Elmwood School
Learning Resource Center

The mission of the Learning Resource Center is to create an environment which reinforces, enriches, and extends the classroom curriculum. The Center promotes life-long learning and the independence students need to adapt to a changing society.

 The focus in the learning center this year is using technology as a tool for learning.  Computer literacy for students and staff continues to be a major part of our activities.

Early Childhood comes for library and story time. They have a fifteen minute period. They check out books to be kept in their classroom. Springboard and Kindergarten have a fifteen minute library period as well as a fifteen minute story time slot. They may check out two items to be taken home.

Grades 1-5 come for library and other activities. All scheduled library periods are for fifteen minutes.  The students are allowed to come to the library at any time to check out books.  They are allowed to check out three items. Throughout the year grades 3-5 receive reference and/or library skills instruction.  There are volunteers to help students when they work to the LRC.

Grades 1-5 come for library and other activities. All scheduled library periods are for fifteen minutes.  The students are allowed to come to the library at any time to check out books.  They are allowed to check out three items. Throughout the year grades 3-5 receive reference and/or library skills instruction.  There are volunteers to help students when they work to the LRC.

All library items (books and magazines) are checked out for one week.  Students may renew an item once.  The item does not have to be here to be renewed.  Please return books on time.  This helps your student as well as the LRC staff. Lost books or magazines must be paid for or replaced.  You will receive notification from the LRC should this become necessary.

The library collection is available for viewing from home.  Go to http://www.ncusd203.org  Select District 203 schools, then select school libraries. Click here to check catalog from HOME  and then select Elmwood Elementary School. Our library collection is then available for viewing.
  

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The LRC has various resources available to teachers for classroom use.  Some of the items available for classrooms are: almanacs, atlases, maps, globes, professional materials, text sets,  videos, reference books, student and teacher periodicals, big books, big book sets, puppets, computer software, research materials, puzzles, manipulatives, curriculum related games and  activities.

The Ellison cutter with dies, publishing center (student and class books), and laminator are now located in the art supply room.

During the first semester grades 3-5 will receive keyboarding instruction and review of keyboarding skills. This is a part of the curriculum. Students come to the lab four times a week for four weeks.  New students are offered the opportunity to learn keyboarding skills upon their arrival.  The software program used is Type to Learn 3. Second grade receives an short introduction to keyboarding late in the spring.

We are proud that our students are becoming  proficient on the keyboard. They have good speed and assuracy.

 

Elmwood has two complete computer labs.  Each lab can facilitate 28 students. Both of these labs are used a lot. Kindergarten is scheduled for the lab thirty minutes a week for both the AM and PM sessions. They  use Scholastic's Wiggleworks in their classroom which is a literacy computer program, so they do get more computer access than just here in the lab. They also use Wiggleworks in the lab. Most classrooms do not schedule a weekly time, but come to the computer lab on an as needed basis.  Activities are curriculum related.  Students also use Kidspiration, Kid Pix, Microsoft Word, Max Write, Max Show, Max Count, Microsoft Power Point, HyperStudio, Microsoft Explorer, Microsoft Excel, Timeliner, Logo, Graph Club, and Inspiration in the lab.

Multimedia presentations are  produced in the LRC.  Students design and present projects using Movie Maker, Photo Story, Power Point, Timeliner, Hyperstudio and  Kid Pix Studio Deluxe. Students use the digital camera and digital video camera with these programs.  Students also have pictures scanned and import pictures from the internet into their projects.

Fifth grade students learn to manipulate pictures and photos using Photo Elements software.  This instruction is given by the art teacher.  Teachers also use various internet sites in their lab instruction.

Each classroom has a Hewlett Packard PC.  These classroom computers  facilitate classroom needs for a computer when not scheduled in the LRC. Early childhood and Springboard have access to computers in their classrooms. Each full time staff member was provided with a Fujitsu laptop computer by the District.  Instructors  use these computers to facilitate lessons, develop presentations, and to keep student grades.  The laptop computers are all hooked up to a digital projector which are mounted in the classrooms. There is an Elmo connected for each regular education classroom. Each grade level has a digital camera.

Students use the internet as a research tool as well as printed material for references.  Classes may search for material that has been book marked by their teacher or the LRC staff. We have Surf Watch on our network which prohibits students accessing inappropriate sights. AT NO TIME ARE STUDENTS ALLOWED ON THE INTERNET WITHOUT SUPERVISION. Students must have a signed Acceptable Use Policy form on file to use the internet without direct instruction.

To be successful, the Elmwood School LRC must be supported by a volunteer pool of parents and community members.  Staffed by a full-time LRC director, an LRC assistant, and a computer assistant, the LRC will need these additional volunteers to meet the needs of the school population and provide services to the school. Under the direction of the full-time staff, the LRC volunteers will assist with the circulation of printed materials, assist in computer lab, aid in the use of instructional materials, and monitor student activities using LRC materials. Students may use the LRC as individuals, in small groups, or as an entire class.  Use of the LRC is not restricted by materials housed with the center.  A teacher may direct students to come to the LRC to use materials from the classroom or to complete a teacher-constructed activity.

A volunteer in the LRC may be asked to assist in any of the following activities. There may be activities which you prefer and we will try to ask for your assistance in these areas, but please understand there are all types of tasks you are asked to perform. It's a chance to work with students and develop a great understanding of the curriculum materials.

• Supervising student in LRC activities
• Checking in and checking out LRC materials (using the Alexandria library automation system)
• Shelving LRC materials
• Assisting students in the use of the electronic card catalog/location of books and materials
• Repairing books/bindings, kits, games
• Supervising/assisting students using computers
• Filing material
• Other miscellaneous activities