, February 25, 2016

Scary & Series Collections

Thanks to our successful Scholastic Book Fair, I was able to purchase many books to fit into our new scary and series collections. I also purchased many more books to add to our gaming collection. Students are thrilled. I'm ecstatic to have the begun the genrification process. 

Here is the draft document for the Memorial Learning Commons Genres & Topic Collection.


New Scary & Series Collections



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