YWLA Online Virtual Book Club begins February 14, 2013

YWLA is having its first online book club.

We will read Sticks and Stones by Beth Goobie.  You can access this book on the TumbleBook Middle School Library.  No need to sign up for an account since we can all read the book at the same time.

Directions to join:
You can come by the library and pick up the directions
Click here to view them online. 

We will be using Edmodo to host all of our discussions.

Happy Reading!
Mrs. Thornton

Wynne Blends Art and Technology

"YWLA Blends Art and Technology"

The students in  Mrs. Wynne-Lamb's art class at YWLA are exhibiting the effectiveness of BYOD as they use their personal devices as visual aides to create drawings of loved ones and influential personalities. They are electing special people in their lives whom they believe actively live or once lived out the essence of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream. The completed artwork will be displayed in the hallways at the Young Women's Leadership Academy in February and the students will select a few pieces to represent them in the MLK Art Contest in the spring.

DeLa Rosa uses Technology to Boost Semester Exam Grades

“YWLA Science teacher uses Technology to Boost Semester Exam Grades”

Way to go Mrs. DelaRosa’s 7^th grade science class at YWLA for using technology in a innovative way study for semester exams.  They used the net books and personal devices in class to login to their Edmodo classroom account to access the Live Binder created by the teacher with links, documents, videos and interactive simulations  to reinforce concepts learned earlier this year to study for their semester exams.  This also supports the flipped classroom model since they can access these resources at home or on the go.

Bring your own Device comes to YWLA

The girls at Young Women's Leadership academy now have the option of  bringing their mobile devices to school to use the in classroom.

Devices to be registered include:  Laptops, net books, tablets, iPads and iPod touches.
Smartphones will not be registered.

• Girls must first attend an informational and training meeting where they will view the  BYOD policies and procedures Presentation.
•  Meeting times will be announced in the morning and emailed to parents in Skyward. 
• They will sign in as proof of attendance. 
• They are given a BYOD policies and guidelines packet with a registration form to be completed, signed by their parents. 
• Students return the completed  form along with their device before school and leave with the IMS who will connect device to the GPISD secure wireless network using the student's designated  username and password. 
• Students will be given a copy of their login information in case they need to re-connect.
• Students will be given a "digital driver's license" as proof of registration. 

Note: Students now also have the option of viewing the BYOD policies and procedures before school or during lunch on their own time if they are unable to attend a designated meeting since many of them ride the bus and parents are at work due to late start time on campus.

• Students must follow all the rules and guidelines for using their device and use only with teacher permission in the classroom. 
• Students are not allowed to help other students connect to GPISD wireless.  

Here are some pictures from one of our first BYOD meetings at YWLA.

Here is Ms. W. helping a student with her mobile device.

Girls Learn about Online eBooks- Follett eBook and Tumblebook Readers

The English/Language Arts classes came to the library to learn about  free online eBooks they can read on their laptops and devices.  They learned they can view or check-out Follett eBooks once they login to their account.  They also learned how to access the Middle School Tumblebooks with or without an account.


How to access Follett eBooks 

• Navigate to the GPISD Homepage
• Hover over the Student tab and choose Library Services
• Choose Secondary Follett eShelf.  
• Note: Secondary students can also login to view and check out Elementary eBooks as well. 

See screenshot directions for viewing Follett eBooks and Catalist Audio Books

How to access TumbleBooks 

• Navigate to the GPISD Homepage
• Hover over the Student tab and choose Library Services
• Choose Middle School Tumble Book Cloud Read,Watch Learn  
• Note: Secondary students can also login to view the elementary eBooks 

Nooks Available for Check out at the Girls Academy

The girls academy have 30 Nooks for student check-out.  Here are the steps for checking out a Nook.

• Pick up a Nook Permission Form from the library or ELA teacher.
• Complete the form including a parent signature and return to the library.
• Your name will be put on a waiting list.
• Waiting lists will be posted on the library door.
• Nooks will be checked out every Tuesday morning.  Check the list to see if it is your turn.
• Nooks are kept for one week and are returned on Monday by the end of the day
• Nooks can be used in the classroom with teacher permission.

Click here to access a Nook Permission Form to print and return. 

Spooky Poem Contest Winners

The girls at YWLA participated in a "Spooky Poem Contest" to reinforce poetry writing skills they were working on in the classroom. We have over 100 entries which were posted on the outside of the library and judged by a group of ELA teachers.  Below are the winners of the contest. Great writing girls!