Mr. Worthington- 8th gr. Comparing & Constrasting Presidents

President Roosevelt is considered, by many historians, to be one of the greatest presidents the United States has ever had. For this assignment, students will compare and contrast Teddy Roosevelt's presidency with that of another prominet president such as John F. Kennedy, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, etc.

Factors to consider are:

1. The role of the U.S. in world during the individual's presidency.
2. Leadership qualities of the person
3. Domestic iniatives
4. Economic climate of the country
5. General outlook of the country
6. Intangibles

Students will be conducting research in the Library Information Center.

Available Resources include:

• The Complete Book of U.S. Resources- REF DeG.
• Current Biography- 921 Bio
• SIRS Discoverer- See Notable People section

Information Literacy Standards:

Standard 2-The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Matrix Helps Students Weigh Internet Research

eSchool News Report:

For anyone doing research online, the abundance of information available can be overwhelming--and so can the task of sifting out unreliable information. Now, a pair of researchers hopes to give students a method for assessing the reliability of material they find on the internet, whether it's in Wikipedia articles, YouTube videos, or blogs.

In a paper they recently presented at a teaching symposium, English professor Susan Miller-Cochran (North Carolina State U.) and Rochelle Rodrigo (Mesa Community College in Arizona), suggest that students be given a sort of checklist to explore as they consider online--and offline--texts.

The two main questions they encourage students to ask are: How does the information change over time--is it constantly updated and revised, or static? And, how has the information been reviewed?

The professors' published guideline is formatted as a matrix of questions aimed at helping students decipher what should be used in a research project and what should be ignored. The guide asks if sources are "continuously changeable through repeat performances or revisions," "reviewed by someone with authority or certification prior to publication," and "published and revised by the author." It also prompts students to question if the material was reviewed by other experts in the same profession.

Often, as in the case of Wikipedia, which has elements of peer review as well as self-publication, the answers can get murky. But Miller-Cochran says the end goal is for students to learn how to analyze texts without "pigeonholing the material based on where it was found."

*Although today's students are much more likely to begin their research online, Miller-Cochran said students still often perceive the articles, charts, and data found in books as more authoritative than online information.

VRC Site of the Month: SIRS Discoverer

SIRS Discoverer:
This site contains full-text articles and images from thousands of domestic and international publications appropriate for grades 1-9. It includes access to Current Events, World Almanac for Kids, Thesaurus, Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Maps of the World and an Educators' Resources.

You can also browse the following subjects:

• Animals
• Arts
• Cultures
• Countries
• Environment
• Health & Human Body
• History & Government
• Notable People
• Science
• Social Issues
• Sports
• Technology

Mr. Mutter- 8th gr.- The Science in Science Fiction

Students will select a science fiction novel from a pre-approved list. They will then conduct research and prepare a paper that separates science fiction from current science and examines the possibility for the future based on science trends. Ideas in the paper must be supported by scientific data and a minimum of 5 resources (including at least 2 book/periodical resources) must be cited.

Ms. Hatcher (LMS) will be working with the students on work citation and research sources throughout the project.

Information Literacy Standard(s):

Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Mrs. Cadolino- 8th gr. Flowers for Algernon

Mrs. Cadolino's class is researching the pros and cons of animal testing as part of an assignment for the book "Flowers for Algernon." Ms. Hatcher (LMS) instructed the class in the use of following VRC databases: SIRS Discoverer and the Science Reference Center.

Suggested search terms for the assignment:

Cosmetic testing
Animal testing
Cosmetics industry
Animal experimentation
Commercial testing

Information Literacy Standard(s):

Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.
Standard 9: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

New Fiction Titles

New fiction books are in!!

Some available titles are:

Adventure:

• Snakehead by Anthony Horowitz

Contemporary:

• Three Days by Donna Jo Napoli
• The Unmaking of Duncan Veerick
• Small Steps by Sachar
• Stranded in Boringsville by Catherine Bateson

Fantasy:

• Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
• The Seer and the Sword by Victoria Hanley
• Fire Arrow by Edith Pattou
• The Wizard's Dilemna by Diane Duane
• Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde
• Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Historical Fiction:

• The Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson
• Hush: An Irish Princess Tale by Donna Jo Napoli
• Dragon's Gate by Laurence Yep

Multicultural Fiction:

• Kampung Boy by Lat
• Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
• Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis

Science Fiction:

• The Secret Under My Skin by Janet McNaughton

Short Stories:

• The Midnight Library by Damien Graves

Information Literacy Standards:

Standard 5: The student who is an independant learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.

3 Apples Teen Book Award

The 3 Apples Teen Choice Book Award finalists have been announced and the list is now available at the Gelinas Library Information Center.

The award has been developed to encourage the joy of reading for pleasure, and to give teens of N.Y. State the opportunity to participate in honoring their favorite books. Each year teens in grades 7-12 nominate their favorite book, creating a statewide ballot of fifteen of the most popular titles.

For more information about the 3 Apples Book Award, please visit the website: www.3applesbookaward.org/teens

Visit your local public or school library between November 2008 and April 2009 to borrow books from the list of nominees.

National Book Awards Announced

The National Book Awards for 2008 have been announced.

This year's winners are:

Fiction: Peter Matthiessen won for "Shadow Country"

Non-Fiction: Annette Gordon-Reed won for "The Hemingses of Monticello"

Poetry: Mark Doty won for "Fire to Fire: New and Collected Poems"

YA Literature: Judy Blundell won for "What I Saw and How I lied"

You can listen to the authors read excerpts from the books by clicking on the book titles.

For more information. Visit http://www.nationalbook.org/

VRC Site of the Month: Soundzabound

Royalty Free Music by Soundzabound is background audio for Power Point, video productions, plays, morning news shows, and other multi media presentations.

Available sound clips include:

Audio for Podcasts

Classical

Cultural

Dance

Decades of Music

Hip-Hop/Urban

Jazz

TV & Movie

Rock

Ms. Meek 9th gr.- "To Kill A Mockingbird" Research

Ms. Meek's classes are researching the following topics:

• Harper Lee
• Truman Capote
• Segregation Laws and Race Relations in the 1930's
• Scottsboro 9 and the Trial
• History of lynching in the U.S.

Students must find relevant information that is biographical, historical, informational and visual. They must also include a "Works Cited" that reflects the final research material.

Information Center materials available include the following:

Great American Writers- Ref 810.9

Reference Library of Black America- Ref 301.451

Encyclopedia of Civil Rights- Ref 323.1

As well as use of the VRC (Literature Resource Center, ABC-CLIO American History)

Information Literacy Standards:

Standard 5: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.

Standard 8: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.

Ms. Leidahl: 7th gr. Newbery Award Book Report

Ms. Leidahl's classes are working on a "Road-Map Book Report" using Newbery Award & Honor books. Students will create a timeline in the shape of a roadmap which will show important events from their chosen book. For part of the assignment, students visited the information center where Mrs. Hatcher gave a talk about the award's history. Newbery themed bookmarks and bibliographies were distributed to the class following the talk.

A few Newbery Titles:

Crispin: the Cross of Lead by Avi
Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko
The Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff

Information Literacy Standard:

Standard 5: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.

Daguerre/Gerber 8th gr. Famous Women Scientists Report

Mr. Daguerre and Ms. Gerber's classes are conducting research on famous women scientists. Students have been assigned a famous scientist and must create a poster or artifact from research.

The research report must include a least three sources of information of which one must be a book or encyclopedia. In addition, students must include a Work Citation page. Students have been utilizing the Library Information Center resources to complete the project.

Information Sources Available:

• Notable Women Scientists
• Extroadinary Women of Medicine
• American Women of Science
• Biography Section 921

Information Literacy Standards:

Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.

Mr. Wormuth- 7th Gr. Health Research

Mr. Wormuth's 7th grade class is creating webpages and powerpoints for the health research topic "The Real Scoop on Tobacco". Students must organize and record all information and activities throughout the project. Mrs. Hatcher will instruct students in the use of the VRC's SIRS Discoverer for topic information. In addition, students will learn how to incorporate sound effects into their projects
using the Soundzabound Royalty Free Music for Schools.


Information Literacy Standards:

Standard 3: The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.

Library Information Center Orientation- 7th Grade

Ms. D'Eletto's class visits the Information Center as part of the annual 7th grade orientation conducted by the Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Hatcher. The orientation consists of a review of Information Center policies, available services and resources. The students are also given a tour of the facility. The session ends with a Library Jeopardy game.

Internet Safety: Cyber Security Awareness

The Internet is supposed to make our lives better, and for most of us, that's exactly what it does. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and it's a good time to take a look how our online behaviors may be putting us in harm's way. By following a few common sense tips, you can make the most out of your Internet experience, while protecting you and your family from online threats.

For tips on staying safe online visit staysafeonline.org

Virtual Reference Collection

Paul J. Gelinas JHS subscribes annually to a Virtual Reference Collection (VRC) & Digital Media Library. The VRC contains a wealth of information in a database collection of newspapers, magazines, enyclopedias, e-books, etc.

Some examples of the VRC include the following:

• Science Reference Center
• New York State newspapers
• World Atlas
• CultureGrams
• Ebsco Animals
• TeachingBooks (Student & Teacher edition)
• Health & Wellness Resource Center
• Twayne's Author Series
• ERIC
• Soundzabound Royalty Free Music for schools
  

And many more subject area resources.........

Mr. Vorwald's Hurricane Project- 8th grade Science

Hurricane Project

Students will learn about hurricane classification, tracks, and emergency preparedness. Using Information Center resources (Books, Magazines, Internet sites) students will research hurricanes in order to answer a set of questions. All resources used will need to cited or referenced using in-text citations. Students will receive instruction from Mrs. Hatcher, the school Information Specialist, in the proper MLA style technique for work citation.

Information Resources

Websites:

www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes/hurricaf.shtm

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/hurr/index.html

VRC:

-Science Reference Center

-Custom Newspapers (for the latest information on hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike)

Print Materials:

-Encyclopedias

-Magazines such as Time & Newsweek

Summertime Reading for Teachers & Parents

Looking for a good vacation read?

Check out these titles from the NY Times best sellers list.

Hardcover Fiction:

1. TRIBUTE, by Nora Roberts

2. THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, by David Wroblewski

3. RULES OF DECEPTION, by Christopher Reich

4. THE HOST, by Stephenie Meyer

5. THE LAST PATRIOT, by Brad Thor

Paperback Fiction: Great to take to the beach or on the airplane

1. STEP ON A CRACK, by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge

2. DOUBLE TAKE, by Catherine Coulter

3. LEAN MEAN THIRTEEN, by Janet Evanovich

4. THE NAVIGATOR, by Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos

5. THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS, by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Paperback Non-Fiction:

1. THREE CUPS OF TEA, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

2. EAT, PRAY, LOVE, by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeff Zaslow

4. WISDOM OF OUR FATHERS, by Tim Russert

5. THE AUDACITY OF HOPE, by Barack Obama

ENJOY!!

Check Out The New Spring Arrivals Joining Our Library Collection

Realistic Fiction:
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli
Sand Dollar Summer by Kimberly K. Jones
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Undercover by Beth Kephart
Zen and the Art of Faking it by Jordan Sonnenblick
Leap Day by Wendy Mass
I Conquer Britain by Dyan Sheldon
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga
Right Behind You by Gail Giles

Historical Fiction:
Run, Boy, Run by Uri Orlev
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
Singing Hands by Delia Ray
A Drowned Maiden’s Hair: A Melodrama by Laura Amy Schlitz
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt
Runner by Robert Newton

Multicultural:
Bearwalker by Joseph Bruchac
Quicksand Pony by Alison Lester
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Standing Against the Wind by Traci L. Jones
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Zia by Scott O’Dell
Camel Rider by Prue Mason

Science Fiction:
Dark Ground #3: The Nightmare Game by Gillian Cross
The Secret Under My Skin by Janet Mcnaughton
Epic by Conor Kostick

Fantasy:
Darkwing by Kenneth Oppel

Horror:
Eighth Grade Bites (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, Book 1) by Heather Brewer

Humanities Project- Children's Book

Over the next few weeks, 8th grade Social Studies students will work with a partner to create a children's book that incorporates a topic from American History. This will be a combined English/History project and it is expected that students will include thematic aspects from each discipline in the creation of their story.

Requirements:

1. The book must have an original story that is written from an audience between the ages of nine and sixteen (4th-10th grade). The students need to select an age group and write for it. A book for a fifth grader will have language and visuals that are different from a book for a tenth grader.

2. The book should include illustrations to enhance the story. These may be drawn or cut out (magzines, clip art, etc.)

3. The book should have a cover that includes the story title, author's name(s) and an illustration.

4. The story should be creative and based on an original idea. It also needs to incoporate a theme or topic from American History. Possible suggestions include:

• American culture and holidays


• Immigration


• Civil Rights Movement


• Heroes from American History


• Key Eras (Progressive Era, Roaring Twenties, Great Depression, etc.)
  

5. The book must reflect Literary Elements as dicussed in English Class (i.e. plot structure, descriptive language, characterization/setting, proper dialogue format).

6. Students will receive a grade for their English class as well as your history class for this assignment.

Note: 1. The story should be 10-12 pages long. 2. Once a topic is selected, it will need to be approved. 3. Time will be set aside in both English and History classes to work on the assignment.

Also, it is a good idea to create a rough draft before you move on to a finished product.

Library Information Resources for this Project:

• VRC (Virtual Reference Collection) is available. (The Teaching Books link has examples of children's book creation by various authors.

In addition students can utilize various encyclopedias and magazines/newspapers for historical information.)

• Work Citation format sheets are available at the circulation desk if needed.


• Noodle Tool accounts can be utilized. See Ms. Hatcher for assistance.


• Various information on American History can be found in 900's section of the library book shelves.
  

Researchers Link Higher Test Scores with Certified Librarians in Schools

New York state schools with certified librarians have higher scores on average on the fourth-grade ELA test than those who don't, according to findings of researchers Ruth Small and others at Syracuse University. This preliminary report reaffirms what 19 other state studies have shown, that school libraries staffed by cerfified librarians and equipped with current books and technology can have a positive impact on student academic achievement, says Michael Borges, executive director of the New York Library Association.

Mr. Worthington- Music, Art and Literature of the Postclassical World

The music, art and literature of a group of people often portray important values of a culture. They act as teaching guides for the people of a community. For this project, students are to research a specific aspect of the postclassical era.

Areas of focus: (500CE-1450 CE)
- Rise and Spread of Islam - African Kingdoms( Ghana, Mali and Songhay) (966.2)
- Byzantine Empire (949.5) - Mesoamerican Civilizations (Inca, Mayan and Aztec)
- Middle Ages in Europe (909.07) - Tang and Song Dynasties in China (509.51)
- Impact of Islam on India - Rise of the mongols (921 Kha, 921 Gen, etc.)
- Japenese Feudalism (952)

Mrs. Van Zandt- Islamic Civilization Achievements

Document Based Question Assignment: What were the most important Islamic achievements? Why were the Muslims able to make such great contributions and how did these contributions impact their world?
Areas of Achievement are: Chemistry and Medicine, Art and Architecture, Philosophy and History, Astronomy and Geography, Literature, Mathematics.

*Print Resource Materials for these topics are on display in the Gelinas Information Center.
Some titles available are: - Science in Medieval Islam (Call #509 Tur)
- The Atlas of Islam (REF 911 Mor)
- The Muslim Almanac (REF 297 Mus)
-The Islamic World: Past and Present (REF 509 Esp)

Book Group Buzz: A Booklist Blog

Catch the buzz! Booklist has a one-stop book group resource. "Book Group Buzz" is a blog that keeps you up to date on all things book group. "A corps of bloggers posts about books that worked well (or books that bombed) and provides organizational tips and read-alike insights. The blog also points you to Web sites that offer book club ideas, reading guides, and other helpful resources."