Looking for great resources for summer reading and summer learning? In this post we round up programs and resources from Granite School District, our friends at the Salt Lake County Library and Salt Lake City Public Library systems, and other resources from the web in general. [Read more…] about Summer Reading and Learning 2017
Archives for May 2017
Elementary Media Clerks ‘By the Book’
Each day over on Granitemedia.org, our sister site for district library media programs, we are featuring the reading lives of our elementary media clerks with a daily ‘By the Book’ spotlight interview. Below is one recent example. Check out all the By the Book posts to get to know our fabulous media clerks, as well as find some great book recommendations both for kids and adults.
By the Book: Jennifer Porter, Crestview Elementary
Jennifer is finishing her fifth year as a media clerk at Crestview Elementary. She has done incredible work bringing the library into the 21st century and creating an environment that students are excited to come into.
What books are currently on your nightstand?
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers by Andrew D. Olsen, and Enchanted Air by Margarita Engle
What was the last great book you read?
Boys on the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. I really enjoyed learning about this group of “boys” and all the history that went into their story. Plus, being from Seattle myself, it was fascinating to learn more about my hometown. I wasn’t even familiar with their story!
The last book that made you cry?
True (…Sort Of) by Katherine Hannigan. I read this a few years ago and was completely drawn in. I finished it as our family was driving to Oregon and I was curled up in the front seat trying not to let the rest of the family hear my sobs. It really made an impact on me and was a beautiful story.
The last book that made you laugh?
Been There, Done That: Writing Stories from Real Life by Mike Winchell
What kind of reader were you as a child? What childhood books and authors stick with you the most?
I actually was a slow reader- things didn’t click for me re: reading until about 4th grade, and I didn’t enjoy reading all that much. But my mom, an avid reader, kept introducing me to great books. My favorite was <em>The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. My mom challenged me to read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, with the promise that if I finished it she would buy me all the Madame Alexander Little Women dolls. I still have the set. I loved the classics…still do!
What is the best book you were required to read as a student?
Required? I don’t really remember. The only thing I can think of is in 10th grade English we had to read Romeo and Juliet. I was nervous about reading Shakespeare but my teacher was so great and taught us how to understand Shakespeare that I have loved his work ever since!
What book did you hate reading as a student?
I really can’t remember hating anything I read. I’m sure there was something, I just have no memory of it.
What is your favorite book to recommend to children?
I love to recommend Matthew Kirby’s books. He is a great storyteller and each book fits a different genre.
If you could only bring three books to a desert island, which would you pack?
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen OR A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
By the Book Posts compiled by Nikki Gregerson, District Elementary Library Media Specialist, Educational Technology Department
#GSDEdTech Teacher Chat Archive — #letthemlead (5/11/2017)
On May 11, 2017, Chris Larsen, Director of Educational Technology, led our monthly #GSDEdTech twitter conversation. This month’s topic was #letthemlead: Empowering Students to Take the Lead. You can check out the archive for great ideas for empowering students.
Featured Resource: Lynda.com (via Salt Lake County Library System)
Lynda.com is an online learning platform with a library of over 5,000 courses on skills in business, software, technology, and design. [Read more…] about Featured Resource: Lynda.com (via Salt Lake County Library System)
Registering Soon: Granite Educational Technology Endorsement Program 2017-2019
Granite’s Educational Technology department will soon be accepting applicants for two new cohorts of the Educational Technology Endorsement Program (ETEP) for 2017-2019. Registration opens May 16, 2017 at 7:00 A.M. Each cohort will include 24 participants, with one cohort attending classes on Wednesday evenings, and the other on Thursday evenings.
2017-2019 ETEP Quick Links
- 2017-19 ETEP Wednesdays Year 1 Schedule
- 2017-19 ETEP Wednesdays Registration Form
- 2017-19 ETEP Thursdays Year 1 Schedule
- 2017-19 ETEP Thursdays Registration Form
You can find more general information on the ETEP program on our dedicated page at https://www.graniteschools.org/edtech/professional-development/etep/. If you have any other questions about the program please contact Kristen Johnson in the Educational Technology department.
Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter: May 2017
Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter – May 2017
The latest edition of our department’s monthly newsletter recently went out via email to teachers in Granite School District. If you missed it you can access it here.
Highlights from our May 2017 Newsletter:
- Registering Soon For Granite’s Educational Technology Endorsement Program 2017-2019
- Upcoming Event: #GSDEdTech Twitter Chat
- Educational Technology’s Website Gem
- Granite District Battle of the Books 2016-2017 Competition Winners
- Tech Tip: Using the Google Translate Extension
[Read more…] about Granite EdTech Monthly Newsletter: May 2017
Upcoming Event: #GSDEdTech Teacher Chat | May 11, 2017
Our monthly #GSDEdTech Teacher Chat series continues in May with the topic #letthemlead: Empowering Students to Take the Lead. This chat will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 4 P.M via the #GSDEdTech hashtag on Twitter. To go along with our theme of student empowerment, a chat participant will be randomly chosen to win a classroom set of Canon PowerShot digital cameras, which their students can use to record video and take high quality digital photos. [Read more…] about Upcoming Event: #GSDEdTech Teacher Chat | May 11, 2017
Granite District Battle of the Books 2016-2017 Competition Winners
On April 13, 2017, over 50 student teams from 18 different elementary schools in Granite School District converged on Gearld Wright Elementary for the first annual Granite District Battle of the Books competition. Student teams went head-to-head in this “Family Feud”-style game, in which their knowledge of the 15 books on the official 2016-2017 reading lists was put to the test.
We congratulate all of the students who read and participated in the battles, whether in their school or at the district competition. We thank all of the media clerks, teachers, administrators, parent volunteers, and others who tirelessly supported this program and inspired our students to find excitement in reading.
Check out the winners of our 2016-2017 competitions!
3rd-4th Grade Winners
5th-6th Grade Winners
2017-2018 Battle of the Books Competition
Any who are interested in learning how their school can participate in next year’s Battle of the Books program are invited to one of two informational meetings which will be held on Friday, May 12, 2017, at your choice of 12:00-12:30 PM and 2:00-2:30 PM. These meetings will be held at the Educational Technology Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) at 5300 West Cherrywood Lane, West Valley City, UT 84120.
If you have any questions about Battle of the Books, please contact Nikki Gregerson, District Elementary Library Supervisor in the Educational Technology department.
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