Showing posts with label library lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label library lessons. Show all posts

Monday, November 7, 2022

 The Toe Snatchers is a delightful book! If I wasn't retired I would read it to all my students! This is a book about the Frools that can be read over and over again! The story is told in rhyme,and is so much fun to read out loud ! Children ages K and up will love listening to and reading this book.

The Frools favorite food is fresh picked human toes. At night they go out looking for toes. In one house, they have quite the adventure in tying to figure out how many toes they each will get. Frool #5 comes up with a plan , and they set about counting the toes. And then they have to figure out how many toes they each will get. But Frools don't go to school, so they have trouble figuring it out.

The illustrations are outstanding and very detailed. The Frools and their surroundings are done in comic style. As you read it over and over , you will find interesting details on each page.

This is a book that parents and children can read over and over and come up smiling every time


This is a book Marileta Robinson wrote and Ron Zalme illustrated. Marileta , prior to retirement was an Editor at Highlights magazine. Ron did the illustrations for "The Timbertoes "(Highlights) and "the Adventures of Spot" ( HighFive)

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Free Library Lesson- Moe Willems

 Moe Willems gas been a delightful contributor to the world off children's books. He combines  simple drawings , engaging character,s and funny situations to pull children into  reading, We all know the Pigeon books, and they are unique.  series. Again  Moe  uses dialogue and interesting  yet familiar. situations to move the story  along.

  I happen to love The Piggie and Elephant series. Again, Moe uses dialogue and funny situations to move the story along.

Go to Moe's website and  you can find his Bio and some activities to go along with his books.
http://mowillems.com

Two of my Favorites and somethings to do with them.
We are in a Book

  1. Have students make a book with pictures .( drawn or cut out from old magazines). Have students identify each one with word bubbles.

 2. Make a book with two characters telling jokes . This could be a class activities with each student doing one page, illustrating it and writing word bubbles. Put the book together as as class book.

The Thank You Book
Students can make a class book or individual book of  what  they are thankful for. They can describe it in word bubbles.(Think November)

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Noodle tools / citation builder

      If you have an active library page and a citation program, make sure to put a link to it on your page. Then be sure the link works.
     Your next goal is to provide instruction the use of your citation program. Connect with your staff and students to show them where the link is. Offer to teach the students how to use the program. Every time you get in front of a group of students and staff, remind them of the link to the builder that is on the library page.
    We use Noodletools so I developed a mini lesson to instruct the students and staff . I also devised a cheat sheet to back up my instructions. This sheet is a hand out for students, which they can refer to for help after the lesson is over,
  

Monday, September 9, 2019

Free Easy Lesson for GRs. 4-7: Internet versus Print

 I have an easy lesson plan for grades 4-7, that involves students in a completion and shows them the importance of using both books and internet sources for information,
 For the set up , I have  some non-fiction books, a set of encyclopedias, and computers - laptops, desktops, or chrome books.
  Think of some simple questions that students might need the answer to- What year was Lincoln president? When did the civil war start?  Link the question to what the students are doing in Social studies or science so it has some significance.
  For class prep: Go over /ask students to tell the class how to find items in books and encyclopedia quickly/ ) use the table of contents, index, know the Encyc are in alphabetical order.
  Hand out the questions to each group. Students will work together to find answer. One person in each group should be a time keeper, writing down how much time it takes to get the answer. Students write the answer down with the time.
See who gets the correct answer first!! Each group can state the answer , their source, and how much time it took to get  the answer.
 If time permits, students can do another round of questions.
  Exit ticket: Have students determine  what source is best for the quickest answer.
   

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Fixed schedule for Middle school?

The beginning of this school year has been crazy! I found out two weeks before school started that I was teaching 10 sections of Keyboarding!!! What a mess! And the administration does not believe that this will ruin my Library program!
 So I have 5 sections of keyboarding each day. We are on an A /B schedule - so I see ALL of the 7th graders.( and a few 8th graders who are not able to take a language)  I did find a program that I can use- more about that later!

  My book  "The Organized Librarian " ( sold here and on Amazon) will really come into play this year as I will be scrambling to get library work done , and also plan activities for Keyboarding.( which is not a full year course - but I will have students all year.
  Does ANYONE else have keyboarding? What do you use? How do you set it up?? As you can tell I am not happy! Please let me know what you do for keyboarding if you have to do it also.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Library Jobs for students


   Our Professional Development person and our principals tell us that we as teachers are working to hard. They want the students to become more involved in the education and more invested in their learning.

  So during class time and instruction time, students should have responsibilities in the learning process. So I am incorporating this into my information literacy lessons. I have made a poster describing the jobs briefly.  So , there is a tech person who sits at the computer to deliver the power point. Also there are paper people who pass out paper, readers to read the slides. Recorders – which is most of the student taking notes.  The rest of the students are student repeaters who need to be able to repeat /explain the lesson or task to their table mates/ classmates.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Accelerated Reading at the Middle School

  My Assistant Principal at the middle school ia former ELA Teacher . He is a proponent of The Accelerated Reading program and has gotten a plan for each student!  So now we are working on a program on how we will carry out and promote  it to the students and teachers.

   I surveyed the ELA teachers  to see  how they would like it used. I was surprised by the answers. The seventh  grade team wanted to use it as a reading motivation and did  not want it tied to grades.  ( like a reading reward program similar to my fall into reading challenge that I am currently doing)  The  8th grade team thought they might like it tied to the grades  but then changed their mind.

 So I think we are going to go with the reading motivation theme and it will be run though then library which  is logical and also helpful because then I will not have to do anymore challenges , just help keep track of the students who are doing the most AR!

  What do you do at your school ( especially Middle School) for accelerated Reading? Leave your ideas and comments below please!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

November Bulletin Board Ideas


           November  Bulletin Board Ideas:

   Elect to read!
   Children's Book Week,
   Don't be a turkey, Read!
   Be Thankful for great books.
   What are you Thankful for?
   Gobble up these  great books - turkey with book covers of book chosen by you or students
   Pick a winner- football theme

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Common Sense Media

 I have found this program open to school educators of technology and information literacy. I am planning to use some of the components  to  ensure that my 7th graders  learn  the ins and outs of the right way to use the newest technology. I think they will like what is coming up this week. We are finishing our black history project and will go  on to digital and traditional  media as an introduction to the Common Sense Media  components that I will be using

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Middle School Madness- searching for ideas!

 It's October, and here at my ( new) Middle school , I have some real challenges. We have a few voracious readers. But most  students I am finding  do not read or  claim they do not like to read.  So one of my quests is to get these kids to read. Yes teaching skills is Very important!

I am thinking of adapting my book pass lesson to do one for  Middle school. What should I include?  Perhaps  I will include sports books,  and graphic novels.  Since I am targeting both boys and girls I will also include Fantasy, Adventure,  Humor and mystery,

What do you with your students to encourage reading?  PLease leave  some ideas below so we can all  support each other in our quest to motivate middle school students to read.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Free Library Lesson!- Dog Loves Books!

Sign up so here so you can get the second lesson that goes along with this one. They will be on the blog for a limited time and then will be put on Teacher PayTeacher ! So sign up to follow The Organized Librarian so you can get the lesson for Free!

 Library Lessons  with Louise  Yates
    Two of Louise Yates’ books , Dog Loves Books – Alfred A Knopf, 2010) and Dog Loves Drawing ( Alfred A Knopf , 2012)  are a great way to introduce students to the love of books and also introduce or review  several library concepts in the early grades.

Main concepts that are learned: What does the Author do?
Discussion Questions   which can be used during or after reading,  Dog Love’s Books.
1. Dog loved books so much he ________________________________________.
2. How did Dog get ready for the opening of his book store?
3. What did Dog do to keep busy while he was waiting for customers?
4.What did Dog do when he got tired of waiting for customers?
5. What happened while Dog was reading?
6. How did Dog know which books to recommend?
7.Dog loves books, but what was even better that just loving books?


Library Vocabulary: Students should know these terms  for this lesson.
Author : person who writes the words in a story.
Illustrator: person who draws the pictures in a story.


Library Lesson  :Beginning-Middle-End
Have a discussion with students about the parts of a story.  This can be an initial lesson or a review type lesson.  Have a talk  about what  students think happened in the beginning, in the middle, and at the end .


In each box below, draw or write what happened in each part of the book  This can also be made into a bigger layout in the landscape format which may make it easier.
Dog Loves Books. ( Louise Yates)
Beginning





  
Middle:





End







     


Writing / Creative Activity  Dog Loves Books


  1. Have student work on a small poster and  have them write and draw what they love.  Show them an example  of  what the poster of what they love will look like:


Cody Loves:


2. Book Recommendations: Poster or Paper Size.  
What book would you recommend to a friend or customer  ? Draw a poster or advertisement for a book that  you would recommend if you owned Dogs Book store.
Show students an example with the author, illustration, title , descriptions and picture of their favorite parts of the story.








    

      




  












     


    



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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Blizzard Book Review

  This is a story written  and illustrated by John Rocco  of his adventure's during the blizzard of 1978.  He grew up in Rhode Island  .  Almost 40 inches of snow feel during that storm. They couldn't get out of the front door so they went out the window instead,  The family played outside  and then went inside to have hot coca made with milk and a warm toasty fire.   They were waiting for the snow plow to clear the road.

 On the third day, Johns dad shoved out the driving way while still waiting for the snowplow.  John and his sister dug tunnels in the snow.  Things inside got bed.  Their food started to run . And they couldn't walk i n such high snow.

  John realized he needed to do something, He made snow shoes out of tennis rackets and then a list of necessities to get from the store.  Then he set out.( He took his sled!

Along the way, he checked in  with the neighbors to see what they needed, helped build a snow man , and climbed a tree to see what was going on . Finally he made it to the store and got all the things everyone needed.
 Then he hurried to go back towards home before it got dark. He dropped off all the items he got for his neighbors.  And of course the next morning the snow plow came and cleared the streets.

 A great winter read with John's famous illustrations, Students will enjoy the story , and then be prompted to tell their winter storm stories.

/http://roccoart.com/

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Summer Learning

  In the past year, I have reviewed and learn to use many  web 2.0 tools and seen many interesting websites . Make if one your goals this summer to learn how to use maybe two of these so that you can use them with your students and staff for the next school year,
   By using a neat web 2.0 tool with your students , they will be more engaged in their learning of the information skills you are imparting. Students in the 21st century need to be able to know about  and use these 'cool' ways of collaborating , interacting, and collecting information.

    Make a presentation ( think power point, prezi) for your student and teacher orientation of the school library.  Teach students about  blogs or pod casts, and have them share what they are reading and learning.  Develop a wiki for students to use for collaboration on a research topic for a certain unit or lesson.

    Don't forget your staff!!  What tool can you teach them to use? Power Point, Prezi, Blogging, or podcasting,wall wisher,? ( Just to mention a few). Do some staff development workshop[s and show them how they can  be used to engage students.

    So make a goal for the  summer , but don't just stop learning at two.  When you have mastered those, make another goal to learn two more, Let me know what you will be doing with your Web 2.0 Tool!

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Why should librarians teach technology?

  As librarians, public, academic, and school, we need to be teaching technology. Will that be taking away of our love of books?  No way- it should enhance our love of books, reading, and learning!

  Technology is changing the roles and responsibility's of librarians. Librarians need to be information literate are and then they need to up to speed on the new technology. Why? Because that is the way the world is going and we need to go with it. We need to help patrons know about how to keep up with all of the newest technology and how to get the latest information.  There are a variety of formats that knowledge and information come in.  We want to help all generations be effective users of ideas and information,
 
 Librarians are a place now of not just print materials, they are filled with electronic mediums that give up to date and accurate information.   Students and 20-30 somethings often prefer getting their information and recreation from non- print sources. you can tell by just watching as they walk around with their phones, tablets, and ipads

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Choosing the Right Resouces - Part 3

    Electronic resources are found on the computer and are categorized by subject areas. Most are usually accessible on the web both  on site ( school or public library) and most times at home. Many districts provide log in and passwords for in home use.
    
   The most common electronic resources are data bases, directories, and  catalogs. Use of theses resources help students obtain skills using topics/ subtopics, keywords/ phrases local arrangements ,, indexes and maps.
  
  The information in electronic resource's is instant . The formats of the data bases are both easy to use and provide challenging complexity. Information of course is provided by experts in their field.

  Most high schools and public libraries provide electronic resources on their website. Even many elementary schools are instructing  students to use these databases as a quick way to access needed information.  Student use of these  resources provides quick information  that is accurate .

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Curriculum and Media Literacy Skills

     Insgtruction for Media Literacy skills should be embedded into each curriculum area and grade level. ideally teachers and librarians should decide what skills go with what grade level, and figure out what subject area to fit it in with.
     This would be a great beginning for collaborative prokects  which could also emcompass other speaial areat teachers ( ex. second grade deoes animals research both in class and at library and computer lab, student does a report , illustrates the animals habitat in art class, and does a voice thread about their animal)   You can see in this example where the librarian can fit in many media and literacy skills.)
     Growing research shows that media literacy instruction improves student reading, viewing and listening of print,  audio , and video texts. there is also more student analysis of information.  These skills transfer to tool for learning and gaining connections between the curriculum and experiences outside of school.
    Integration of media literacy can be accomplished by teachers ad librarian working creatively to produce lessons that engage and excite students about learning, By using the new media and its tools , students are also being shown the importance of live long learning.
  Some  more examples:
\
   ELA teachers can have student analyze a literary work and its movie /video version.

   Social studies teachers could have students develop  short media ( podcast, blog post, video) about a region, historical period, or event in history.
   
    Science teachers can have student explore scientists and inventors or current developments. They would produce a media project to showcase what they have learned.

     Math students could produce and analyze chart and graphs which rep[resent common data/

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Technology Tuesday-Summer Goals

  In the past year, I have reviewed and learn to use many  web 2.0 tools and seen many interesting websites . Make if one your goals this summer to learn how to use maybe tow of these so that you can use them with your students and staff for the next school year,
   By using a neat web 2.0 tool with your students , they will be more engaged in their learning of the information skills you are imparting. Students in the 21st century need to be able to know about  and use these 'cool' ways ot collaborating , interacting, and collecting information.

    Make a presentation ( think power point, prezi) for your student and teacher orientation of the school library.  Teach students about  blogs or pod casts, and have them share what they are reading and learning.  Develop a wiki for students to use for collaboration on a research topic for a certain unit or lesson.

    Don't forget your staff!!  What tool can you teach them to use? Power Point, Prezi, Blogging, or podcasting? ( Just to mention a few). Do some staff development workshop[s and show them how they can  be used to engage students.

    So make a goal for the  summer , but don't just stop learning at two.  When you have mastered those, make another goal to learn two more, Let me know what you will be doing with your Web 2.0 Tool!

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Wired Wednesday- Tech Tools

         Bigmarker.com is a site developed for conducting online collaborative  meetings and classes. Teachers and librarians can build an online community to share presentations, files and resources.  It allows you to tack events, share information, and do collaborative projects with both staff and students.
       You can make your " room" private( for a specific members of a class) or public, where anyone can join in to give ideas and discussions.  Private areas requires a password for students and members to log in.
        Once in "Big Marker) originators can share screens  with texts or audio.   You could also turn your web cam on so students can see you. This would be a great way to begin using the technology to create an 'online ' class or discussion area. There is also a whiteboard that you and your students can write  or draw on and can give comments, questions and ideas.
        Originators/ Creators control who can be seen or heard in the audio and video so you will have a way to screen the content that goes   in to your 'room' on Bigmarker.



https://www.bigmarker.com/

Monday, May 20, 2013

Collaboration - Cooperation ( Level 2)

   You  may be past the first level of collaboration  or you may have begun to press on to the next level.  The cooperation level is an extension of the coordination level because of its not having teachers and librarians truly work and plan together.
  On this level , there are informal and short term tasks , activities, and lessons that librarians and teachers work on at the same time. There is no yet an established mission or defined structure.
    In this level of collaboration, librarians and teachers share information about the current project. Each one has his/her own part of the project that they are working on , but they work is done individually. The out come is a cooperative  event and the learning of skills is given by each partner.  Students will see the benefit if this type of learning. They will learn skills that are needed for the project at hand.

  Here is what a level 2 cooperation collaboration might look like:
 
    A teacher requests that the librarian teach the students certain research skills because    he/she wants the student to do a research project on a certain subject/ topic.  The librarian leads the class to the steps of the research and they do research on their topic along the way of doing the research.
    Then the teacher has them continue their work on the project, possibly bringing the students to the library or computer lab to help them complete  the assignment. The teacher does the final  grading/ assessment of the assignment. The librarian might keep a shelf of resources reserved for the students to use as they complete the project.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Wired Wednesday

    Microsoft Photo Story is an free site that lets you create  photo presentations  to save as a video file.  It is easy to use with a step by step tutorial to help you  make your stories/ presentations.
   It is as easy as dragging  the photos/ illustrations that you want in the order that you want them.
There are easy editing tools that allow you to change the size, fix the colors and other ways to fix your photos. 
  You can check the slide show and also put in as many photos as you want.
   You can also make a sound track- have not figured that out yet! But I am guessing it will not be difficult.   The story is saved in WVM format  .
    I can see this being using by teachers to teach many subject areas. I can also see students using this to create their own stories , using either photos or their own illustrations. It will be a great tool to encourage students to write , edit, and produce their own stories!


Microsoft Photo Story 3