The Library… a Place for Creativity and Curiosity

by Kim Beam, Virginia Williamson Elementary School Library Media Coordinator 

At least once a month, students may select and engage in Learning Stations that they have an interest in. These may include Mindfulness Coloring and Creating Bookmarks, Lego and K’Nex Design and Building, Puzzles and Board Games as well as Investigative Stations with non fiction and reference books on a variety of topics/subjects. 

Mrs. Beam has offered students the opportunity to join and participate in a couple of SORA Reading Challenges this year. The top 20 students with the most minutes read for a designated period of time, have received prizes and Stingrary Bucks! SORA is an online digital library where students can enjoy electronic and audiobooks. 

Every year, the first week in March our Stingrays CELEBRATE READING in a BIG way… with Read Across America week! This year, after dressing up for Wonderful Wacky Wednesday, All American Spirit Day and Favorite Book Character Day, the week concluded with guest readers from all over the county! Readers included staff and employees from various departments and schools throughout BCS, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department, Brunswick County Public Library, VWES Watch Dogs, Supply Baptist Church, Jennies Branch Baptist Church, VWES PTA, family and friends of our VWES staff, community volunteers and members of our Battle of the Books Team! We are so grateful to a community that supports and encourages the Love of Reading!!! 

Finally, the BCS Elementary Battle of the Books Competition was March 19. These teams,  composed of fourth and fifth graders, have been working hard since September, preparing for their competition! These students have read 16 titles and have been practicing together for months. They were all so excited to show what they know and have been super dedicated to this extracurricular activity! A Big Congratulations to Union for taking 1st Place, Belville for earning 2nd Place and to Town Creek for 3rd Place. All teams did an amazing job!!! Also, the North Carolina School Library Media Association posted next year’s list recently… You can take a “sneak peek” HERE! 

Copyright Corner

What is self plagiarism, and why should we teach about it?

Self-plagiarism is reusing data and information over and over again. For a more detailed description, check out this article.  We have all seen it, especially if you attend enough subject-area conferences.  Keynoters and featured speakers often repackage and redistribute the exact some presentations, down to the jokes, but what are we modeling for our students? 

In high school and undergraduate work, recycling papers in whole or part is considered a form of cheating, if you get caught.  In more advanced degree areas, it is truly frowned upon because it does little to expand the body of knowledge.  The thing we need to begin instilling upon on our students is that it is wrong and it is easy to get caught.  In today's digital world, digital assignments are catalogued and saved and then searched for just this type of behavior.  We need to work with students to understand how not to self-plagiarize.  

-Jeannie Timken, Director of Digital Learning and School Library Services

Reflect

Looking to reflect on your current teaching practices? Want to learn and grow? Below are some professional learning opportunities as well as links to some of the many resources BCS Digital Learning & School Library Services provide!