Non-fiction eBooks: Gale Virtual Reference Library

Back in December of 2012, I announced in this blog post that we have access to non-fiction eBooks through the Gale Virtual Reference Library. To access these books, you go to the Mepham Library Homepage here and click on the eBooks tab.

"The Gale Virtual Reference Library gives you 24/7 access to full text eBooks. These reference materials once were accessible only in the library, but now you can access them online from the library or remotely. Because each library creates its own eBook collection, the content you see may vary if you use the database at different libraries (your school or your public library). In the following video tutorial you will learn how to browse and search for titles."  

More Media

Good Hair

Last year, we were hard at work enhancing our media collection. Thanks to an $800 mini-grant from the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, we were able to purchase 57 new (and replacement) DVDs. We also added many non-fiction titles. These films enhance classroom instruction and are fun too! Films in the classroom are often times shown in segments and not as full-length features, depending on the curriculum. These films are reserved for teachers to check out.

Speaking of fun films, tonight is Mepham's first "Movie Night Under the Stars" out on our new turf field starting at 7:00 pm. After an intense fundraising contest between classes, the seniors won the right to select this year’s movie and they chose Grease. This event is sponsored by the Mepham High School SADD chapter with all proceeds set to benefit the Most Valuable Kids of Greater NY organization. Tickets are $5.00. We hope to see you tonight!

Titles from the mini-grant include:

10 Things I Hate About You
12 Angry Men
And Then There Were None
Antigone
Blood Diamond
Bowling for Columbine
Bully
Capitalism A Love Story
The CrucibleDeath of a Salesman (2 versions)
Emma
Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fast Food Nation/Idiocracy/Young@Heart
Good Hair
Good Will Hunting
The Grapes of Wrath
The Great Gatsby (2 versions)
Hamlet
Happy
An Inconvenient Truth
Inherit the Wind
Jane Eyre (2 versions)
The Joy Luck Club
Julius Caesar
The Kite Runner
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
Life of Pi
Lord of the Flies
Macbeth (2 versions)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Miss Representation
Much Ado About Nothing
Of Mice and Men
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
Ordinary People
Our Town
Paper Clips
Pride and Prejudice (2 versions)
Romeo and Juliet
The Secret Life of Bees
The Scarlet Letter
Sicko
Spellbound
A Streetcar Named Desire
Supersize Me
To Kill a Mockingbird
Tuesdays With Morrie
Twelfth Night (2 versions)
V for Vendetta
William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet (music version)

Database Week: Science In Context

We subscribe to several databases or online resources to support the curriculum taught at Mepham High School.  These databases can be very useful, especially for research. Our Intro to Science Research classes and our Advanced Science Research classes can specifically benefit from this next database: Science In Context from GALE Cengage Learning.

"Science in Context is an engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information on hundreds of today's most significant science topics. The new solution merges Gale's authoritative reference content with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, experiments, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal experience."

All databases can be assessed at school or at home and on mobile learning devices through an Internet browser. Click here to access ALL of our databases. These are password-protected. See Ms. Stack or Ms. Gellerman in the school library for the username and password.

Database Week: Opposing Viewpoints in Context

Here at Mepham High School we subscribe to databases or online resources that make it easy for our students to get reliable information from trustworthy sources. These databases can be assessed at school or at home and on mobile learning devices through an Internet browser. Click here to access ALL of our databases. These are password-protected. See Ms. Stack or Ms. Gellerman in the school library for the username and password. One of our most popular databases is Opposing Viewpoints in Context from GALE Cengage Learning. Below is a brief description from the company and a short video tutorial.

"Opposing Viewpoints in Context is an engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues. Drawing on the acclaimed Greenhaven Press series, the new solution features continuously updated viewpoints, topic overviews, full-text magazines, academic journals, news, primary source documents, statistics, images, videos, audio and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal experience."

 

Opposing Viewpoints in Context  was offered to us for free this year as part of NOVEL (New York Online Virtual Electronic Library). Provided by the New York State Library, NOVELny connects New Yorkers to 21st century information.

Database Week: Student Resources in Context

Every day this week, I will be introducing you to a database (otherwise known as an online resource) that we subscribe to and showing you ways to navigate these sites. The first one is Student Resources In Context  from GALE Cengage Learning.

"Student Resources In Context is an engaging online experience for those seeking contextual information on a broad range of topics, people, places, and events. The new solution merges Gale's authoritative reference content with full-text magazines, academic journals, news articles, primary source documents, images, videos, audio files and links to vetted websites organized into a user-friendly portal experience combined with new features such as Search Assist and quick fact boxes."

All databases can be assessed at school or at home and on mobile learning devices through an Internet browser. Click here to access ALL of our databases. These are password-protected. See Ms. Stack or Ms. Gellerman in the school library for the username and password.

The Writing Center @ Mepham High School

Image Source

What is the Writing Center?

• The Writing Center is a place where any Mepham student can get help with his or her writing. 
• The Writing Center is a place for writers of all ability levels to come and improve their craft.
• The Writing Center is a place where a student will work closely with a writing coach to provide feedback on written assignments.
• The Writing Center is a fixture that aims to improve a writer’s entire writing practice through the use of collaborative writing approaches like open-ended questioning.

What can writing coaches do?

• Read through paper with the writer. 
• Ask constructive questions about the writing. 
• Make suggestions for improvement. 

What can’t writing coaches do?

• Edit the paper for the writer. 
• Teach about the content of the paper. 
• Replace extra help.

Who should use the Writing Center? 

• Everyone. We aim to help all writers at any level of writing on all different types of writing assignments.

How do you book a session?

• Just stop by the Learning Center during periods 1 - 9, or after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays, and ask to see the writing coach on duty.

How long is a writing session? 

• Typical sessions last between 15-20 minutes depending on the length of the paper and what stage of development it’s in. 
• Avoid booking sessions right before the assignment is due—you will need time to make changes to your paper.

What should you bring to the Writing Center?

• The original assignment your teacher gave you. 
• Any rough drafts or outlines you have made. 
• The texts or documents with which you are working. 
• Any rubrics your teacher has given you. 
• A writing utensil and extra paper. 
• A positive attitude.

Mepham High School Library: MHS Library Orientation 2014

Are you new to Mepham High School? Part of the Class of 2018? Welcome! We are so glad to have you. Click here to view our library orientation video. Missing from the video is our new cart with 30 Chromebooks. Come check them out today!

I created the accompanying handout below with Smore. It's a site that allows you to create online flyers. I upgraded to the education package for $39.00 per year, which allows me to download my flyers in HD and remove the branding.

To view online click here