Stories are fun to read and make us reflect.  Do you have a favorite story or book from a long time ago?  Was is an adventure, historical, sports based?  What about fantasy or science fiction? Stories can be fun, silly, creative, adventurous or excited, or perhaps all of the above! Do take a look at the story writing slide presentation to help you start thinking about stories that you would like to write.  

Me, well I do like to keep an idea book with some thoughts or sketches about ideas I have in mind.  You could also keep a block of pages in the back of your journal for these ideas (maybe 5 - 8 pages just for ideas).  I hope these tips can help you get your thinking and writing cap on!  Happy Writing! Ms. Lamb

As 8th graders continue their journey in education to high school summer reading takes on a new meaning.  Independence and diligence are required.  Significant grades come from summer reading.  Preparation is required as they grow and learn how the shift to high school will impact the level of work required in the new setting.  This slide show can aid students in recalling the details of their summer reading choices for high school.  Hopefully these tips will provide more for the foundation of reading, thinking, and writing about the things they read. Best of luck from your school librarian Ms. Lamb!!

Take a look at the slide show to learn more about the summer slide and how you can survive and thrive over the summer with some fun and steady practice.  

Here is a quick slide show on how to use our new library software to search the collection.  Remember the old rules in the library still apply.  You need to check out and renew with Ms. Lamb in the library.  You can cruise the collection, see what is new and more!  Have FUN!

This short slide show helps with some basics to get you started on your way to write stories.  Long or short stories, these tips can assist you in creating any type of story.  Take A Look! 

The basics for research will serve students for many years to come in high school, college and into the working world.  Here is a presentation for our sixth graders to begin in earnest with real research.

This week we have been looking at two genres of literature.  Older students are revisiting the Renaissance time period to connect with their social studies classes.  There are many major events and plenty of significant people in this time in world history.  We touched on a few events and movers and shakers in the artistic community and sciences as well as a couple of works of literature that can be of interest to middle school students. There is a brief slide show on the left.  

Our younger students are taking a peek at mysteries.  These exciting stories draw us in and we want in to help solve crimes, to figure out problems and to see who did it! Some great choices include: Detective LaRue, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, and so many more including everyone's favorite Sherlock Holmes. 

We have been talking about reference books in the library over the past few weeks.  I hope you have some of these great tools at home.  I have created a slideshow for you with recommendations and some facts.  Enjoy! 

New item - CIA World Factbook   use the link  on this site at the top on the right  - Library Resources -  to find this new addition to our research suite of items

News item - Library Fines 10 cents per day per book so, PLEASE return books on time! 

Happy New Year!  Reflect, Plan, Achieve!  Take A Look at this slide show! 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JcJSjAWvD7iA_62GOMayxBuInQz0R3Oe9nEMn0ZeDH8/edit?usp=sharing

Above is an article from our online Encyclopedia Britannica about Mirabeau B. Lamar 

• Jan Brett - December 1, 1949

• David Macaulay - December 2, 1946

• George Ancona - December 4, 1929

• Rhoda Blumberg - December 4, 1917

• Munro Leaf - December 4, 1905

• Betty Smith - December 5, 1904

• Anne Fine - December 7, 1947

• Mary Azarian - December 8, 1940

• James Thurber - December 8, 1894

• Joan W. Blos - December 9, 1928

• Joel Chandler Harris - December 9, 1848

• Jean de Brunhoff - December 9, 1899

• Mary Norton - December 10, 1903

• William Joyce - December 11, 1957

• Tamora Pierce - December 13, 1954

• Rosemary Sutcliff - December 14, 1920

• Eve Bunting - December 19, 1928

• Mike Inkpen - December 21, 1952

• Jerry Pinkney - December 22, 1939

• Avi - December 23, 1937

• John Gruelle - December 24, 1880

• Lynn Munsinger - December 24, 1951

• Jean Van Leeuwen - December 26, 1937

• Carol Ryrie Brink - December 28, 1895

• Cynthia DeFelice - December 28, 1951

• Richard Atwater - December 29, 1892

• Molly Garrett Bang - December 29, 1943

• Rudyard Kipling - December 30, 1865

• Mercer Mayer - December 30, 1943

• Mercer Meyer - December 30, 1943

• Gerald McDermott - December 31, 1941

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hfkJR7b2MNtWTYlTro--aaW6drfq00DiwjZtogPeg7Q/edit?usp=sharing

Here is the link to my Test Prep Slide Show.  It gives some great strategies and brief tips that can easily be part of every night homework in preparation for Middle School Exams.  Take A look! 

Here is my most recent lesson for Middle School Researchers.  We discussed the tips and hints on how to a good search, where to go for reliable sources, and what to do when you have to end up looking on the open Internet for research sources.   Happy Researching - Ms. Lamb

Study Skills Tool Box - Tips and Hints from Ms. Lamb

Our Study Skills Program often called SSK, have been imbedded in our curriculum for many years here at StJPII.  The seven skills can be found listed in three places.  You child can find them in classrooms from grades 2 and higher.  Our school website has these in the curriculum of the library.  You can find them in the first few pages of our school planner as well.  These skills are quite similar to executive functioning traits.  You, as parents, can be instrumental in aiding your children by learning more and integrating good routines at home too!  Here are a few good habits that can make homework time a bit easier.

·         Use timers to keep focus.

·         Have all supplies on hand including poster board paper (under the bed is a great safe keeping place).

·         Keep a giant baggy in the car with supplies for doing homework while waiting for sports practice/games or dentist appointments.

·         Sit up when doing homework, lying down is not an effective way to study.

·         Good daily routines like getting uniforms ready the night before and having backpacks near the door ready to go for the morning are great stress reducers.

·         Work in short bursts like 15 – 20 minutes.  Offer a short 5-minute stretch break then get it done!

·         Do hardest items first and get them out of the way.

·         When putting dates in planner for tests, projects and other larger assignments, put in time each day to study, review, or doing research so the due date does not creep up without reminders.  Start backwards with the due date!

·         Turn the tv and music off.  Most really cannot work with technology on in the background, particularly those who may struggle with study time.

Look for more tips each month!

Time management and using calendars is a skill each of us uses daily.  Students at StJPII learn how to use our school planner.  Our planner was developed just for our school.   Teachers teach to the use of it.  Teachers can often give a planner check grade too!  So, it is very important to learn this skills early.  Second graders and above have this school planner.  Each teacher uses this planner  to help students keep track of  tests, projects, homework,  you can help with other items such as sports games , practices and much more.  Students should be looking at their planners everyday.  I even suggest everyday including Sunday. We can set ourselves up for success when we check our planner often.  Make it a habit to add family items on the calendar as well such as birthdays, trips, and other special events.  On occasion, we think we remember what is on that planner.  Checking often can prevent many tears due to forgotten projects, supplies needed for an assignment, or missed items from the back pack needed for an after school activity. 

Using the planner to note family , sports, and  other events  helps us to plan homework and other studying around times when we know we will not be at home to take care of longer study times.  We can make that up on days when we have more time.  Put doctor and dentist appointments on the pages too!  Keep drawing ,doodling, and messy scratching out  to a rare minimum.  Just a simple line through the item done or a check mark.  This is a key skill keep it professional!  Every person with a job has to keep track of so many things.  Mom and Dad are the busiest, and really need to use it often.  Set that example and discuss it too!  

When writing on the planner use some common abbreviations such as HW for homework QZ for quizzes, pg  for pages or ch for chapter.  Never use the entire square in super big letters.  You might need to write more.  Use big letterings for big events, TEST, PROJECT, B'Day  reserve big size for large events. Using color is great too.  Kids love color.  Maybe a color for Tests is in RED.  Maybe  Projects are purple.  Subjects can have colors, or sports, or family activities may have color to distinguish from  school related items.    

The school planner has many additional functions to aid you.   These are great when you are completing homework in the car while waiting for practice to be over or traveling in the car to an activity.  Super Handy!!!

Master Calendar

Mission Statement

Honor Code

Dress Code

Study Skills Basics (school skills)

Study Skills Tips in the back

Common Prayers

Writing helpers such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules

Math Tables, Money,  Formulas, Geometry, and Conversion tables 

Books of the  Bible

A World Map 

A US Map

I hope you find these Study Skills Snacks helpful!  Happy Studying - Ms. Lamb

 Reading a variety of books is essential to maintain and expand reading skills.  To improve reading we should read some easy, some hard, and plenty of just right books.  Each of these types bring good things to our skill set.  Easier books help us build speed.  Harder books help to grow our personal vocabulary.  Just right books bolster our comprehension and understanding of how books tell stories through plot, setting, character development, theme.  These help give more experiences with understanding in our reading.  

Additionally,  reading a wide range of types of books (genres) is also of vital importance.  Encourage children to read all types of fiction such as mysteries, historical fiction, science fiction, fables/fairy tales, adventure, fantasy, poetry, and the classics.  Don't forget to read plenty of nonfiction too.  We all love those books about true things like science, transportation vehicles, biographies, languages, sports, and more.  

Keep Reading a Variety!  It is good for you and Fun! 

Happy Reading, Ms. Lamb - Your Librarian

Check out this YouTube video short to help you consider internet sites that may be appropriate for your projects.  This is a great site for Middle School Sites. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxyKHp47EnQ

This YouTube video is ideal for elementary students learning to research using the internet .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y-1cpnIZxs

Here is a youtube video on reliability in resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1k8rcYUmbQ

HI Friends, Check out the HPL summer reading PDF flyer. Need a fun place to go to escape the heat of summer?  How about going to the public library!  Check out the flyer from HPI.  There area activities for all ages!  Keep on Reading!! Ms. Lamb

Hello My Friends, We have a small group of ebooks for you.  These nine books are higly engaging and fun!  Use the link below to take a look at these exciting titles. :-) Happy Reading, Ms. Lamb

http://library.esebco.com

the login information   jp2 

Password   saints

This will also be on Ms. Lambs Resources link at the top right of this page