21st Century Media Center Extraordinaire

Last week, I got to do something that I rarely get an opportunity to do, but is one of my favorite things!  A big thanks to my colleague, Kris, my tour guide.  Visit a neighboring school district.  What a treat!  Wow!  Super Wow!  Triple Wow! Words can't express enough wow factor for Medlock Bridge's Elementary School Media Center. Personalized Learning, Genius Hour, MakerSpace, oh my!  Are just the tip of the iceberg in this media center's digital toolbox. A huge shout out to Mrs. Hutchens, MBES Principal, a strong advocate of transforming today's digital learners.

Ms. Martin, the master mind behind the media center, goes to great lengths to ensure learning for all students. And it doesn't stop there, she ensures teachers are plugged into learning at its fullest potential.  Her mission:  transformational learning.  How?  Glad you asked.  A few of my highlights:

1.  Personalized Learning Spaces
The circle pads were purchased via Scholastic.  Search for carpet squares.

2.  Read Across America Garden
In honor of Dr.Suess's Read Across Amercia Day, MBES hosts Read Across Medlock Day. Utlizing the one book one school concept.  One year they did Tales of Despereaux.  Another year "The World According to Humphrey".  Complete with the media center's very own hamster.  The hamster had his own blog.  Check his blog out on their website.  Ms. Martin, started a Truffula garden. Each student who completed their reading log was given a seed.  Look at their beautiful garden. Look real close and you can see the rocks the book club painted.  Ms. Martin leaves no stone unturned.

3.  Digital Citizenship Station - Jenga Blocks
Before students are able to use the iPads they must complete 2.5 hours of digital citizenship coursework to earn their digital passport.  This station has students trying not to knock the Jenga wall down while carefully taking out a block.  Some blocks have questions about digital citizenship. Some questions are turn and talks, others are tips.  Every so often a brain break video.

4.  Digital Citizenship Station - Graffiti Wall

Students write what they have learned about being safe online.  Each grade will have their graffitti walls displayed in the hallway.

5.  Genius Hour

The entire school participates in the genius hour.  This is during their NBI time each day.  Each grade level has their own variation.  For example, the younger grades may focus on a theme.  One grade focused on character traits.  The first trait:  kindness.  The class brainstormed ways they could show kindness.  With help from various site and resources engaging students in developing deep questions, inquiry based learning and Wondertropolis aided teachers.  Their kindness project,  designing and hiding bookmarks for other students to find in the media center.  Another class used chalk to write positive words on the 4th grade playground.  Older students work on passion projects. Such as learning to knit or one student learned how to shoot a slingshot in hockey just to name a few. A free guide to the first 20 days of Genius Hour with interactives.

The vegetable garden is the product of the 2nd grade genius hour. They researched various gardens, including a sound garden, made with real instruments.  The final step included designing a presentation to the governing PTA board for funding. And this year, the project is underway.

6.  MakerSpace Center

Ms. Martin thinks of everything.  She has a table set up in the media center for students to create. When they finish their lesson and checking out books while in the media center or when finished with class assignments, this space is open for tinkering and creating.