Media Center
- Welcome to the Media Center
- Our Staff
- Library Schedule and Policies
- Links for Learners
- Kid Search Engines
- Monarch, Bluestem, Caudill
- Digital Citizenship
- Animal/Insect Research
Welcome to the Media Center
Welcome to the Palos West Media Center
The media center strives to be the epicenter of the school, promoting learning for all its members by providing access to materials and services that enhance the curriculum, teaching informational literacy skills, and collaborating with members to leverage technology into students’ learning and prepare them for careers of the future. Our goal is to provide an environment that fosters a love for reading while ensuring students become independent users of information.
Services
-
The library maintains a rich variety of print and electronic resources necessary to enrich and support common core curriculum as well as meet the needs of all learners.
-
The media specialist works collaboratively to provide the school community with services and resources necessary for curriculum and recreational needs.
-
The library staff provides real and virtual access to a variety of age appropriate resources and services.
-
The media specialist manages a facility that is inviting to all users. It supports individual and collaborative learning.
-
The library media specialist provides instruction in digital citizenship and information literacy.
Resources
- Print: Over 18,000 books
Online Resources
- Discovery Education
- DESTINY
- Pebble Go
- Britannica
- Brain Pop/ Brain Pop Jr.
Our Staff
Mrs. Reinke, Media Specialist
kreinke@palos118.org
(708) 448-6888 x3807
Mrs. Reinke has been the Media Specialist at Palos West since 2016. Before coming here, she previously taught in another district for twelve years. She spent nine of those years teaching in the classroom and the last three years as a Media Specialist. Her education includes a B.S. in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University, a M.A. in Reading Education from Governors State University, and a Library Science Endorsement from Illinois State University.
Library Schedule and Policies
Preschool/Kindergarten
- Students visit the library weekly
- Allowed one book for one week
1st-2nd
- Students visit the library weekly
- Allowed two books for one week
- They may also visit the library during free flow to select new books
3rd-5th
- Students visit library weekly
- Allowed two books for one week
- They may also visit the library during free flow to select new books
Policies
- No overdue fines are charged
- Students are charged for lost or damaged books
Links for Learners
Kid Search Engines
Monarch, Bluestem, Caudill
Digital Citizenship
This year, Palos West students (grades K-5 ) will be taking part in classroom lessons based on a Digital Citizenship Curriculum. The goal of this curriculum is to educate and empower young people to harness the power of the Internet and digital technology for learning and to become safe, responsible, and respectful digital citizens.
What is digital citizenship?
YouTube. iTunes. Twitter. Facebook. Instagram. Pinterest. Club Penguin.
Digital media and technology is evolving at a dizzying pace, bringing with it extraordinary opportunities as well as real risks for our children. On the positive side, young people are using the immense power of the Internet and mobile technology to create, connect, explore and learn in ways never before imagined. On the negative side, harmful behaviors aided by digital technology from cyber-bullying to digital cheating are surfacing in schools and in homes across the country. Young people face ethical challenges daily without a road map to guide them. And many of us, parents and teachers alike, are struggling with how to help kids thrive in this brave new world.
What we will teach:
Each building will use the Common Sense Media Digital Citizenship Curriculum to discuss practices of digital citizenship that are age appropriate. Each lesson will focus on topics within one or more of the following categories:
- Relationships & Communication
- Self-image & Identity
- Privacy & Security
- Information literacy
- Internet Safety
- Cyberbullying
- Information literacy
- Creative Credit & Copyright
- Information literacy
Raising young people in today’s 24/7 digital media environment is one of the most exciting and daunting challenges that parents and schools face today. We are thrilled to present these lessons to students and hope you will join us as we discuss and practice digital safety and responsibility alongside our children. We will be asking students to THINK! Is it....
True? Helpful? Inspiring? Necessary? Kind? Working together, we can raise a generation of kids who become safe, responsible, and respectful digital citizens.