Blog Archives - Library Media Services

Are You Prepared For Dot DAy"

8/22/2013

Celebrate Creativity,Courage & Collaboration! Dot Day September 15, 2013

Check out Peter Reynold's International Dot Day webpage for all sorts of goodies.... a free educator's handbook, free posters and more. Be sure to register and sign in if you are organizing an event at your school and planning on connecting dots with the world !!! Katie

The Stoplight Method-End of Lesson Assessment

8/17/2013

I know I mentioned that the videos at the Teaching Channel are very helpful when it comes to working with the new standards. This short video is actually about a slick formative assessment which I bet many of you clever folks could adapt for library lessons by just changing the prompts at the top of each light. Take time to read some of the comments where others share how they have adapted the idea. And...if you've never been to the Teaching Channel, while you're at the website check out what else is available. Lots of great stuff! Katie

A Book is a Sneeze

8/16/2013

I love that SLJ shared these letters by E.B. White on Facebox, discussing why he wrote the classic Charlotte's Web. I have always enjoyed his essays and would suggest we look through his collections for possible contributions of informational texts.

And the site posting these letters, Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience, looks like a fantastic source of primary documents in the form of letters. The collection of 900+ letters includes pieces from the likes of Amelia Earhart, Bill Watterson, Carl Sagan, Elton John etc. What fun! Katie

PS If you're intrigued by authors and the publishing of children's books I highly recommend a book called Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom. New York: HarperTrophy. ISBN 0-06-446235-8

IRA's Reviews of Multicultural Children's Books

8/10/2013

The International Reading Association has shared this list of reviews of multicultural titles for children from kindergarten to grade 12. I thought you might find these reviews useful as you're placing book orders this coming year. Katie

Update your "Dear Parent" letter from the Library

8/7/2013

Read this great post from Doug Johnson on his Blue Skunk blog and think about rewriting that letter you send home to parents at the beginning of each year. Or rewrite that first newsletter article of the year where you tell what the library has to offer. He has such a healthy positive outlook on library services.

Graphite - New App finder from Common Sense media

8/5/2013

Actually Graphite will help you locate apps, websites and games allowing you to narrow your search by content area, grade level and price... as in free, free to try or paid. Check it out, add it to your teacher resource links and get the word out. Katie

Great picture - too bad it's not yours

8/5/2013

Great post by Debra DeAngelo in the Davis (CA) Enterprise on copyright abuse passed on by Jim Hameister. I think you'll find her discoveries and experiences very interesting and some good examples to share with students and staff. Katie

NPR's Backseat Book Club

8/5/2013

Thank you to our new English Language Arts Content Coach, Molly Sherman, for bringing to our attention NPR's
The Ultimate Backseat Bookshelf: 100 Must-Reads For Kids 9-14.
Might be a great way to start the school year, finding out how many students read one or more of these title over the summer! There are links to printable versions of the list to make if very easy for you. Katie

Teen Book Finder App

8/3/2013

YALSA's Teen Book Finder app has been updated. Read all about it here and find out how others are using this handy resource. Katie

Change Of Pace

8/3/2013

It's not everyday you hear of a change in building space going this direction. In McAllen, Texas a HUGE closed down Walmart building was transformed into the largest single floor public library in the nation. Read more about it on this WebUrbanist post.