Weekly Reading- Bella at Midnight

   Bella at Midnight/ Diane Stanley is a story of an  girl who becomes a knight and a princess by the end of the book. Isabella's other dies  when Isabella is only days old. So she is sent to a cottage of a wet nurse. Her Father does not want anything to do with her because of the reminder of her  mother , so continues to stay in the lowly cottage even under protests from  her aunt.

   Her best friend is Julian who was also cared for by the family for a while His Father  is the King , but he is the last  one of 4 brothers.  Isabella and Julian  go  their  separate ways when it they are older because Julian is of royalty , although Bella still cares for him deeply. They are reunited in rather unlikely way to come to a very satisfying conclusion  of the story.

  

Weekly Reading-Listen to the Moon

  I have been  doing a lot of reading. One of my favorites was Listen to the Moon ( M. Morgurego) .  This is the amazing story of the author's grandmother who 'came out of nowhere'.   ' Lucy"was rescued  by Alfie and Jim Wheatcroft and taken to their  home on the islands by Sicily.

She is loved  and taken care of , even though she is found with a blanket with  German words on it. This is during the time of the beginnings of WWI. Traumatized by something or someone , she does not speak for the longest time.
Alfie ( the son, who is  a couple years older than she) makes the most progress with her, She listens to him and he can tell that she understands what he is saying. He protects her at school.

 The doctor is also supportive of the Wheatcroft. Mary the wife and mother dotes on the girl and loves her like the daughter she never had. The town is not so good to the family, because the girl is believed to be German.

The story unfolds slowly  as 'Lucy'  gets better, A piano, a German, and time bring the story to a very satisfying conclusion, I just wish there was another book so we can see what happens next.

February Bulletin Boards

      Now it is time to think about February and what to do about the bulletin boards.   Here are some ideas :

We love to Read!- Give pink or red hearts  to students and have the write their favorite books. Students can write I Love...   and give the title and their name. Place on BB with letters of slogan on top in black letters - Can use a light background and heart /scallop edges.

Black History Month- Place pictures of famous African Americans . You can number them, Give some clues under each one. Students can use references or online sources to find out . Students can give guesses in to you- At the end of the month, place names under each one.

Tech tie in- Tweet a sweet Book! Give students an enlarged note. Place a cute bird on each side of the BB- Students can write their favorite titles on each note and then placed on the BB.

Presidents Day- You  can do this similar to Black History Month.( Use presidents that students do not know) Or you could place some presidents  and have students find little know facts on each person.

Fiction to Film: Scan covers of books that you have in your library that have been made into movies.  Place the slogan in the middle and the covers around. A slogan to add  would be: Have you read these?

Update on the organized librarian

I had minor surgery last week and am still recovering- so no I did not forget about libraries and reading! That's all I have been doing is reading, and sleeping!  Hopefully will be able to get back in the swing of things and back to school soon!

December January Bulletin Board

 

                   I hope you can see this as the light makes a glare , but this is my Dec/ Jan bulletin board.
It has a blue background with gold letters " Lets read til we get snowed under" Every time it snows I will add a few flakes or many depending on the amount of snow. Every week I will have the 8th grade announcers announce  "If you notice something about the bulletin board by the library , stop in to tell us." Students with the right response will pick from the prize box.

Weekly Reading

I was so happy to get Dicey's Song  ( Voigt) !  It lead me into Dicey's and the children's life with their grandmother.  I was wondering how it turned out after reading Homecoming which I really loved!  After many rough patches, life at Grandmas' was getting to a relatively calm  place. The children were settling in and they were finally having a normal life like children are supposed to have . The town was accepting . Grandma was letting them into her life.  But there are still sad and disruptive spots but  this tells so well
about the lives of the children that they are real , and you  find yourself caring deeply about what happens next.

Weekly Reading

   In the first book, FableHaven ( Mull) Kendra and Seth have to go to stay with their Grandparents during a long vacation that is being taken by their parents. Their Grandfather has a hidden refuge called Fablehaven. This refuge is full of magic,  fantastic plants, faeries and strange creatures. Kendra and Seth think they are safe, but really they are not. Of course  they don't follow Grandfathers rules, and bad things start to happen. Powerful forces are unleashed , They have to figure out  a way to save themselves . I'm not finished yet , but I think this series will be liked by a lot of students who are onto fantasy and fantastic adventures.  I got the first three  so if they go out a bit I will order more in the series.

Digital De-Cluttering

  I spent  time eliminating and compressing physical files from my file cabinets. But now I want to do something about my computer files and desktop. So I will look at the documents and important items that I have in my work computer and zip drives. If I can't find files I need quickly that I know  it is time to organized and eliminate. So I am slowly ( 10 to 15 minutes a day) de- cluttering and organizing  my computer and zip files so I can find things when I need them.

On my hard drive at work each teacher has a U drive,where all of our files live. Since the beginning of the year I have been slowly looking at files and eliminating duplicates. I have also created folders and put items into files that go together.  I look at each time to determine if I need it ( almost like the physical de-cluttering) I deleted what I could . What I thought I should save but might not need immediately  I sent to ma zip drive.   At a later date I will print out what is on that zip drive so I know what is on it and do not have to open it to determine what is on it.

Advocating for Libraries

   How can we be sure that our library funding and programs will be continued? How can we be sure that administration and board will not eliminate a position  or or assign a fixed schedule? ( Believe me , it has happened!)

  We must advocate for out libraries for our students to ensure that what have presently continues and grows. So first of all we need to build relationships with both staff,   and administration, then also the community. How can we help teachers in their goals of instructing students  and leading them to learning? Get out and talk, ask questions, help develop lessons and learning activities.

     Most importantly we need to advocate and show how libraries and librarians benefit students. Can they access the newest literature and information sources? Can the librarian collaborate with teachers to bring information literacy into research projects?  Can librarians assist students in finding sources and information they need/  So we need to be thinking of ways we can serve students and teachers  to enhance student learning. Keep this in mind when you determine your most important tasks.

 Please comment below what you do best to advocate and work toward serving students and staff.

Weekly Reading

I just finished Homecoming (Voigt) and it was excellent! What a difference when you have several days off  like the Thanksgiving break.   I wondered how it would turn out and I was very satisfied at the ending  with the Grandma. The little family of 4 went  through a lot together and not  a thing was easy, butt they stuck together !  How they traveled  was truly amazing and most of the time they were very  resourceful. I am hoping that there is another book to say  what happens next  but I will have to check that out.

Physical de-cluttering ( Part 2)

    Another thing that is easily de-clutter is your file cabinet. Why should you do this? Well for starters if you had any excess files in your office , they need a place to go. Secondly, if your cabinets are overstuffed, you will not be able to access what you need to get out without getting frustrated.
    First thing to look for is duplicate files, either files with the exact same name  or files that look similar with slightly different  topics on their tab.  Take them out and go through them.If you have  duplicates  , put one of the contents in recycling.
    The second thing is to grab a handful of files ( maybe 5 or 6 at a time) and ask yourself the same questions as you did  for getting your files into the cabinets ( see blog post from Nov   ) If you spend 10 to 15 minutes a day on  this you can have your file cabinets  in order and with room for new files. 
    I find the end of the day is a great time to do this because by that time I am winding down, and it gets something done without being a major  brain drain.

December Bulletin Boards for Libraies

  December is almost around the corner so it is time to start thinking of new bulletin boards. I like to plan ahead so I start now to figure out what I will put up.  I usually keep my bulletin boards from year to year, So many times I can just pull on out  and put it up. I do not put the same one up each year- I alternate.

  December Bulletin Boards Slogans

 Seasons Readings - Put a wreath in the middle with students favorites all around. I use scanned covers.

 LOL- Place large letters in the center, Place names or covers of books jokes and riddles.

 Mittens-  make large mittens out of construction paper, Have students write their favorite books on the mitten. Slogan: Keep Warm With Great Books

 Battle of the Books: Place  photos of teams on the board with Team names and date of competition.

Books Are Gifts You Give Yourselves.

De-cluttering your physical office

  Okay , lets say you piles of files in your office. Are they all in your file cabinets or are they in  boxes on the floor or under the work table.( That's where mine were!)Decide to de- clutter  your  office - your brain and eyes will thank you!

  Grab a  bunch of files . Take 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Look at each file to determine: How important is the material? Will you need it this year or maybe next year? Is it an activity or program that you do on an every other year basis? Do you not want to do that activity/lesson ever again?

  If the answer is  that you'll use the information / papers this year , then keep the contents of the file. Make sure it is properly marked , place the file in alphabetic in the correct file cabinet.( See The Organized Librarian handbook for my other ideas on filing)

  If the file is not needed this year   but maybe next year then take one or two copies of what is in the file for ones that are lessons) and put the rest in recycling or use as scrap paper ( print out needed emails ,or cut up to use for notes)

  And if you have file that you do not need and will never use again, or are duplicates of what you have in your drawer then  put the materials in recycling!!  There -in 10 to 15 minutes you have organized more files and have gotten rid of items you do not need!