Madison Library Blog

Dr. Harris’s WA State history class is examining the evidence in the Whitman Mission cultural conflict & misunderstandings of 1847  &  the later 1850 trial.  They examined the definition of Primary Sources.  We talked about what evidence you might or may not have if you do not understand the language of some of the participants.  We looked at an example of a non-print, non-English language primary source, the Lakota Winter Counts  from the Smithsonian Exhibit–censes kept by Plains cultures of about the same time–& primary documents pertaining to the 1850 Whitman trial documents in Walla Walla.

High Fantasy author, Melaine Bryant shared her new series, The Prophecy Keepers & answered great questions from Ms. Beaulaurier’s students on Monday, Nov. 9.   Book 2 : The Charm of Urizen,  is available on Dec. 1.   Madison students can purchase the books at a substantial discount:  $14 for Book 1, & $25 for both books 1 & 2.  Checks can be turned in to Ms. Chambers.    The books have great classics references  from Beowulf to Blake.   To win a book, enter the art contest to create one of the characters in the series:  http://www.empyreanhillbooks.com/theprophecykeepers/CreaturesandRaces.html

Before you open a web-browser to start your online research, first open & save a WORD document naming it whatever your research topic is, e.g., Whitman Notes;  Egypt Notes, etc. 
Then whenever you find an EXPERT website, you can copy & paste the web-address  (& the instant citation if you are using a district database–see blogpost below: Citing your Sources) onto your Notes.  It creates a live link in your Notes to get back quickly to that resource again when you come back to do more research.  You don’t have to hunt for it!

When you use one of the great Online encyclopedias or databases that SSD provides for all students (home password is in Student Planner, p. 22), there is almost always a citation icon to click on for an instant citation!   Just copy it & paste it onto your Bibliography or Sources page or Credits slide in PowerPt.   If you have a choice, select  MLA format.  Check it out!

I just finished reading Evermore, by Noel.  Wow!  Is Damon a vampire?  Only time will tell! The Immortals series continues… with Blue Moon, & Shadowland!
Please let me know what you are reading.   And if you’ve read Evermore, too, I’d love to see your comments.  (When you comment,  sign with your first name only & grade, for example:  …..  –Coleen, 6th)

Read & listen to books in different languages in TUMBLEBOOKS  on our Seattle Schools Online Resources–> Tumblebooks (in the middle column)–> Language Learning  & scroll down to select a book.