January 2009
Grandview Library Newsletter!
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PLAYING FOR PEACE

The simple but transformative power of music: PLAYING FOR CHANGE: PEACE THROUGH MUSIC. The film brings together musicians from around the world — blues singers in a waterlogged New Orleans, chamber groups in Moscow, a South African choir — to collaborate on songs familiar and new, in the effort to foster a new, greater understanding of our commonality.


The Call of Other People's Stories

I'm not very good at keeping New Year's Resolutions, so I don't make them. But there is one habit I've adopted that changes the way I step out into the world each day. It's simple -- I spend more time listening to other people's stories. As I've grown older and more experienced in dealing with life's ups and downs, I've appreciated and become more connected to family, friends, and acquaintances as I hear their stories. I am also inspired and moved by stories I've heard on NPR Radio's This I Believe.

KID CARDS
Before you buy your next box of note cards, visit our store and buy Kid Cards instead. You will be supporting Grandview's literacy initiatives and enjoying children's artwork! Artwork created by Mrs. Geertz art classes -- the pieces were scanned and reduced to create these beautiful note cards. Proceeds from sales are managed by the PTA and funds are used to build classroom libraries. This summer, we purchased chapter books for one of our second grade classrooms.

Dear Parents and Friends,

Welcome to the January 2009 Grandview Library Newsletter. Happy New Year! In this issue, I'll share a couple of my favorite tools as they relate to our library program.

The Inauguration of President Obama
Please visit the Inauguration Web Page which I created as part of our celebration at Grandview. During President Obama's speech, you could hear a pin drop in our cafeteria as children in grades K-3 became silent and listened intently. We know they didn't understand all that was said, but they did understand that this was an historical moment that was worthy of their attention.

Another Way to Edit Student Work
I've been "playing" with new ways to extend the reach of our work in the library. The children have begun to work independently between our meetings and I've created a means to communicate with them via our Project Organizers. It's exciting to comment on a child's work in the evening and have her approach me the next morning with a grin to acknowledge the new connection we've made in the virtual world. I tried something a little different when editing one student's essay in our Going Batty Project Organizer. Using a simple screen capture program called JingProject, I shared my editing suggestions and gave the student the link to review at his leisure. Well, the results were delightful -- the student used my instructions to make the suggested edits. Take a look and listen -- turn on your speakers!

Another Way to Travel the World and Beyond

Google Earth verison 5.0 has added some cool new features: you can create audio tours, visit the ocean floor, and rocket to the planet Mars. Google Earth is free -- download it to your computer and get excited about geography again. One of our teachers actually got the attention of her middle school daughter when she told her to "come and look" -- now that's impressive! I am using Google Earth to share the book Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World by Selby Beeler. I've mapped all of the locations for the traditions. As I read the book, I click my placemarks in Google Earth and off we go. Warning - if you get sea sick, look away during the zooming!

Looking Ahead...
February will be packed with student work and information on our Skype Visit with Author Mona Kerby!

Until next month, remember -- don't panic, be happy. Enjoy the simple things in life and hug your children.

Warmly,
Mrs. Chauncey