Reading Without Walls

Updated on April 18, 2018: See below.
Since many of our English teachers have created space in the curriculum for independent reading- which in our building means giving students choice in what they read -  this is the perfect year for us to participate in the Reading Without Walls Challenge! The program will run from Monday, April 9 – Friday, May 18. Please encourage all your students to participate.

What is the Reading Without Walls Challenge?
Reading Without Walls means exploring books about characters who look or live differently than you, topics you haven’t discovered, or formats that you haven’t tried. Reading Without Walls promotes diversity and opens readers’ eyes to new ideas and experiences. In this divided time in our nation’s history, Reading Without Walls is an inclusive way to spread appreciation and understanding for others — and to learn new and exciting things.

How do you participate?
It’s simple. Our students just need to follow these easy steps. 

1. Read a book:
   

   a.       about a character who doesn’t look like you or live like you 

   b.       about a topic you don’t know much about 

   c.       in a format that you don’t normally read for fun (graphic novel, verse, audio book, etc.)

2. Fill out whichever form (see below) applies to the book you selected and bring it to the school library. We will then post it to our latest bulletin board. We will have more forms in the library and in your English classrooms.
3.  For each form submitted, students will receive a Buy-One/Get-One FREE entrée card from Chipotle. Students will also be entered to win a Barnes & Noble Gift Card. 

Our "Reading Without Walls" bulletin board started off like this... 

Update: A week and a half in to the challenge, and the submissions are pouring in. Keep up the good work Pirates!

Too many submissions! We are busting out of the library. 

Library-sized Jenga

Created in our MakerSpace, library-sized Jenga! Come in a play a round. All students are welcome.

Students play a nail-biting game of Jenga with Mr. Augugliaro

Photo taken seconds before it collapsed

Mepham Dad Turned Author Speaks to Students

This year we had the great honor to host author Joseph J. Lozito, who is also the father of Mepham senior, Joe Lozito and freshman, Dominic Lozito. Mr. Lozito's autobiography, The New York Subway Hero: My Battle with Evil...and a Spree-Killer!! tells about his experience on a New York City subway car in 2011 when he came face-to-face with convicted serial killer Maksim Gelman. Mr. Lozito discussed the natural fight-or-flight response, which is also called hyper-arousal, or the acute stress response, which is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. He shared with students the most difficult part of his ordeal, which happened during a phone call to his wife while in the hospital. His presentation was engaging, thoughtful and captivated our students.

Packed library to hear Mr. Lozito speak.

Mr. Lozito raffles off 10 copies of his autobiography. 

Mr. Lozito autographs copies of his book for students.

We are so grateful to be able to bring in authors and provide our students with these type of opportunities to hear from real people about their life experiences.

Joseph J. Lozito to Visit Mepham High School

Mepham Father and Author, Joseph J. Lozito

One of the most anticipated events in the school library year after year is our author visit. This year we have the great honor to host author Joseph J. Lozito, who is also the father of Mepham senior, Joe Lozito and freshman, Dominic Lozito. Check out this documentary that details Joseph Lozito's amazing story and is the basis for his book, The New York Subway Hero: My Battle with Evil...and a Spree-Killer!!

Mr. Lozito will join us on Tuesday, March 13th at 2:15 p.m. in the school library. He will read a passage from his autobiography. There will also be a Q&A session, a book raffle, and a chance to have copies of his book signed. This event is sponsored by the National English Honor Society and is a sanctioned ELITE event. You can sign up here.

Libraries are for Creating

Teen Tech Week is when libraries make the time to showcase all of the great digital resources and services that are available to help teens succeed in school and prepare for college and 21st century careers.

We are celebrating Teen Tech Week with the theme "Libraries are for Creating," March 4-10, 2018. This year's theme encourages teens to take advantage of all the great digital tools offered through their school library to become content creators, and to leverage library resources to share out their creations, whether they be podcasts, videos, apps, games, wearable tech, or some other fabulous invention or creation!

The Mepham High School Library has so many great digital resources to create content, such as:

Computers/Chromebooks/iMacs/iPads

Movie Maker

iMovie 

3D Printers

littleBits

MakeyMakey

Cameo Silhouette

Button Maker

FlipGrid tent

Craft supplies

... And many other MakerSpace resources (Come check them all out!)