What We ALL Got for Christmas

After all these years (17 to be exact) of living in Indonesia we have finally decided to leave now that our youngest son is graduating. Both our children have received a wonderful and rich education at JIS and we are grateful to the school and teachers. 

Once the news of our departure reached my husband’s family, plans were started to have Christmas in Bali. The amazing part of it all was that everyone came. Every brother, sister, in-law, niece, and nephew. We were 16 people in all, ranging in age from 6 to 67. Christmas just became a none entity in the equation of the visit. No tree, no presents, but it will go down in history as a family memory that none of us will forget. 

Christmas giving has evolved in this family from gifts to books to just the pleasure of spending time together. 

We didn’t ditch the book giving over the holiday. Everyone came armed with a book or two or three. Books were shared and traded and discussed. I don’t think it was only JIS that created my sons into reader. It took a family. It took reading every night and it took creating that time and space for sharing and enjoying reading together. Now, both my sons recommend books for me to read. 

We at the PEL Library have also received a great gift. In December over 2,000 NEW books were delivered and are now showing up in the library around the circulation desk. I would like to introduce you to some of the gems...

LOWER ELEMENTARY: EC-Gr.2 (Reviews from Titlewave)

RHYMING DUST BUNNIES by Jan Thomas 

This dynamic quartet of dust bunnies, Ed, Ned, Ted and Bob, have quite the flair for rhyming words--except for anxious Bob, who is wisely more concerned about their perilous surroundings. In response to each rhyme, Bob dramatically declares that their enemy draws near: " 'rug' / 'hug' / 'mug' / 'LOOK OUT!' " Unfortunately, each of Bob's pleas falls on deaf bunnies' ears. Ned obliviously responds, "Bob, no... 'LOOK OUT! HERE COMES A BIG SCARY MONSTER WITH A BROOM!' does not rhyme with ANYTHING, really." When the inevitable occurs, with a dramatic "Thwptt," the threesome finally listens to the rational hero, providing a powerful punch line. Thomas's digital illustrations, stark against her solid, colorful backgrounds, successfully accentuate the witty text. The shaggy dust bunnies are boldly contrasted, as their colors--green, purple, red and blue--extend past the thick lines into the ever-so-slightly-less-red background. With their wide noses, long ears, four-fingered paws and buck teeth, these fuzzy characters are a riot. Put away your cleaning supplies for a little messy fun.

PIGS MAKE ME SNEEZE: by Mo Willems

Elephant and Piggie are back, in their tenth mini-drama. In this episode, Elephant’s sneezing convinces him that he is allergic to pigs and therefore must be apart from his friend—forever! Doctor Cat diagnoses the sneezes as a cold rather than an allergy. Excitedly, Elephant rushes to tell Piggie the news, and we see in the last frame and the endpapers that Piggie now shares her friend’s illness. 

Upper Elementary: Gr.3-5

JANUARY’S SPARROW by one of my favorite authors, Patricia Polacco

After an escaped slave has been found and returned to a Kentucky plantation to be whipped to death, young Sadie Crosswhite and her family decide they must escape themselves, making for the Ohio River, where they are taken across to Indiana by a "rowin' girl." The family eventually reaches a protective community in Michigan, where they live safely until found by their erstwhile owner; he demands their return, and the law is on his side. Like Polacco's Civil War story Pink and Say, this long picture book is based on a true historical incident, one that illuminates the necessity and strategies of the Underground Railroad. Polacco makes the history dramatic and compelling, writing with a minimum of dialect and sentimentality.

THE DAY-GLO BROTHERS: THE TRUE STORY OF BOB AND JOE SWITZER’S IDEAS AND BRAND-NEW COLORS by Chris Barton

Grades 2-5. Still in their teens in 1933, brothers Bob and Joe Switzer began experimenting with fluorescent colors and trying to create paints that would glow in the dark. Joe saw the potential for improving his magic show, while Bob, who was recovering from an industrial accident, hoped to make some money to pay his medical bills. After years of experimentation, they succeeded in creating paints that glowed in daylight as well as ultraviolet light. 

This Christmas holiday will be etched in my memory forever but some of the best times were quietly reading, sharing stories, and exchanging books. Make this a year round practice at  your house and the love of reading will grow with your children. 

What is TeLMS? A bit like a THNEED that everyone, everyone, everyone needs

I have always loved reading Dr. Seuss http://www.seussville.com/books to children. I was always fascinated by the way he could create rhyming in his stories in the most creative ways. The best part is how he makes up words when he can’t seem to find just the right word for the next sentence. Wouldn’t you love to visit the Island of Sala-ma-sond or the far end of town where the Grickle grass grows? How about going to the zoo with Gerald McGrew seeing a Iota from the far Western part of Dakota. Beside places and animals, Dr. Seuss creates nouns and verbs that are often a very important part of the book. For example a thneed is a fine-something that all people need. It’s a shirt. It’s a sock. It’s a glove. It’s a hat. But it has other uses. Yes, far beyond that. 

Sometimes Seuss just creates a fun variation on words like chimley for chimney to rhyme with nimbly. The best part is that it all works and they are a joy to read aloud. My favorites are HORTON HATCHES AN EGG, THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS and of course THE LORAX. If none of this makes any sense to you than you must begin to read Dr. Seuss.

I guess I actually should not be so amazed at this Suess Language. We have an even greater repertoire of educational JIS jargon. It is almost like a secret language. We don’t use it to help us rhyme or create rich stories. I think our language makes you part of the club. If you understand it all you belong. I always thought it would be fun to write a JIS story using JIS language. What could we name this language: JISism, JIS-function (like dysfunction), JISology, JISjargon, JISations, JIStalk, JISpeak, JISlang, JISwanttobe, JISdoit.

My hand at Seussisms or JISisms...

JIS

In the center of the huts where our kids hang out.

Full of trash and things all about. 

Running to the SWLC is taking my time

As I try to make this story rhyme. 

There is always traffic in front of CIL

I have to say I have had my fill. 

Near the FAT, I’m past the gate,

Will I get there at this rate?

My EQ’s are on edge.

As I have made a solemn pledge...

To create norms and make them work

Collaborate in PLC with every jerk.

The PTA or PAF what’s the differences in the name.

Is it all just one big game?

Does EDM really need to everyday,

Making the ends of my nerves fray.

The AP/IB program runs this place

A bit like a rat in a never ending race.

And now we want to give the MAP

To see if there is a learning gap. 

If you are new and work at PIE,

Don’t you just want to curl up and cry 

Don’t forget PEL and EAL and KKJIS

How can all these things exist.

Can my son get enough credits for CAS

Without dying or running out of gas.

EARCOS, EARCOS, want to go

There goes you PD money for one big show.

Now we need some TLC 

But none of this is about me.

I have to say that at JIS...

It goes on a bit like this.

How do we get through the day

That is the question, I ask... if I may?

by a Dr. Suess want-to-be

If none of this makes any sense to you, than I suggest you read the WASC Report. 

Here is my interpretation of it all...

TeLMS=Technology & Library Media Services, EQ=essential qualities, SWLC=school wide learning council, WASC=Western Association of Schools and Colleges, IB=international baccalaureate, EE=extended essay, PEL=Pattimura Elementary, PIE=Pondoh Indah Elementary, CIL=Cilandak, FAT=fine arts theatre, MPR=multi-purpose room, W3=wantilan, EDM=everyday math, JIS=Jakarta International School, PAF=parent academic forum, PTA=parent teacher association, PLC=professional learning communities, PTC=principals training center, VP=vice principal, HLC=High School Learning Council, SST=support service team, EAL=English as another language, S&E, KKJIS, TLC (tech, learning and communication, the learning center), TeLMS=technology and library media services, IASAS=International association of south asia schools, AP=advanced placement, CIS=counsel of international schools, EARCOS=East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools, ELA=english language arts, ELL=English language learners, GLSA=grade level subject area, ISTA=International School Theatre Association, MAP=MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS, CAS=COMMUNITY ACTION SERVICE,TAA=tolong anak anak, VPA=visual performing arts, 

How can I get you to read my blog? Feel good news.

If you are a newspaper reader or a TV news watcher you are well aware that what you see is almost all the bad news. I always wanted to start a feel good newspaper, knowing very well it would NOT be popular. I actually found a feel good newspaper in Bali, of course! Than there is the onion news that you can read and watch athttp://www.theonion.com/content/index This will give you a great laugh, but it is just making fun of all the bad news. Try  this video http://www.theonion.com/content/video/are_violent_video_games

CNN Heroeshttp://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/ is a great place to find feel good ideas that people are doing. You can nominate a 2010 hero! 

If you are one of the few who enjoys good news, than become a follower of the PEL Library Blog. Here you can read good news. You can even write to the author, ME, and suggest what you would like to hear and know more about. 

At this point, I have 9 followers on the PEL Library Blog. My own son is not even following it. If you want to motivate the author, ME, please log in and click follow. I wish to have 200 followers by the end of the school year! 

Make my WISH come true!

BEING RESPONSIBLE WORLD CITIZEN NOW!

How can it be that every 3.5 seconds a person dies of hunger and WE HAVE enough food to feed the world? This is a question that the Pattimura Grade 5 students have been asking themselves, each other and their teachers. Java Feeding the Millions is a unit of study they have been working on for the last 4 weeks. This unit was introduced on a wiki that can be found at: http://javafeedingthemillions.pbworks.com/FrontPage

If you are an interested in logging on to this site, please contact rpolonsky@jisedu.or.id

Here is their task:

Dear JIS Grade 5 Students:

My name is Ibu Siti Pattimura. I work as an aid agency called FOOD FOR ALL or YAYASAN MAKANAN UNTUK SEMUA (YMUS) and we are trying to feed the world. As an aid agency we are looking for a group of experienced researchers to create a compelling "story" about hunger.

The author, Daniel Pink writes, "Stories can be healing." Throughout the ages children have been told stories by adults at times when they need guidance in order to cope with a difficult life situation. Stories teach us what is right and wrong. Stories are how we learn. YMUS would like your research group to create a compelling true "story" of hunger. We will use your presentation to:

1. Convince large companies and governments to improve conditions which lead to hunger.

2. Convince the public to give generously when they donate to our cause.

We are interested in hiring the research team that best expresses the facts of hunger in a compelling and empathetic way that speaks to all who view your presentation. YMUS knows that there is enough food to feed the world population, but still many men, women and children are hungry everyday.

You have 4 weeks to create a project to present to the Board of Directors of the Yayasan Makanan Untuk Semua.  Your teachers will divide you into groups for collaboration. See the pamphlet from the library about the "Six Easy Steps for Research Projects" to help you with this process.

This presentation must include the following information:

Background: This is where the team has to provide general information on hunger based on research that they have conducted during their inquiry. This portion of the presentation should demonstrate that you understand:

    * What hunger is?

    * The different causes of hunger

    * Why, despite there being enough food, people are still going hungry?

    * The different types of programs that are currently being used

    * Hunger from the perspective of person who you are trying to help

 

After you have researched your background information your group will decide on how they will present the information using appropriate visual media to engage your audience. Your team should include innovative suggestions of how to solve this global issue but understanding the steps may start small.

Remember the saying: “If you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, if you teach a man to fish they will eat for a life time.”

OR

“If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. If you teach a man to learn, you feed him for a lifetime and he doesn't have to only eat fish. ..."

OR

They don't need to be taught to fish-instead, they need an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. (by Shawn http://uncultured.com/)

In four weeks time the Board of Directors  of YMUS will be here to experience your presentations.

Good Luck!

Sincerely Yours,

Ibu Siti Pattimura

The wiki has resources that include websites, videos and books to assist students in their research. It also includes the rubric on creativity and has information about how to research. The Pattimura TeLMS (technology & library media services) as a team have decided to introduce the first NETS-S standard on creativity. We want to thank Bindu Bammi a MS art teacher for her useful rubric that we changed slightly. The rubric was introduced to all the classes and gave them the vision of what to strive for.

The excitement and learning has been escalating over the last few weeks as students learning research skills, new technologies, how to collaborate and most important how can they be responsible world citizens!

Sticking Your Neck Out...I Want to be a GIRAFFE!

So, here is my new goal in life... to be a giraffe. About Giraffes: Here at the Giraffe Heroes Project, we have long honored the risk-takers, people who are largely unknown, people who have the courage to stick their necks out for the common good, in the US and around the world. This site will tell you more http://www.giraffe.org/ YES, I want to be a giraffe! Giraffes stick their necks out. We all have to stick out necks out if we want to create a better world. I am a baby giraffe right now. I do the recycle program at Pattimura School, I run the roots and shoots after-school program. I am Captain Code Green, reminding everyone about helping mother earth. I have encouraged service at school in many different ways. BUT...I still want to be a big giraffe with a long neck. What could that look like? I think I have to get my hands dirty and really get out there and do something. 
So...here I am at a huge crossroads in my life and I really could check out the me to we organization. I could send them my resume that I started on service and see what happens. Why stop here. Why not sent the resume to a slew of service organization world-wide and see what happens. Why not really stick my neck out!  

Don’t JUST google Please, Where to find information with your children?

Do you realize that if you GOOGLE the word dogs, you get 153,000,000 hits. What can you do with all that information about dogs? Who wants that much information about dogs? How long would it take to read all that information about dogs? How much of that information about dogs is accurate? This kind of searching is overwhelming for our students. We want to teach your children how to best access information and for now in elementary school we want to keep it simple.
Our library catalog is created by a company called Follett Destiny. Besides just finding books for you in all JIS Libraries, you can go to Webpath and find sites that are kid friendly. JIS has given Follett the names of our units of study and they have been able to find sites that are evaluated by experts. We know these sites contain correct information that is helpful and kid-friendly. We would like to invite parents to explore the PEL Catalog and see if they can use Webpath. It operates like any other search engine. Here is where you find it. Explore!

One Search is also a great place to find information. You can find a number of different kid-friendly online encyclopedias, and other kid publications like Yahoo! Kids, Atlapedia, World Book, GOT QUESTIONS? GET ANSWERS, netTrekker, sirs, and KidsClicks. You can find One Search on the PEL Library Catalog under Find, all the way to the right with a handheld magnifying glass.

If you are still not information rich, go to the PEL Library Homepage. There are connections to a number of search engines, but remember these are not evaluated or censored. Some of my favorites are PBS Kids and Onekey for kids (a google site for kids). You will also find DK Encyclopedia and Smithsonian on the homepage.
If you are more confused than ever...please stop in the library and ask. We are here for you and your child's information needs. Or email me at rpolonsky@jisedu.or.id.


Remember the PEL Library Homepage for your information needs!

Grade 3-5 BLOGS

We are starting blogs with our grade 3-5 students. It has been a great process and they are all very excited. I would love to know how others are using blogs with elementary kids. We want them to use it for writing, reflection, special final projects, and projects in progress. It will be great if they keep these throughout their school careers as places to share work. I will search some ideas about what others are doing.

If you are interested in creating your own blog, go to blogger.com It is easy and simple and you and your child can follow each other.

Off to Hong Kong on Wednesday for a 21st century tech conference. I went to one last year in Shanghai and learned a great deal. Blogging with kids is the kind of ideas sharing I will be able to get.