Literacy for Texas & Amanda Hunt Present: Social Media 101

Social Media 101 Webinar

October 4th @ 2:30pm PST!

Join Literacy for Texas and Amanda Hunt for a special presentation that will share how librarians can use apps such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter to share ideas, collaborate, learn and grow from other librarians and professionals.

This free session will offer tips and tricks to get started, as well as how-to videos, examples, links to other presentations, and more to get you started and be successful!

Upcoming Holidays & Observances - September 2021

October 12 is Ada Lovelace Day, it’s an international celebration founded in 2009. Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer. On this day we celebrate the achievements of women in STEM careers. Ada Lovelace Day also aims to increase the profile of women in STEM, elevate them as current role models who will encourage more girls to enter STEM-related careers, and support women already working in STEM. The ERS library has books available on the biography of Ada Lovelace and digital resources through the ERS Portal.

In Learn360 on the ERS Portal:

Health Care Technology: STEM Careers in Two Years

Advanced Hardware Manufacturing: STEM Job Shadowing

Careers in the Life Sciences

Resources from World Book Online on the ERS Portal:

World Book Kids, Ada Lovelace

World Book Student, Ada Lovelace

World Book Advanced, Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace books in the ERS Library's circulating collection:

Technology Tips - September 2021

                                                                                                          by Steve Woods, Instructional Technology Specialist

We understand the importance of keeping your students’ attention in class. Because of this, the expectation tends to be “keep the phones off and stowed.” As content and opportunities for content creation increase, it’s only natural to ask if now is the time for cell phones to make an appearance in classrooms and school libraries. 

Here are some examples of how cell phones can be a welcome educational tool in your learning spaces...

Ask your students to use iMovie or other video editing apps on their smartphones to create book trailers -- short videos highlighting a book's plot and characters in interesting ways. If you have a smaller space available, set it up with a green screen so students can schedule the space to create their content together -- a great alternative to book reports.

Your students are TikToking, Instagramming, and YouTube-ing. Because of this, they are always searching for content. If you’ve spent any time on these platforms, you’ll find a lot of copy-cat content (dancing to songs, mouthing to movie clips, taking on less-than-advisable challenges, etc.) What makes a TikToker stand out? Unique and meaningful content. Have you considered hosting content brainstorming sessions for your young creators? Bring them together to talk and share ideas in a safe environment, and steer them to create meaningful messages that help them stand out as individuals.

Break out the QR codes! Did you know QR codes can link a scannable code to websites, blogs, book reviews, podcasts, movie trailers, author interviews, and more? All your students need is a webcam with an Internet connection to freely scan codes and view content. How about supplementing your books with TeachingBooks content, which is available through the ERS Portal? There are many free QR code generators online that will turn your URLs into codes. Download the code images, rename them, and print. QR codes can be put inside book covers, placed on posters, and anywhere else.  

   Extend this beyond the classroom by linking to online school surveys,  

   cafeteria lunch menus, the yearbook order form, and more.

Bring your students back to encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauri in your classroom and library. World Book Encyclopedia, ProQuest, and Encyclopedia Britannica are available through the ERS Portal and accessible on a student’s mobile device. These sites tend to have mobile-friendly versions available for performing research. Because so many libraries have limited research stations available, allowing students to use their phones brings many more opportunities.

Teachers and Librarians in middle and high schools may want to consider looking into Google and Apple podcast services. There are hundreds of educationally rich podcasts on science, math, English, and history by podcasters who bring content to life. The podcast apps are free, as well as almost all of the podcast episodes. If you find a wonderful podcast to share with your students, why not assign episodes and discuss them in class?

eBooks and Audiobooks! The ERS Portal contains eBooks and audiobooks from a variety of sources, including Sora and MackinVIA. All your school district needs to do is connect their district Google account to these services (we’ll help!), then students can access thousands of audio and ebooks through their mobile devices.

With these suggestions, perhaps it’s time to consider safe and effective strategies that make space for those tiny phone screens to appear in educational ways!

Hispanic Heritage Month Resources from Britannica Digital Learning

To help students explore the history and importance of Hispanic Heritage, Britannica’s Curriculum Expert Team has put together a few activities and resources for you and your students. Included are resources that discuss Hispanic Heritage, the history of Latin America, key achievements and contributions from both ancient civilizations and the modern-day world, and the importance of cultures and ethnic groups across Latin America.

Click here to get started!

Free SLJ Webinar: She Blinded Me with SCIENCE! Women Writing STEM

She Blinded Me With Science: Women Writing STEM
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
3:00-4:00 PM ET, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM PT

A STEM education creates critical thinkers, ignites curiosity to explore the way the world works, and inspires a new generation of innovators. We live in an era that has seen the rate of scientific and technological advancement increase dramatically. Making sure kids are not only prepared, but are enthusiastic participants and leaders in the coming waves of advancement is a difficult task made easier with resources kids can sink their minds into. Join four inspiring women authors who are writing exciting science books for young readers covering astrophysics, anthropology, biology, and engineering and technology.

Executive editor Alyssa Mito-Pusey joins Pamela S. Turner, Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano, Heather L. Montgomery, and Kristen Nordstrom to discuss their fascinating new books that explore the many possibilities of science, writing about evolving science, and how kids are natural scientists—always exploring and always discovering. Attendees take away a guide filled with practical classroom activities, as well as a whole lot of inspiration.

Register Now!

Presenters:

Pamela S. Turner, Author

Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano, Author

Heather L. Montgomery, Author

Kristen Nordstrom, Author

Moderator:

Alyssa Mito Pusey, Executive Editor, Charlesbridge

Can't make it September 15th? No problem!
Register now and SLJ will email you when the webcast is available for on-demand viewing.


Follow SLJ on Twitter!
@SLJournal #WomenWritingSTEM

Did You Know? - September 2021

Have you checked out our eBooks recently? In addition to our ever-growing print collection and new class novel/themed sets, we have added over 1,100 new eBooks to our ERS digital collection! These are available in the ERS Portal, both through our MackinVIA resource and, once you open MackinVIA, you will find the titles linked in our Follett Destiny online library catalog so you can search whichever way you like.

The 1,100 new titles, spread across all grade levels, feature both English and Spanish content. Primary grade eBook fiction includes such popular series titles as Pig in a Wig, Yasmin, Mercy Watson, Owl Diaries, and Rosie Revere. Primary grade nonfiction series includes I See Animals and Places in our Community. We have added new Spanish nonfiction series titles with topics ranging from Community Helpers to Animals to Math-related books in the Raton Matematico series.

 

Popular titles for higher grade levels include ten books from the classic fantasy Oz series, A Boy Called Bat, Efrén Divided, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. Older-audience YA titles such as Monday’s Not Coming and The Poet X are also available. Be sure to check out our new nonfiction series like the History of Technology and Extreme Animals.

Recently added graphic novels such as Knights vs. Dinosaurs, El Deafo, the March series by John Lewis, New Kid, Max Axiom, Super Scientist, Hey Kiddo, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and The Infamous Ratsos round out our collection! 

The titles listed barely scratch the surface of this impressive collection, so be sure to take a look for yourself! If you need help getting into your MackinVIA account, please send an email to library@ersconnect.org.

FREE Science Classroom Posters from STEMscopes!

As you gear up for a new school year, STEMscopes wants to send a small thank you for being the amazing teacher that you are. Download three colorful science posters highlighting women in STEM, science safety procedures, and scientific discourse. Here's to a bright, successful school year!

Fill out this form to receive your free 11x17 science posters. Then keep an eye on your email. Simply download, print, and hang in your classroom!