A new language

SUP
RU in2 IM or txtng?
If you are a text-savvy teen, you are part of a generation that is creating a brand new language of abbreviations being used on cell phones and computers. The problem is that many of these acronyms are finding their way into the writing habits of American youth.

Many teachers have seen the use of IM abbreviations creeping into the written work of their students. The problem is that so many students are becoming accustomed to writing in this type of shorthand language, and they don’t even realize they are doing it. This problem is starting to filter into the real-world as employers are even starting to see the internet lingo used on job applications.

This doesn’t mean that the IM and texting language is all bad news. Many educators feel that this quick writing language has inspired the creativity in many of their students. These teachers also see it as an opportunity to teach students when and where it is appropriate to use these abbreviations.

So, what are your thoughts? Where is it appropriate to use IM or texting language? Is it ever appropriate to use it in school work? How about when commenting on a blog or responding in the online classroom?

Books You Can't Put Down

This week I was torn between rooting on the White Sox and reading a book that was tough to put down. So, I had to compromise. Between innings I would find myself back in the time of King Arthur, Lancelot and Merlin.

Seventeen-year-old Elaine of Ascolat joined the soldiers living at Arthur's camp after her mother was killed by the Saxons. As the only girl at camp, Elaine's life of learning to be a proper lady quickly faded. The real adventure begins when she is captured by the Saxon warriors.

What are some of the books you have read that you couldn't put down? What was it about them that captured your attention?

Books and Technology

Looking for some books on technology? Then look no further than our Prairie library. There are many choices for our enthusiastic technological learners:

Digital Art - Painting with Pixels by Ron Miller

Digital Art is all around us, but did you ever wonder where it came from, or how it works? This book is written by a professional digital artist who answers these questions. If you are interested in a career in digital art, or just want to learn more about various digital arts, this book is for you. Some of the topics include: computer-aided drawing (CAD), graphic arts, 3-D modeling, animation, and special effects.

Virtual Reality - Computers Mimic the Physical World by Sean M. Grady

Virtual Reality makes computer users seems as if they have stepped into another world. It uses a combination of high-speed computers, programming, and interactive devices. This book dives into this world, explaining the history of development, description of the virtual reality concept, how it applies to our everyday life, and the future implications of virtual reality in our world.

People in the News - Bill Gates by Adam Woog

Everyone knows Bill Gates is the most powerful figure in the computer business, but who really is this "ordinary person" who co-founded Microsoft? This biography profiles Bill Gates, offering insight into his life and the impact he has made in our modern world. This book starts with Mr. Gates' childhood, including his behavior issues in school! It follows the discovery of his interest in computers and eventually how Microsoft was formed, before his 20th birthday! It is a great inspirational story and gives good insight into how this computer giant evolved.

Welcome Back!

We are so happy to see you all return, and would like to extend a welcome to our new sixth grade group! We hope you had a wonderful summer and that you got a chance to read some good books. Our Prairie Picks blog will again be devoted to highlighting good books and sharing some tech tips. Please join in our discussion!

Let's begin our year by sharing a book you read over the summer that you would recommend to a friend. Please add a comment that provides a short summary of the book and describes what you liked about it.

Mrs. Stec and Mrs. Woods

Vacation Time

We are heading into our last two weeks of school! We want to take this time to tell you that we will be signing off for now and will come back in August with a lot of new books to write about and a lot of great tech tips. We hope your summer is great and that you get a chance to read many good books. Be ready to tell us about some ~ our blog will blossom with your comments!

Enjoy your summer,
Mrs. Stec and Mrs. Woods

Making a History Connection

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Carbone

Here is a novel that will bring all that you have learned in history class to life! Elisa Carbone tells the story of how Jamestown came to be through the eyes of Samuel Collier, an 11-year-old orphan. Samuel is sent to the New World as a page to Captain John Smith.

Life was not easy for these new settlers. Battles with some nearby Native American tribes, befriending the Powhatan Indians, and learning their ways in order to not offend them, kept the Jamestown people busy. Winter nearly killed them.

Carbone shares her sources at the end of this novel. Her attention to providing historically accurate details makes this a book worth choosing!

Some Cool Websites to Visit

Most of us are familiar with the most popular places teens like to visit on the web. Websites such as Myspace, Facebook, and YouTube are well-known hangouts for teens.
If you are looking for something new, here are some other websites to visit:

• Hairmixer.com – try a new hairstyle on YOUR picture.
• Howstuffworks.com – “Mythbusters” for the web.
• Twitter.com - a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? Check out this Twitter How-to video...
• del.icio.us - a social bookmarking website - store your bookmarks online, which allows you to access the same bookmarks from any computer and add bookmarks from anywhere. What is social bookmarking?