1-Thing Wednesday: QR Codes in the Library

One of the tools we like to use in the library is QR codes. They're such a handy, easy, and convenient way for students to access information! We primarily use them to promote books by linking the codes to book trailers, like in this display. Students have also been able to access trailers as they browse the shelves.

Students have also used QR codes to access trailers related to our state award nominees. Cards showing the book covers and a corresponding QR code were at tables throughout the library, and students watched the trailers, then responded on a handout as to their interest levels in reading the books later.

Stay tuned--students will likely use QR codes again in the coming school year!

1-Thing Wednesday: State Award Nominees, 2017 - 2018

The state award nominees for the coming 2017 - 2018 school year were announced earlier in the year. Our DCG Middle Schools students are encouraged to read from the Iowa Children's Choice Awards nominees, as well as the Iowa Teen Award titles:

Over the course of the coming school year, students are encouraged to read at least two of the nominees from their lists, and should they complete the reading by late February/early March, they will be eligible to vote for the building and state-wide winner. Feel free to read any of the books over the summer, and stay tuned for many activities related to these great books!

1-Thing Wednesday: Google Classroom in the Library

This year our DCG Middle School students started using Chromebooks in a 2:1 environment (2 students for every 1 device), and with the increased access came the use of Google Classroom in the library.

A few of the library Google Classrooms

Every language arts classroom in Grades 6 - 7 had its own library Google Classroom where students could access everything from our library main page to that day's digital activity. Below are just some of the examples of how we used Google Classroom:

• accessing and viewing book trailers related to state award books
• using our library Symbaloo to find websites and databases for research
• accessing state award voting forms

The ease with which students could access that day's work--and return to it as they liked--made all the difference. This was especially true as we worked to promote our state award nominees throughout the year. Early last fall, students visited the library to view a Prezi presentation featuring book trailers for the Iowa Teen Award nominees. Then, students accessed a handout via Google Classroom to track their impressions of the books and make note of whether or not they'd like to read it.

You can access the full post when you CLICK HERE.

Now that students are more familiar with Google Classroom, they likely return to school with a better understanding of how we'll use it in the library. What a great tool to manage classes, share resources and assignments, allow for technology integration, and engage students!

1-Thing Wednesday: Participate in a Summer Reading Program

Now that we're officially on summer break, it's time to bring back the weekly themed blog post. This year it's "1-Thing Wednesday," and the focus will be on just one thing related to the library, the school year, or the tech world. To kick off the very first 1-Thing Wednesday, let's take a look at the summer reading programs at the local public libraries.

Librarians from the Grimes Public Library spoke with students at the end of May about the summer reading program, and visiting the Grimes Public Library website will provide all kinds of information, as well as allow you to watch a promotional video:

CLICK HERE to watch the video.

The summer reading program began on Mon. June 5 and will run until the end of July. Here's what their website had to say about the summer reading program:

Want to see their Calendar of Events? You can access it from the library website, or you can CLICK HERE to view daily summer reading events. 

Live in Dallas Center and want to participate in the summer reading program there? They, too, kicked off their program early in June and are excited to sign up readers all summer long! If you're looking for a way to beat the heat, hang out with friends, or try something new to read, why not visit the public library near you and sign up!

Last Round of Book Talks

Seventh graders were in the library again today to listen to the last round of book talks for the year. Serendipity prevailed, and many of the new books that were ordered in April arrived just yesterday, and in the nick of time made it into today's book talk presentation.



The final slide in the presentation specifically promoted 4 of the new titles added just today:

With just a week and a half left to check out books, stop by today to pick up one of the new titles. Or, make a note to pick them up at your public library over the summer! They'll all make for some great summer reading!

Blackout Poetry & Book Spine Poetry

On May Day, how about a look back at April, National Poetry Month, when we celebrated by creating blackout poems and book spine poems. All of the seventh grade language arts classes passed through the library over three days to "write" poetry.

 Students also stacked library books into poems in a book spine activity. After students pulled books to use, poems began to emerge. Take a look below!

Book Talks with a Twist

In this latest round of book talks, our titles reflect a popular expression as we move into springtime and summer: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.



"Something old" refers to titles we've had in the collection for a bit--like Sanderson's The Rithmatist and Brow's The Wild Robot.

Some of our new spring book fair purchases are included in the "something new" category--books like Ghost by Jason Reynolds and Boy X by Dan Smith.

With classic retellings like Heartless popular now, our book talks also include "something borrowed" with Redwine's The Shadow Queen.

And our "something blue?" Cheating just a little, Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth--its beautiful dark blue cover meeting the need. 

Take a look at the Slides presentation--maybe you'll find something to interest you in this last quarter!