Technology confidence

When I first came to this school six years ago, I encountered several teachers who were scared of instructional technology and avoided using it with their students. One of our 6th grade science teachers, Mrs. D, was part of this group and has made amazing progress by getting over her fear of technology and realizing the amazing benefits it offers in the classroom. As I type this, her class is in the media center on a "rescue mission" in outer space. Using The Great Solar System Rescue interactive cd-rom, students gather clues about the location of a lost probe on one of our planets in the Solar System. Students are assigned different roles - - astronomer, geologist, histrorian, and meteorologist - - and use the clues they've gathered by comparing them to notes about each planet in their purple report booklets. This exercise showcases great group-working relationships and allows students to analyze and interpret information to solve a problem. Once students determine which planet their lost probe is on, they venture to that planet to recover the probe, thus "saving the day."

This day was possible because of Mrs. D's courage to step out of her comfort zone and realize that instructional technologies are valuable tools for her students. I'm so proud of her and our other teachers who are venturing into this new territory. This has been a great day for learning!

-Ms. Z

Author visit!

Author Frances O'Roark Dowell visited DRMS on April 6 to talk to our 8th grade students and book club members about what inspired her to become a writer and details about the writing process. We cleared a large space for students to sit on the floor as Ms. Dowell spoke to two separate groups of students.She detailed her journey through various jobs she has held to her ultimate decision to become a writer full time. Afterwards, students asked some wonderful questions about specific books and her life. Students purchased signed personalized copies of her books and the media center will be adding several new copies and titles to the collection by next week. These autographed copies can be enjoyed by all DRMS students.

-Ms. Z

The Holocaust

Track 3 eighth graders have been reading an Anne Frank play in their Language Arts classroom and working in the media center several times a week on a Holocaust research project. Students chose a topic that most interested them about this historical time period (popular choices have been Anne Frank's life in the concentration camp, Auschwitz, and Hitler's childhood). They wrote two questions that they were most interested in finding the answers to. These eighth-grade researchers have used media center books and a variety of online resources, such as museum and educational websites, to answer their research questions.

Once a week, students reflect on their research process by completing a Daily Reflection. This communication tool provides insights into their researching and allows me to help them individually. Students shared the search terms that have been most effective, what resources contained the best information, and what new questions do they have about this project. I write comments on their reflections that will help guide their research during their next project day.

Students are completing their research this week and will start organizing their notes to write a research paper. They will then share their findings with their classmates in a brief presentation by the middle of April. This unit has provided these students with valuable skills to carry them into high school.

-Ms. Z

Student Reviewers

Since adopting our new library automation program last spring, the library media staff has explored some of the "bells and whistles" that make Destiny so great. I recently implemented student book review capabilities for our DRMS Battle of the Books team members. Students have their own user name and password and are able to log in to Destiny to review current BoB books for all students in the school system to read. This feature allows students to summarize what they've read and "sell" the book to fellow readers. Students save each review, then the DRMS media staff is able to monitor responses, approve and post book reviews for all to see.

-Ms. Z

Valentines for Fines

This is the third year the DRMS media center has run a Valentines for Fines program. Students make a homemade Valentine and turn it in to the media staff to have their library fines cleared. This popular program brought in over 150 student-created Valentines this year. Cards will be delivered to Duke Children's Hospital just in time for Valentine's Day.

I'm always impressed by the number of students who don't have any library fines to clear, but still make a card out of the goodness of their heart (no pun intended!). Our generous students continue to amaze me and showcase why DRMS is such a special place to learn and teach. These greetings will brighten the day of over 150 children. What a priceless gift!

-Ms. Z

Flight of the Bumblebee

On Monday, our 2008-2009 21st Century Pilot Classrooms were announced. Teachers submitted applications to be one of two classrooms selected to receive a multi-media cart containing 21st century learning tools. The winners were announced at our February staff meeting. Carts were adorned with black and yellow streamers as Mrs. V and I ran through the aisles while Flight of the Bumblebee was playing (I still have that tune stuck in my head). :-) These teachers received valuable tools to use in their instruction: an LCD projector, laptop computer, speakers, 2 interwrite tablets and a document camera (otherwise known as "Elmo"). Over the coming months, teachers will share new and innovative instructional methods as they welcome other teachers to their classroom to see this new equipment in action!

-Ms. Z

"I like this library! You all have the best books!"

One of our daily customers exclaimed this morning, "I like this library! You all have the best books!" This young lady regularly asks us, "Do you have any new books?" or "What book would you recommend." Carts and carts of new books are available for students to browse and check out. The media center has been a popular place this week!

Yesterday, the 2009 Newbery Award winner and Honor books were announced. I'm THRILLED with this year's selections! They're kid-friendly and exciting and I know our students are eager to read them. The Newbery winner, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, is a supernatural tale about a boy who has been raised by ghosts. Listening to the author read from his book is mesmerizing! We have three copies of the book and students in the DRMS Newbery Club will be entered into a drawing on Friday to be one of the first to check them out.

So much to read; so little time . . . . . . .
-Ms. Z