The students have created a summer newsletter as their last BEE activity. Click on the link below to check out their awesome, jam-packed creation.
Image Retrieved from cafemom.com
Just in time for summer – here is a new website for comic creation. It is quick and easy, as well as printable. It will not save your comic – so be sure you are done before you print.
http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Diagram/
Click on link and then click on “Enter Website”
It also includes printable comics that you can color and add your own dialogue!
New Chairs Ready for Readers!
We have added four Nookcolor electronic readers to our library. These are in addition to the three Kindle e-readers that we have been using since January.
Over forty new titles will be added to these devices for the coming school year. The Nookcolor devices will feature “Everybody” books (and all of the students know what these are….ask them!) and enhanced children’s books. These are interactive and highly engaging books that are fun for everyone! The Kindles will feature chapter books for the older readers. Electronic books are available at a lower cost than print versions and we are able to share the books across the different devices. Can you say, “Buddy Book?”
Additionally, we have an awesome selection of print books that will be added to the collection! Check back next August for highlights! Finally, we are so very lucky to have two new reading chairs perfect for curling up with a good book – or electronic reader!
Great books, New Ways to Experiece Reading, and Cozy Chairs!
Next year will be awesome!
Beemer Elementary students have excellent taste in books. Their overwhelming choice for Golden Sower winner was also the statewide winner for this year! Titanicat!
Image retrieved from http://www.middleschooladvisory101.blogspot.com
Internet Safety Tips for Kids
I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
I will never agree to get together with someone I “meet” online without first checking with my parents.
I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the online service.
I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
Adapted from Child Safety on the Information Highway by Lawrence J. Magid. Copyright © 1994 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). All rights reserved.
Retrieved March 23, 2011 from http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=208
Additionally, students had the opportunity to try out their internet safety skills by doing some interactive activities. Here are a couple of fun links:
PBS Kids Webonaut – http://pbskids.org/webonauts/
ATT& T Internet Safefy – http://www.att.com/Common/images/safety/game.html
It appears a VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR has visited the BES Library and had a fine time munching on some of our books! Librarian, Mrs. Stogdill commented, “Well, at least he ate only the covers and he has nice taste in books.”
Spring is here – weather to the contrary – so its time to feature Mr. Eric Carle and his many wonderful books. Stop in and check out those titles and other good ones before the bookworm strikes again.
Retrieved from missyminz.blogspot.com
April 5th marks the return of Bitstrips to the BES After School Reading Enrichment program. Bitstrips will be open for student use until May 1st. Students are able to create their own likeness (avatar) and insert it into comics that they create using a web-based software program. http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/
After school kids will be using Bitstrips to create a book review and 3/4 grade students will be using it to create a character development activity. All comics are subject to instructor approval before they are visible to the entire class. Once the required activities are complete, students are free to use Bitstrips to create their stories and comics. We will be posting some of them on the BEE wall outside the library.
The BEE kids started a new activity this week. They are reading Leprechauns in Late Winter. This is #43 in the Magic Tree House series and perfect for March. We read the first chapter together with the Kindles and the traditional print version. It was a great day to curl up with friends and start a good book. I was so proud of the older students as they guided the younger readers and kept them on track. Students also learned about WB Yeats – and endured a few moments of poetry. A great friend of Yeats was the main character in the novel, Lady Augusta Gregory. In the story she is a young girl who is very unaware of her special talents. She grows up to be a playwrite and theater producer in Ireland.
Students also learned about the Celtic Knots within Irish culture. They learned that of all the many types of knot designs, there is no set meaning. Given that, the students were able to create their own Celtic Knot in a web based program (http://www.entrelacs.net/SquareKnot/SquareKnot.html). They chose one word to define their knot and they will be posted on our BEE wall in the near future. Next week we will continue our reading, create a fairy kingdom and story, and St Patrick’s Day will be celebrated with Irish Soda Bread and Irish Music.
Beemer Elementary was abuzz last week as we celebrated reading over 1200 books AND the birthday of Dr. Seuss AND Read Across America day. Students participated in dress up days which included crazy sock day, crazy hair day, and funny hat day. The aroma of Green and Eggs and Ham drifted from the preschool room on Friday and the BEE kids created Dr. Seuss inspired dictionary entries during the week.
On Wednesday, March 2nd, students attended the reading celebration with Dr. Seuss inspired games including a “Find the Hidden Thing” hunt. Classes who found all twelve Things hiding around the school received a free book as their prize! March 2nd is the birthday of Dr. Seuss and Read Across America day. Children all over the United States are encouraged to read or be read to in the company of an adult! What a great way to celebrated any birthday!
Our celebration ended with a visit from a very special mystery reader. Superintendent of West Point-Beemer Public Schools, Dr. Ted DeTurk, stopped by to read The Cat in the Hat to students. He had so much fun, he decided to stay and have lunch with the students!
Thank you to Mrs. DeTurk for her support and ideas during the celebration! Also, thank you to all the staff who dressed up and made this a fun week for reading! Mrs. Stogdill
Bobcat Book Blog 
