I'm starting the last of my classes for my MLS (Masters of Library Science) degree (graduate in 5 months!) and one of the first discussion boards I posted to is about collaboration. This post made me reflect on how I've collaborated with teachers in my building and some tips regarding it:
1.) Put yourself out there! Teachers are not going to come running to you -- they have enough on their plate and sometimes don't realize that you are there as a resource. Send emails, chat at lunch, put notes in mailboxes. Then start with the teachers that are interested.
2.) Familiarize yourself with the curriculum. I know this sounds like a given, but many librarians can get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of running a library. Start small – get pacing guides or overviews from the various departments/grades. I find that working with the content areas (Social Studies and Science) or other specialists (Art, Music, Gym) is an easy way to start. Many districts are pushing for reading across the curriculum and you can be a HUGE asset in that regard. Suggest book titles to them or collaborate on a project (see #3).
3.) Project based learning – Learn it and Love it! I will be doing a blog post on this in the future. But I have found that collaborating on a project divides the work equally and then a rubric that both parties agree to can be devised. Then grading can be shared (a common concern).
4.) WebQuests (see previous post).
As closing thought, think of collaboration as your way OUT of the library. You can extend yourself beyond the walls of the library to the school at large. Remember, you are an asset to your building and have much to share with your colleagues, you just have to make the connections!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Aesop's Fables online
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Online Jigsaw Puzzles!
Jigsaw Planet is a site that allows you to upload pictures to create puzzles to complete online. You can also use a variety of the existing puzzles that are already uploaded for public use. I found a six piece Australia one (see screen shot, took me 30 seconds and I'm not good at puzzles!) all the way up to 100 + piece puzzles to complete. I really like puzzles to help students view things differently and to look at different possible solutions to problems. With non-virutal puzzles (or even with these) you can use them as team building activities to help students learn how to work together in a non-academic way. In the library and classroom, I've even done puzzle relays. I set up teams of 3-4 students to work together. They then complete a puzzle and write down the time it took them to complete. They do this with a series of 5-6 floor puzzles, but any type could work (adjust # of puzzles based on age and size of puzzle). We then added up the total times for each team to find our puzzle champs! Students loved this - especially working on the floor!
Getty Games -- Art
(hat tip to Richard Byrne for this one!)
I recently was reading the Free Technology for Teachers blog by Richard Byrne (subscribe here, his original post here) and forwarded this to the art teacher in my building. She replied that she was addicted within minutes and spent time on this site instead of other things she had planned to do! That sounds like a recipe for fun for me!
I like the game for the obvious links to art, but working in a library, I like to have a "stash" of online educational activities to have students use (as opposed to the latest car parking game).
Friday, January 14, 2011
WebQuests for Guided Learning
A colleague told me about Zunal as useful tool. Zunal has many pre-made webquests and allows you to create your own (first one is free, then you need a paid membership).
However, you can accomplish the same thing by building your own website using a free website creating site such as Wix. See the links below for ideas!
Zunal
My Wix Site
Monday, January 10, 2011
Twitter for Teachers
Some recommended people to follow
@teachertheresa (me)
@daveandcori
@wmchamberlain
@cybraryman1
@rmbyrne
@DEN
@cnnbrk (breaking news from CNN)
2011 ALA Winners Announced!
As a school librarian, it is always exciting to find out the new award winners for the year. I chose to include more than the usual Caldecott/Newberry winners and a bit about each. So, here is a listing of the 2011 ALA award winners:
Alex Award (for young adults ages 12-18)
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To by D.C. Pierson, published by Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray, published by Hyperion Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of the Penguin Group
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, published by Amy Einhorn Books, an imprint of G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of the Penguin Group The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, published by Thomas Dunne Books for Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell, published by Holt Paperbacks, a division of Henry Holt and Company, LLC Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue, published by Little, Brown and Company a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Vanishing of Katharina Linda by Helen Hunt, published by Delacorte, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
Belpre Award (given to honor works by Latino/Latina writers/illustrators)
The Dreamer written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Peter Sís and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc
Belpre Honors
90 Miles to Havana written by Enrique Flores-Galbis and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing
The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba written by Margarita Engle and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC
¡Olé! Flamenco written and illustrated by George Ancona and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Belpre Award (illustrators)
Grandma's Gift
Illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez, published by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
Belpre Honors (illustrators)
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS
Fiesta Babies illustrated by Amy Córdova, written by Carmen Tafolla and published by Tricycle Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc
Me, Frida illustrated by David Diaz, written by Amy Novesky and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS
Caldecott Award (for illustrators)
A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead, and is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing
Caldecott Honors
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet Slave illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Interrupting Chicken written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein, and published by Candlewick Press
Edwards Award (honors an author for his/her body of work for young adults)
Sir Terry Pratchett
Excellence in Non-fiction for Young Adults (the name says it all...)
Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing (winner)by Ann Angel, published by Amulet/Abrams
Finalists:
The Dark Game: True Spy Stories by Paul Janeczko, published by Candlewick Press Every Bone Tells a Story: Hominin Discoveries, Deductions, and Debates by Jill Rubalcaba and Peter Robertshaw, published by Charlesbridge Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement by Rick Bowers, published by National Geographic Society
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (given for children's literature) -- you know him better as Dr. Seuss
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile
Steptoe Award for New Talent
Zora and Me (Author)by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon, published by Candlewick Press
Seeds of Change (illustrator)illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler, written by Jen Cullerton Johnson, and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Coretta Scott King Awards (given to African American authors whose work reflect the African American experience)
Author Awards
One Crazy Summer (winner)by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Lockdown (honor)by Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Ninth Ward (honor) by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty (honor) written by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Illustrator Awards
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave (winner)illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc
Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix (honor)illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, written by Gary Golio and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Morris Debut Award (given to a debut author whose writes for teens/young adults)
The Freak Observer (winner)by Blythe Woolston, published by Carolrhoda Lab, an imprint of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group
Finalists
Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber, published by Margaret McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey, published by Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride, published by Henry Holt Hush by Eishes Chayil, published by Walker Publishing Company, a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc
Newberry Medal (given to honor children's literature)
Moon Over Manifest (winner)by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House Inc.
Newberry Honor
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Odyssey Awards (for audio books)
The True Meaning of Smekday (winner)produced by Listening Library an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Adam Rex and narrated by Bahni Turpin
Honors:
Alchemy and Meggy Swann produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Karen Cushman and narrated by Katherine Kellgren The Knife of Never Letting Go produced by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, an imprint of Brilliance Audio, written by Patrick Ness and narrated by Nick Podehl Revolution produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Jennifer Donnelly and narrated by Emily Janice Card and Emma Bering will grayson, will grayson produced by Brilliance Audio, written by John Green and David Levithan, and narrated by MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl
Printz Award (given for excellence in Young Adult literature)
Ship Breaker (winner)by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Honors:
Nothing by Janne Teller and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Stolen by Lucy Christopher and published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc
Schneider Family Book Award (given in different age groups to books that illustrate the experience of a person with a disability)
Middle School Winner:
After Ever After written by Jordan Sonnenblick and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Tells the story of Jeffrey who is free of cancer, but not the fallout from the treatment. Tad, his cancer survivor buddy and he swap wisecracks as they cope with their “chemo-brain,” other cancer effects and typical 8th grade angst.
Teen Winner:
Five Flavors of Dumb written by Antony John and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Dumb is not the name Piper, a high school senior who is Deaf, would have chosen for a heavy metal band, yet she volunteers to manage this disparate group of would-be musicians. In her attempt to make Dumb profitable, Piper learns a few things about music and business, striking a chord within herself.
Young Children's Book Winner:
The Pirate of Kindergarten written by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Lynne Avril and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Ginny’s eyes play tricks and, in her world, there are two of everything. Reading, math, and kindergarten activities are a challenge. Wearing an eye patch turns her into the pirate of kindergarten, and glasses help bring her world into focus. Whimsical mixed media illustrations cleverly convey Ginny’s experiences first hand.
Sibert Award (given for informational books)
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery
Stonewall Books (given for excellence in GLBT literature)
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (given to an author or illustrator whose body of work has made a "lasting contribution to literature for children."
Tomie dePaola
(all information can be found at http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/index.cfm)
 |
| image from http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/index.cfm |
Alex Award (for young adults ages 12-18)
The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To by D.C. Pierson, published by Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray, published by Hyperion Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok, published by Riverhead Books, an imprint of the Penguin Group
The House of Tomorrow by Peter Bognanni, published by Amy Einhorn Books, an imprint of G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of the Penguin Group The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton, published by Thomas Dunne Books for Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, published by Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
The Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell, published by Holt Paperbacks, a division of Henry Holt and Company, LLC Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue, published by Little, Brown and Company a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Vanishing of Katharina Linda by Helen Hunt, published by Delacorte, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.
Belpre Award (given to honor works by Latino/Latina writers/illustrators)
The Dreamer written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, illustrated by Peter Sís and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc
Belpre Honors
90 Miles to Havana written by Enrique Flores-Galbis and published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing
The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette’s Journey to Cuba written by Margarita Engle and published by Henry Holt and Company, LLC
¡Olé! Flamenco written and illustrated by George Ancona and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Belpre Award (illustrators)
Grandma's Gift
Illustrated and written by Eric Velasquez, published by Walker Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc.
Belpre Honors (illustrators)
Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS
Fiesta Babies illustrated by Amy Córdova, written by Carmen Tafolla and published by Tricycle Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc
Me, Frida illustrated by David Diaz, written by Amy Novesky and published by Abrams Books for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS
Caldecott Award (for illustrators)
A Sick Day for Amos McGee illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead, and is a Neal Porter Book, published by Roaring Brook Press, a division of Holtzbrinck Publishing
Caldecott Honors
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet Slave illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Interrupting Chicken written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein, and published by Candlewick Press
Edwards Award (honors an author for his/her body of work for young adults)
Sir Terry Pratchett
Excellence in Non-fiction for Young Adults (the name says it all...)
Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing (winner)by Ann Angel, published by Amulet/Abrams
Finalists:
The Dark Game: True Spy Stories by Paul Janeczko, published by Candlewick Press Every Bone Tells a Story: Hominin Discoveries, Deductions, and Debates by Jill Rubalcaba and Peter Robertshaw, published by Charlesbridge Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement by Rick Bowers, published by National Geographic Society
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award (given for children's literature) -- you know him better as Dr. Seuss
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile
Steptoe Award for New Talent
Zora and Me (Author)by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon, published by Candlewick Press
Seeds of Change (illustrator)illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler, written by Jen Cullerton Johnson, and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Coretta Scott King Awards (given to African American authors whose work reflect the African American experience)
Author Awards
One Crazy Summer (winner)by Rita Williams-Garcia, published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Lockdown (honor)by Walter Dean Myers and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Ninth Ward (honor) by Jewell Parker Rhodes and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty (honor) written by G. Neri, illustrated by Randy DuBurke and published by Lee & Low Books Inc.
Illustrator Awards
Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave (winner)illustrated by Bryan Collier, written by Laban Carrick Hill and published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc
Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix (honor)illustrated by Javaka Steptoe, written by Gary Golio and published by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
Morris Debut Award (given to a debut author whose writes for teens/young adults)
The Freak Observer (winner)by Blythe Woolston, published by Carolrhoda Lab, an imprint of Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group
Finalists
Crossing the Tracks by Barbara Stuber, published by Margaret McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey, published by Little, Brown and Company/Hachette Book Group Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride, published by Henry Holt Hush by Eishes Chayil, published by Walker Publishing Company, a division of Bloomsbury Publishing, Inc
Newberry Medal (given to honor children's literature)
Moon Over Manifest (winner)by Clare Vanderpool, published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House Inc.
Newberry Honor
Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night
by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Rick Allen and published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Heart of a Samurai
by Margi Preus, published by Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia and published by Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Turtle in Paradise by Jennifer L. Holm, published by Random House Children's Books, a division of Random House, Inc.
Odyssey Awards (for audio books)
The True Meaning of Smekday (winner)produced by Listening Library an imprint of Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Adam Rex and narrated by Bahni Turpin
Honors:
Alchemy and Meggy Swann produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Karen Cushman and narrated by Katherine Kellgren The Knife of Never Letting Go produced by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio, an imprint of Brilliance Audio, written by Patrick Ness and narrated by Nick Podehl Revolution produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Jennifer Donnelly and narrated by Emily Janice Card and Emma Bering will grayson, will grayson produced by Brilliance Audio, written by John Green and David Levithan, and narrated by MacLeod Andrews and Nick Podehl
Printz Award (given for excellence in Young Adult literature)
Ship Breaker (winner)by Paolo Bacigalupi, published by Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
Honors:
Nothing by Janne Teller and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King and published by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick and published by Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Stolen by Lucy Christopher and published by Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc
Schneider Family Book Award (given in different age groups to books that illustrate the experience of a person with a disability)
Middle School Winner:
After Ever After written by Jordan Sonnenblick and published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Tells the story of Jeffrey who is free of cancer, but not the fallout from the treatment. Tad, his cancer survivor buddy and he swap wisecracks as they cope with their “chemo-brain,” other cancer effects and typical 8th grade angst.
Teen Winner:
Five Flavors of Dumb written by Antony John and published by Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Dumb is not the name Piper, a high school senior who is Deaf, would have chosen for a heavy metal band, yet she volunteers to manage this disparate group of would-be musicians. In her attempt to make Dumb profitable, Piper learns a few things about music and business, striking a chord within herself.
Young Children's Book Winner:
The Pirate of Kindergarten written by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Lynne Avril and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Ginny’s eyes play tricks and, in her world, there are two of everything. Reading, math, and kindergarten activities are a challenge. Wearing an eye patch turns her into the pirate of kindergarten, and glasses help bring her world into focus. Whimsical mixed media illustrations cleverly convey Ginny’s experiences first hand.
Sibert Award (given for informational books)
Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery
Stonewall Books (given for excellence in GLBT literature)
Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (given to an author or illustrator whose body of work has made a "lasting contribution to literature for children."
Tomie dePaola
(all information can be found at http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/index.cfm)
Friday, January 7, 2011
Educational Games
Sheppard Software is a site that I began using a few years ago. I was happy when I revisited it recently to see that is has developed into quite the site. It is very useful in geography and social studies classes.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/
Welcome all!
So after a few failed tries, this is it! I am entering the world of educational blogging. I have been sharing links with fellow teachers for some time and thought that this would be a way to centralize all that information. So please share the news and let others know -- I hope to be posting resources several times a week (along with commentary...)
Thanks!
Thanks!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)