April is School Library Month

At GRIS, we are celebrating School Library Month. Help us celebrate by talking about all the ways you love to use the library. Is MakerSpace your favorite, or do you love coming to the library to browse for a new book to read?

Next week we will be kicking off our first ever Read-a-thon. This will work much like Jump Rope for Heart. Students will gather donations from their family and friends and will pledge to read every day. Each day we will set aside a designated reading time for the entire school to stop and read. Help us raise money for more award-winning books and MakerSpace supplies.

Participate in our family discussion by posting what you are currently reading on our padlet.

GoogleTreks™

GoogleTreks™

created by Dr. Alice Christie from Arizona State University

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Use Google Maps to “take” your students on adventures around the world no matter what the subject.

http://googletreks.org/

On this site:

• Tutorial
• Lessons for ALL subjects
• Rubrics for creating GoogleTreks™
• Rubrics for students to create their own GoogleTreks™

From Bean to Bar: Geography of Chocolate

Other resources:

• Google Maps Education - https://www.google.com/help/maps/education/
• 10 Ways to Use Google Maps in the Classroom - http://www.thethinkingstick.com/10-ways-to-use-google-maps-in-the-classroom/
• Free Tech 4 Teachers - http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2016/03/how-to-use-googles-my-maps-in-your.html#.WKo4eBIrLfY
• Google Lit Trips - http://www.googlelittrips.org/
• Google Street View - https://www.google.com/streetview/
• Use Street View in Google Maps - https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3093484?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en

2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner

And now, for the moment you have all been waiting for...

The Texas Library Association announced the winner of the 2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award today. Students in grades 3-6 from all across the state were invited to read 5 of the 20 books on this year's list and vote for their favorites. The kids have spoken, and their favorite was the graphic novel Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson.

Visit the TLA website for more facts and videos about the award.

The favorite on our campus was The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin.