NEW Van Meter Libraries VOICE Google Site!

I have some exciting news! We have a new Van Meter Libraries VOICE Google Site! VOICE will be the home of our elementary and secondary libraries. On this website you will be able to find just about anything that has to do with thinking, creating, learning, viewing, searching, accessing, listening, reading, and of course BEING HEARD!

Check out Van Meter Library VOICE Google Site Here

School Library Journal-Battle of the (Kids') Books

The Battle of the (Kids') Books brought to us by School Library Journal is a SUPER FUN place to go to read about great books just for you! It was a competition between 16 of the very best books for young people published in 2008, judged by some of the biggest names in children's books.

Go to this blog to check out the winners and read some great discussion about these books!

Excited to announce a new student blog!

It is a Snowy Day outside, just like one of my favorite books. :) In the morning when we all get up to welcome the first Snow Day of the school year, I will read that to my son Hagan.

I will also take a look at something new! It is the newest Van Meter student blog called We Talk created by blogger Emma D. This blog will hold book talks that the 4th and 5th graders are going to create in the Mac computer lab. The students are writing their book talks in December and the day we get back from break will start the production of these book talks.

Emma and her classmates will be adding lots of neat products to We Talk in the next few months.

You can find We Talk here! Have fun following their project on this blog and in the library.

befunky! Fun Web 2.0 Tools for Your Pictures!

befunky turns your images into artwork with a single click!

FUN Thanksgiving Activity!

If you're looking for an fun activity to do on Thanksgiving with your family and friends, National Geographic Kids offers a Mad Libs-like story writing activity. Funny Fill-In generates a funny Thanksgiving story based on the words that kids write in response to Thanksgiving prompts. If you don't use this at home tomorrow, consider bookmarking it for next year.

Wondering What to Do Over Break?

Thanksgiving break is here and we have five days off! I can't believe that it is almost December and the amount of THINKING, LEADING, AND SERVING taking place among our students and teachers at Van Meter!

Now since we are home for a few days are you wondering what you are going to do over break?

I have an idea for you! How about checking out all of the amazing Web 2.0 tools that I have put onto the Van Meter Library VOICE Google site? The list is growing everyday and it is a great place to go find some new Web 2.0 tools to try out.

Click here to go to the Web 2.0 Tools page on VOICE.

Also, I have added pages for Image, Sound, and Video Web Online Resources and Reading, Book, and Author Web 2.0. These tools are free and will be valuable resources to you. Try them out and let me know if you have any questions.

AND TEACHERS....I have a new page on VOICE called Teacher Web 2.0 Tools where I will post resources for teaching and learning. I will be happy to help you brainstorm ways to use these tools in your classroom! :) There are so many possibilities.

Have a super Thanksgiving!

I will see everyone next week. Mrs. Miller

Kideos....Videos for Kids!

Kideos is a great website to safely watch videos online. They have videos from Disney, Muppets, Super Heros, and more! Click here to go to Kideos and start having fun today!