The PTA purchased two MegaBrowz browsing bins to try out in our picture book area, which we call "Everybody Fiction". The bins made a beautiful impact on the library shelves and students were immediately drawn to them. To show just how successful and accessible these bins are, over HALF of the books in the bin (26 of 50) were checked out within 2 days of setting them up. These bins provide an opportunity to make books more visible and accessible to our young readers. I hope that there are more of them in our library's future!
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On this beautiful Saturday, I had a wonderful time helping to run our first TSD Read-In at Troy High School. It was wonderful to see so many Hamilton families there. We enjoyed crafts, robots, STEM toys, mystery readers, virtual author visits, and of course... books! Thank you to everyone who came. We're hoping to make it an annual event, so maybe we'll see you there next year, too.
This week 4th and 5th graders have started working on creating their own, unique video game using Scratch. Scratch is a free, web-based coding site that allows users to create incredible animations and interactive games. It is user-friendly for new coders but can go very in-depth for experienced coders. I like that it has a little something for everyone, and makes coding engaging and fun. The 4th and 5th graders will get to set up an arcade of video games to play with their younger buddies at the end of May. I can't wait to see the games they create!
Did you know that April is national Poetry Month? Enjoy some of these lovely poetry books from the Hamilton Library this month.
Kindergarten, first and second grade students have been learning about the Digital Citizens from Common Sense Media. The Digital Citizens teach us important skills like being safe, responsible, and kind when we are online. The Kindergarteners were especially excited because this means their school iPads are coming soon! It is important to learn about media balance, device distraction, password safety, and all the many aspects of being a digital citizen. Even adults like me can learn a thing or two about being a better online citizen. Here's one of my favorite lessons and reminders about device distraction: Ask your student about the digital citizens, and what they learned about in Media. They are working hard to be the best users of technology! If you want to watch more videos and see more of the lessons we covered, they are from this site: Common Sense Media.
In April we promote awareness, acceptance, and appreciation of our Autistic friends and family members. Looking for a book to read about Autism? We've got some great books about Autism for kids of all ages, Kindergarten through 5th grade, right here in the Hamilton Library.
Congratulations to Ms. Swichtenberg's class for winning the door decoration contest! The kids worked so hard to create a world of pure imagination outside of Room 2.
To celebrate the end of Project Z the third graders used all of their MeL research skills to solve puzzles, find clues, and unlock locks Escape Room style! It was so fun to watch the kids work together - "Team work makes the dream work!"
It was so fun to see teachers and students dressed up like book characters today! I was Beatrice Zinker the Upsidedown Thinker!
This week I had the incredible privilege to attend the MACUL conference in Grand Rapids. I learned all about new and best practices for teaching with technology. My big takeaway from the conference is that although technology is always changing and growing, our teachers and students in Troy are really on top of that! We're doing amazing things in our schools and libraries. I did discover a few new things and I am excited to bring my learning back to my staff and students. I attended sessions on Apple technology, AI, Canva, gamification, problem solving, and elementary makerspaces, just to name a few. I also got to play with some really fun new gadgets.
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AuthorMrs. Henderson is the School Library Media Specialist at Hamilton Elementary. In addition to being a book-lover, she is also a gamer, a crafter, and a mom. She also shares a lot on Twitter: twitter.com/lhendersonreads Archives
April 2024
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