Instructional Technology Library

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robys — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:21:35 +0000

Check out the new feature on all school web pages, as well as the district web page:

en Español

Your Digital Footprint

robys — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:41:34 +0000

All 9th grade students will explore their Digital Footprint in their Guidance Seminars this week.

@yourlibrary Digital Citizenship Resources
How to Set Up Your Facebook Privacy Settings
10 Things High School Students Should Never Post of Facebook (or any other social media sites)
A Complete Guide to web, Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus privacy and security
Be a Good Digital Citizen: Tips for Teens and Parents
Calculate your Digital Footprint: Digital Footprint Quiz
MTV: A Thin Line

Social Networking in Grade 6

robys — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:25:20 +0000

Students in the Grade 6 Technology Literacy class use edmodo.

Here is what they say about edmodo: “I like how my teacher can send us things like a survey or a screen cast. I also like how we can share projects.”
“You can send work from the computer to the teacher and not have to print the assignment”
“What I like best about using edmodo is that it’s kind of like facebook but facebook isn’t as safe as edmodo.”
“What I like about edmodo is that it’s much easier to pass in assignments and you can message friends.”

edmodo is a no-cost website available to all teachers. Teachers: contact your Instructional Technology Specialist for the school code.

@ your digital library: eBooks in OverDrive

robys — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:33:01 +0000

The school libraries in the Waltham Public Schools now offer students and teachers with the opportunity to download eBooks from Overdrive. Students in grades 3-12 and teachers use their wpsnet login to check out the digital collection: http://library.walthampublicschools.org

The collection is being developed to support pleasure reading. The elementary libraries have selected ebooks and audiobooks from the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award program.

Check out the High School’s infographic for how-to download eBooks

The Waltham Public Library also provides eBooks and audiobooks in Overdrive. Visit their digital collection here.

XtraMath

robys — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:28:36 +0000

XtraMath is a free web program for students, teachers and parents to help kids master basic math facts. Teachers love the ease of use and the reporting that they receive about their students’ progress. Check it out!

The people behind XtraMath

Interactive Technology in the Classrooms

robys — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:52:23 +0000

Title 1 elementary schools have ENO boards to provide teachers and students with the capability to use an interactive pen on the board — as a writing tool or as a mouse. Middle school math classrooms — as well as a few classrooms at Northeast School and the High School — have Epson Brightlink interactive projectors that offer the same capability – but without a special board. The interactivity is built into the LCD projector, along with (2) pens. Check out our Brightlink wikispace.

President of the Massachusetts School Library Association: Judi Paradis

robys — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 12:40:13 +0000

Judi Paradis, Library Teacher at the Plympton Elementary School, has been elected president of MSLA.

We are proud to have Judi’s leadership at the state level to advocate for school library programs.

Click here for Judi’s bio.

Volunteers Spice Up the Library!

robys — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:27:03 +0000

Again, over 100 volunteers worked in our school libraries this past year. Their roles are varied but the one thing all volunteers have in common is their efforts to provide the support required to run a library. Our library volunteers — and library paraprofessionals — all contribute to the strong teaching library program in the Waltham Public Schools.
An appreciation brunch was held in honor of all the volunteers who gave their time to the school libraries with a wonderful guest speaker: author, Kathleen Duble.
Thank you to the many local businesses who donated raffle items – and to the library paraprofessionals for all their work behind the scene.
June 30, 2011 note: the total circulation for the libraries for this school year was 164,125 items!

Login to Destiny to Search the Databases

robys — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:04:56 +0000

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No need to go to each of the libraries’ research databases when looking for information to answer a research question… Students in grades 3-12 (and all staff!) can now login to your school’s Destiny Library Catalog – using the same username and password as you do for the school network - to find information in the library databases — or in selected websites such as Kahn, NASA, Ted Talks or ERIC . Watch this brief overview: Databases in Destiny Catalog Parents – need a login? Contact your school library teacher.

Destiny Catalog – There’s an App for that!

robys — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 02:04:13 +0000

Go to the app store on your smart phone or tablet and search Destiny Quest or Follett Software to find the Destiny App. Connect to your library by entering http://destiny.k12.waltham.ma.us

Destiny App on You Tube

Fountas and Pinnell reading levels in Destiny Catalog

robys — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:03:04 +0000

In addition to flexibly scheduled times in the library where teachers and library teacher co-teach, elementary students have weekly scheduled visits to their school library for the purpose of checking out books. While Library Teachers encourage students to browse and select materials of personal interest, students are also encouraged to select a “just-right” book to read. In support of the elementary reading program, the Destiny Library catalogs now have the search capability to search the book collection for Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels. Click here to see how one Library Teacher has shared this with teachers. See also: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the Waltham School District’s Elementary Reading Levels.

Who are our 9th graders?

robys — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:07:14 +0000

The current 9th graders (266 out of 339) , when scheduled for their first class in the library in the Fall, took an online survey the survey said:

88% of students have an Internet connected computer at home.

79% reported that the computer was 3 years old or newer.

89% of the students have a cell phone.

Successmaker Pilot: Math and Reading

robys — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:31:19 +0000

113 students in the English Language Learner Summer Enrichment Program and 87 students in grades 3 and 4 in the Summer Math & Literacy Program piloted the new Successmaker programs during the 4 week summer programs.

The students in the English Language Learner Summer Enrichment Program used the Reading program and the students in grades 3 and 4 used the Math Concepts and Skills program. The goal was for each student to use Successmaker at least 3 times per week for 20 minute sessions. The average gain for students enrolled in the Math program was .9 months and the average gain for students enrolled in the Reading program was 1.1 months.

The new Successmaker program is web-based so that it can be used in school and at home. The Waltham Public Schools have been given 45 licenses to pilot for July, August and September.

Students were asked to check home computers to see if their home computers could access the Successmaker programs. 61% of the 95 students who responded reported that they have a home computer that connects to the Internet. Of those 61% students who responded 32% – or 27 students – reported that their home computer passed the test to use Successmaker on a home computer.

The pilot continues through August and September and we hope the students with home access continue to use the program (7 students have continued to login in the month of August).

Anyone with an iPad can download the free App, Successmaker SpeedGames. SpeedGames were also used by students in the Pilot program. When students finished their math session they were encouraged to use Speed Games on the computer to practice basic math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Volunteers Rock

robys — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 02:05:02 +0000

Over 100 volunteers worked in our school libraries this year. Their roles are varied but the one thing all volunteers have in common is that their efforts support Library Teachers so that they can focus on teaching. An appreciation brunch was held in honor of all the volunteers who gave their time to the school libraries. See the pictures that Kathy May, Library Teacher at Kennedy, assembled here.

The guest speaker at the brunch was Pat Keogh, who book-talked her favorite new books. Go to our K-8 school library catalogs and look for the Resource List “Pat Keogh – Volunteers” for a list of titles in your school library.

Check It Out! Check it Out!

robys — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:27:57 +0000

Plympton School Library: Check It Out! The Plympton Elementary School Library was recognized as one of the exemplary school library programs across the nation when it was selected for the American Association of School Libraries’ (AASL) Vision Tour. On May 13, 2011, the president of AASL, Nancy Everhart, visited the Plympton School to see the library program and meet with the Library Teacher, Judi Paradis. The Vision Tour was created to raise the profile of what an outstanding school library can do for students, as well as the school and local community. See MSLA photos and Check It Out (Plympton School Library)! Vision Tour on YouTube