The winner of the Reading Leaders Book Brackets Contest is....

Manga!

This comes as no surprise Manga is the second most checked out section of the library. With less than 100 titles in the manga collection, the constant checkouts and renewals show the popularity of the genre.

Thank you to all who took part in in the voting.

Participate in the Reading Leaders Spring Brackets and you MAY be able to win TIGER BUCKS.

RULES:

1. Check out a book in the categories for the dates designated.

2. Vote.

3. Submit a Schoology post on the library Schoology page using ONE of the following sentence starters:

- I read ________________________________. It's a story about _______________________________________. I liked/disliked the book because _________________________________________________.

- By reading the book ___________________________________________, I learned _____________________________ (provide at least two items you learned).

4. Return the library book by the due date and collect TIGER BUCKS.

5. Place your name in the bin for raffle.

Giving students the opportunity to read for enjoyment and self select books is one of the primary ways to increase reading skills. Take a look at some of the titles in our school library collection.

NOTE- Links to various Collections are provided in the images below. Students must use their BCPS username and password to access the books.

During Black History Month, let's dive into Coretta Scott King Award-winning books! We’ve got some fantastic titles in our library, and it’d be so special to explore them together. We’d love to have both parents and staff sign up to participate in reading these impactful stories. Take a look at the available slots below, and feel free to sign up by clicking the button.

Thank you for being part of this celebration!

This February, consider reading at least one of the award winners on the Coretta Scott King (CSK) list. A collection of CSK titles at SWA has been provided. Check Destiny and visit the display case in front of the library.

Thanks to the examples provided by Shannon McClintock Miller, Choice Boards have been provided to students. From links to calming visuals and virtual field trips to links for e-books and other reading materials, students have a choice of resource for engagement and learning. Below is a snapshot of a Choice Board students will receive for the winter.

Use your BCPS credentials to access the Choice Board.

Below is a snapshot of the Top Ten Books and Ebooks at SWA. Students are able to read these titles and much more by logging onto Destiny.

Below is an example of some of the resources curated for SWA. From Math to World Languages, there is a resource for everyone and every content area in the Tigers' Den.

Sometimes, the value of the school library is better when presented by students.

Below are some of the words of students. At the conclusion of recent lessons, they were given a chance to think about what they learned during our lesson and share how the information and activities will help them in the future.

These are just some of the insights students shared.

Below is a video that showcases the gains of our school library program. This visual serves as a form of motivation for our school community to focus on the wins and possibilities through the school library program at Southwest Academy.

So far we have seen an increase in collaborations and classroom visits.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 and ends on October 15.

While no culture should be relegated to just one month, let's take a moment to highlight some resources that can be used to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month.

Use the note sheet below to take notes as you read information about a culture.

Celia Cruz

Syliva del Villard

Martina Arroyo

Dámaso Pérez Prado

Bruno Mars (singer)

Famous Afro-Latino Authors, Poets, and Writers

Miriam Jiménez Román (author and scholar)

Nicolás Guillén (poet and journalist)

Gwen Ifill (journalist and writer)

Julia de Burgos (poet)

Nuyorican Posts Cafe

Junot Díaz (author and Pulitzer Prize winner)

Piri Thomas (writer)

Paulo Lins (poet)

Source: Wikipedia Commons

To view the ELA Part Two items, you will need to do the following:

State or Provence -- Select Maryland

Districts in Maryland - Type Baltimore County Public Schools

Schools in Baltimore County - Southwest Academy

Continue as guest or students can log in using the BCPS apps portal.

Scaffolding Questions

1. What is the problem that many of the speakers share in the video?
2. What are some possible solutions that they share?
3. Do you have any problems that you have when people think of your culture or heritage?

Essential Question

1. What are some possible was we can make sure everyone is seen as an individual while making sure each heritage is uplifted?

Select one of the people on the list below to research.

News and Media

Soledad O’Brien (2010 journalist of the year)

Jorge Ramos

Ilia Calderon

Luz Pena

Reuben Salazar

Miguel Almanguer

FAMOUS AFRO-LATINO Athletes

Roberto Clemente (first Latino in the Baseball Hall of Fame)

David Ortiz (baseball)

Pelé (recognized as the best soccer player in the world)

John Carlos (track and field, football)

Felix ‘Tito’ Trinidad (boxer)

Massy Arias (trainer)

Carmelo Anthony (basketball)

Rosie Pérez (ballerina)

Sophina DeJesus (gymnast)

Famous Afro-Latino Actors and Celebrities

Zoe Saldaña (dancer and actress)

Govind Armstrong (chef)

Famous Afro-Latino Activists and Changemakers

Felipe Luciano

José Celso Barbosa

Arturo Schomburg

Rosa Clemente

List obtained from https://spanishmama.com/afro-latino-resources-for-teachers/ on September 11, 2024.

REMINDERS-

1. Only laminate items that are for classroom usage.

2. Laminate items that you will use throughout the school year.

3. Small items (one letter, one piece of paper, etc.) should NOT be laminated UNLESS they are with other items that will utilize the width of the laminator film.

**When in doubt, leave it out!**

As always, library staff at the Woodlawn Branch of BCPL are available to plan and offer services in support of our school communities, including:

• Teacher Loan Library cards with extended loan periods. Teacher Collections, which allow educators to order up to 30 items related to a specific topic, ready for checkout at the library on a date convenient for you. Let them do the legwork for you! Find more information here.

• Help with School Assignments, homework and Science Fair projects, and access to free online tutoring through Brainfuse and more. Find more information here

Resources

Below are some online practices that can be used, as well.

Virtual Calming Room:

Animals

Books and Games

Breathe

Kaleidoscope Art

Plasma Ball (with music)

Plasma Ball (with music)

First Five Archive:

Character and Pay it Forward

Mindfulness

Animal Cams

Choice Board - sign in with BCPS credentials to view the slideshow

Web Link

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dSvKUs ...

First Five is a great resource. Here is the link if you are interested in signing-up to receive the First Five every day. They arrive in the morning.

https://www.edtomorrow.com/

Take a moment to read some of the testimonials from students in our school.

Do one or more of the following to celebrate school libraries:

Teachers

1. Use library resources for projects.

2. Schedule a class visit to the library.

3. Schedule a pop-up library visit.

4. Request a Collection of resources for a class project.

5. Co-teach a BCPS Digital Citizenship lesson.

6. Request a lesson related to a BCPS database

7. Use Destiny to check out a print book, audiobook, or e-book.

Students

1. Use Destiny to checkout a print book, audiobook, or e-book.
2. Place a book on HOLD for pop-up library delivery.
3. Write a note of thanks to the school librarian. :-)
4. Sign up for Brunch Bunch.
5. Write a review for a library book and post it in Desitny or the library Schoology Page.
6. Send a Schoology message for help with class projects.

1. Please be advised that our Hayward Gourmet fundraiser starts on Monday, February 5 and ends on Tuesday, February 20. For this fundraising program we will be selling gourmet popcorn, fudge, salt water taffy, and cotton candy. Attached please find a copy of the parent letter and brochure that has been placed in your mailbox. We have asked 1A teachers, to please distribute the flier with brochure to the students on THIS MONDAY MORNING. The proceeds will go toward the spring activities that we have tentatively planned, including a Talent Show, a Sweetheart Dance, end-of-the-year activities, etc. Items can be purchased online and shipped to you for a straight $10 fee or you can have items sent to the school at no charge by filling out the brochure and leaving your order and payment in the Main Office. The Top Seller (minimum 30 items sold) will win $100. Those who sell 10 items or more will get a keychain good for a free frosty (with purchase) for the rest of 2024, and those who sell 5 items or more will be entered into a drawing for a $30 Amazon gift card.

   
   

   *Please run the fundraiser information 2 or 3 times per week until Feb. 20. If there is something in particular that we want to say about it, we will forward it to you. If you want us to send you something for the 2-3 days, please let us know and we will write something up. The main thing is the dates of the fundraiser and the prizes, but really, it's however you want to do it in the flow of the Tiger TV format. THANK YOU!

   
   

2. Attached please also find information for the 7th Annual DREAM B!G Contest sponsored by the Lyric Baltimore. If you have any students that you think may be interested, please let them know. We will leave copies of the letter and poster in the Main Office as well.

   
   

3. The final attachment is the flier for our Black History Month assembly that is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6 (9-10am) in the cafeteria. Our guest performers are the Rhonda Robinson Quartet, jazz musicians who will provide a taste of the jazz experience for 200 our students. There may not be much interest but if parents or community members want to stop by for this presentation, we are cool with that.

   
   

4. If you send out this information, please remind folks to join our Facebook group.

Students can practice the Math section of MAP by using the link below.

To open the practice test, use the following username and password:

Username - grow

Password - grow

Once you are in, do the following:

1. Select your grade level.
2. Select Math K-12
3. Select the language you prefer.
4. Select Practice Items: Math

With collaborations and pop-up libraries, we are having more opportunities for partnerships.

Buscamos padres y cuidadores para compartir su viaje (superación de obstáculos, éxitos, etc.). Si es así, comuníquese con el Profesora Love por correo electrónico a tlove@bcps.org o al 443-809-0817.

¿Algún padre/miembro de la comunidad en carreras STEM está dispuesto a hablar con nuestros estudiantes (en persona o virtualmente) sobre sus carreras?Si es así, comuníquese con el Profesora Love por correo electrónico a tlove@bcps.org o al 443-809-0817.

So far, we have had a 21.3% increase in book checkouts!!

Collectively, our Top 20 SWA Readers have read over 240 books. Let's give them a round of applause.

As the cold weather begins, students and staff are encouraged to warm up with one of the good books in the library.

In our school and library, diversity is celebrated. From titles that reflect varied experiences to resources which provide information about a variety of cultures, the Tigers' Den has something for everyone. Take a moment to look at some of the titles that have been highlighted during the first quarter.

What will you be reading?

In The Tigers' Den, Literacy, Instruction, and Technology are embraced. Here is a list of the Top 10 Teaching Collaborations for August -October:

Mr. Baldwin

Ms. Bright

Ms. Demo

Ms. Donelson

Dr. Gade

Ms. Howard

Mr. Kristy

Ms. Levitt

Ms. Lorthe

Ms. Morrison

Teachers on the list should stop by the library on 11/3/23 at 12:00 pm for a sweet treat. :-)

By using their BCPS ID and experiencing the public library in in the cafeteria, more and more students are able to access resources in the public library.

The school year has begun and this year the Tigers' Den is focusing on the following:

• increasing the number of student checkouts
• increasing the number of classroom visits for library instruction
• increasing the number of manga titles in the library collection
• creating experiences for students and staff to promote literacy in all forms

Using our online catalog provides 24/7 access to reading materials. Students can use the following videos to review how to use the catalog, Destiny.

Information with the steps to access, as well as the username and password were placed in the mailboxes of teachers.

• Teachers can use a teacher library card to receive books.
• Students have access to ebooks, language programs, and much more.

Classroom teachers can request a tutorial.

SWA is a community school!

The school library is physically closed during the summer. The videos below prepare the students for the upcoming school year and provides some tutorials explaining the online catalog.

The video below shows students how they can check their school library accounts using Destiny.

Graphic Novels and Manga was deemed the winner of the 2023 SWA Book Brackets. I will keep this in mind as I order new books for next year.

We are currently in round three of the SWA Book Brackets: March Madness Style. Make sure you submit your votes!

We collected over 180 books. Books will be delivered to the Randallstown Recreational Center by the end of next week.

As of 3/21/23. students at SWA have checked out 1,707 books in the library.*

Your challenge is to determine the following by April 5, 2023:

1. Without going over, predict the total number of checkouts our school library will have by May 26, 2023.
2. Without going over, calculate the percentage increase from today's total (see the link) to the answer you determine for step 1.
3. Submit your work via the Google link below.

The first student with the closest answers to both will receive a prize.

Submit your responses by April 3, 2023.

*The total does not include e-books.

Continue to vote in the SWA Book Bracks: March Madness Style.

In Round Three...Graphic Novels/Comics versus Adventure and...Fantasy versus Comedy. You have until March 21, 2023, to vote in this round.

From videos and infographics to art and music, there are a variety of resources that can be used to enhance the literacy skills of our students. Use the following Destiny Collection to locate some resources you may wish to use, such as an online annotation tool, political cartoons and much more.

NOTE- You will have to log in with your BCPS credentials to access.

Below are some examples of students working on research for their class assignment.

Great news! Library Orientations have been conducted in nearly 80% of the ELA Courses. Students in all grade levels have the opportunity to learn about the library program at SWA. From the books in our school's library collection to sharing a bit of information about themselves. The library orientations have been fun and informative.

The first video for The Tiger Den premiered last week. In it, there is a tutorial to show students and staff how to access the online library catalog and search for materials. Part Two will premiere in October.

Watch the video below to learn more.

Created as a way to bring the library to the students, SWA's Pop-up library premiered in the cafeteria a few weeks ago. Offered during each lunch shift on selected days, students books were given a chance to look at library books and check them out. Popup libraries will continue during the school year.

Classroom teachers are also able to request a Pop-up library for their classrooms. Share a topic, suggested date(s) and time(s) and I visit your classrooms to give students a chance to checkout books.

Mr. Baldwin is the first teacher at SWA to complete his Tiger Den Bingo Chart. Listen to him share his experience using the resources in the library for a student project. He will receive a gift card for completing three tasks on his Bingo Card.