Earth Day, April 22, 2020 - 50th Anniversary!

Source: Earth Day Poems

The first Earth Day was in 1970 in the United States - fifty years ago!  Now almost 200 countries participate each year.

I invite you to learn more about Earth Day and how to best take care of our planet.  Today &/or this week maybe do some nature art, or write letters (or poems!)  to your local politicians about some things we all could do to make our planet healthier.

See below for two great digital resources:

- Earth Day - National Geographic, Kids

- 7 Eco-Friendly Actions for Kids During the Pandemic - by Earthday.org

Keep reading, learning, and taking action for a better world.

Knowledge is power.

Read and learn everyday to get informed.

Warm wishes, Mme. M-A.

Digital Resource for Wellness, Literacy and Numeracy, Post #6, April 17, 2020, Okanagan Regional Library E-Resources & E-Cards!

Thank You Mme Reed, teacher-librarian, Shuswap Middle School (SMS) Library, for your April 15th blog post about Okanagan Regional Libary's (ORL) e-cards and e-resources:

Okanagan Regional Library eCards

You can apply for a public library eCard online! 
It will give access to all their electronic resources, including e-books.

Here's the link to apply:
https://www.orl.bc.ca/using-the-library/E-card-station

And here are the answers to FAQ about eCards:
https://www.orl.bc.ca/using-the-library/E-card-station/library-card-registration-faq

Once you have your eCard, you'll want to explore their collection of eBooks and learn how to download Libby, the app that lets you read on your personal device. 

There are instructions and video tutorials about the Libby eReader app here:
http://www.orl.bc.ca/elibrary/ebooks-eaudiobooks/orl-ebooks

Easy peasy! If you get stuck ... call the toll-free eBook Help Line at ORL: 1-855-853-2665

Happy reading!

Note: Ms. Murrells-Allaway (Mme M-A) would be pleased to assist you as well.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ms. Ardie Burnham 

Ardie is ORL's children’s- and youth-services librarian in Salmon Arm.  Ms. Burnham is responsible for promoting literacy to children under 18 in the ORL library, schools, and the community.

Today Ms. Burnham shared with our district teacher-librarians about their current programming:

1. Virtual Family Story Time: currently we have 1 weekly program on Wednesdays at 11:00am run by Ms. Ardie Burnham.  Registration is required and families will need access to a computer/device and wifi.  Next program =  http://orl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=48713&lib=1021&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2020/04/16

2. Virtual Family Story Time orl.evanced.info

   If this time doesn't work, keep checking the ORL site. We will soon have staff doing virtual story times from Tuesday through Friday. 

2. Online Coding Club: Every Thursday at 5:30pm, ages 7-13. Registration is required. http://orl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=48653&lib=1021&backTo=Calendar&startDate=2020/04/16

Online Coding Club orl.evanced.info

3. Junior Online Colouring Contest: https://orl.evanced.info/signup/eventdetails?eventid=48730&lib=1009&return=

Junior Online Colouring Contest orl.evanced.info

4. Recorded Picture Book Read-alouds: http://www.orl.bc.ca/kids-teens/kids/picture-book-read-alouds

Picure Book Read-Along | Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) www.orl.bc.ca Online Video Picture Read-alongs for kids from the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).


5. Recorded Rhymes and Songs: http://www.orl.bc.ca/kids-teens/babies-toddlers/rhyme-time

Rhyme Time Online | Okanagan Regional Library www.orl.bc.ca Rhyme Time videos to enjoy with your Baby & Toddler Time for development of early-childhood literacy from the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL).

And don't forget the What to Read Next form: http://www.orl.bc.ca/kids-teens/what-to-read-next

Keep checking the Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) website for further developments

THEME	DESCRIPTION	Lang.	Grade Level
BC GOV RESOURCES:
Keep Learning	Sections about Learning from Home, Everyday Learning Activities, Resources, Keeping Healthy, COVID-19 Information	Eng, but Fr resources included	K-12
MENTAL WELL BEING:
Kids Help Phone, a Canadian national charity that operates three counselling centres	Recommended on CBC radio: information as well as counselling support: 1-800-668-6868	Fr & Eng
LITERACY:
The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read-Alouds & Activities	Created by weareteachers.com This site offers author read alouds from elementary to grade twelve: Mo Willems, David Shannon, James Dean, Monique Gray Smith, Oliver Jeffers ... AND MORE!	Eng
Canadian Children’s Writer’s & Illustrators are Sharing …	CBC Books (Twitter @cbcbooks) is continually compiling Canadian authors who are reading their books aloud during this pandemic	Eng & Fr	K-12
Okanagan Regional Library (ORL)	E-Cards and e-resources available: virtual family story time, online coding club, pre-recorded stories, rhymes, and songs, contests, personalized book suggestions, & more!	Eng but also some Fr	All
NUMERACY:
Prodigy Math	“An engaging math platform that uses a variety of interactive features and games to develop students’ math proficiency” (Keep Learning)		Early to middle yrs
ACTIVITIES:
Gardening	Donna Balzar: garden expert, regular guest on CBC radio in Alberta and host of internationally aired Bugs & Blooms on HGTV: great for beginners or the experienced gardener.  Her podcasts and specifically try this one about starting seeds indoors.	Eng	All
Virtual Tours of Okanagan Regional Parks	Join Visitor Services staff Tues-Sat in April as they help you connect with nature via @regionalparks Instagram channel.  Programs are scheduled Tue- Fri, 10:30 am Sat, 1:00 pm. Videos then posted on Regional District of Central Okanagan YouTube Channel	Eng	All

Digital Resource for Wellness, Literacy and Numeracy, Post #5, April 17, 2020, Virtual Tours of Okanagan Regional Parks!

Virtual Tours of Okanagan Regional Parks!

Join Okanagan Regional Parks Visitor Services staff Tues-Sat in April as they help you connect with nature via @regionalparks Instagram channel and connect with grade 3 curriculum as you learn about local flora and fauna!

Programs are scheduled for the following in April: 

• Tue- Fri, 10:30 am 
• Sat, 1:00 pm. 

Videos are then posted on Regional District of Central Okanagan YouTube Channel (approx. 18-25 mins).  I've listed three below: salmon dissection, bears, and story time and ducks.  The latter is dedicated to LJ and his sister who LOVE DUCKS AND BIRDS!  

Please email me or respond below if you have great resources to share about your interests and passions.

I will close with some incredible words sent to me this morning from a treasured friend.  

It is National Poetry Month and I find these words of wisdom warmly poetic, so I'm going to write them below, ... but with poetic Ms. M-A formatting license:

Real, sustainable growth happens 

during challenging 

                                times 

that stretch us,

not 

when everything is nice and easy.

Besides keeping our hands clean,

let us take a mind shower,

and do it often.

In most countries,

this is the spring season,

reminding us 

that all endings 

are new beginnings

and this too 

                               shall pass.

It is time for evolution,

creativity,

            and

connection

Let us be the light

we want to see

in the world

and 

     press

                 the

                           reset

                                          button

Let us take a big                                                LEAP

from fear    to     LOVE

Extracted and poetically played with from the writings of Sara Fabian in Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives.

Warm wishes to all.  Keep reading, learning and celebrating Life.  Ms. Murrells-Allaway, your Ardent Librarian.

THEME	DESCRIPTION	Lang.	Grade Level
BC GOV RESOURCES:
Keep Learning	Sections about Learning from Home, Everyday Learning Activities, Resources, Keeping Healthy, COVID-19 Information	Eng, but Fr resources included	K-12
MENTAL WELL BEING:
Kids Help Phone, a Canadian national charity that operates three counselling centres	Recommended on CBC radio: information as well as counselling support: 1-800-668-6868	Fr & Eng
LITERACY:
The Big List of Children’s Authors Doing Online Read-Alouds & Activities	Created by weareteachers.com This site offers author read alouds from elementary to grade twelve: Mo Willems, David Shannon, James Dean, Monique Gray Smith, Oliver Jeffers ... AND MORE!	Eng
Canadian Children’s Writer’s & Illustrators are Sharing …	CBC Books (Twitter @cbcbooks) is continually compiling Canadian authors who are reading their books aloud during this pandemic	Eng & Fr	K-12
NUMERACY:
Prodigy Math	“An engaging math platform that uses a variety of interactive features and games to develop students’ math proficiency” (Keep Learning)		Early to middle yrs
ACTIVITIES:
Gardening	Donna Balzar: garden expert, regular guest on CBC radio in Alberta and host of internationally aired Bugs & Blooms on HGTV: great for beginners or the experienced gardener.  Her podcasts and specifically try this one about starting seeds indoors.	Eng	All
Virtual Tours of Okanagan Regional Parks	Join Visitor Services staff Tues-Sat in April as they help you connect with nature via @regionalparks Instagram channel.  Programs are scheduled Tue- Fri, 10:30 am Sat, 1:00 pm. Videos then posted on Regional District of Central Okanagan YouTube Channel	Eng	All