Edge of Sanity

It isn't often we are able to share in the inner working of a creative mind. Edge of Sanity provides the reader with chilling stories, insightful poetry and original music. RSS student Alex Reid unleashes his thoughts and will open your mind. Check it out.

For the love of reading....

Earlier this week I read, a document called  What Kids Are Reading; The Book-Reading Habits of Students in American Schools, 2012 edition (80 page PDF). The document focuses on reading levels of the most popular young adult books out today. The list compares Suzanne Collin's The Hunger Games (reading level 5.3) and Meyer's Twilight (4.9) with classics such as Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (4.5)  and Elie Wiesel's Night (4.8). 
What this makes clear is that a book's reading level does not take into account more than how long sentences are and the level of vocabulary. Wiesel's Night is far from an easy read, focusing on his experience as a teenager in concentration camp, while addressing the personal and psychological implications of the Holocaust. Reading is about the experience, whether fending of vampires or reliving the Great Depression through the eyes of another. Kids need the freedom to choose the books they want to read. As a teacher-librarian, I want to make sure students enjoy reading and read for pleasure. For many reluctant readers, The Hunger Games is serving as a bridge to other novels and rekindling an interest in books that they have lost over the years.

Picture from Doug Johnson's Blue Skunk Blog http://bit.ly/JezZ64

RSS Reads

Congratulations to RSS students Samanta Fleming and Sara Lapointe on obtaining a Columbia Basin Trust Youth Grant for their proposal 'RSS Reads'. The project's goals are to promote the importance of literacy to local youth and appreciation of the value of reading. The grant will create a common space for students to study and read comfortably in the RSS Library. In addition, guest authors and poets will be invited to promote a love of literacy. We will also be organizing a "Get Caught Reading" contests in the near future. Look for changes to start happening soon.

Photo: K-12 Vinalhaven School, Vinalhaven, Maine

EasyBib: your research and citation tool

Many of you have had the chance to use EasyBib for your research: whether it's to use the notebook feature or simply create your bibliography. EasyBib has now added additional features to improve your research experience. You can now share your notebooks and bibliographies to make working collaboratively that much easier. The notebook also allows you to organize your notes by colour coding them and then dragging them into your outline. Take advantage of our subscription to EasyBib. It will make researching more efficient and effective.

Fire in my belly

Photo by Kali Butler

The burning desire that resides deep within; the unexplainable force that propels one to push their limits: Fire in My Belly. Kali could not have chosen a more appropriate name for her blog. She pushes herself to be the best she can be, mentally and physically. RSS student, and Red Mountain Academy athlete, Kali Butler, is living in Panorama, BC this winter to train and ski race as a FIS athlete. She is recording her experiences on her blog, Fire in My Belly, and you can follow her journey as she experiences the highs and lows of training, racing and living independently for the first time.  Feel free to comment on her posts.

The Joy of Books

Claremont Review's Annual Writing Contest

The Claremont Review's Annual Writing Contest is on.  Submit poems, short stories or both until March 15.  The contest is open students aged 13 to 19 and the top prize is $500.  The Claremont Review is a non-profit organization supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Magazine Fund and Heritage Canada. All entrants receive a year's subscription to The Claremont Review. For further details go to The Claremont Review's site.

I'm Reading a Book

Thanks to our ever talented Caelum and his posse of readers.

Get More Out of Google

 

With information available at your fingertips 24/7 you would think most of us would be expert researchers by now but that is not the case.  A recent study discovered that less than 25% of students know how to effectively research. Thanks to the students at HackCollege for putting this infographic together. Check out the full infographic here and start becoming a Goolge master.

Teen Suicide with Rick Mercer

This year 300 teenagers have committed suicide. That is 300 too many. Many of these teens were bullied. Something can be done. Speak up and speak out. Some of these kids were gay and were harassed  for their personal choices. Harassed to the point of suicide.

Plagiarism

Worried you might be nailed for plagiarism? Not sure? You didn't mean to but you might have? Watch this short video created by the folks at Common Craft. They make it pretty easy to understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it.

Inquiry Based Learning

Inquiry at RSS on Prezi

7 Billion and counting

Forcasters at the United Nations say that today the world's population has surpassed 7 billion people. Cause for celebration or concern?
"Our world is one of terrible contradictions," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Plenty of food but one billion people go hungry. Lavish lifestyles for a few, but poverty for too many others."
Will we be able to feed, house, educate and provide clean water and a decent life for all children around the world? Check out CBC's Offbeat math: Sizing up a world of 7 billion people to see some interesting facts and figures.

Kootenay Literary Competition 2011

 
Calling all writers to enter the 2011 Kootenay Youth Creative Writing Competition.  If you're in Grades 7 - 12, and live in the Kootenay region of British Columbia  write an original work of 2,500 words or less that has not been accepted, published or submitted elsewhere for consideration.  That work should fall into one of the following literary categories:

• Short Fiction
• Creative Non-Fiction
• Poetry – Sequence of Poems or Linked Poems

What you have to include:

Grades 7-9:  Your written work MUST include the words “tricks” “seventeen cents” and “sweet”.  It doesn’t matter what order they appear in, but all the words must appear somewhere in your written work.
Grades 10-12:  Your written work MUST begin with the phrase “It wasn’t that I meant for it to happen”.
For all contest details go to KLC 2011

RSS Grad Fashion Show

Let's Feed Somalia

Across Somalia, more than 3.7 million people – more than half the entire population – are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. In some areas in the south, nearly half the population is malnourished. These areas have the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Across the three worst-affected countries of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, more than 11 million people need immediate food assistance.(www.care.org)
The students in Ms. Waage's Biology 12 class have researched a variety of flours/grains that would be most beneficial to send as food aide to Somalia. To see all student projects go to  http://rssbio12project.blogspot.com/. 

Let's Feed Somalia! on Prezi

Digital Youth Film-making Workshop coming to Rossland

Then take your original film and submit it to the Reel Youth Film Festival happening in November as well as the  U19 Film Festival April 14, 2012. See your movie on the big screen at the Royal Theatre in Trail. 

For more information come to the presentation in the Art room at 11:00 am on Monday, October 3rd.

Booklamp does for books what Jango does for music

Similar to Jango that hooks up music lovers with new music, Booklamp will help you find new books that suit your reading tastes. Simply type in the title, author or genre of your favorite read and Booklamp will generate title that are similar in content. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Your TeacherLibrarian

Congratulations to the RSS Grad Class of 2011

      Check out all the photos at http://on.fb.me/lWsHnR.