BooksMakeADifference.com is another website that I just discovered and am anxious to dive in and check out its content. The site is run by a team of women who believe in the power of books. So they have complied this site that explores books, authors, and readers. There are many interesting looking articles on books , and authors, libraries, and different programs that libraries have. This is an online magazine that also encourages readers to write their stories. They also have a Facebook and Twitter connection so that could be fun too. When you subscribe you can also enter their giveaways - I am going to check that out!
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Middle Web- great for Middle school professionals
https://www.middleweb.com/
This site called Middleweb is an astonishing collection of informative and interesting articles about middle school teaching for grades 4-8. There are some great articles on good questioning techniques which caught my eye. Also there are articles on teaching strategies, writing, and assignment assessment, Articles on most subjects are covered.
The site focus is on teaching and learning. There are also news clips and book reviews. There is also a collection of resources which I want to check out. An additional newsletter can be received by signing up. If you are a middle school person ,teacher , librarian, or administrator you need to check this out,
This site called Middleweb is an astonishing collection of informative and interesting articles about middle school teaching for grades 4-8. There are some great articles on good questioning techniques which caught my eye. Also there are articles on teaching strategies, writing, and assignment assessment, Articles on most subjects are covered.
The site focus is on teaching and learning. There are also news clips and book reviews. There is also a collection of resources which I want to check out. An additional newsletter can be received by signing up. If you are a middle school person ,teacher , librarian, or administrator you need to check this out,
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
March Bulletin Boards
I am thinking about March ( hoping it gets here soon). There are several special reasons to highlight different days in March on your bulletin boards. So let's see what we can do.
Spring into Reading- Flowers, insects, book jackets with titles of spring like books,
St. Patricks Day- Every Day is a lucky day for reading.
Reading is Golden
Books to Treasure
Fly high With Reading- kites with book titles blowing in the sky
Catch the reading Bug!
March- Women's History Month
Dr. Seuss- Read Across America
Spring into Reading- Flowers, insects, book jackets with titles of spring like books,
St. Patricks Day- Every Day is a lucky day for reading.
Reading is Golden
Books to Treasure
Fly high With Reading- kites with book titles blowing in the sky
Catch the reading Bug!
March- Women's History Month
Dr. Seuss- Read Across America
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Weekly Reading - Winter Street Trilogy
I read all three in this series and I wish there would be more! They were in order Winter
Street, Winter Stroll, and Winter Storm. Elin Hilderbrand's stories are magical and brings you right in with the characters and the setting.
The focus is on the Quinn family and most of all it members have their own issues and problems. There are twists and turns in this family saga. Head of the family is Kellely Quinn and his second wife Mitzi, not to be outdone by the Margaret Quinn , his first wife and mother to the first three grown children. Kellely and Mitzi run an Inn on Nantucket Island .Their son is Bart.
You'll just have to read this engaging family story- you 'll want to read all of them if you like family stories. Now I am going to seek out some more of Hilderbrand's books because I am believing they will be just as good.
Street, Winter Stroll, and Winter Storm. Elin Hilderbrand's stories are magical and brings you right in with the characters and the setting.
The focus is on the Quinn family and most of all it members have their own issues and problems. There are twists and turns in this family saga. Head of the family is Kellely Quinn and his second wife Mitzi, not to be outdone by the Margaret Quinn , his first wife and mother to the first three grown children. Kellely and Mitzi run an Inn on Nantucket Island .Their son is Bart.
You'll just have to read this engaging family story- you 'll want to read all of them if you like family stories. Now I am going to seek out some more of Hilderbrand's books because I am believing they will be just as good.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Livebinders
The previous MS librarian( she is now in the HS, our Dept Chair) developed livebinders which are on our library webpage for several of the projects that the teachers needed resources for. Putting them on the webpage makes it really easy for students when doing these projects.
The livebinders and the sites that are included on them are determined by age level, topic and what the teachers want the students to find out or what information the students need
They can go to the livebinders and get the information they need for the task at hand.
I have also developed a few new livebinders for newer projects that teachers have asked me for I will continue doing this as it helps students focus on information needed. It also helps them see what a reliable source looks like.
See my post on livebinders from 5/23/2013. Wired Wednesday- Tech Tools
The livebinders and the sites that are included on them are determined by age level, topic and what the teachers want the students to find out or what information the students need
They can go to the livebinders and get the information they need for the task at hand.
I have also developed a few new livebinders for newer projects that teachers have asked me for I will continue doing this as it helps students focus on information needed. It also helps them see what a reliable source looks like.
See my post on livebinders from 5/23/2013. Wired Wednesday- Tech Tools
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Weekly Reading- Fever
Fever by L.H.Anderson is another winner in my book. In fact, it appears on many award lists . Ms Anderson won the Margaret A Edwards award in 2009 . This award is given by the ALA for Historical fiction for teens and YA's
Mattie Cook lives and works at her families coffee shop with her mother and grandfather in the late 1790''s. When the yellow fever breaks out, Mattie's world becomes more intense. Her mother falls ill, so Mattie is sent away from the city. Her mother does not want her to get the fever.
She and her grandfather go to the country but the fever is everywhere. MAttie is thrown into being more grownup and resources in order to survive both her and her grandfathers sickness. She just wants to go back to the city and find her mother.
Based on real events, Ms, Anderson brings the year 1794 and the epidemic in Philadelphia to life. You can put yourself in Mattie's shoes as she travels back to the city to open the coffee shop and find out what happens to bring her life back to almost normal,
Mattie Cook lives and works at her families coffee shop with her mother and grandfather in the late 1790''s. When the yellow fever breaks out, Mattie's world becomes more intense. Her mother falls ill, so Mattie is sent away from the city. Her mother does not want her to get the fever.
She and her grandfather go to the country but the fever is everywhere. MAttie is thrown into being more grownup and resources in order to survive both her and her grandfathers sickness. She just wants to go back to the city and find her mother.
Based on real events, Ms, Anderson brings the year 1794 and the epidemic in Philadelphia to life. You can put yourself in Mattie's shoes as she travels back to the city to open the coffee shop and find out what happens to bring her life back to almost normal,
Friday, February 3, 2017
Teaching Databases
When is the best time to teach students how to use databases? Last year I had fixed classes and I taught the databases in isolation.( when there is not a specific purpose the use) This year I am teaching the databases in an as needed basis. When the students have a research project or something they need to find out for their content teacher, I work with the class and determine when to introduce/ review the ease of use of the databases that we have available.
For example, at the beginning of the year I worked with the FACS teacher ( Home Ec in my day) to develop a major unit on researching a possible career. I placed the career resources on the library web page, There was a career survey , and specific sites that she wanted them to use. These were not actually databases but government sites that we wanted them to use.
The language teachers did research projects . So I showed the student the Culture Gram database . This database madd their project extremely easy.
I find that teaching students databases when the are needed for a project much more effective for students to actually leann about them and then USE them in their search for information.
For example, at the beginning of the year I worked with the FACS teacher ( Home Ec in my day) to develop a major unit on researching a possible career. I placed the career resources on the library web page, There was a career survey , and specific sites that she wanted them to use. These were not actually databases but government sites that we wanted them to use.
The language teachers did research projects . So I showed the student the Culture Gram database . This database madd their project extremely easy.
I find that teaching students databases when the are needed for a project much more effective for students to actually leann about them and then USE them in their search for information.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
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.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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?
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?
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
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!
Thursday, December 29, 2016
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.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
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.
about the lives of the children that they are real , and you find yourself caring deeply about what happens next.
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