Rufus Reads: reading our way around the world!

https://flic.kr/p/85Joc7

The Geography Bee is a big deal at our school. One of our students made it to the national level for the state of Washington, and another represented our school at the state finals! Reading is also a huge passion of among our students. 

Inspired by London writer Ann Morgan's blog "A year of reading the world," I'm setting a challenge for our students and staff. Those who choose to participate will:

• Read a book set on each continent or by an author from each continent (Antarctica is optional)
• Track their progress on the maps hanging up in the Library Learning Commons (we'll draw a line from place to place so you can see where your journey takes you!)
• Let the LLC staff know which books they read, so we can update our ongoing list

Other guidelines:

• Fiction and nonfiction are fine
• Everyone will choose a book that's "just right" for their reading level
• Listening to audiobooks definitely counts!

Between all of us, let's see how many different countries we can visit! Feel free to comment here with your favorite books from around the world.

Happy reading and armchair traveling!

Finding Spanish language resources

This week I visited Vista Spanish classes and shared some useful resources with students.

Improve your Spanish (or learn other languages) online!

Go to KCLS - click on Databases at the top of the page – select Language Learning from the subject list (scroll down) – Choose a database and log in using your KCLS number

byki
Language learning software with access to flashcard-based lessons in 70+ languages.

Little Pim
Language learning lessons for children. Little Pim is part of Mango Languages - click on the 'Courses' link and select 'Little Pim.' This would be great for younger siblings of Vista students.

Mango Languages
Language learning lessons with reading/writing/listening components.

Oxford Language Dictionaries
Language dictionaries for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish.

Borrow Spanish books, magazines and audiobooks!

Go to KCLS and in the catalog choose Advanced Search. Set the language option to "Spanish."

If you want, you may limit your Material Type (e.g. Magazine, DVD or Book), Collections (e.g. Teen or Children’s Materials), or search by Author, Title or Subject.

Want to learn more?

The Pura Belpré Award “is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.”

Hispanic Heritage has biographies, an historical timeline, articles about Latin music and culture, and links to other sites!

Finding foreign language materials at the public library

Today I taught Ms. Vernon's advanced Spanish students from Vista how to search for Spanish language materials at the public library. This information may be useful to those of you looking for other languages as well!

1. If you just want to browse, you can go directly to the list of foreign languages offered. (Or, start from the main page, click on BOOKS & READING, select Browse Books, click on Browse Books by Format, then choose Other Languages.)

2. If you know exactly what you're looking for, you can do an advanced catalog search, enter the subject, title or author search terms, and then choose your language in the drop down menu. From the main page or any other page in the catalog, you can also select Advanced Search.

Foreign language learners should also remember that KCLS subscribes to two language learning databases (byki and Mango) that are available to all KCLS card holders. Just choose DATABASES from the main page, then click on Language Learning to select one. You will need your KCLS number to log in.