Back To School – Yes, We’re Virtually Awesome!

Virtual Learning Fall 2020 

Welcome Back to School!

Well, hello! I’m so happy you’re here! This is a start of a school year unlike any we’ve ever experienced before. Duh! I know, right? But still, I have to say it because we’re all learning how to navigate this virtual landscape together. (Would that it could look like Second Life or Minecraft! LOL) 

But I do know, is that we are determined, as a community, to make this work as best we can for everybody and that I’m here for you!

For the first few weeks of school Ms. Bell and I will be busy helping kids & teachers with technology challenges, issues, & questions. If you’re experiencing issues you would like to discuss, please stop by we’ll help you – first come, first serve! Or, we can set up an appointment. Either way, we’ve got you!

Bitmoji RecessMHMS Media Virtual Recess for all grades will start in a few weeks!

I’ll be sending out an announcement to let you know where & when! Until then, we’ll be totally busy with our Tech Help Desk.

Be Your Own Tech Ninja!

Are you good at Canvas? Submitting Google Cloud Canvas assignments?  When things go wrong with your device or technology do you find ways to fix it? Are you unafraid to update your Chrome browser or Chromebook? Do you look for answers on Google or YouTube when you get an error message? If so, you are your own Tech Ninja! Be as proactive and daring to persevere and solve your tech snags as you are when playing a video game!  Go Ninja Go!

If you’re looking for tech help be sure to visit our MHMS website and the page:

Tech Help for Students & Families.


Now for some Doggone Clever Stuff!

#MHTVNews: A Virtual TV Show for Teens by Teens

Hey Mountain Lions! Enjoy the latest MHTV-COL News Show written, filmed, produced, edited and created by our talented #MHTVNews Producers & Staff! 

We’ve posted these shows on our MHMS front Webpage and on our Library Media Canvas Student Resource Course page

#MHTVNews Episode 3 COL Edition

(Click CC for Closed Captioning)

CBBC – Strange & Happy News  (Links to an external site.)

#MHTVNews Episode 2 COL Edition 

(Click CC for Closed Captioning)

#MHTVNews Episode 1 COL Edition

(Click CC for Closed Captioning)

Mr. Dunbar and I are so very proud of our hard working #MHTVNews staff!

Got an idea for a story? Let us know! And remember, next year at MHMS you can apply to be part of this super talented crew!

Summer Reading 2020

It’s Summer Reading Time!

Here’s the Howard County Middle School Summer Reading List!

 

Download the PDF and look for these titles!

Middle School

High School

Don’t forget, there are 100+ eBooks available to ALL MHMS kids through our Clever & Mackin account!

From our friendly neighborhood Howard County Public Library Savage Branch Teen Librarian:

Summer Reading: Imagine Your Story (Ages 11-17) (Jun 01 – Aug 31)

SUMMER READING: IMAGINE YOUR STORY!  

Track your reading, play fun educational mini-games, and find missions full of activities! 

Earn points and unlock badges as you go. A new Mission will be added every Monday.  

Earn 1 point for each Mission you complete or book you log. Missions may be completed in any order.  

Each book logged as part of a mission earns 1 bonus point.  

When you have reached a total of 10 points, you have officially completed Summer Reading 2020! 

 

What happens after you earn 10 points? Keep on reading! Continue reading, logging books and completing Missions to earn up to an additional 4 points and 4 badges! 

PRIZES FOR COMPLETING SUMMER READING  

When you complete Summer Reading, you will earn a donation to the Community Action Council of Howard County!*  

 

* Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System will make a donation of up to $5000 in food and goods to the Community Action Council of Howard County after Summer Reading ends. Donations earned by each reader will have a variable value.  

If you are interested in donating directly to CAC or learning more about their services in Howard county, please visit cac-hc.org. 

Sponsored by Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System. 

HCPSS Kids: Stay Connected!

Here are some ways to stay connected during the summer, including enrichment activities, reading lists and programs, the free summer meal program and more.

NEW MHTV News & Metro Newspaper

Our wonderful kids have been working hard on their journalism assignments!

How you doin, Mountain Lions?! Enjoy Episode 2 of our #MHTVNews-COL News Show written, filmed, produced, edited, and created by our talented #MHTVNews producers & staff! FEATURING a *Surprise Special Guest!

#MHTVNews Episode 2 COL Edition

(Click CC for Closed Captioning)

#MHTVNews Episode 1 COL Edition

If for some reason, the video doesn’t come out for you, please visit our Student Resource Course page to view!  Mr. Dunbar and I are so very proud of our hard working #MHTVNews staff!

Got an idea for a story? Let us know! And remember, next year at MHMS you can apply to be part of this super talented crew!


EXTRA, EXTRA! GET YOUR LATEST METROPOLITAN NEWSPAPER HERE!

Our #MHMSMetro (Links to an external site.) student run & #GTSeminar newspaper is available for download!

HERE IS THE LATEST ISSUE!

DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSION BELOW

PDF iconCOL ISSUE 5.PDF (LINKS TO AN EXTERNAL SITE.)

EXCITING NEWS: ANYBODY WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES THE LOGIC PUZZLE AT THE END CAN FILL OUT A GOOGLE FORM THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO WRITE A SHOUT OUT IN ISSUE 6.

In order to see our past issues, visit the archives at: bit.ly/mhmsnews

Unlocking the Secret to 100+ FREE eBooks & Audiobooks

Hey Mountain Lions!

If you missed my presentation last week – here’s the info I shared about the secret way to unlock, filter, and find 100 FREE eBooks  – That’s right a variety of Fiction, Non-fiction, Graphic Novels, Horror, Mystery, Sports, Classics and MORE!  All through Clever and MackinVia.


Got a question? Email me in Canvas! Or drop by your Virtual Recess session!

  1. Log into HCPSS.me
  2. Go to GSuite
  3. Go to the waffle menu on the top right corner and select Google Meet
  4. Enter the nickname/code name /MHMS-gjones-recess-MonthDay

Every week it will be:

Tuesday 6th Graders

Wednesday 7th Graders and

Thursday 8th Graders

Extra, Extra! MHMS Metropolitan Newspaper: Issue 4

Extra Extra! Get your MHMS Metro News Here!

Our #MHMSMetro student run & #GTSeminar newspaper is available for download!

Featuring:  Sports |  Arts, Music and Sports | International News | Politics

Page 5: Boredom Busters – DOWNLOAD the PDF Version below.

Our Mission: “At the Murray Hill Metropolitan we are dedicated to authentic, realistic and unbiased news for our students, their families and the public. Every month we cover a wide variety of stories from what’s happening at Washington to our new hall pass system. We hope to make sure our school is conscious and respectful of other people’s opinions, the news and politics.”- Murray Hill Metropolitan Staff

Download :  MHMS-Metro-Issue 4

Enter our Comic Competition!

Missed an Issue? – Want to get in touch? – Questions? Suggestions? 

Catch Up With Us On Our Website!

DOWNLOAD: MHMS Metro Crossword 1 -PDF

 

Keep Calm & Read On!

Hello, kids, parents, our community!

I’m not gonna lie, it’s kinda weird out there right now but I truly believe we’re going to be OK. Things will get back to normal. They always do. #History. I don’t know when, but they will. Practicing positivity is important and good for you! That, and washing your hands! In the meantime, HCPSS and our education partners have some cool and FREE resources for you!

Don’t forget we’re all in this together — even if we’re physically apart right now. I will try and update this post as I stay at home and help my community and to take care of my family. Starting with scrubbing all floors and not letting anyone inside with shoes on. It’s a slipper & sock zone only! I so heart fuzzy socks!

FREE Grab-N-Go Meals in the parking lot of Laurel Woods Elementary and 8 other locations throughout the county.

HCPSS Continuity of Learning

From a recent email to all HCPSS educators from our amazing Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano:

“I’ve had the opportunity to check in at a few of our meal distribution sites, where I have been proud to observe our Food Services staff members hard at work ensuring children continue to have access to nutritious meals while schools are closed. Today on our second day of distribution, 5,304 meals were served at our nine sites. I am grateful that HCPSS is able to provide this service and I’m even more pleased that we have been able to expand our typical meal offerings to include three meals each day. I encourage all families to take advantage of this service.” ….also from Dr. M 

“On Friday, all students went home with a document that detailed ideas for engaging students in learning activities while schools are closed. These resources are posted online and have been translated into multiple languages. While the activity ideas do not represent the same level of instruction that occurs in our schools, they are intended to help keep our students stay intellectually active while they are at home during this closure.” 

I have to confess, I’m an unabashed fangirl for our Sup! And it’s not to curry favor or kiss butt, I’m retiring in 3 or 4 years! He’s just all that, has his heart in the right place, and he brought back our School Library Media Assistants after they were cut by she who will not be named!

Oh and I gotta warn you, if you’re new to this blog or my Daring Librarian professional blog — I write in a conversational style and I use a lot of exclamation marks. Kinda like Elaine Bennis. Just. Like. That!

Got Books? 

The last day before we left for this unexpected early spring break, I checked out a LOT OF BOOKS! There were no limits on how many books our readers could check out. From one book to 10, I encouraged our students to take as many home as they could hold! I even offered string bags to carry them in. Did I check out enough books? NEVER! lol

But if you didn’t get a chance to come by the Library Media Center and get some books, it’s OK….you have other resources!  Keep reading!

 

ALL HCPSS kids can access great stuff using their school login.
Every HCPSS kid can log into hcpss.me – from there you can get to all kinds of great resources! FREE eBooks from MackinVia and more! The kid has to remember his/her Active Directory or school login & password. Outside our school server they may need to add @inst.hcpss.org to their regular login – see below.

example regular login: dvader9644
another way to login: dvader9644@inst.hcpss.org

3/30/2020 — NEW! Students now have the ability to reset their Active Directory HCPSS Network (Canvas, GSuite, & Synergy) passwords without intervention from HCPSS staff – please direct parents & students to this new resource:

 From Dr. Martirano’s HCPSS Update:

Advanced Placement (AP) Online Review
Beginning on Wednesday, March 25, the College Board will provide free, online, live AP review courses, delivered by AP teachers from across the country. These courses are optional, mobile-friendly and available on-demand, so they can be accessed at any time. The focus is on reviewing skills and concepts from the first 75% of the AP course, with some supplementary lessons covering the final 25% of the course. Access course schedules on the AP Students website.

Digital Resources for Elementary Students
Elementary Students can log on through hcpss.me to use:

  • Wixie: an online publishing and creativity platform that lets students share what they know through their writing, their voice, and their art.
  • Type to Learn: an online, research-based keyboard curriculum that includes pre-tests, lessons, assessments, and typing games and activities tailored to grades 3-5.

Naviance Resources for Middle and High School Students
Naviance is a comprehensive college, career and life readiness program that allows students to explore career interests, begin their post-secondary exploration and discover careers matched to their interests. Find more details online. Students can log in through hcpss.me, then click Naviance.


DISCLAIMER: I am sharing these resources in good faith that at the time I curated this list the offers, logins, and sites were active. However,  at any time, the companies listed could change their permissions. Access problems? Please contact the companies directly. I’m sorry I can’t troubleshoot for you. Mostly because I’m lazy. For the record: I have not NOT been sponsored or compensated (not even a cool T-shirt or swag!) for any inclusion on this list.


Don’t have eBooks, a Kindle device, or other Digital Reader

Hello YouTube!

You can listen to loads of books read aloud on YouTube! Search for audiobooks & your favorite author, title, or subject. Here’s a great example from one of my favorite authors Neil Gaiman.

The 6 Best Audio Books You Can Listen to For Free on YouTube 

Here’s my Curated YouTube Playlist of 30+ FULL Audiobooks (I will be adding to this, would love suggestions!) of FREE Audiobooks – You know Harry Potter had to be #1!

ALL HCPSS Kids can get to these FREE digital eBooks & audiobooks from MackinVia.

Free Online Events and Activities for Kids at Home

by our friends at Common Sense Media – Including LIVE Virtual Storytimes!  Provide some structure and schedule to your family’s day (updated regularly).

SMUSD Library at Home from my Californian friends 
From Katie Boone: Here’s a free access and resource from our partners Capstone and PeppbleGo  “You have been set up with free remote access to PebbleGo and Capstone Interactive eBooks. This access is valid through June 30, 2020 (The majority of you already subscribed to PebbleGo can of course continue to use your school’s login credentials). We hope these resources are helpful to your school and your students during this sensitive time.” 

Student Access Instructions

  • PebbleGo:
    • Visit www.pebblego.com and click “Sign In”
    • Username: engaged
    • Password: learning

Additionally, the following resources may be helpful for community communication and usage:

Super Resources from Scholastic! 

Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

“Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin! -The Editors of Scholastic Classroom Magazines.”

From PBS Learning Works:PreK-12 Resources for Emergency Closings

“As teachers, students, and families deal with school closures, PBS LearningMedia producers and educators have come together to curate a special collection of resources organized by grade and subject area. Find videos, lesson plans, and activities that support learning at home. Create a free account to save and organize content.”

From our partners in learning Follett School Solutions (PreK-12)

“Follett has created a resource page outlining the array of eLearning solutions, including Collections by Destiny, Follett Destiny Discover, WebPath Express, and more. Video tutorials, forums and instructions for accessing these solutions also are available.

To help schools with eLearning during the closures, Follett announced March 11 it is waiving the cost for current Destiny customers through June 30 for its Classroom Ready Collections (CRC), which are standards-aligned, educator-curated Open Educational Resources (OER) that include lesson plans, activities, videos and worksheets. More than 2,300 free CRC licenses have been activated in less than a week.”

UPDATE:

“To help make eLearning easier, we are providing free access to eBooks from Lightbox™ and AV2 World Languages through June 30, 2020. You can register for access here.

Lightbox™ offers over 1000 PreK-12 titles in science, social studies, language arts, math and more. AV2 World Languages features high-interest titles in 10 different languages with full audio support.

Parents and students will find these resources interactive, easy to use and a great way for students to independently explore a new topic. We hope that you, your students and their families find this helpful during this challenging time.

Visit Follett Community for more details on this offer and other free eLearning resources available through Follett Destiny Discover®

 

 

Read Across America: Bookmark Contest

We Have Our Winners!

 

From our Reading Specialist, Ms. Deb Burkey:

“In celebration of Read Across America Day, The MHMS Reading and Media departments are sponsoring a bookmark contest. Prizes will be awarded for the top three bookmarks. A copy of the winning bookmark will be professionally produced for the entire student body. Entries can be submitted through December 20 and will be on display for judging through the month of January. Visit the MHMS website for details. If you are interested in making a donation, you can do so by check or on-line payment. Checks should be made out to MHMS and include “bookmark contest” on the note. On-line donations can be made through OSP. Donations will go toward publishing fees and prizes. Please encourage your student(s) to participate. Contact Deb Burkey at deborah_burkey@hcpss.org with any questions.”

We have our finalists! Please see below to view our exciting 11 finalists in our contest!

 

Stay tuned, we will announce the winners here soon!

For more information:

Musical Bookcases

The last couple weeks (before testing starts again!) we’ve had a LOT of fun with a new book selection activity I’m calling #MusicalBookcases.  It was a little crazy, super fun, & very kinesthetic! I really need to beef up our circulation numbers, aka, getting more books into the hands of kids. 

 

Here’s a sneak peek at how it was in action!


For Librarians and Teachers looking for how to do this in your school, more info coming soon on my professional blog!
Below is my eye-rolling & somewhat cringeworthy YouTube instruction “how to” directions for the kiddos. Even with that, I still lost my voice by the end the day today! Think about the “flipping the classroom” or library type of addition to the activity.

 

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