Signal Mountain Middle High School Library Media Center
SMMHS LMC
Empowering students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers,
skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. Volume 3, Issue 4
December 1, 2015
SMMHS Library/Media Center Mission: The SMMHS library/media center is committed to equipping the school community with 21st Century skills in order that they may have a positive impact on their community, country, and world.
Urgent Need! This newsletter is being delivered early b/c of an urgent matter. If you only have time to read ONE THING right now, please skip ahead to pages 5 & 6, and read “Advocate for Your School Library”! Action on this needs to be immediate! Thanks for supporting us so we can continue to support YOU! Also, you’ll notice some changes in the LOOK of the SMMHS LMC newsletter in the next issues. We’re working to redesign it so that it’s more user-friendly and easier to read. If you have feedback, please email smmhsvolunteers@gmail.com with a note: “Re: Newsletter”! We love to hear from you! Ginger Kirchmyer, MLIS National Board Certified Teacher SMMHS Librarian www.smmhsmediacenter.net
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Join Us For the SMMHS Third Annual Barnes & Noble BookFair! The 2015 SMMHS Family Night at Barnes & Noble, Hamilton Place, takes place soon. On Friday, December 11th you can visit for a free night of shopping and entertainment! If books are on your holiday list for gifts, wait to buy them at B&N! Here’s the list of nonstop entertainment for the whole family, it’s a great fundraiser for our library at NO EXTRA COST to you! You can even use your discounts & coupons!! Schedule of Events
5—6pm: Our very own MS Gifted “Elves” will read to children! 6—7pm: SMMHS Anime/Manga. You can also meet some of your favorite Star Wars anime/manga from Chattooine (our local Chattanooga chapter of Star Wars FanForce) who will be available in full costume to answer questions about cosplay. Not familiar with cosplay? It’s a performance art form where the participants or cosplayers dress up in costumes and fashion accessories representing fictional characters. 6:30 & 7pm: SMMHS Strings will play some holiday favorites 5:30—7:30pm: Meet local author George Hudson. His books Purple Haze and New Moon Murders will make perfect gifts for fans of crime fiction!!
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“ o unleash the power of the spoken word” is the motto of Aubdible.com. In fact, readers can listen to books any place, any time. Audible is part of the Amazon family and signing up is easy through your Amazon account. You can begin by signing up for a 30 day trial and access books from their library of over 180,000 titles. The first book is free and for $14.95 a month you’ll receive one book a month (and your unused credits carry over). If you spend a lot time on the road, you may want to up that subscription, but it does come at a higher cost. Audible does allow subscribers to pause or cancel at any time. If the $14.95 a month price tag is not for you, stock up on books on CD at SMMHS or the Chattanooga Public Library (or download them) before heading out on a road trip. It’s easy to search the database of available titles, and you’ll be sure to find books that suit you or your whole family. Listening to books aloud is a great way to pass time while on the road. It’s also an invaluable experience for our students with learning or reading disabilities. If you forget to stop at the library before heading out of town, check out the much smaller collection available at Cracker Barrel. Through their audio book rental program, you can pick up and drop of books at any of their locations. 3
Audible.com
Keep Reading Over Break! Now’s the time to catch up with leisure reading! You & your child can curl up on the sofa with a favorite book or explore new titles. For advice, check out reviews from Mrs. ReaderPants, a fellow librarian, at www.readerpants.net. She offers reviews of young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) fiction that parents find extremely helpful! It’s also a great time to start a new habit: consider reading aloud to your teen. This is especially important for struggling readers, as it helps with reading fluency and comprehension, and it models great reading habits. Try allowing your teen to look at the book as you read to see proper spelling and pronunciation of unfamiliar words, but this practice isn’t just for struggling readers. This meaningful experience can quickly become a nightly habit. You’ll see it open up great discussion about important topics, and both you and your teen will get the best gift this season—the gift of precious time together. To stretch this practice, have older siblings read to younger ones, and even having the youngest reader read to the family pet. Reading aloud to younger friends or siblings takes the pressure off of peer performance and reinforces the fun of reading. When teens read aloud to a younger audience, remind them to ask questions about the book’s title, pictures, and text. Sample questions are: Why do you think they put that picture there? What do you think this book will be about? What do you think will happen next? Then follow up these questions by asking why and using story clues to provide evidence for their answers. Most of us will spend a great deal of time in the car traveling over the holidays. Try putting the electronics away and listening to a book the entire family will enjoy. Check out this month’s technology spotlight and learn why Audible.com is easy way to download and listen to books while traveling.
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Advocate for Your School Library Congress has replaced the No Child Left Behind Act with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act which provides federal funding to our public schools. A reauthorization is taking place in the first days of December, so we need your support today! (Literally!) New language is being determined now! The Senate and House have to agree on how it should be worded. The former act didn’t include any language referring to libraries resulting in harmful cuts of much needed programs across our nation. Studies show that strong school libraries drive student achievement. They help young people succeed in school and prepare for college, careers and life. Tennessee’s own Lamar Alexander is heading the committee. He needs to hear from all of us. The proposed language includes things like making sure a school library is defined as: Being staffed by a state certified or licensed school librarian; Having up-to-date books, materials, equipment, and technology (including broadband); Including regular collaboration between classroom teachers and school librarians to assist with the development and implementation of curriculum Supporting the development of digital literacy skills. Congress needs to hear that you want to include school libraries in this new bill. Your calls, emails, visits and Tweets will be the evidence for them to take action for America’s youth and ensure school libraries are adequately funded in the ESEA reauthorization. See the next page for details! For more detailed info you can read about the additions to the ESEA here. I also encourage you to keep up with the progress of this Act. Thanks for your support of this important issue!
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How to Voice Your Opinion: 1.Go here: http://cqrcengage.com/ala/home 2.In the gray box in the upper half of the page, choose how you want to contact your member of Congress: letter, Tweet, or phone call 3.Click on the option(s) you want, provide the required contact info, & submit. The letter and Tweet are pre-written for you, so it’s super easy! (but you do have the option to customize them if you want) 4.Forward this message to OTHER library advocates in your community & encourage them to do take action, too 5.Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
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Overdue Books or Fines Don’t be a Grinch over the break because you are accumulating fines for overdue books. It’s easy to get your books turned in or renewed. Remember you don’t even have to have your book with you to renew, and if that’s not easy enough, you can renew by emailing us at smmhsassist@gmail.com. The last day of school before winter break is December 18, so be sure to have everything in or renewed by then.
Follow us ONLINE! STAY CONNECTED: Each afternoon at 2:30 we post a book trailer on Twitter and Facebook, & we adverte library events and programs; on Pinterest you’ll find everything from book recommendations & study tools to organizing strategies and bulletin board ideas! Check us out!