Mary Munford Media Center

EdTech 2011 highlights and fun websites

2011-03-02T10:34:00.003-05:00

I went to EdTech 2011 conference in February,a great annual technology resource for teachers, librarian and administrators, and I thought I would share with you some EDTech highlights:

1. Dr. Glen Bull is a Professor of Instructional Technology in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, and he was the keynote speaker for the EDTech conference. He presented a new technological tool for educators - Digital Fabricator. Digital Fabrication is a process by which one can digitally design and then physically construct objects, often using 2D fabricators or 3D printers. Dr. Glen Bull believes that the engineering design process found in digital fabrication can provide a more integrated approach to the teaching of the STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math) when centered in the elementary school. http://www.digitalfabrication.org/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5SREQsXNIs
2. Cindy Matejka is a representative from the ideastation.org gave a great presentation on cyber bullying. Here are some helpful websites for teachers, parents and students (3-5 grades): Pacer.org/bullying
http://www.onguardonline.gov/games/friend-finder.aspx
Fbi-sos.org
Cindy can come to school for a PTA meeting to talk about cyber bullying prevention: cmatejka@ideastation.org “What you post online is never private.”
3. Organize and share your files with Microsoft Office 2007 OneNote: http://techjam.wikispaces.com/OneNote http://www.wix.com/gottechjam/home
4. The top 25 free websites for teaching and learning 2010: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/bestlist/bestwebsitestop25.cfm
I hope you’ll find above information helpful,
Elena Y.

Thanks!

2011-03-02T10:28:00.001-05:00

We thank Mrs. Dunn who purchased of nine new volumes for the Mary Munford Library. The titles of the volumes are Tales from a NOT-SO-Popular Party Girl, Snakes and Reptiles, Micro Monsters, Sharks & Other Creatures of the Deep, Savy, Scumble, Of Thee I Sing, and How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids. HAPPY READING!!!!!!!!!!!

2010 New Book Reception for Teachers

2011-02-21T12:43:00.000-05:00

To celebrate the arrival of 242 new books for the Library Media Center, Mrs. Yamashev and Mrs. Nappier held a morning reception for teachers in December. Teachers from each grade level stopped by the library to take a look and checked out new volumes. Here were the titles that received the most comments and had high interest from teachers and later on from students:

Being a Pig is Nice by Lloyd-Jone

Born to Read by Sierra

Egg Drop by Grey

Ghost Caught on Film by Willin

How I Learned Geography by Shulevitz

Beware of the Frog by Bee,

And many more!

Thanks to Mrs. Nappier for helping out with the reception and to all the teachers who visited the library!

Family Reading Night 2010

2011-02-20T21:24:00.004-05:00

This year's Family Reading Night was scheduled for November 16, 2010.

As you all know, the Family Reading Night is a school wide event that encourages families to spend quality time reading together. Library Media Center doors were open to celebrate the night of Reading. The attendance was over a hundred visitors. You could see children playing with puzzles and Dr. Seuss based smart board games, guessing on how many fictional books are in the library, and many more activities. The check out desk was open, and over fifty books were checked out! Mrs. Yamashev’s daughter Emily volunteered to help out with the event. Thank you, Emily, for a job well done and thanks to all participants. It was a night to remember!

Library Media Center Schedule 2010-2011

2011-02-20T19:58:00.003-05:00

Below is the schedule of library time for each class, 2010-2011 school year.

Ashauer Fridays 10:55-11:45

Bracken Mondays 12:25-1:15p

Bennet (3rd) Mondays 1:25-2:15p

Baughan Wednesdays 1:25-2:15p

Bennet (5th) Thursdays 9:50-10:50a

Callis Wednesdays 12:25-1:15p

Carpenter Wednesdays 2:25-3:15p

Charity Monday 2:25-3:15p

Dunn Thursdays 10:55-11:45

Kiesler Thursdays 1:25-2:15p

Jones Thursdays 12:25-1:15p

Katz Tuesdays 1:25-2:15p

Kulp Tuesdays 10:55-11:45

Lindstrom Fridays 12:25-1:15p

Lombardi Fridays 1:25-2:15p

Lippman Fridays 2:25-3:15p

Mallory Thursdays 2:25-3:15p

Myers Tuesday 9:50-10:50

Peaseley Mondays 10:30-11:30a

Starke Wednesdays 10:55-11:45

Schwarz Fridays 9:50-10:50a

Via Tuesdays 2:25-3:15p

Vassar Mondays 9:30-10:30a

Williams Tuesday 12:25-1:15p

Parents are welcome to visit the library, or volunteer to help in the Media Center during your child's library time.

2011-02-20T16:29:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Mary Munford Library Center 2010-2011!

The Library was painted over the summer. Now it has beautiful baby blue walls.

Starting with Kindergarten, all classes come into the library once a week for 50-60 minutes. During their class, students learn a new library skill and/or hear a new story before they check out their books. Now we have collaborative lessons with their classroom teachers.

New nonfiction books, purchased with PTA money, are on the shelves now. Your children can check out new books such as:

A New Look at Revolutionary Williamsburg by K.M. Kostlay
Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
Organic Gardening for Kids by Elizabeth Scholl
First Ladies; Women Who Called White House Home by Beatrice Gormley
Emperor Penguins of the Antarctic by Miller
I Love Bugs by Sturges and Halpern
Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary
Star Wars Series
Guinness World Records 2010
World War II Spies by O’Shei

JUST TO NAME A FEW!

A big thank you goes out to the Mary Munford PTA that generously donated so many wonderful books to the library! We are so thankful to all of you :O)

Read Across America celebrated in the style of Dr. Seuss and the Lorax

2010-05-04T13:10:00.002-04:00

In honor of Read Across America, the Media Center sponsored a poetry contest. The children were asked to write a poem in the same style as The Lorax. It would be about the environment. The winner received a bookmark with seeds for the student to plant in his/hers own backyard.

A special thanks to Mrs. Creasey for creating the fun bulletin board.

Here are three poems.

Stop cutting down trees

I'm going to plea

If you keep cutting down trees

I'm going to scream

So please stop cutting down trees

And I will give you cheese.

Trees are paper and paper

is trees. People hate

homework so stop if you

please. It's just wasting

paper on stuff we

don't need so don't

make homework and we will

be pleased

One day the Once-ler

came to the Lorax

town and started to

cut the trees down, down

down they fell to the

ground. This hurt the

Lorax's feelings. This

problem couldn't be

solved I poke up but

it didn't work. He just

kept cutting down.

Unless, I thought if all

the animals in the forest

yelled, "we are the

animals we speak for

the trees they are

our home so don't

cut them please!

The Once-ler thought

about this for a long

long time he decided

if this were my

home I wouldn't/want

it cut down so he

stopped and thought

I shouldn't hurt this town

and he didn't.

Do you know the meaning of BIOEXTRAGEOQUEST?

2010-05-04T13:03:00.003-04:00

5th graders were tasked with creating new words from various parts of words posted on a list. They were to combine the words and write a definition. The theme was the environment in honor of Earth Day. Check out these clever words and their meanings:

(Kate S.) GEORUPT -- breaking of Earth's crust

(Chris H.) BIO-FLEX -- flexing muscles to make people strong

(Elena M.) POSTHERM -- after heat

(Emma) BIOEXTRAGEOQUEST -- The act of searching for life beyond Earth

Ask Your Child About

2010-05-04T12:58:00.002-04:00

... the new computer centers and Leap Frog Books used by Kindergarten and 2nd Graders

... researching using an encyclopedia by the 2nd graders

... a power point presentation written and designed by the 3rd graders

(Parents can come to the media center and ask to see the power point presentations stored on the library's computers)

What books would you buy with $2,000?

2010-02-17T10:29:00.004-05:00

Mrs. Yamasheve received $2,000 from Mary Munford PTA to buy new books for the library. Specifically, non-fiction books

She needs your suggestions.

In the comment section below, type the title (and author) of non-fiction books your child enjoys to read. Or a topic that interests your child. Most likely, other children will find it interesting as well.

Teachers: you should participate as well. Do you have a favorite non-fiction book to supplement your classwork? Is there a topic you teach that is not well-represented in the library's collection?

This is your chance to expand Mary Munford's library collection. Please share your recommendations.

And thank you to Mary Munford PTA for its generous donations.

Did your child win free Pizza?

2010-02-17T10:23:00.003-05:00

For 16 weeks, Ms. Yamashev tracks the classes who return their library books, behave appropriately and do a good job during library time. The students and teachers take this contest very seriously. The younger grades win a trip to the Treasure Chest. The older graders compete for a Pizza Party!

This year's first winners are....

Mrs. Bennett class

Mrs. Bracken class

Mrs. Bennett's class earned a whopping 356 library points.

Ms. Schwartz's class was only 8 points behind. Mrs. Dunn's class scored a close 346 points.

Mrs. Bracken's class received seven checkmarks for their good behavior.

Help your child, help his/her's class. Make sure your child returns or renews library books each week. Remind them why library is an important part of the school week.

Stay tune for the winner's of the next contest.

Quality websites to help your child with homework and studies

2010-01-25T14:17:00.002-05:00

Skip Google and make this website your first stop for information to help with homework, new lessons and research projects. Media specialists from RPS created a web page with links to their favorite and most helpful web sites. Bookmark the page so your child can easily access it.

http://richmond.k12.va.us/services/media/portal.htm

Other websites to bookmark:

Need help with ...Science? http://www.fossweb.com

Need help with ... Reading? http://storynory.com

(You can even download the stories into your child's mp3 player)

Need help with ... Math? http://www.eduplace.com/kids/mw/

And if you have a middle-schooler who needs extra help with Algebra, wait until you see this!

Instructional videos explaining algebraic concepts and access to online tutors to help your child figure out a homework problem or two.

http://www.brightstorm.com/d/math

Where did all the books go?

2010-01-25T14:13:00.003-05:00

FYI: Mrs. Yamashev is taking an inventory of the non-fiction books in the school's collection. She is discarding out-dated and never read books. It will be nice to have some more shelf space but she hopes it doesn't stay empty for long. She will need parents assistance with restocking the library shelves full of interesting, current non-fiction books. Look for more information on how you can help.

And "thanks" to the PTA for two significant donations: a dry erase board and $500 to purchase new books. Both will be put to good use.

Ask Your Child About...

2010-01-25T14:06:00.004-05:00

... 4th and 5th Grades Reading Buddies

Reading Buddies is a wonderful program that partners Mary Munford's older students with the school's younger ones. What do they do together? They read! Each 4th and 5th grader is paired with a student in Pre-K. It is hard to tell who enjoys it more: the older kids or the younger students.

Ask your child about his/her Reading Buddy.

Mr. Vassar's class reads to Mrs. Lee's Pre-K

Mr. Bennett's class reads to Mrs. Probst's class

And a special thanks to 4th grader, Alex S., for reading to Mrs. Charity's class

Ask Your Child About...

2009-12-16T11:44:00.001-05:00

... the new collection of Living Books - interactive animated stories (Kindergarten/1st grade)

... stories about all the different holidays celebrated this season (2nd grade)

... using the encyclopedia to research interesting facts about animals (3rd grade)

... using the Dewey Decimal system to find books (4th and 5th grades)

... using reference books for research (4th and 5th grades)

Taking your kid to see a movie over the holiday??

2009-12-16T11:27:00.005-05:00

The website Common Sense Media posts reviews of movies, TV shows, books, video games and other media. While other critics are looking for plot and character development, these reviews are checking out the language, role models, scariness consumerism, etc. Adults and children write the reviews and they tend to have a, well, common sense approach to what is appropriate for children. Of course, ultimately it is each parent's decision.

Read the rating for the release Fantastic Mr. Fox and decide if you agree.

List of Award-winning books

2009-12-16T11:20:00.002-05:00

Looking for something to read over the holidays? This is a fun web site that suggests children's books to read. Select your criteria (age, setting, ethnicity of protagonist, gender, etc) and the website will search its database of award-winning children's literature. Give it a try. Did it pick out a good book?

What are all those star pins on the student's backpacks? AR STARS!

2009-11-16T13:28:00.005-05:00

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a program to encourage reading by offering incentives to the children who reach a point goal as determined by their teachers. Children read a book (over 100,000 titles are in the system) and then take a computerized quiz to check comprehension. Points are awarded based on reading level and length of book. Students who reach their goals for the quarter receive the coveted AR Star pin and sometimes another prize.

The link for taking an AR quiz

Each student should have a user name and password. If not, contact your teacher.

• Children set quarterly goals based on their grade:

o 1st graders = 4 points per quarter

o 2nd graders = 8 points per quarter

o 3rd graders = 12 points per quarter

o 4th graders = 16 points per quarter

o 5th graders = 20 points per quarter

At the end of the year, the Twenty Times Club recognizes children who have earned 20 times their grade level in points in one quarter. The club members are presented with an AR t-shirt.

AR is an incentive to read, not a competition between students or classes. Unless they are reading independently, kindergarteners are not expected to participate in AR. The AR incentive committee is run by parents.

Come to the library and visit you child

2009-11-16T13:14:00.003-05:00

Each week, your child goes to the Media Center. Here, he/she learns a new library skill, checks out books, hears a story or has quiet time to read one to him/herself. Parents are welcome to visit the library. Or volunteer to help in the Media Center during your child's library time. Mrs. Yamashev could use the help and your child will love seeing you.

Below is the schedule of library time for each class.

Ashauer Fridays 11-Noon

Bracken Mondays 12:10-1:00p

Bennet (3rd) Mondays 1:10-2:10p

Baughan Wednesdays 1:30-2:20p

Bennet (5th) Thursdays 9:50-10:50a

Callis Wednesdays 12:30-1:20p

Carpenter Wednesdays 2:30-3:20p

Charity Tuesdays 12:30-1:20p

Dunn Thursdays 11-Noon

Flanagan Thursdays 1:30-2:20p

Jones Thursdays 12:30-1:20p

Katz Tuesdays 1:30-2:20p

Kulp Tuesdays 11-Noon

Lindstrom Fridays 12:30-1:20p

Lombardi Fridays 1:30-2:20p

Lippman Fridays 2:30-3:20p

Mallory Thursdays 2:30-3:20p

Peaseley Mondays 10:30-11:30a

Starke Wednesdays 11a-Noon

Schwarz Fridays 9:50-10:50a

Via Tuesdays 2:30-3:20p

Vassar Mondays 9:30-10:30a

Ask Your Child About...

2009-11-16T13:08:00.004-05:00

... how to paraphrase information from a book without copying it exactly (5th graders)

... the fun information found in an almanac (4th graders)

... simple machines and ancient Greece (3rd graders)

... the Library Centers where you can check out books, go on the computer, read silently and use Leapfrog (1st and 2nd graders)

... how to properly handle a library book (kindergarten)

Ask your child about what he/she learned this week in Mary Munford's Media Center

New Books

2009-10-29T09:10:00.000-04:00

Of the 248 new volumes that we have added to our collection, we find the following quite interesting. We hope that you will find these and others as stimulating as we have...

1) Perfect Season for Dreaming
Un tiempo perfecto para sonar

2) The Blacker the Berry

3) Animal Heroes: True Rescue Stories

4) Elizabeth Leads the Way

5) Gone Fishing

Reading Night 2009

2009-10-29T09:08:00.000-04:00

We are tremendously encouraged by the attendance on Reading Night, October 13. Our thanks to all participants, especially to Nicole Clayton who directed the display in the lower hall and to Susan Creasey who masterminded the Caught Reading exercise and who helped check out new books on the evening of October 13. Our thanks also go to all unsung participants in the Reading Night activities, for without your help the events of the evening would not have proceeded as smoothly as they did….

CATCH YOU LATER….

Completed Summer Reading

2009-10-29T09:02:00.003-04:00

We are pleased to announce that the number of students who did summer reading during Summer 2009 increased to 17, up from 11 in Summer 2008. Unfortunately, a few students neglected to sign their cards, and we therefore cannot give these folks their due.

Here is a list of students who performed this feat.
KUDOS TO ALL WHO COMPLETED
THEIR SUMMER READING
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1) Maddie
2) Ellie
3) Helena
4) Jamie
5) Henry
6) Shelby
7) David
8) Jessica
9) Avery
10) Catherine
11) Claire
12) Shavae
13) Addy
14) Roger
15) Hill

We apologize for not having updated our blog.

Summer Reading List!!! Read over the summer and get a prize in Sept.

2009-06-17T17:02:00.002-04:00

The Superintendent's 2009 suggested summer reading list is posted on this blog. Books were selected for K-2 and 3-5 grades. Students should check off the books they read and have their parents initial it. When the school year starts, students can bring this list to Mrs Yamashev. She will have a special prize for her summer readers.

Be sure to check your public library for these titles. If you want to buy the book, check with one of the many independent book retailers in Richmond. If they don't carry the book the can certainly order a copy for you.

For a list of independent retailers, including the ones who specialize in children's literature, click this link and search by your zip code.

(For every $100 spent at independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. Think about that before heading to the nearest big box store or ordering online.)

Don't forget to take the AR test too. Mary Munford students get a special party for making their AR goal with books read over the summer.

Good luck!

Summer Reading Grade 3-5

2009-06-17T16:55:00.007-04:00

∆ Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban*

∆ Dad, Jackie and Me by Myron Uhlbert*

∆ Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff*

∆ Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell*

∆ The Ghost, the White House and Me by Judith St. George*

∆ Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke*

∆ Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies*&

∆ Mallory Vs. Max by Laurie Friedman*

∆ No Talking by Andrew Clements*

∆ Vinnie and Abraham by Dawn Fitzgerald*

∆ The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

∆ We Are the Ship: the Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson

∆ A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bruyant

∆ How I Learned Geography by Uri Shuvelitz

∆ Way Up and Over Everything by Alice McGill

∆ The Scrambled States of America: Talent Show by Laurier Keller

∆ Good Enough to Eat by Brock Cole

∆ Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine

∆ Elijah of Buxton or other titles by Christopher Paul Curtis

∆ A non-fiction or poetry title of your choice

Summer Reading Grade K-2

2009-06-17T16:38:00.005-04:00

If you've read a book from this list, tell us about it. Click the pencil and add your own book review.

Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp by Denise Fleming*

The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice Harrington*

My Chincoteague Pony by Susan Jeffers*

Fred Stays with Me! by Nancy Coffelt*

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk*

Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pickney*

Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett*

Old Bear by Kevin Hnekes*

ONce Upona Banana by Jennifer Armstrong*

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly by Alan Madison and Kevin Hawkes*

LIbrary Lion by Barbara Knudsen

A Mama for Wen by Marion Dana Bauer

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet by David McLimas

Are You Ready to Play Oustide? by Mo Willems*

Chicken said, "Cluck!" by Judyann Ackerman Grant

One Boy (Or the First Egg) by Laura Vacarro Seeger

Stinky by Eleanor Davis

Wave by Suzy Lee

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

* Virginia Reader's Choice titles

Important!!! All library books were due May 29th!!

2009-06-01T10:40:00.002-04:00

Search under your child's bed...

dig in the backpack...

and look in the school desk

for any overdue library books.

Your child should have returned all library books by May 29th.

If you can't find the book then you must replace it. You can buy a hardbound copy of the book or send payment to purchase a new book. The book must be returned or replaced before the end of the school year. Students who have not cleared all school fees, textbooks and library books will have their report cards held.

Your child should have received an overdue notice from Mrs. Yamashev. If you have any questions please contact her at eyamashe@richmond.k12.va.us

Hopefully you won't have an overdue book out for this long... Longest Overdue Book

Can You Guess Which Book is Your Teacher's Favorite?

2009-06-01T08:06:00.020-04:00

To celebrate National Book Week (May 11-17), Ms. Yamashev asked the teachers of Mary Munford "What is your favorite children's book?" She put the titles on the bulletin board with pictures of the teachers and some of the staff. The students were asked to match the book with the teacher. Easier said then done. The winner was Brittany T., Room 207. She guessed 6 out of 24. Below are the teacher's choices. Would you have guessed correctly?

Clark (library aide) The Call of Trains

Vassar The Wind In The Willows

Baughan The Wizard of Oz

Charity & Via James and the Giant Peach

Orrell (library substitute) Thank You Falker

Baylor Chicken Soup for the Soul

Nicole (library aide) & Nappier The Giving Tree

Rosenthal (library aide) Library Dragon

Lindstrom Where the Wild Things Are

Yamashev The Shelf Elf

Lee The Magic Tree house/Dinosaurs Before Dark

Bowden The Story of Ferdinand

Mallory Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

Cheeks Leo the Late Bloomer

Lippman Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Bracken Charlotte's Web

Mr. Muzik Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Kulp The Little Brute Family

Gordon Where Am I?

Katz Walk Two Moons

Dunn The Lorax

You can find these books at the branches of the Richmond public libraries.

Click this link to search the library's catalog.

5th Grade Student Donates New Books to Library

2009-06-01T08:03:00.002-04:00

Ben O., 5th Grade student in Mr. Lombardi's class, donated 12 new books to Mary Munford's Media Center. Thank you Ben for making this donation. Your classmates enjoy reading the books.

April celebrates National Volunteer Week and National Poetry Month

2009-04-28T12:00:00.006-04:00

So why not celebrate both by writing poems about volunteers? That is exactly what some older children did and Ms. Yamashev posted their short, simple poems on the library bulletin board. Here are our favorites.

Volunteers are so helpful, honest and true

When it's time to clean up

They ask "what am I to do."

Volunteers are awesome

Oh they are so cool

They work at Mary Munford

And they help me too

Volunteers are so awesome

And they NEVER smell like dead opossum

Ms. Yameshev wants to thank her awesome library volunteers:

Susan Creasey
Toby Rosenthal
Ceci Hull
Clark and Nicole
Lillian Hudgins
Emma Gay
Elena Marcuse

Ask Your Child About...

2009-04-28T11:55:00.003-04:00

3rd - 5th Graders:

... Reference books and how to use them. You can find lots of reference books online at this link:

PORTAL: RPSLMS

K - 2nd Graders:

... Australian artist and author Graeme Base and the story Uno's Garden by Graeme Base | LibraryThing

Did you read any good books over Spring Break? Tell us about them!

2009-04-28T11:35:00.004-04:00

Click the comment link at the end of this post.

Tell us what you read over spring break. You can even post a picture.

Some classes took the character Flat Stanley with them over Spring Break.

Share your reading adventures here on this blog.

Flat Stanley Multimedia

Mrs. Yamashev is back!

2009-04-28T11:34:00.003-04:00

Be sure to ask her about her new son, Sean.

What do you think of the Newberry and Caldecott Award Winning Books?

2009-02-05T14:19:00.006-05:00

Have you read any of this year's Newberry and Caldecott winners? If so, click on comment at the bottom of this story and tell us what you thought of the book.

Newberry Medal

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Dave McKean

Newberry Honor Books

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, illustrated by David Small

The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle

Savvy by Ingrid Law

After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson

Caldecott Medal

The House in the Night illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson

Caldecott Honor Books

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Mraia Frazee

How I Learned Georgraphy by Uri Shulevitz

A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams illustrated by Melissa Sweet and written by Jen Bryant

Ask Your Child About...

2009-01-30T15:20:00.003-05:00

4th and 5th Graders:

Reader's Theater of the children's book George, Paul, John And Ben. A story not about the Beatles, but about America's Founding Fathers. The children did a great job of acting out this imaginative story.
Dictionary Skills game to practice finding words in the dictionary.

3rd Graders:

how Alexander lost all his money in the book Alexander, Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday.

2nd Graders:

fairy tales from around the world. The children read a traditional Cinderella fairy tale and compared it to different versions of the story from around the world.

Kindergartners and 1st Graders:

hibernation and winter

Where is Mrs. Yamashev?

2009-01-30T15:14:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Mrs. Yamashev who gave birth to a baby boy!

While she is taking care of her baby, Kelly Orrell is our substitute librarian. Mrs. Orrell is the mother of twins Michael and Matthew in 2nd grade. She is a familiar face to the Munford students because she substitutes for many of the other teachers. Congratulations Mrs. Yamashev and welcome Mrs. Orrell.

Ask Your Child About...

2008-12-10T13:35:00.004-05:00

4-5th Graders:

Book Hunt to find different books using the library number system. The Book Hunt game helped the children feel comfortable finding a book on the shelf using the number system.
Jeopardy Game where the students gave the question to answers based upon popular children's books characters and plots.

3rd Graders:

Animal Interview where the children picked a favorite animal, found a book about the animal and then answered questions about it. The children presented their answers like a news reporter interviewing for a news show. This taught the students research skills and they practiced public speaking.

2nd Graders:

Reader's Theater of the popular children's book Bee-Bim-Bop! The students read the book and then some were asked to act it out in front of the class. It was a very cute presentation by the wonderful 2nd graders.

1st Graders:

Leslie Tryon's book: Albert's Christmas

Kindergarten Class

The book All About Deer and facts about deer and reindeer

This Week At The Library

2008-12-10T13:32:00.002-05:00

You must return all library books (especially OVERDUE library books) before the holiday break. Check under your bed and in your desk and be sure to bring your books back to Munford's library.

Congratulations to Mrs Dunn and Miss Flanagan's Class

2008-12-10T13:25:00.003-05:00

Each 3-5th grade class that comes to the library has a chance to earn special points for good behavior, following library rules and being gentle to the books. The older students earn library dollars and the younger ones get a check mark on a chart. The results are tallied at the end of every 13 weeks.

This sessions winners are:

Mrs Dunn's 4th grade class with 252 library dollars out of a possible 260

Miss Flanagan's 2nd grade class for getting six check marks.

Mrs. Dunn's class gets a pizza party and Miss Flanagan's class picks a prize out of the Treasure Chest.

Have you read an award-winning book?

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The Newberry Medals and Caldecott Medals is awarded each year. The Newberry Award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The Caldecott Medal is awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. And this year's winners are...

Newberry Medal:
2008 - Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village
by Laura Amy Schlitz and illustrated by Robert Byrd (Candlewick) - Ages 9-12
Honor Books:
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis (Scholastic)
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion)
Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson (Putnam)

Caldecott Medal:
2008 - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press) - Ages 9-12
Honor Books:
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad illustrated by Kadir Nelson, written by Ellen Levine (Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic)
First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Roaring Brook/Neal Porter)
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís (Farrar/Frances Foster)
Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity by Mo Willems (Hyperion)

Consider donating one of these award-winning books through the library's Marvelous Monarchs Book Bank.

Ask your child about?? The guessing game

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Mrs. Yameshev challenged the students to guessing game contests during the PTA's Family Reading Night. Do you think you would have guessed correctly?

How many students at Mary Munford?
Henry McLean got it exactly right with 551.

How many non-fiction books are in the library?
The answer is 4,400 and Caleb Knapp guessed the closest with 4,500.

How many fiction book are in the libary?
Kent Dickey guessed the best with 4,500 for the real number of 4,100.

Henry, Caleb and Kent can come to the library to pick up your prize.

Thank you to all the families who visited the library during Family Reading Night.

Web Links recommended by RPS Media Center

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Media Specialists from RPS have compiled a list of useful web sites for their students. With one click, you will link up to
* encyclopedias like World Book
* Brain Pop
* SOL practice quizes
* kid-save internet search engines
* virtual reference library

Click on this link and save yourself time searching on the internet:
http://richmond.k12.va.us/services/media/portal.htm

Donate a book to the Munford Library

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If you find yourself struggling to find a gift for the child (or adult) who has everything or if you want to buy a present that is unique in honoring a special occasion, consider donating a book to the Mary Munford Library. Our Marvelous Monarchs Book Bank is a wonderful gift. Ms. Yamashev can help you select a book to donate. You will personalize it with a special bookplate inside the front cover. Every time someone checks out the book, they will see your memorial gift.

Email Ms. Yamashev for a list of books in your child's grade.
eyamashe@richmond.k12.va.us

Click on this link for the donation form.
http://munfordmedia.blogspot.com/2008/09/make-your-donation-here.html

Families were wild about reading

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Thank you to everyone who came to Mary Munford's Media Center during Family Reading Night. Pictures from this event are in November's Monarch Message.

Were you caught reading?

Family Reading Night... Oct 14th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

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This month's PTA meeting goes where the wild things are and celebrates the joy of reading. Different classrooms will host fun reading activities for the whole family. Be sure to stop by the Mary Munford Media Center. Ms. Yamashev has on display some of the new books purchased for the library. You can be the first to check out one of these new books. There are 220 new books to choose. Books such as:

The Wall by Peter Sis

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Kat Kong by Dave Pilkey

Pirates Don't Change Diapers by Melinda Long

Blue Lipstick by John Grandits

Ask your child about...

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Kindergarteners, 1st Graders and 2nd Graders

library skills
how to properly handle and take care of a book
rules for the library

2nd Graders:

a Halloween Cyber Hunt teaching them how to get facts off of a web page

3rd Graders:

the online encyclopedia to learn about Ancient Greece and Rome

4th and 5th Graders:

the advertisement they wrote and drew of their favorite book (posted on the bulletin board in the hallway)

Each week, the students practice using the resources in the library. Be sure to ask your child what he/she learned at the Mary Munford Media Center.

11 Students Receive Award for Summer Reading List

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Did you know that Richmond Public School Systems has a suggested reading list for Summer vacation? As the school year winds down, RPS prints a bookmark for the different grade levels with their choices for summer reading. It is a mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and Virginia Reader Choice titles. Some are AR books so your child can earn AR points over the summer as well. You use the bookmark to check off the title as your child reads the book.

Link to the Superintendent's 2008 Suggested Summer Reading List:
http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/services/media/readinglists.htm

Ms. Yamashev gave prizes to the 11 students who read 10 or more books from the list. Congratulations to these students:

Claire E. (1st Grade)
Tori (1st Grade)
Zack (2nd Grade)
David W. (2nd Grade)
Audrey (4th Grade)
Hill (2nd Grade)
Abby J. (1st Grade)
Avery K. (2nd Grade)
Matthew O. (2nd Grade)
Jack J. (Kindergarten)
Elinor J. (3rd Grade)

Make your donation here

2008-09-25T14:14:00.004-04:00

This Week at the Library

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Students have started to check out library books. All classes come to the library each week. The Pre-K and Kindergarten students sit and listen to a story or two. The older classes have a lesson on library skills and then select a book.

First graders check out one book.
All other higher grades check out one-two books.
Each student is responsible for returning the library book at their next library class (usually within one week). A complete schedule of the classes library time is posted on this blog.

Be sure to ask your child what he/she learned in the library this week.

The gift of reading: Donate a book to the library

2008-09-25T11:06:00.018-04:00

If you find yourself struggling to find a gift for the child (or adult) who has everything or if you want to buy a present that is unique in honoring a special occasion, consider donating a book to the Mary Munford Library. Our Marvelous Monarchs Book Bank is a wonderful gift to give. Ms. Yamashev has a list of books she needs to expand Mary Munford's growing collection. You select the book you want to donate. She will purchase it and put a special bookplate inside the cover with the name of the donor or honoree.

You may donate a book to celebrate a birthday or special occasion, recognize a special achievement (graduation, good grades) or in honor of a special teacher or staff.

The book list and donation forms are available in the library or by emailing Ms. Yamashev. eyamashe@richmond.k12.va.us

Click on the comment below for a sample of the books you can donate.

Library Schedule 2008-2009

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When does your child come to the library? Parents are always welcome to come and visit the library. You may even be asked to help find a book! See the teacher's schedule below.

ASHAUER, Fridays 11:00-12:00
BENNETT (3rd grade), Mondays 1:10-2:10
BENNETT, Thursdays 9:50-10:50
BRACKEN, Mondays 12:10-1:00
CALLIS, Wednesdays 12:30-1:20
CARPENTER, Wednesdays 2:30-3:20
CHARITY, Tuesdays 12:30-1:20
DUNN, Thursdays 11:00-12:00
FLANAGAN, Thursdays 1:30-2:20
JONES, Thursdays 12:30-1:20
KATZ, Tuesdays 1:30-2:20
KEISELR, Wednesdays 1:30-2:20
KULP, Tuesdays 11:00-12:00
LINDSTROM, Fridays 12:30-1:20
LIPPMAN, Fridays 2:30-3:30
LOMBARDI, Fridays 1:30-2:20
MALLORY, Thursdays 2:30-3:20
PEASELEY, Mondays 10:30-11:30
SCHWARZ, Fridays 9:50-10:50
STARKE, Wednesdays 11:00-12:00
VASSAR, Mondays 9:30-10:30
VIA, Tuesdays 2:30-3:20

Did you read over the summer?

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If you read any books over the summer, you may have not one, but two prizes for you. Here's how you can earn your prize.
1) Did you read 10 books from the RPS Summer Reading List Bookmark? Check the books you read and have your parent initial each check. Bring your bookmark to the library. Bookmarks are accepted until September 30th.
2) Did you take AR tests over the summer and reach your grade's goal? Students who earned points four times their rising grade level (4th graders must earn 20 points) over the summer will be invited to an ice cream party during school.

Thanks for reading over the summer!

Welcome to Mary Munford Media Center

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