Learning Commons Update by Kathy Travis

It is so hard to believe that it is November.  Things are moving along in the Learning Commons.  The book genre process  is coming along.  The books have been separated and tagged.  Still working on getting it all in the computer properly.  Mrs. Abele, our former art teacher, has created signs for our genres.  They are perfect and amazing!  She is so creative and has always been a big supporter of the Learning Commons.

Book fair preparation is in full swing.  We named our book fair Read Ahoy Where Books Are Your Treasure!  Love that!  We are making a video arrrghcade.  Each team of techsperts are making a video game for our family parrrghty night.  The winners will get a prize.  Teachers are creating pirate/ship flags and are decorating the doors of their classrooms to our theme.  My teachers are very competitive so this should be fun.  My techsperts are decorating bulletin boards and doors in the LC.  The bulletin boards are in the pirate theme and doors are about particular pirates and their history.  We are raising money for ALL FOR BOOKS to give books to the needy kids of Excelsior Springs.  Our goal is $550.  The fair will run from December 1-9.  Our family parrrghty night will be Tuesday, December 6 from 4-6:30 pm.  Plan to make a stop by to see us during our book fair so you can see all the creative things we are doing. 

We are also working on a video project with Mr. Ganzer's Career Center students.  We are entering a contest that could win us enough money to get our iPod touches, 360 camera and our 3D pens.  We are excited for this opportunity to have a PBL that includes another building. 

The LC has so many opportunities for different learning.  We have the Spheros.  Thanks to GoSphero who replaced our non-working devices.  Spheros are robots that can be programmed or done activities.  We also have add Bloxels to our space.  Bloxels allow the students to create video games.  We have purchased Breakout Boxes.  They have not arrived yet, but we are anxiously awaiting them to add to our learning.  We were awarded a grant that allowed us to purchase 25 Google Cardboard devices.  We now need to purchase devices to make those work.  We are looking at iPod touches.  We need to find funding for these.   Our Innovations Lab is full of supplies to create, do electricity activities and more. 

EXCITING things going on at ESMS!