EduBreakout Boxes

     The other day, the Science teacher and I did the first try out with the breakout boxes. These boxes have online links to puzzles/ activities/lessons  that require small groups of students to work together to solve problems and unlock the boxes . Each clue reveals more clues to further the result and to get the boxes open to get the solution and the prize!
     The online activities are extremely detailed and also give the teacher step by step instructions to seeing up the boxes. Most have a video that accompanies it to show the process.
     The students really enjoyed the activity. One student told the Science teacher " This is better than gym class!" Students read directions, looked around the room for more clues and worked together to solve the hints and clues, The only trouble we really encountered was resetting the lock at the end of   each period.

Lesson-: 1-2-3 Summary

 Many times we ask students to read and summarize an article or a passage . We want them to be able to present an overview of the article. We need them to tell us what new information they acquired.

   An organizer can help them show what they understanding about the information given. Give then the article and a graphic organizer to the students. In the first section( it can be a bubble, rectangle, or square)  , they will fill in prior knowledge ( what they already know about the subject before reading) .

  While students read have them highlight or underline the important ideas  in the paragraphs Then in the second section ,they can write in 3 or 4 main or most important facts they have discovered.

  In the third space, students can write down a fact or idea that was interesting to them , or a question they had about the topic. Students can then use this to write a short summary if you wish.

  The first time you do this , you may want to model what to do in each section. This can be adapted to almost any grade level.  You could have students do this in pairs.
  

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.

Mrs.Yingling Reads.blogspot.com

  Mrs, YinglingReads bog is a great find! She is a middle school librarian who shares book reviews.
She has read all of the books in her library! What an accomplishment!!
   Her blog is so neat. I can't wait to read as many of her reviews as I can and get some good ideas for books for my library!  This will be a great resources for me and other librarians looking for ideas for books for their libraries.
   I like her reviews. They are detailed . She also gives the book strengths and weaknesses, and the verdict- what she really thinks  about the book.
  She is really organized with her reviews- there are also tabs with suggestions  for books similar to famous titles that are the same genre.( there are suggestions for Adventure, fantasy, historical, humorous, and sports books.
http://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/

Getting More Done

   There are several rules of organizing your day to get more accomplished. I read everything I can on organizing in hopes of reducing the stress of having much to do in a short amount of time. Organizing my time seems to help the most. Through my reading, I have found some things that work for me and may also work for you.

   Step 1:   Keep a running record/ master list of items you need to do. Put anything you can think of that needs doing on your master list. That way it is written down and you don’t have to worry about forgetting something.  I am sure there is an app or an online way to this but I still like to use pencil and paper. If you find a good way to do this online, go for it, if that works for you.

  Step 2: Build your daily to do list. Take items from the master list and put them on your daily list. But only write those tasks that you can realistically do in one day. So don’t overload yourself. Give yourself some leeway if you have scheduled items, or if you find that some tasks might take longer than expected.

    Then at the end of each day (or at the very beginning) take 15 minutes to map out your priorities to see what your daily schedule will look like.

Newseumed.org-great site for education!

     Newseumed. org is a partner site of the Newseum Museum in Washington, DC. They offer to teachers and student s free educational programs, primary sources, and resources based on history, information literacy (media literacy) and social studies topics. Also there is online access to front pages, videos, and artifacts in their museum collection. 

   They are committed to offering educational tools that helps develop skills that learners can be knowledge about our countries past and present. 

    The sites provide online resources, and tools that include primary resources and online classes and training. Also they have specially curated collections with primary sources on many educational topics.

   This site can be useful to social studies, ELA, Librarians, and tech teachers.

  https://newseumed.org/

Description of my library

   My library is an old (100+ years) building so it is not an up to date place. We do want we can to make it inviting and inviting but we really do not have much to work with.   But I love my job – our staff is wonderful, and the kids are great to work with!

   We have a bank of 6 computers that can be used my students and staff. Our Refere4nce collection is old and not really used all that much.   The collection is OLD- but I am trying to bring g up the age of the books. My budget is not really able to keep up. I try to order a lot of books from Junior Library guild, especially the sales because that really increases the age of our collection. I also order from Perma bound because they have free replacement of books damaged by use.

  

  We do have nice but old wooden tables and chairs that have held up really well. Our circulation desk is just – a teacher desk with a milk crate for a book drop!

  We do have a smart board for my presentations and the presentations of any staff developers that come in for professional learning.

April Bulletin Boards

It 's time again to start thinking about April!   I like to always think ahead! Some ideas for your bulletin boards! Adapt them to your needs and space!

     I've got a poem in my pocket!-- pockets with poems typed stuck in- these can be changed  weekly. Or let  students put in their  favorite poems.

     Get Graphic@ the Library!  Scan covers of some of your Graphic Novels and put on a colorful Bulletin Board.

      Get Hooked on  Books!- Fishing line with book titles or covers along the line.

( Fishing for a good Book)

     Spring into Reading with Great Books

      Sports Stories

      It's Raining Books- Put an umbrella in the corner of the bulletin board. Then place large blue and grey raindrops with book titles on them.( Again let students put up their favorites.

     April showers bring great books! ( Similar to above idea)

National Humor Month

School Library Month

DEAR- Drop Everything and Read

How The Organized Librarian originated

   How did I begin thinking of and writing about The Organized Librarian?  I started as I briefly outlined ib my book (The Organized Librarian) When I was several years into my job as an elementary librarian at the elementary level. AT the time I was” dancing as fast as I could” and very frustrating. I had 700 students, a large library, and a huge collection. My help (library assistants) was came and went for each change of period. Sometimes I had no help, and the library schedule was just overwhelming!

  So I took a deep breath and began to organize my work spaces.  I started with my back room because that was the worst!  Then I did my circulation area. Finally I worked on organizing my curriculum / lessons.  And I began writing every down, and keeping track of what I was doing, and what I needed to do. When that was finished, I wrote the book and compiled all that I had done. After that I started my blog.

Take the lead Librarians!

   Warren Drake (recipient of the 2017 AASL Distinguished School Administrator Award) wrote a very insightful and encouraging article recognizing the need for librarians and updated library spaces.

    He believes that in the future, students education will need then to be constructing and owning (taking responsibility) of their learning. Students will impart their knowledge, which will be gathered from library sources to create projects and include PBL( Project based learning)  Students connect to the world with resources provided by school libraries.

  According to Mr. Drake (Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish ( LA) schools ) , the library is the schools largest classroom. Librarians have a unique position because they interact with each student. He sees librarians as instructional partners with teachers and staff, helping them transform and strengthen education and instruction.

https://www.slj.com/2018/02/opinion/repurposing-school-library-positions-take-lead/#_

Snow days and no Electric!

 Well, its been crazy here- Nor'easter on Friday  so no power until Monday,Many of my colleagues are still without power! So needless to say - could not post .  Just trying to stay warm. Then yesterday we were hit with another storm that also threatened  our wires - we did not lose power - just a few flickers. So I will try and get back into the groove!

Daily Routine at the Library

    Take a few minutes each day ( or right before you go home) to help you be more organized and get more accomplished each day. Look at your master list of to do's  and your daily planner or plan book. 
    Write in /Schedule the tasks  you plan to accomplish. Tackle the harder / most unpleasant/ most pressing items first on your schedule.  This is when  your brain is most likely the sharpest and your have a strong desire to get tasks done.
     Schedule less pressing items or routines items throughout the day.  Another good time to get items accomplished is right after lunch. After you have a break, eaten your lunch away from your desk, you are Likely to be able to refocus to complete what is in your plan book. 

   Check your planner / to do list throughout the day. Cross or check off items as they are completed . It will be encouraging to cross off items and see at the end of the day what has been done to further your goals at work.

Larger Goals / projects to be completed

   When you are doing all the routine tasks and activities you may feel like you are treading water. When you have a big project, it might seem like you will never get it accomplished.

   Plan a time when you have some flexibility, and put in your planner that you will work on that project. What I do is to break larger projects down into manageable steps/ tasks. In other words, plan on working on a segment of the project at least once each week (more if you have open blocks of time).  Make yourself a deadline of when you need the project complete.  Look at the ways you can accomplish it through a series of steps or tasks.

  Check off each segment as you complete it each week. Work diligently until your project is complete.