Ipods, Ipads and Kindles oh my!

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Lana

Hey there

We rolled out our e readers and audio-books in the library last week, much to the excitement of our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

We are very fortunate at SAS to have a multitude of options to get books into our students’ hands. In our collection, we have over

*27,000 books, including a terrific selection of non-fiction and fiction, some of the most beautiful and newly released picture books and a growing assortment of graphic novels.

*11 Ipad’s with over 60 books on each of them. The beauty of reading on the Ipad is that the interface and graphics are incredible, graphic novels and non-fiction come up a treat. I am able to get new books in kids hands straight away, a huge bonus when it takes so long to ship new books to Shanghai from the States, which we only do ONCE year! We currently check out 1 Ipad per session to each 4th and 5th grade class.

*58 Ipod nano’s with 20 more arriving next week. These Ipod’s have audio-books on them, I am able to upload the newest releases for my students, the DAY they come out. Currently we have over 60 books on each Ipod.

*60 kindles – With 20 new kindles this year, it is possible for us to check out 3-4 kindles per class to the 14 classes in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade. As the demand for kindles for these grades steadily decreases throughout the school year, our plan is to allow 2nd grade to also check out kindles after Chinese New Year.

Current Check-out guidelines per class for these tech tools.

Grade 5: 1 Ipad, 2 Kindles, 3 Ipods

Grade 4: 1 Ipad, 2 Kindles, 3 Ipods

Grade 3: 2 Kindles, 3 Ipods

I got some satisfaction…

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Lana

…the Rolling Stones might not have, but this week, I did!

Walking in to the Elementary Library on Monday July 29th was pretty scary… it was like ‘fallout’ after an attack. Shelves, boxes, projectors, computers, desks and of course books, thousands, actually tens of thousands of books… and none of them where they were supposed to be.

In my dreams, I’d kind of envisioned walking (strutting?) into the library on my first day back with everything kind of, well, finished… ready to go, a place for everything and everything in its place. I’d imagined Joji and Stella choosing to stay in the library over the Summer, organizing everything, ‘watering’ the books so to speak, nurturing them, keeping the pages turning so they don’t get dusty or moldy. I also knew we were having the whole library painted, so on top of regular book maintenance, I knew they’d also put everything back where it should be, magically get rid of the paint smell, and probably have some fresh flowers on display too…. On my return, all I’d have to do was swan around looking important… straighten some books, throw a few on display and chat about my Summer!

I WAS WRONG! I should have known all was not going to plan when Stella e mailed me over the break to say she’d broken her ankle on her honeymoon in Scotland (as you do) and so wouldn’t be in the first week I was back! OUCH… and I don’t mean the ankle… What was I do to without my trusty right hand?

Long story short, I convinced her that wheelchair or no wheelchair… I NEEDED her and staying home on the couch (resting for heaven’s sake!) was not an option.

The next issue was that Joji missed her flight/was late/booked something incorrectly… WHATEVER! and wouldn’t be joining us for the first few days… now my left AND right hand were out of action… what to do?

Well, here is where my catchy title comes in… I got some satisfaction by getting on with it and getting things back to normal. I pushed/shoved/moved… I stacked/unpacked/sorted… I delegated/suggested/insisted… all with the help of my trusty right hand Stella… wheeling herself around, translating as needed, and doing everything she possibly could to help in her impaired state!

I have photos to follow, some before and after shots, however for now, I just feel so elated to have thing looking sort of/kind of/a little back to normal!

Come step by and say hello x

Pamela Duncan Edwards is visiting SAS

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Lana

We are excited to be welcoming our final visiting author for the school year; Pamela Duncan Edwards is arriving in Shanghai on Monday night, and will be visiting with Pudong Elementary students from Wednesday the 17th-Friday the 19th of April. She will be giving two large presentations to the K-1st graders and 2nd-3rd graders, as well as a workshop in every single Pre-K-3rd grade class. Shanghai American School students are very fortunate to have published authors come in and share their experiences and stories with them. At SAS we believe ALL students have stories to tell, and by seeing people who have successfully told theirs, it gives us people to look up to, and to aspire to.

Here is what Pamela will be doing at different grade levels with the students.

Kindergarten

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF TWO STORIES ARE ‘OPPOSITE’ FROM ONE ANOTHER?

The author will introduce and discuss the concept of opposites. She will read two books and discuss the differences in these books. She will then read a third book and discuss with the children what is the genre of the book and why.

Books: ‘ROAR: A NOISY COUNTING BOOK; WHILE THE WORLD IS SLEEPING

First Grade

CAT RHYMES WITH HAT: NOW FANCY THAT!

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Students will experience, discuss and create using rhyming text

Students will listen to two short rhyming books. They will discuss the importance of rhyme and whether they think rhyme was useful in telling these stories and why. The children will divide into either groups or work individually and be given a prepared sheet of paper on which they will be asked to create four sets of simple rhyming words – ‘bat – cat’ for example. They will then write a short piece incorporating these words. They will share their ideas.

Books: MISS POLLY HAS A DOLLY; WARTHOGS IN THE KITCHEN

Second Grade

WHAT ON EARTH IS ONOMATOPOEIA?

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Students will experience, discuss and create a story using onomatopoeia.

Students will listen to an onomatopoeia story. They will discuss the importance of onomatopoeia and identify the ‘sound words’ in the story. They will discuss how using these words affected the story. They will create their own four ‘sound words’ on an Outside-Inside’ book and will then create their own stories using these words. They will share and discuss their ideas and stories.

Book: SLOP GOES THE SOUP

Third Grade

STORIES ARE JUST STORIES. THEY DON’T HAVE ANY RELEVANCE TO MY LIFE. OR DO THEY?

LESSON OBJECTIVE: Students will experience and discuss how a book might have extraneous connections. They will create a story using this idea.

The author will read THE OLD HOUSE. She will discuss with the students how, in their eyes, this story might connect to themselves, the world, or to the text of one of the author’s other books. They will create a piece of writing on a theme assigned by the author.

Book: THE OLD HOUSE

Additionally, a dozen of Pam’s books will be for sale, all paperbacks for 50 rmb, and hardbacks for 100 rmb, including these popular titles…

One week ’til our first author arrives

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Lana

Excitement is building as the count-down continues as our first visiting author, Anne Sibley O’Brien arrives in Pudong next week.
We are fortunate at SAS to have many wonderful authors visit us from all around the world; they bring with them energy, talent and enthusiasm for their craft. Students will be able to purchase books and have them signed, listen to stories and participate in workshops with Anne who will begin her week in the Elementary School with a presentation for our first and second graders.

Throughout the week, more sessions will be delivered to our grade levels as well as some workshops for a few art classes and homerooms as time allows. Anne will also be working in the Middle and High School so I am sure you will see her somewhere around the school next week, please make her feel welcome.

A highlight of the week for me will be our United Nations Celebratory Luncheon on Tuesday October 23rd. Our Library Pages will be serving dishes that they have made with their family, representing the countries they call home. Our Elementary Teachers will join Anne Sibley O’Brien in the library to share this meal, listen to entertainment from our Elementary Musicians and contribute a donation to the ESTC campaign, providing for other children to also have greater access to food.

Please check out a list of the workshops Anne may be delivering here.
Anne Sibley O’Brien Full Info

Below is information regarding the books that will be on sale in our Elementary Library.

Below is the schedule for the Elementary School, a larger one is linked here.
Elementary ASO Schedule

Calling all volunteers

Posted on August 25, 2008 by Lana

Hello Parents

I have now made e mail contact with 15 parents, thank you for letting me know the appropriate way to keep in touch with you. I am attaching a notice from our Elementary Librarian, Mrs Barbara Boyer, regarding the opportunity for you to volunteer some of your time. (You may want to drag it to your desktop to open it.)

Library Volunteer form

If you also felt you had some time to spare and wanted to be of assistance to your son/daughter as our classroom’s “room mother” (mum or mom depending on where you are from) then send me an e mail and we can discuss the role. It does not entail very much at the 5th grade level, mainly you are just a point person for co-ordinating a few events throughout the year. It can be as big or small a role as you and I decide to make it.

I am enjoying getting to know your child. They have minimal homework over these first few days but it will steadily increase to up to almost an hour a night from Monday through Thursday. Please check that your child is bringing home their school planner, organization is important to get right at this stage of the year.

Here is another copy of our classroom schedule for you to have and maybe print out and keep somewhere handy.

Classroom Schedule

Bye for now

the barefoot librarian

Kimbra Power

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