Christmas Word Clouds

Mrs. Henning gave me the sweetest gift, a word cloud Christmas Tree comprised with all my family's names. She put it in a pretty frame and I can see my children and grandchildren's names in it. I will treasure this and bring it out in the future during the holidays. I liked it so much I wanted to try it myself. Here is an example I made this morning using Tagxedo: I would recommend this for an easy gift. Print it out on nice paper with a good color printer, frame it and you'll have a gift that anyone would love to have! Merry Christmas and have a wonderful vacation. See you on January 6th!

December 9-15: Computer Science Education Week!

I just learned that next week is Computer Science Education Week! Join students across the nation and learn more about code: the foundation for virtually any career. There are tutorials and computer puzzles to help you learn simple code. Have fun and expose your mind to something fun and useful.

Click here to learn CODE!

EasyBib’s AutoCite tool

I know a lot of you use EasyBib to complete your Works Cited pages. Did you know you  can confirm or modify the information in the EasyBib AutoCite tool to customize the automatic entry and thus be assured you have made the needed corrections for an accurate citation. Watch this little video for a more complete look on just how to use this valuable online tool.

Take a survey and receive a candy bar from Mr. G's!

I want to learn more about our CHS readers, so please . . .

TAKE A SURVEY (click link)

Tell me you took this survey and I'll buy you a candy bar as soon as I verify it. Don't worry, it's anonymous.  (Candy bar offer expires on November 12, 2013 - but please complete the survey. Who knows, you may get something anyway if you let me know) 
Thank you, Mrs. H.

Jay Asher: Thirteen Reasons Why

I attended the Washington Library Media Association conference last weekend and got to see author Jay Asher while I was there. He wrote the book, Thirteen Reasons Why, in 2007. This book has been translated in 31 languages and enjoyed worldwide. Jay shared many emotional emails from impacted teens that have read this special book. Many feel like the book saved or changed their lives. Be sure to visit the official website:  http://www.thirteenreasonswhy.com/ and read all the moving notes from people around the world. In addition, http://www.13rwproject.com is a place where fans of the books can share their thoughts and stories.  I bought another copy for our library and Jay Asher signed it with this inscription: "Everything affects everything". When I read the book, that's the message that impressed me and stuck with me over the years. I hope we all remember this as we share each day with our friends, family and classmates.

Books into movies: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Official Movie site for The Book Thief

I listened to The Book Thief as I drove back and forth to work a couple of years ago and really enjoyed listening to the story. The story, laced with many German word,s came through so clear and it took me back to a horrific time in history. My ladies book club is now reading it and I look forward to our discussion tonight. The movie comes out November 15, PLEASE try to read the book first so you can have your own images in your mind - that's part of the greatness of reading. I highly recommend this book, we have it in our CHS Library!

Lesson in Action: College Bound Video | Common Sense Media

As I observe many seniors getting ready to apply for colleges, think about scholarships, and ponder what the future holds, it makes me wonder how many students have thought about their digital footprint lately. Have you? Have you thought about the long term consequences of what you post online? This video asks that question to a group of high school students as they learn about their Digital Footprint.
Lesson in Action: College Bound Video | Common Sense Media
 

Library Readers - I can't get enough of Animoto!

Library Readers!
Here's another Animoto video. You really got to try it. Warning, it's easy to get obsessed.

What do I see @ CHS: a short Animoto video!

Have you even tried Animoto, the online movie maker website? If you need to make a little 30 second video, it's a great site to use for free. Longer videos require an upgrade, but as long as you keep it short and sweet, Animoto fits the bill. Here are a couple of examples that I have created. Give Animoto a try and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
What do I see @ CHS
one more from last year - Mrs. Swanson's class makes aprons!

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to CHS and a special welcome to the class of 2017! I hope you had a great summer break and you're ready for a very special school year. I know I'm excited to be here, it's my 19th year as your CHS librarian. I guess the best thing that happened over my summer break was the birth of my newest grandson, Angus Ryan Hightower Ryle. I hope you experienced something great over the summer also.

I'm excited about some new books we received for the new year including several copies of the Evergreen Young Adult Book Award nominees. These are always very popular and students enjoy reading them each year. If you want to know more about these books, go to the Evergreen YA Book Award website.

Be sure to drop by and check out these and other new books we received over the summer. One new book I read this summer was The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey. This sci-fi suspenseful page-turner will keep you on the edge of your seat. We have two copies, but I expect them to be checked out all the time.

Mrs. Swanson and I are excited about nineteen new health books that we have both in hardback and ebook formats. So all you ninth graders out there, look forward to hearing more about these titles. It is so awesome to know all of Mrs. Swanson's students could be reading the same book at the same time online. You can look at them through our Mackin VIA account, the link is on the CHS Library Homepage. See me for the log-on information. 

MORE SUMMER READING PROMOS: Book Domino Chain World Record

This is a fantastic video. I'm sorry about the blocking at school - watch it at home!

Get ready for summer reading

Summer is almost here and I hope you conitnue to READ this summer. Here's a few helpful websites that might help you with some summer reading ideas:

Penguin Book suggestions for high schoolers

Mackin Via and Tumblebooks!  Using Mackin VIA Cashmere School District students can read ebooks and test drive TumbleBooks at no charge through September 30, 2013. The Tumblebooks would be great for younger siblings or little ones you babysit.

North Central Regional Library offers many reading opportunities and a fun summer reading program as well. If you don't have a public library card, click here and get one now.

If you never have looked at Good Reads, do it now! This site overflows with many great book lists.

The CHS Library contains many of these books, so come next fall with your list if you don't have a chance to read all of your books this summer.

Ender's Game movie is almost here!

CHS junior Jacob holds a CHS copy of Ender's Game and admits he's reading this book right now.

I am so excited the 1991 YA sci-fi classic written by Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game, is finally coming out as a movie! November 1st is the release date. My nephew Ben posted this trailer link on his FB this morning. I think the folks who bought the movie rights years ago were just waiting for the technology to catch up with the book and make producing the movie affordable. This is BIG news to fans of the book and hopefully to all new readers. If you haven't read Ender's Game yet, you need to RUN to the library and check out a copy. It's one of my very favorite books at the CHS Library and I hope it will become one of yours too. And in November we can go to the movie - YEAH!

I am so sorry that the page doesn't load correctly at school for the above link to work correctly.  Due to our school's filter the YouTube video trailer is blocked and that affects the whole page loading process - it's not my call .  Please see Mrs. Hightower and she will log you on so you can see it.  Meanwhile, log on at home or on your smart phone and watch it, you won't be disappointed.

Have you tried EASEL.LY ?

I just discovered easel.ly, an online infographic tool. Easel.ly could be used for posters, classroom projects and timelines. Please give it a try, I think you'll like it.   Beware, it doesn't work with Internet Explorer, so download Chrome and give it a try. 

Here is a sample I made and if you need to check out a book, it might help you :-)  

May is Digital Citizenship Month!

Recently I met with two 9th grade English classses and we talked about "Online Safety" and our "Digital Footprint". There's a lot to be learned about this subject and I recommend Common Sense Media as a source of more information. Here is a poster from Common Sense Media that can help you make good decisions about sharing your photos of all your friends.

poster from Common Sense Media

April is POETRY MONTH!

April is here and that means it's "Poetry Month" at CHS!

Please take a moment out of your busy day sometime this month and savor a poem.  Find a poem here:

• Poetry 180, a poem a day for American High Schools http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/p180-list.html 

  
• Academy of American Poets    http://www.poets.org/

 

• Schmoop poetry  http://www.shmoop.com/poetry/



Did you know Shmoop is currently offering free SAT & ACT prep? 

Just click this link and you'll find comprehensive SAT and ACT prep classes (normally a $23 value) for free! In addition, through a partnership with Zinch.com, a free scholarship and college search website.  Click here to claim the free class by March 31st, 2013.
There are only a certain number of free guides - so act quickly!



It's VOTING TIME!

Yes, it's time again to vote for your favorite Evergreen Young Adult Book Award!

If you have read at least two of these great books, you can vote.  

Voting is open until March 15th, so don't delay - do it today.

You can get a ballot from Mrs. Hightower or vote online: click here to vote. 

Winner announced - The Lost Hero

 by Rick Riordan!

Mackin - Eservices - MACKIN-VIA

click here to go to Mackin VIA

I want to promote Mackin eBooks again, please take a look today.

Our User ID is: mackinncesdhs

Our Password is: ncesd171

You don't have to put a school name in - leave it blank!

We also have another account of 33 free books! I anticipate this will be our account in the future as we buy specific eBooks for our CHS collection. To access these books use:

User ID: Cashmere

Password: Bulldogs

Download VIA apps - click here

Please give ebooks a try, you might really like to be able to read on your computer or other device.

Let me know if you need help, Mrs. H.

Need more information?? go to Mackin - Eservices - MACKIN-VIA

Book Review Contest!

The North Central Regional Library is promoting a book review contest starting Jan. 14th -Feb. 28th. 

The contest, open to all ages, will highlight reviews about books patrons are reading. The winners will be chosen by the number of "likes" they receive on the NCRL Facebook page. 

Go to http://www.ncrl.org/review-contest for more information.

Do you know about the Common Core???

  
Three-Minute Video Explaining the Common Core State Standards from CGCS Video Maker on Vimeo.