I have been waiting to update my blog until the fifth graders finished with their "Welcome to the Web" activity. Reflecting on that activity, I have decided that I will make some significant changes to it next year, but will use it again.
The first part of the assignment was to complete this activity . It is a multi session lesson and most of the kids reported that while they knew something about many of the topics, there was new information too. A few really liked the lesson and commented that it was really fun and they learned a lot. A very few were "bored," because "they already know EVERYTHING about computers." LOL.

Next time I will have students journal about each activity directly after the student finishes with it instead of waiting till the end of the entire project.
In the second part of the lesson - exploring the media center webpage - I think I'll try having students post their answers on the blog instead of copying the questions and pasting them into a document. It might make a couple of positive differences. Firstly, reading all the responses with go much faster because they will all be in one space, and secondly, because a blog is an open forum where everyone can read their responses, I plan to redo the grading rubric to expect more from their answers.

Today is Christmas Eve and we are spending the day with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, and DMiL at home. We are missing our son and daughter-in-law, but will see them for New Years. We are blessed to be with our family and hope the people who stumble across this post are similarly blessed.




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Hello 5th Graders!

Answer these questions as a check list that you have explored all the important pages on the Media Center page.
Add your written answers to the Reflection page and save it to your folder:
1. Resources Page.
A. Try a search on each of the 6 Databases, and try out the Cite your sources link. We will be using these soon, so looking at them now will help when we begin the lesson!
B. Do you have a public Library Card? Check out the Homework Rescue Link! This is a FREE service, all you need is a FREE library card. If you do not have a library card, ask me how to get one - it is easy!
C. Go to the Tumble books link and explore the options. How could you use this page?
2. Literacy Skills Page.
Open the Writing Link and explore the Story Starter and Shape Books. How could fifth grade use these tools?
3. Grades 3-5.
Open and try at least three of the activities. List the pages you have tried and rate each one using the same rating that you used for the Welcome to the Web activity.
4. All Ages.
Open and explore, then answer this question. Is this page a good idea? Why or why not?

Congratulations for doing a thorough job on exploring the RVE Media Center Web page!




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Book Challenge Update

I found out that I have been "cleared" by the challenge committee. They recognize that I followed the district selection process, but not heard anything about what they will do with the book. The title is "Kurt Cobain," a biography by Michael Martin. I selected it specifically with the (Spring) fifth grade biography project in mind. It is a 4.3 reading level and a 5-8 interest level. My thought was to find something for the student who reads below grade level, will not be interested in the more traditional biographies and may have heard of Kurt Cobain. I purchased a wide variety of musicians - this was one of them.

The issue began because I had just taught third graders how to use the search stations with keyword searches. A third grader typed in "guitar" and this book came up. He found it and checked it out. Mom and dad took issue with the book because it is begins with a sort of obituary. Over all is "negative," and talks a lot about his addiction to drugs and that he was never able to get out of that. I agree that it is heavy for third grade, and I think it is great that mom and dad read the book with the child and talked through it, but stand by my decision that it is a good choice for the population I was targeting. We will see :)

I am completely impressed with the way the school district is handling the challenge.

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Voki

I'm playing with Voki today and experimenting with a talking Nook to greet visitors.
What do you think?

MEMO

Anita Beaman and Amy Oberts were the keynote speaker this morning at MEMO. They are great. Take a look at a few of the ideas they shared on their wiki! READING 2.0
They are talking about:

Ace Screensaver ($15) that allows you to make a desktop screen saver file and save it, then teachers can drop it on the screens in their classroom. Amy uses this to promote books that are in their book award nominee list.

Using an image of a book front and combining it with Wordle.
She has asked that the Gallery be blocked so that kids can't get to some of the wordles that are not age appropriate. Did you know that if you have a word that you want to be together in Wordle - you just use a Tilde "~" between the words and Wordle will keep them together!
Create a Wordle

Shelfari - You can use book shelf image as a screen saver.

Picturetrail - a very cool application to highlight particular books

Pathfinders for elementary - Jog the Web

Glogster - Poster yourself



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What do you call a library with no books?

Cushing Academy has decided that the books in their library of 20,000 titles are too old fashioned and too bulky, so they are getting rid of them all! Instead they are replacing the library with only 18 Kindles (and Kindle type) readers!

I did not see what their student population is, but my question for them is, what are you going to do for the 19th student to come in for a book?
And, is the man in the photo wondering the same thing?

The school web page prominently features links that ask for donations and has a book store, so the image projected is similar to a college: however, I am sure that there must be students who can not afford the $300 for a Kindle or the approximately $10 per title that continued commitment to using this type of device demands. Personally, I would reconsider donating money to a school with administrators who spend $12,000 on a cappuccino machine and think 18 Kindles can replace a library of books.

My son, who is finishing up a college degree, has recently purchased a Kindle because his school has made certain texts available as a download. The Kindle is a good option for him because the cost of the Kindle was essentially the same as buying the entire print version of the books; however, expecting k-12 student to provide their own texts will force the chasm between have and have-nots even wider.

One reason that I find this article so upsetting is that I have had students who don't have enough to eat on a regular basis. I see students whose parents have a hard time providing basic school supplies for their them, and if the lending library of books disappears, then classroom teachers and media specialists will have an even greater challenge of reaching these students. But more importantly, these students will have an even greater challenge of developing into readers and discerning users of information!

Don't get me wrong, I love technology, I love the idea of Kindles and would love to see every student have access to one of their own. On the other hand, I agree with Keith Michael Fiels (ALA), who said that the books ... won’t be digital until the e-reader can tolerate sand, coffee spills, and have unlimited power.
I will add to that by saying that when a Kindle can withstand the use and abuse of a child for at least a year, and the price is low enough that the parents (or more likely, the school) could replace the reader every time it fails, then and only can we consider limiting access to books!


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Minnesota Youth Reading Award

388 cases, 30 huge bags...

of packing, and seven Mackin employees working for over three hours!


It is simply astounding the amount of packing needed to safely ship books!




















But it is worth it because our shelves are filled with books, glorious books, something for everyone!

















This is a sight I have never before seen.
Almost 14,000 brand new, never opened by a reader before, books. Waiting. Poised to be chosen by an eager reader!

What is left to do? Signage for each column, Popular Author names, and posters to welcome our readers!








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We Become

One of the wonderful Mackin shelving team working on the Picture books and another working in the fiction section.






















Another wonderful Mackin shelver working on the last few sections of fiction! As you can see I didn't remove all the signage yet, but the books look perfect!

I'll post the rest tomorrow!













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The Books Arrive!

388 Cases containing almost 14,000 books arrived on Wednesday morning, unfortunately, the rain met the truck at the door!

Three of the pallets went through the front door on hand trucks and a flat truck. It looked to be a long, long delivery.
But, with the rain was coming down really hard and assessing the project, our wonderful principal, Kim Grengs, arranged space on the loading dock!
















The truck drove up and the rest of palletts were moved into the hall adjacent
to the media center.
The job went much faster because we had only a short distance to move the books by hand truck! In just 3 short hours, we had all the cases staged for unpacking and shelving!














I was sooooo tired, but the LMC looked poised on the threshold of something great!






















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Just One More Book!!

I have had this site on my rss feeder for quite a while and read with interest the weekly posts, but I had some time today and decided to explore the site. I'm glad I did!

Every person who reads to kids before bed has heard this cry. In our family, Solomon (who is now 5-years-old and starting kindergarten!) always tried to negotiate for "just one more book."
These days, he has two "youngers" (Abraham, 3-years-old, and Eden (who at three months has no words, yet) to help him convince whom ever is reading to read just one more book.

Luckily for me (and for you), there is a podcast and website that is dedicated to reviewing and discussing childrens books! If you haven't looked at this site, you should! The podcasts that I have listened to feature a variety of people, including kids, talking about the title.
The site is search-able by age level, by author, and subject category.

Whether you are looking for something to read to a child in your family, or a library professional, or teacher, there is something valuable here for you. Seriously, check it out!

Just One More Book!!


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Reader's Advisory

One of my favorite things about working as a media specialist is talking to students about books.
Learning what books they have read, and liked, and discussing what they might like to read next is one of the reasons I became a library media specialist.

Now that I am at a K-5 school, one challenge will be to get a better grasp on all that there is to offer reader's at the pre-reading, beginning reading, and transitional reading levels. I know about Fancy Nancy, Junie B., and Arthur, but there are many that I have yet to explore!

I am thrilled to find a newly launched website that will be a great help to any elementary and middle school level library media center staff. "A Book and A Hug" was created by Barb Langridge, and it is beautifully designed!

Barb has some excellent pointers on how to connect to boy readers, as well as reluctant readers of all shapes and sizes. I am sure that once you visit A Book and A Hug it will become a favorite resource. I think her four categories of guy readers is spot on target, and the search features works great!