Lifelong Learning for School Librarians

Burrow Library Services: Spring Fling

2012-03-05T06:35:00.000-08:00

I hope you are making plans to attend this event coming up in April. Hearing authors present on their work is one of my most favorite things in the world!

Contact their office if you have any questions about the Spring Fling. It sounds like it is going to be a wonderful day!

The Big6 In Middle School: Teaching Information and Communications Technology Skills by Barbara A. Jansen

2012-03-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Spring is in the air which can only mean one thing in most of Alabama's public school libraries! Research. Paper. Season. It's an exciting time in the middle and high school library, but an anxiety-ridden time for those doing the research and writing papers.

Throughout the year I reach for The Big6 In Middle School: Teaching Information and Communications Technology Skills by Barbara A. Jansen to assist students and teachers with projects and research. But in the spring it is always within grasp. (The Big6 is a model of information problem-solving developed by co-authors Mike Eisenberg and Bob Berkowitz, The Big6 in Middle School, xi).

This book features many types of research organizers for students and is chock-ful of information essential for school librarians.

One of my favorite tools is the Big6 Assignment Organizer for Grades 7-9. It is found on page 181 of the reference book. The first question asks the student to answer, "What am I supposed to do?" It seems a simple question, but students get stumped and they have to go back to their teacher if they can't answer it. The sheet continues with Information Seeking Strategies, Location and Access, Use of Information, Synthesis, Evaluation, and due dates. It is a tidy little organizer that keeps research on track for students. Many other presentation guidelines and planners are featured in the book that are extremely useful as well. I wish I could copy it here, but the cover of the book will have to do.

Here are some other useful tidbits in the book:

Correlation Chart Between Big6 Skills and State Curriculum Standards or Tested Skills
Checklists for Writing Assignments for Different Grade Levels
Lesson Plan Examples
Note-Taking Methods
How To's of a Class Project Wiki
Many Different Charts and Graphs

The book, published by Linworth, is available from different jobbers, Amazon, and your favorite online ordering spot. If you order now, you'll have everything you need to ease the stress of busy researchers.

Pebble Go

2012-02-29T05:17:00.000-08:00

Although the Alabama Virtual Library offers several good databases for elementary aged children, they can still be a bit complicated for the youngest students in our buildings.

Pebble Go is the best database for early childhood that I've ever used, and teachers of all grades here at North Highland LOVE using it with their children. You pay an annual subscription fee to have access, and then you will be given a school-wide user name and password to use. Our PTA paid for it the first year, and I have used library funds to split it with PTA the two years we've had it since then. Because it benefits every child in the school, the PTA really enjoys using their funds on this service.

If you decide to subscribe, begin sending home notices to parents with the school login information. Print each teacher a sign for their class with the user name and password printed, and post several in your library and computer lab.

Here are a few great reasons my teachers and students love Pebble Go:

Pebble Go truly is created for young readers/learners. It has all the basic features of a "big boy" database, but in simplistic terms and clicks that even first-week-of-school kindergarteners can operate.

There are 3 different individual databases from which to choose (you can subscribe to one or all three). We use Animals most often with the lower grades, but the upper grades like Earth & Space and Biographies as well. Each database is filled with categories and sub-categories of entries. Here is an example of what you would see in PebbleGo Animals:

Students can choose a category of animals and then a sub-category until they find an animal they are interested in. Most article have a "Watch" button, which students can click to view a short video of the animal in action. Each article also has a button students can click to have the article read to them aloud. Hyperlinked words provide students with definitions to unfamiliar terms as well.

Click here to see how easy it is for a student to click on a video!

Each article also has printing capability and citation support, which will generate a citation for students to use in reporting their research. It's always good to promote ethical use of information even from the very beginning!

If you have any questions about Pebble Go or would like to order it for your school, I can direct you to the vendor who represents this company in our area. Just shoot me an email!

Alabama Virtual Library: Britannica Learning Zone

2012-02-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

Another of our gems in the Alabama Virtual Library is Britannica Learning Zone. Though it is not searchable, it is a great database for the early childhood years. The interface is very simplistic and user-friendly. Once students "click to enter," they have four main categories from which to choose: Explore, Play, Read, or Draw.

There are also several other content categories students may select. They include First Steps, I Can Read, Numbers, Sounds, Time, Words, etc. These scroll slowly across the bottom of the page, marquee-style to ease students' process of selection.

One interesting feature is that once students enter BLC, the task bar as well as any additional open tabs are removed from the internet page, making it very difficult for the students to leave the site. I have a few little angels who like to click their way around the universe before I can stop them, so this is another very desirable feature for working with young children. :)

If students choose the "Explore" category, they can choose continents to learn about. Once they choose a continent, they can pick a specific area and one click will display a short video of life on that continent. This is an excellent feature for English Learners, as we work to build up their background knowledge about various topics.

"Play" will take them to simple literacy and math games (instructions read aloud).

"Read" will provide various words and definitions, with sample sentences (also read aloud).

"Draw" is a more simplistic version of Microsoft Paint, but will permit printing so students can carry their work out of the library or computer lab.

The only improvement I would suggest for BLC is to enable searching. Searching is the heart of information literacy, and even our youngest should be learning how to recognize and use search boxes.

Labels, Labels, Labels

2012-02-27T05:38:00.004-08:00

Do you label your books with Accelerated Reader information? I do. This is common practice in many elementary libraries, and for several good reasons:

when used with STAR reading ranges, sticker labels help guide students to the books that are "just right" for them
they provide a clear visual to the amount of books your collection has on each grade level; a quick walk through your shelves will show if you need more books of a certain range
they help students find books with which they will experience success, and quickly (classroom time is precious indeed, and the more efficient we can make book browsing for students, the better all around)

These are good reasons for labeling books. After all, our goal is to make library use as easy as possible for students. Right?

Right.

HOWEVER...

The American Association of School Librarians feels otherwise. Take a look at AASL's policy on labeling books: http://www.ala.org/aasl/aaslissues/positionstatements/labeling

Granted, some of AASL's concerns stem from the fact that lots of libraries are not only using labels but are organizing their shelving by labels (not adhering to standards of the profession), and that is most definitely a valid concern. We should be teaching students how libraries work, not just how OUR library works. If they understand that the Fiction books are in ABC order everywhere, then we have given them the key which unlocks every school, public, and eventually academic library they will ever use. This is a pretty big deal.

Another of AASL's points about labels is that it violates the privacy of our students. Think about that. Do you have a 4th grader reading on a 1st grade level? I do. Whose business is it that he is not reading on grade level? His, his teachers', his parents', and mine. Certainly not other students, but they will be able to see that if he is carrying around books with 1st grade stickers on the spine.

Ouch.

Personally, I have never, not once, in 10 years of serving in this profession, ever heard of a student being bullied or made fun of because of his or her reading level. But I also know that there is a lot that goes on behind the social scenes of kids that not even the most perceptive, Eagle Eye teacher can catch. I don't want to contribute to making any child in my school a target.

My plan is to compromise between AASL's standards and what my teachers want in keeping AR labels (and encouraging students to choose books within their range) but placing them in a more discreet location. This will take some time, but I plan to eventually remove all spine labels and begin to teach students to look inside the cover of their book for AR reading level information. This will take require more browsing time for the students, and it will take away my ability to sweep my eyes across the collection and notice deficiencies, but remember that 4th grade kid on a 1st grade level?

He's worth it.

iPads

2012-02-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

Apple iPads are quickly becoming infused in the technology program of many schools in our district. Priced relatively low with serious computing power, iPads are becoming the tool of choice for supervisors, administrators, and teachers. iPads are overflowing with learning opportunities for children!

Here are some great resources to peruse when making a splash with iPads:

http://www.scoop.it/t/ipadsineducation

http://educationaltech-med.blogspot.com/2011/09/list-of-excellent-ipad-apps-for.html

https://sites.google.com/site/schrockipad/

http://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2011/02/12/ten-sites-supporting-ipads-in-education-a-post-of-resources/

http://learninginhand.com/blog/classroom-ipod-touches-ipads-dos-and-donts.html

http://www.ipadcurriculum.com/

http://www.tech2date.com/40-ipad-apps-for-language-learners.html

https://sites.google.com/site/digitalstorytellingwiththeipad/home

http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/10/13/ushering-ipad-into-the-classroom.aspx

Screencastomatic

2012-02-22T05:22:00.000-08:00

*This post is by Carla Leake Crews, one of the school librarians serving at Shades Valley High School/JCIB.

In theOctober post titled Screen RecordingTools, Michelle posed the question “What other ways can you use/have you used screen recorders in the library?” Our library has recently used screencast-o-matic.com to create tutorials and capture on-screen information. It is web-based, FREE software that records everything happening on your computer screen while you narrate! After showing teachers how to use this site at one of our recent Teacher Tech workshops, teachers commented on how easy it was to use…. no email registration, no software downloads, and no file conversions! There are a variety of screen capture softwares available, including Jing, CamStudio, Screenr, and Movavi. But, I’ll tell you a little more about Screencast-o-matic since our library found it easy to use and within our budget.

What you need:

For Screencast-o-matic, you need the most recent version of Java installed on your computer. See Java.com for downloads (Not sure if you have Java? The “Do I have Java?” button from the site’s main page can check your computer for the software and/or latest version).
A microphone. Laptops generally have internal microphones. You will need to attach an external microphone if using a desktop computer.

What to do:

Go to www.screencast-o-matic.com and click on the blue “Start Recording” button.
Fit the dotted lines around the portion of your screen that you want to record.
There is a menu bar at the bottom of the dotted box. You may want to adjust the recording volume before you begin.

Record your presentation.
Click “done” and preview your recording.
If you are pleased with the recording, you can choose to upload or save your video. The “publish to video file” option will allow you to save the video to your computer or jump drive.
Select the file type for your video. This should be determined by what program you will use to play back the video. For example, if you record a video on a MacBook, save it to a jump drive, and want to transfer it to a Windows machine, you want to select the “Windows Media Player (AVI)” save option. On this same menu, there are options for adding notes and captions to your recording. Don’t forget the SAVE button all the way down at the bottom!

Would those instructions be easier to understand if I showed you? Certainly! Here’s a brief tutorial: http://www.screencast.com/t/1ZZxeKtvVeH

How to share your video with others:

If students will be viewing your video from school computers, you can save the video to a jump drive and transfer it to the student machines.
If you want to send parents or teachers a link to your video, you will need a site to host your video: YouTube, TeacherTube, SchoolTube, etc. You upload your recording and then send people a link to the site so they can view it. Some screen recording tools, such as Jing and Screencast-o-matic, will also host your videos on their sites. Sometimes the hosting requires a paid membership (Screencast-o-matic’s Pro account is currently $12 a year; Jing will host a limited amount for free at screencast.com).
Upload the video file to your JefCoEd SharePoint page.

Screencasting ideas for librarians:

Create and post a video that shows students and parents how to register and log hours for Scholastic’s summer reading program
Create a video demonstration that reminds students how to access the school’s OPAC from home or navigate the AVL databases
Create and post videos for teachers that shows them how to use a new software or website

Screencasting ideas for students:

Be the tour guide of a virtual museum – have students record themselves as they “walk” viewers through the online content of the Smithsonian Institute or Modern Museum of Art
Create your own digital story – after using an online comic generator to produce comic strips or mini graphic novels, have students narrate their story

Screencasting ideas for teachers:

Record lessons/PowerPoint slides with voice-over narration. Post these for students who are absent, students who need to hear an explanation more than once, or even leave a recorded lesson for a substitute teacher.
Record yourself correctly pronouncing words that you have typed on the screen. This type of tutorial could be used with new readers, ESL learners, and older students who take foreign language courses.

The possibilities are endless! Anything you can display on your computer screen can be captured in movie format. Give it a try… you may end up adding “producer and director” to your job description!

Alabama School Library Association Summer Conference 2012

2012-02-16T04:34:00.000-08:00

The Alabama School Library Association summer conference will take place June 12 at Mountain Brook High School in Birmingham. The theme is "Navigating the Standards".

Conference events include poster sessions, opportunities to meet authors and purchase their books, and browsing the vendors. Breakout sessions include technology-inspired lessons, creating book trailers, and teaching information-seeking skills.

Opportunities abound for presenting poster sessions and breakout sessions . If interested in either, please e-mail Elizabeth Hester at ehester@jefcoed.com.

This conference is a bargain for under $50 which includes lunch and time to meet with other school librarians in your district. More information can be found at the Alabama School Library Association website.

School Libraries Count!

2012-02-15T09:04:00.000-08:00

Each year the American Association of School Librarians conducts a survey measuring, among many other things, the impact of school librarians. This data is used to defend our positions and proves our effectiveness.

You do not need to be a member of AASL to complete the survey (though you really should be a member of AASL!).

Go here to take the 2012 School Libraries Count Survey.

The last day to take the survey is March 15, 2012.

Alabama Homework Help

2012-02-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

No one wants homework on Valentine's night, but it happens! That's when Alabama Homework Help can assist in helping to save the day for students. Help students navigate to feel the love of live teachers available to help from 3:00 until 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

The Jefferson County Library Cooperative is where they will log in and click on the Services tab. Once there, click on Homework Help. Students will need their public library card to log in to the site.

It's an invaluable resource that also offers Homework Resources, Test Prep Resources, and Career Resources all of which are available 24/7.

Fillable Forms

2012-02-07T06:18:00.000-08:00

*This post is by Valissa Burnham, the school librarian at Hueytown Middle School.

Creating Fillable Forms on Microsoft Word (*Keep in mind that this will not work with Word 2003 and earlier versions.)

Click on the Office Button

Click “Word Options” at the bottom

Click “Popular” on the left side

Put a check next to “Show Developer Tab in the Ribbon”

As you create your document (or add to a document already created) click on the Developer tab at the top of the screen to add the areas that you want people to be able to change. The buttons are found in the “Controls” group. Hover over each button to see what it will do. For example: The “Aa” button will add a space for Rich Text.

Once you finish creating the document, click on “Protect Document." Then click “Restrict Formatting and Editing." Put a check next to “Allow only this type of editing in the document:” Click the drop down box and click “Filling in Forms.” Click “Yes, Start Enforcing Protection.” It will ask you to create a password. Do not forget the password you create, or you will not be able to edit the document.

Once you have done this, people will only be able to edit the areas you have designated with the buttons in the Developer Tools. If you need to edit the document again, click “Protect Document” then “Stop Protection." You will have to enter the password you just created.

Are You Game?

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

The week that Alabama is celebrating Digital Learning is the same week that I am offering old-fashioned board games during our Basic Skills classes in the library. How ironic is that?! The three gaming days are meant to reward students for doing well in Basic Skills (reading and math remediation) and to offer them a different type of learning.

It thrills my heart to see students learn to play checkers, chess, and Scrabble. They have learned how to spell a few words and they have learned about strategy. One student asked, "Is this (foney) how to spell phony?" and many times throughout the twice daily gaming sessions they have asked, "Is this a word?" So, yes, it has been worthwhile and lots of fun!

Students Enjoying Scrabble

Signage for the Event

How it was planned:

Permission from the principal - explaining the purpose and audience

A survey was sent to teachers with three questions (inquiring whether they would support the endeavor)
E-news was sent home to parents asking for small prize donations (Airheads and mechanical pencils)
Gather the games: Teachers donated games from the Dollar Store
Teachers brought in games to borrow - one teacher had nine Scrabble games
Tablecloths (leftover from Scholastic Bookfairs) were set out for the games
Student Aides made signage
A schedule was sent to teachers & sign up sheets were placed on the library counter

Many articles are available on Google Scholar regarding gaming supporting learning.

Cookin' the Books

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

What are your circulation records doing? A skilled librarian once said, "Put everything on your calendar - even if it's something that occurs last minute - to justify what you do and so people can see what is going on in the library". It's all about transparency, isn't it? Well, the same thing can be said of circulation records.

When a teacher asks you to pull books and have them available for a project for using IN the library, check them out to the teacher. It increases the circulation of your library and the teacher IS using the books, so there's no need to worry about "cooking the books!" It's legit! This whole idea sprang from a discussion that Sheri' (~~my library aide~~ my right arm) and I had. A class had come in and we discussed whether to check out the books to the teacher. We decided we absolutely should to which Sheri' replied, "I don't think anybody's going to think we're cookin' the books!"

However, if you are looking for ways to increase circulation in your library, here are a few ideas:

Create great displays and keep them coming! Once they empty out, replenish!
Banned book displays, Coretta Scott King winner displays, series displays all work well.
Movie book displays are always a winner.
Suggest to teachers who don't visit the library that often to check out books to ignite discussion in the classroom (a science teacher might want to check out books for students to browse and thumb through after a test).
Students often will come to the library to check out a book that a teacher has briefly used to teach a reading skill - so be ready for suggestions for teachers! They often indirectly influence what kids want to read.
Teachers often dash in quickly and ask for some examples of informational text - I have given them ESL brochures with barcodes, technology how-to books without barcodes, and newspapers. Rule #1: Check out anything with a barcode.
Teachers and substitutes often come in for a book or magazine saying, "I will be right back with it. Do you really want to check it out?" The answer is yes! Not only does it increase your circulation records, but you know where your resources are.
There are also the ubiquitous reading contests that will help increase circulation.
Programs in your library can help increase circulation: Create a display surrounding the program - Someone from the Civil Rights Museum is coming? Create a display. Having a gaming day in your library as a reward? Create a display on board games, sports, and word games.
What is your library doing to increase circulation? There must be many ideas out there to share.

Just keep those books cookin'! Check them out so they will reflect well on the circulation records of your library (the cooked books on the stove above are courtesy of our Teen Living classroom).

First Friday: February

2012-02-01T06:08:00.000-08:00

This week holds the state department's First Friday session for February. Log in to either the 9:30 session or 1:00 session to hear Carolyn Starkey discuss eReaders in the school library!

Click here for login information.

Interactive Sites

2012-01-31T09:07:00.000-08:00

These are great resources to accompany lessons on a variety of topics!

http://interactivesites.weebly.com/

http://karenogen.blogspot.com/

Just for Kicks

2012-01-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

Need a laugh? Awful Library Books is a site created by and for librarians who stumble across those books that...er...are better left unshelved.

Each post contains pictures of terrible, awful, no good, very bad books (like this one) and provide an explanation for weeding them. This site is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face...and some pretty great rationale for weeding as well!

Sounds Good to Me

2012-01-26T05:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm sure this is old news to many of you, but I wanted to share one trick I've recently discovered...constantly streaming music in the library. I found an old stack of classical CD's and dusted off an old player, and the effect has been outstanding. Without saying a word, I have observed numerous classes coming in to use the lab just automatically settle down so they can hear the music. Pods of kids who would normally need some intense supervision to prevent all kinds of naughtiness are just completely laid back and on task.

Even the teachers are calmer...and that's saying something for late January of any school year! :)

It's such a small thing but truly has made a pretty amazing difference in my library. Give it a go!

What tricks do YOU have to share?

Offline Circulation

2012-01-25T05:40:00.000-08:00

One of the coolest features of Atriuum is that even in the rare event that the network goes down, we can continue to manage circulation by using the Offline Circulation tool. This is an incredible piece to our circulation system because it means we never have to go out of the business of putting reading material in the hands of students and teachers who need them RIGHT NOW (isn't it always RIGHT NOW?)! :)

In order to use this feature, you have to download the application. To do that...

1. Log in to Atriuum and go to Administration and then click the link for Library.

2. Click Downloads, and scroll to the bottom section titled Utilities.

3. Click Offline Circulation Setup (Mac or Windows, depending on your machine). This is an executable file (.exe), so you will want to click Run or Open (not Save). From this point forward, I'll be listing directions for Windows machines, since that is what most of us are using. If you're on a Mac, well...a)You're awesome, b)You're on your own, and c)You can probably handle that. :)

NOT that all my Windows peeps aren't equally as awesome, of course!

So anyway, up will come this installation wizard. Click Next.

4. Select your installation destination (just click Next).

5. Select Start Menu Folder (just click Next).

6. Select your target icons. (Just leave everything as defaulted and click Next).

7. You are now ready to install. Click Install.

8. Click Finish.

9. Okay, just one more step and you will be ready to roll. Now you must configure your server settings. To do this, click File and server settings.

Everyone's server name is the same: library.jefcoed.com

Your library name should be the extension you see in your Atriuum after library.jefcoed.com: (Ex: mine is library.jefcoed.com/norhes, therefore my library name is norhes) If you need help with this, I would be happy to assist you.

Your user name is what you use to log in to Atriuum.

Your password is what you use to log in to Atriuum.

And Ba-da-Boom. You're in business!!!

BLS Spring Fling

2012-01-23T06:39:00.000-08:00

Burrow Library Services is having their annual Spring Fling on April 23, 2012 at the Bessemer Civic Center. Included in the day's events will be a luncheon with author Mike Thaler (of the famous Black Lagoon series)!

Contact Burrow Library Services ASAP to reserve your spot. Space is limited!

Citation Aggregators

2012-01-20T05:26:00.000-08:00

I don't know how in the world I made it through undergrad without a citation generator. Plugging a source was easy enough (and my pre-librarian consciousness willed it), but figuring out all that punctuation was sort of a nightmare at times..especially when one professor wanted Turabian, the other wanted MLA, and a third wanted APA style.

These days, students are well versed in all the citation generators available. CitationMachine, BibMe, and EasyBib are just a few examples of free websites that, given the necessary information, computes a nice and tidy citation to be copied and pasted into their References slide or page.

The difference between a citation generator and a citation aggregator is that a generator does just that...it pumps out a citation, given the proper information. An aggregator, on the other hand, is a collector. EasyBib is a great example of an aggregator because your students can create accounts and then save and organize their citations over time. That is immensely helpful to students collecting a variety of sources for assignments.
Zotero is another example. Many users enjoy Zotero because it has a plug-in you can install to your browser and it will automatically generate a citation (and save it) for whatever site you are reading/browsing/etc. Additionally, Zotero will input citations directly into your word processing software. Pretty nifty!

Kids today...sheesh! They have it made! :)

KidZui

2012-01-18T05:24:00.000-08:00

For some of our students, learning to use technology tools even at a very early age, is second nature. By age two these kids ( mine being among them!) can use an iPhone or iPad better than most adults I know. For others, however, walking into the library or computer lab as a kindergartner is the first exposure they have to any sort of computer resource. Regardless of the skills they arrive with, it is our job to help all of them learn how to use technology resources.

Starting out right away with Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer might be fine for some, but for other young ones a more basic browser may be necessary. KidZui can help with that! It is an internet browser created specifically for young children. It requires a quick, FREE, download to each machine, which is a bit of a hassle, but is time well spent.

Once downloaded, you teach students to look for the orange "K" on the desktop. When they open the browser, it completely takes over the machine. Students can watch videos, play games, use favorites buttons, and practice navigational techniques like back button, forward button, and scrolling.

If you use a seating chart, you can even preconfigure the options so that the games are targeted to boys, girls, certain ages, etc. Most of the videos stream from YouTube, which of course will be blocked for us. The games and other interactive sites will work beautifully, though. They key to KidZui is that even though children are consuming the same type of media as the "Big Internet," only these resources have been hand selected by parents and teachers.

My two and four year olds love KidZui. I highly recommend it to parents of young children, because one of the features is that it emails you a chart each week they use it detailing how much time they spent on each area of the browser. I like it because my kids are learning how to navigate the Internet, but because of how the program works they don't have free reign out on the world wide web. Boundaries are good for children!

KidZui comes highly rated by CNET and several other major tech media outlets. Check it out for yourself!

iPad or iPhone setup

2012-01-17T05:35:00.000-08:00

*This post was written by Jennifer Anders, the librarian at West Jefferson Elementary School.

As the Tech rep at my school, I am asked on a regular basis how to set up Jefcoed email on an iPad or an iPhone. Here is a quick setup guide you can use or forward to your teachers and coworkers. This is, however, unique to Jefcoed.

Step 1: Click your settings icon.

Step 2: Find the Mail, Contacts, Calendars Tab and select it

Step 3: Select Add Account.

Step 4: Select Exchange.

Step 5: Enter your personal information.

Step 6: Enter Server name and next.

Step 7: Wait for it to run setup, and you’re finished! If you get an error message, go back and check your information. If that doesn’t work, make sure you are using your most current jefcoed password.

And enjoy!

What You Already Know About Displays

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me that whatever I put on a display gets checked out - immediately. To paraphrase the late Steve Jobs, they don't know they need it until you let them know they need it.

That's exactly what happened when one week before Martin Luther King Day (picture courtesy of National Geographic for Kids), I set up a display with MLK books - books on the Freedom Riders, various biographies of MLK, Civil Rights books, and books highlighting his speeches. You name it, I had it out there. And, as of today, all of the books are checked out. That is, except for one that said, "does not exist" when it was scanned. I'll deal with it later.

My question is why? Those books were always there on the shelves. I also have one poster of MLK in my library and a huge piece of artwork with 16 panels of MLK's visage, so it is not as if there are no reminders that this man plays the main role in the development of the New South (Huffington Post article referencing that on Friday the 13th). The students who checked them out just didn't realize they needed them until I put them out there within easy reach.

Never underestimate the power of displays.

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Weeding

2012-01-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

*Microsoft Clip Art Gallery

Weeding out books that no longer positively affect our collections is something that we librarians take very seriously. Especially in our current times of such economic stress, it seems that every book- even the most raggedy- are needed on our shelves.

This post on the YALSA blog (if you are middle school or high school, YALSA is the ALA division tailored specifically for your needs) presents some of the American Library Association's recommended guidelines for weeding.

Speak Their Language

2012-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

*This post was written by Carla Leake Crews, a new librarian at Shades Valley/JCIB. Welcome, Carla!

Have you ever posted a sign with important information for students, only to have it go completely unnoticed by them? Get their attention by sending them a text! Well, a fake text, that is.

At www.ifaketext.com, you can create text messages for the information you want students to read. This free site doesn’t actually send a text message; it generates an iPhone-like image that you can then print and post in your library or embed on your website.

Our library used the site to create 8.5x11 signs for our computer area. We posted one that encourages students to ask for help when needed and another that addresses the cost of printing. Other ideas for library use include:

posting OPAC search tips
advertising a book fair
providing conversational-style book recommendations

The fake texts we created include correct spelling and grammar, as I just couldn’t bring myself to “rit lyke thiz ok? LOL. L8r! J” for an academic setting. If you’re uber-hip, perhaps you might create something in a text language. Your students will love it! The site only generates about 12-14 short lines of text, so information has to be concise. Students could use this site to create poetry, have fun with vocabulary words, or have a "conversation" with their favorite literary character.

More ideas for educators can be found at http://www.tammyworcester.com/TipOfWeek/TammyWTechTipOfWeek/Entries/2012/1/3_Tip_109_-_iFake_Text.html. Between polling a few students and watching others’ reactions, these posters appear to have passed the "cool" test. And, best of all, students actually take the time to read the information.

First Friday Recap: Alabama Virtual Library

2012-01-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Last week I and several others from our district attended January First Friday session, sponsored by the State Department of Education. The presenter was Deloris Carlito, and her topic was the Alabama Virtual Library.

The AVL is a resource cherished by every one of us, and we have several blog posts written here about ways to maximize the databases in our schools. Though we may have extensive experience using this great storehouse of information, there is always room for us to grow and add to our knowledge about the various databases.

One of Mrs. Carlito's points of emphasis that resonated with me were the three cornerstones of the Alabama Virtual Library:

Equity
Economy
Excellence

There remains enormous variety in the social, economic, and ethnic diversity of our schools, both in the district and around the state. The AVL levels the playing field by providing 24 hour, free access to high quality information resources. It is obviously to our economic advantage to support use of the AVL, as we are not charged any fees as schools or individual users whatsoever to gain access. The resources included are top quality, highly recommended sources of information; over and again they prove their worth as solid, reliable, multifaceted sources to use with and recommend to our students and their families.

Suggestions she made for school librarians for promoting the AVL include:

Set the AVL as your library/computer lab home page.
Create guides for teacher and student use.
Provide teacher PD on the Alabama Virtual Library.
Encourage teachers not to accept assignments unless the references list includes databases from the AVL.

We must remember that we have to USE the AVL or we LOSE the AVL. Any opportunity we can take to thank our legislators for their continued support of the Alabama Virtual Library (or let our students share their thanks as well) will go a long way in securing this resource for our students.

Another point of interest Mrs. Carlito mentioned was the Helpdesk on the AVL site. If a user has any issues whatsoever accessing the resources or if a librarian needs training materials, use the Helpdesk to request materials (mouse pads, bookmarks, etc.) or assistance.

One of my most valued take-aways from this First Friday session was learning how to sort topic/keyword searches by Lexile level to ensure all students are reading the same topic on their individual grade level. For example, if you are working with a 5th grade class and they are researching American presidents, tailor each child's advanced search to their Lexile level, and boom! Everyone is reading material on their independent level yet also meeting their needs. Not too hard, not too easy, but "Juuust right!" (Elementary folks who do the Goldisocks lesson will totally get this.)

Okay, so maybe you're like me and have no frame of reference for Lexile levels. After all, many schools utilize the Renaissance Learning products to assess student's individual reading levels. Here is a link that can provide more information about Lexile levels and their grade level equivalent. It's not all inclusive, but it's a good start.

http://www.lexile.com/about-lexile/grade-equivalent/grade-equivalent-chart/

Who else attended the session? What were your take-aways from this presentation?

Living in a mobile world

2012-01-10T06:57:00.000-08:00

Recently I read this piece about the sudden prevalence of mobile technology, and it certainly affirms changing aspects of my own learning community.

This is changing everything we know about how we work with students and their families!

Enduring Values

2012-01-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

I met Doug Johnson in 2009, as the coordinator for the Alabama School Library Association's annual summer conference. Doug was our keynote speaker, and one of the most enjoyable, creative, and dynamic speakers we had ever heard. Doug is a very respected thinker in the school library world. He has his feet on the ground in the technology world, but nobody knows better than us how tightly technology and school librarianship go hand in hand.

This post on his Blue Skunk Blog is a good one for us to keep in mind as we keep our feet to the ground working with children every day, but also striving for more in our profession. This post stirs reflection on your current practice as evenly as it is inspiring to achieve deeper and more lasting impact on our sweet babies.

Do school librarians have "enduring values?"

Common Core Toolkit (Repost)

2012-01-05T05:31:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is a repeat of the original shared by Meg Brooke, the school librarian at Shades Valley High School/JCIB.

Testing usually makes me not look forward to going to work. Those times of staring into space and thinking about all of the work that needs to be done is frustrating. This testing week, however, is different. I’m incarcerated in my office, unable to leave for 3 whole mornings while testing goes on in the library with other administrators and facilitators, allowing me to get uninterrupted work time! Whoopie! Life is good!

One thing I’ve done today is to catch up on some PD reading, and I’d love to share an interesting 1-page article from the November/December 2011 LMC written by Julie Walker, AASL’s executive director. It’s an article that can help us be leaders with our library programs as our schools implement standards. Julie writes about the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, the P21, and how librarians can be leaders in this movement that is a requirement in the Race to the Top. She explains that P21‘s CCSS (Common Core State Standards) leadership has created a downloadable toolkit to help guide educators through P21. AASL has gone even farther by offering a “crosswalk” as well as a lesson plan database so that school librarians can become leaders in implementing these Common Core State Standards. Using these tools from AASL can enable us to demonstrate how our particular school’s library program can be a method in accomplishing the implementation of these standards.

To see, download, and print the tools from the article, click on the following links:

P21 Toolkit: www.p21.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1005&Itemid=236

AASL Crosswalk:

www.ala.org/aasl/commoncorecrosswalk

AASL Lesson Plan Database:

www.ala.org/aasl/lessonplandatabase

This database was an awesome resource! Lessons with titles like Creating 21^st Century Superheroes; It’s Debatable; and Rock Star Road Trip will definitely create interest in our libraries while implementing the Common Core and AASL standards for the 21^st century learner. I’d love for us to create some kind of similar database where we could share lesson plans, multimedia presentations, etc. with each other. We have some great thinkers/doers/presenters in our group, and we could bank on others’ talents tweaking them to meet our particular needs instead of reinventing the wheel!

Walker, Julie. "Introducing the P21 Common Core Toolkit." LMC. 30.3 (2011): 21. Print.

The Kindergarten

2012-01-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

*Today's post was written by Jennifer Anders, the school librarian at West Jefferson Elementary.

I can’t think of a more rewarding job than being the School Librarian. I get as excited as the students when I turn them on to new information or share a really great book with them. I love helping them create digital products and write reports for their classes. I can even enjoy doing a good puppet show every once in a while or even a little Reader’s Theatre. I have taught many students how to look up a book using the OPAC or even simply how to use a computer mouse. I can even drive classes to the public library to get library cards or to a local play. I am not faint hearted. Except when it comes to Kindergarten.

Nothing scares me more than a class of five year olds that can’t tie their shoes, walk in a line or raise their hand to ask a question. I am terrified of looking deep into their mouths to examine the latest loose or missing tooth. I’m afraid they won’t get Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and will laugh in all the wrong places. I am petrified when one wants to go to the bathroom and then they all need to go. Needless to say, they haven’t always gotten my best teaching.

However, the neatest thing happened the last week before the break. We have been studying Jan Brett, and I read them the Gingerbread Baby. I found this incredibly cool site, http://www.highlightskids.com/flash/gingerbread-house, where the kids could create their own gingerbread houses. So I decided to let everyone take turns adding parts to it using the interactive whiteboard. I just knew there would be arguing, pushing and complaining because they had to take turns, or some kind of free for all with the kids that had to wait. I just have to say, I completely underestimated these little guys. They were completely engrossed in the project and attentive to one another.

Now, I wonder what we can do next?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T06:28:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, friends! I hope you have had a terrific winter break and are feeling rested and ready for round two of this school year.

I wanted to share once again that if you are interested in sharing an idea, website, teaching tool, instructional strategy, organizational technique, or professional research on LibraryVision, please feel free to email it to me (a Google doc, Word doc, or plain old email all work great). Fret not over a word limit, but if you need some guidance I am noticing that most of our posts average around 200 words. Images are always nice for our more visual learners, if you have them.

This blog is a social learning network, so the more contributors we have, the more meaningful it will be for all.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:20:00.000-08:00

Last Post of 2011

2011-12-21T05:43:00.000-08:00

Library Vision will resume on January 3, 2012. If you are interested in sharing an idea, website, teaching tool, instructional strategy, organizational technique, or professional research, please feel free to email it to me. Most posts average 200-300 words and images are always nice if you have them. This blog is a social learning network, so the more contributors we have, the more meaningful it will be for all.

Much love to you all, dear friends. I wish you much joy, laughter, and many hours of reading time over the next few weeks.

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

Happy Hanukkah!

2011-12-20T05:32:00.000-08:00

Gettin' Digi with It

2011-12-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

Over the next few days, you ladies and gentleman (especially elementary level folks) may find the following links/activities useful for working with excited students on the verge of the holiday break!

Read Jan Brett's Gingerbread Baby, and use one of the following link to decorate a gingerbread house:

http://www.janbrett.com/trim_a_jan_brett_gingerbread_baby_house.htm
http://www.highlightskids.com/flash/gingerbread-house (*shared by Jennifer Anders at West Jefferson Elementary)

Facilitate a discussion among students about how Christmas is celebrated in various countries around the world. Direct students to gather some research about a country of interest to them and compile their findings in a video clip, poster, or Wordle.
Provide time for students to use the AVL or other sources to research prominent winter holidays (Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year, Eil Al Adha, Three Kings Day, Mardi Gras, etc.) and create a chart, table, or graphic comparing the various celebrations. This would provide great practice in using information ethically!
Guide students in completing this internet scavenger hunt on various winter holidays around the world: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/internet-field-trip-holidays-x2019round-world-wide-web
Pull up a few of the sites on this blog on your interactive white board and let your students head off to Winter Wonderland!

Alabama Virtual Library: SIRS Discoverer

2011-12-16T05:16:00.000-08:00

SIRS Discoverer is one of the nine databases featured on the Alabama Virtual Library specifically for elementary students.

One of the best features of this database is the alphabetical listing of global nations. When students click on a country, they are directly linked to scores of articles, multimedia resources, etc. supporting their research on that particular nation...all with nicely formatted citations at the end!

There is also a specific link for the world almanac...which is one of those reference sources in which students continue to demonstrate a weakness.

The real strength of SIRS, however, lies within the maps feature. Need historical maps, outline maps, topographical maps, continental maps....any kind of map? Hit up the SIRS Discoverer for a pleasant selection of maps of every shape, size, and intent.

Wicked Wikipedia?

2011-12-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia (to most librarians) is the devil. We spend hours teaching students how to evaluate information sources, how to disseminate what is worthy information apart from the gobs of goo out there on the WWW. We teach students over and over again that databases are the most reliable electronic resources for solid information, and are dismayed when some simple Googling is necessary that the first results (ugh) in a search list include Wikipedia. Ew. I have spent many hours of my life explaining why we must FLEE from this evil, Wicked Wikipedia.

Here's the deal...Wikipedia entries can be edited by anyone. ANYONE. Quickly. With fact-checking completed only by others who read and edit the article. This is dangerous. I use the example of myself as an editor of the entry on algebraic equations as an example to illustrate the dangers of such practice. (Those who know me well will get this.) Bottom line: people who are far from experts are passing themselves off as such when they edit a Wikipedia entry. In the criteria for evaluating information, this would be called a major risk of authenticity. For me, (working with little, impressionable minds), it is not worth that risk. I want to fill their noggins with good, proven, tried and true, accurate information...not "Eh, maybe it's right."

But there's no doubt about it...Wikipedia isn't going anywhere. It is a piece of the information pie at which students are chomping away every stinkin' day; so, using this example of the To Kill a Mockingbird entry, let's consider for a moment a few ways Wikipedia can be used effectively when teaching information literacy.

First off, each entry is structured with a Table of Contents. That's a handy reference skill every student needs to master, most especially when utilizing digital resources.
The various elements listed in the Table of Contents can be thought-provoking for students as well. This list could be of assistance to a student attempting to determine their three points for an essay on the novel.

The "See also" section in each entry provides links to other Wikipedia entries related to this particular topic. Again, though researchers should think long and hard about citing Wikipedia, the tool itself can be helpful in providing some varying or even deeper points of view regarding a particular topic or issue.

The "Notes," "References," and "Bibliography" section toward the bottom is supposed to provide citations or further research for the work included in the entry (again, by various Joes from Anyplace, USA). The links quite possible could be reliable information, but then again, it is Wikipedia...who's fact-checking?

"External links" is most commonly where students can find the gold Wikipedia has to offer. Non-wiki links are provided here which, hopefully (but not assuredly) verify the information within the entry. Students should not cite Wikipedia, but should consider these external links as potential sources for solid information.

This feature allows the article to be read to the student. This is a tool becoming fairly common on most websites, and is of great use to assisting students with exceptional learning needs or even English deficiencies.

There you have it. What say you? Are you teaching your students to FLEE from the perils of Wicked Wikipedia, or are you allowing them to use the source within certain contexts?

For more info on the use of Wikipedia in the academic realm:

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/01/26/wiki

http://library.williams.edu/citing/wikipedia.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not

http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/wikipedia-founder-discourages-academic-use-of-his-creation/2305

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20071101/042649.shtml

Resource for English Learners

2011-12-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

Mary Downey, one of our ESL coaches for the district, shared this resource with me recently. I was uber-excited because this resource is exactly what I've been searching for in the library realm. Colorado has created this website in support of English Learners and their families. Included on the website is everything from the latest research on supporting English Learners to free resources specifically for school librarians. The website is available in English or Spanish, and would be a good resource to share with teachers, students, and their families. Here are a few of the tools the site provides:

The part I loved the most was this section on the vision of the position of the school library in supporting English Learners:

*There are translated documents available on this site, but we must always remember to go through OUR district's process for obtaining translations for our students. For more info, see your Handbook (pictured below) or check out the wealth of information posted on our ESL department's page.

Teen Tech Week

2011-12-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

For those of you working with teenagers, YALSA recommends observing Teen Tech Week in the spring. (March 4-10, 2012).Here are a few resources that might assist you in planning Teen Tech Week at your school...the theme is pretty cool this year!

http://yalsa.ala.org/blog/2011/12/08/ttw-ideas-no-budget-no-time-book-adaptations/

http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/General_resources_for_Teen_Tech_Week

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/calendar-activities/celebrate-teen-tech-week-20714.html

https://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw10/home.cfm

http://www.alastore.ala.org/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=272

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/ala/teens-choose-geek-out-your-library-2012-teen-tech-week-theme

Common Core Toolkit

2011-12-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is by Meg Brooke, the school librarian at Shades Valley High School/JCIB.

To see, download, and print the tools from the article, click on the following links:

P21 Toolkit: www.p21.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1005&Itemid=236

AASL Crosswalk:

www.ala.org/aasl/commoncorecrosswalk

AASL Lesson Plan Database:

www.ala.org/aasl/lessonplandatabase

Walker, Julie. "Introducing the P21 Common Core Toolkit." LMC. 30.3 (2011): 21. Print.

Christmas Around the World

2011-12-09T06:12:00.000-08:00

Here are a few resources you may find useful over the next week or so!

http://www.santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm

http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/worldxmas/

http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/pges/xmas_around.htm

http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/

http://www.mrsnelsonsclass.com/teacherresources/thematicunits/worldholidays.aspx

Alabama Virtual Library: Kids Search

2011-12-08T05:15:00.000-08:00

Kids Search is another AVL resource devoted to the needs of elementary aged children. I have not used this one much with my own students, but have looked around enough to see that it is very visual, which is always a draw for young researchers.

Dictionary, Encyclopedia, Current Events, and advanced searching for images and videos are all easily accessed by the children.

Each day has a Spotlight Topic, which can provide some easily accessed fodder for daily journal writing, or may simply spark a flame of curiosity in young learners.

There is also a section for most popular searches, which is another way for students to link quickly to articles within the database.

The Teacher Resources button links to a search page where educators can search for information within reputable education databases.

One of my favorite aspects is the quick filtering the resource allots after the initial search has been performed. Filtering is an advanced searching mechanism, but KidsSearch makes it easy with these simple choices:

KidsSearch may not be the tool I have used most often in the past, but it most assuredly has some strengths when working with little researchers!

Our Helen

2011-12-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

Helen Maldonado is another one of our recent retirees. Helen has been one of the sweetest, most kind people many of us have ever come across. She has a servant's heart and has always been very eager to help in any way possible. She has worked tirelessly as the secretary in the IMC of our central office for many years, and before that worked in the system as a long term substitute and in exceptional education. Helen has always been good for a laugh, and never forgets to ask about our kids, grandkids, etc. Though her absence will be deeply felt, we know she is off enjoying her own sweet family in her retirement!

iGoogle

2011-12-06T04:16:00.000-08:00

Things we know:

-There AREN'T enough hours in the day.

-There will ALWAYS be books to shelve. Lots. (Which is a good thing!)

-There will ALWAYS be one more thing to put on your To Do list.

Can I get an Amen? :)

I don't know about you, but I am always on the lookout for productivity tools. Anything that makes me maximize those hours and make the most of what little time I have. iGoogle (pictured above) is one unique tool that really works for me. Included in my normal morning start-up routine (logging in to Atriuum, Outlook, BookTracks, Self Check stations, computer lab machines, Renaissance Place, etc.) is loading my iGoogle page. iGoogle permits you to customize your home screen with a variety of interactive widgets that meet multiple needs all at once. Here are a few examples:

This one may not seem relevant to the library setting, but stay with me. I like using the weather widget/app to help me track any severe weather or (these days) extreme differences in temperatures throughout the day. My library is a VERY busy place with a huge wall of windows, and many times both teachers and students ask about the temperature outside or whether it is supposed to rain on us during afternoon dismissal. You know, those of us with the cute rain boots like to know when we can wear them! :) Again, this might not seem so important, but it helps me help my people.

I include my Google Books library as a way to easily search the texts of works I may be studying with students or on which I may be planning a literature project.

Maybe YOU were a math major in your undergrad life, but not Moi! I need a calculator to help with with everything from determining laminating charges for classroom teachers to gathering circulation statistics for those monthly reports. Sometimes I loan out my handheld device, so this widget helps make sure I always have a number cruncher when...well, when I need to crunch some numbers.

I don't actually use this one quite as much as some of the others, but I definitely like the option of being able to search dictionary.com or thesaurus.com quickly and easily, without having to open an additional tab and wait for another graphics-heavy page to load. This is a time saver.

Google Docs, oh Google Docs...how I love thee! Serious business, this widget is one I use most often. Rather than having to go to the Google docs page and then locate the one file I want and then open it, I have 3 extra windows open cluttering up my screen and have had time to sprout 3 more gray hairs to boot. Skip that with this Google Doc widget that enables you to open exactly what you want exactly when you want it.

This Google Translate app is another that I don't use much. We have been cautioned as a district not to rely on these types of translators when dealing with English Learners and their families because there are cultural considerations that should factor in the translation of any document. Please keep that in mind...but for a high school language class, this would be a pretty cool quick resource to use in supporting students as they complete their assignments.

If you aren't using a blog reader or site aggregator tool, you really should consider opening an account. Google Reader is my favorite (though there are several others), and this Google Reader app on my iGoogle page shows me the categories I may want to read at various times throughout the day when I have a moment. And of course there's the saving "Mark all as read" button when you either just don't have time or you are too overwhelmed with other tasks to consume any library leadership or educational technology blogs.

Last, but certainly not least, is my all-time favorite reason for using iGoogle.........GOOGLE TASKS! This widget lets you set up a different list for any categories of your choosing. I have one for various projects I have going on in the library, and of course my daily To-Do list. You can mark items off, just as on a notepad. You can set due dates for yourself and sort them by the order of due date. (Outlook will do this as well, but this is more user friendly to me. To each his/her own, right?)

Library Cards

2011-12-05T04:20:00.000-08:00

Student library cards are as unique as the schools and librarians that create them. Some schools use plastic student ID badges for all circulation purposes, and others merely use them to help remember the children's names.

The card I have designed (using Publisher) is incredibly simplistic but is a very important tool for helping students use the library.

At the beginning of the year, I print these cards (8 per sheet) on a unique color of card stock. Last year my cards were white. This year my color was orange, to the flagrant disgust of the rabid Bama fans in the building. :)

After they are printed, I print patron barcodes using Atriuum (Patrons>Print Patron Barcodes>Filter for one class at a time) onto sheets of 30 mailing labels. Remember even if you end up with partial sheets, you can program your barcode printing menu to start at whatever column/row you need to maximize those label sheets.

After printing the labels, I attach them to the open area on each card, laminate them, and record the teacher's name below the barcode with a permanent marker. Even though my school is not fortunate enough to have a machine that creates the more durable student ID badges, I do the best I can with what I have.

After the cards are prepared, the classroom teachers and I administer the STAR test to determine the kids' ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development...AKA "reading ranges"). Every teacher has different goals and expectations for their students' book selections, and I do my best to honor their preferences, but many of them prefer that their children read at least one book they can take a quiz on. The quiz scores are not included in their reading grades whatsoever...this is just a measure to verify how closely the students are reading and to reward them for their success.

Once the STAR test has been completed, I record each individual's ZPD on the line for 1st Quarter. We retest each nine weeks, and I reward my sweet babies whose levels increase even slightly with a sticker on their card. They love it...yes, even the big and bad 5th graders!

These cards also have students' Study Island login information and Renaissance login information printed on the back, which enables the students to access these resources without frustration.

An added bonus is that these cards help facilitate self checkout, which is a fun post for another day!

Troubleshooting Basics (6th edition)

2011-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is from a series by Dion Station, school librarian at North Jefferson Middle School.

The printer doesn't work?

If the printer will not print at all, you need to determine if the printer itself will not work or if it is not receiving a print message from the computer.

1. Many models have a built-in self test option which allows you to print a test page by holding down the feed button for a few seconds. The power button will begin to flash and a test page will print. If the printer self test fails, your problem is with the printer itself rather than the printer cable or computer. Should this occur, you should contact a technician.

2. If the printer self test prints, the next step is to have Windows print a test page. Click on Start, Settings, Printers, and right click on the icon of the printer with the problem (See Pic 2, 3,4 below). Select properties and press the Print Test Page button. If the test page fails to print, make sure the printer cable is firmly seated in both the computer and the printer. You should also check the ends of the printer cable to make sure that none of the prongs are bent. If the test print fails, or if the print consists of nonsense characters or a few characters printed over many pages, you need to uninstall then reinstall the drivers for your printer.

Paper feed problems and jams can often be resolved by using paper which conforms to the specifications provided by the printer manufacturer. On ink jet printers, the rubber rolls which pick up each sheet can sometimes become coated with paper residue which decreases the friction. Cleaning off the residue can sometimes solve paper feed problems.

Special Note

If your ink jet printer is making a banging or grating noise, you need to clean two areas of the printer.

1. Some models of ink jet printers have a gray colored narrow plastic film which extends almost the whole width of the printer just behind the rod on which the print head travels. If this film gets dirty, the print heads can have problems determining where it is and can crash against the end of the printer. Use tissue or soft cloth to clean this strip.

2. The printer head moves across a rod that can also become dirty. With the printer power on, raise the front of the printer and clean the rod with a paper towel. Put the front of the printer back down and turn off the printer. This time when you lift the front of the printer, the printer heads will move across the rod. This will allow you to clean the part of the rod that was covered when you cleaned it the first time. If you spray the paper towel with WD-40, this will do a better job of cleaning the rod.

As the printer gets older, it may become necessary to perform these two cleaning jobs at least once a week.

We bid you adieu...

2011-12-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

Our entire state has felt tremendous aftershocks of the recent increases in insurance, etc. for public employees due to the state of the economy. One effect we have experienced as school librarians is the loss of some of our dearest colleagues.

After nearly 23 years of service in a variety of school libraries, Marcia Amason has retired from Shades Valley High School/Jefferson County International Baccalaureate School. She has been a wonderful asset to our district and though we will miss her dearly, we wish her all the best that her new life in retirement has to offer!

Lisa Boyd has retired as Supervisor of Technology for our district. Throughout her 30 years of service to our county's teachers, parents, students, and administrators, Lisa's expertise in instructional technology has and will continue to hold an impact on the teachers and students of our district for generations to come. We hope that she enjoys all the time she now has to spend on her family (and continuing to learn about new technology tools, if we know Lisa!).

Deb Cordell has retired from Snow Rogers Elementary School, after a total of 33 years of service to children in everywhere from Jasper to Athens College to Brookville...whew! Deb has been a dear friend to many and we wish her well in her newest adventures. Wherever she goes, we know she will be helping children love to read!

Gloria Dennard has served in Jefferson County as a teacher, high school librarian, and the Director of Library Media Services for 24 years. She has won numerous awards in the field on library media, and our district will simply not be the same without her. We wish her many years of joy and happiness...and endless stacks of books!

Each of these ladies has brought their unique gifts and talents to the service of the children in our district. We are so grateful for their time and the devotion they have given as librarians. We love and appreciate you all!

Alabama Virtual Library: Britannica Elementary

2011-11-30T06:15:00.000-08:00

My favorite AVL resource for elementary students is by far the Britannica Elementary database. The interface is very user-friendly, and it promotes authentic information searches rather than sheer visual browsing. There is always a fresh "Activity of the Day" and every single time I open the database there are current headlines in the "Student News Net."

Personally, I have always found Britannica Elementary to be most dependable when guiding young kiddos in information searches. This is a fun database that does have learning games and high quality visuals to engage their attention, but also

Some of my favorite Britannica Elementary features:

There is a timeline creator that can be really helpful for research activities about historical figures.

On the home page there is a "Discover America" link that students can use to discover facts about each state (with visuals of state flowers, flags, birds, etc.) as well as the states' geography. This is a solid tool for supporting the curriculum of those grade levels who teach U.S. states and geography. (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th)

Also on the home page there is an "Animal of the Day" section. The animal articles always include vibrant visuals and links to nurture the children's curiosity about information beyond the article.

Every article has three features that are VERY important to our role as school librarians today. One is the ability to translate the article into Spanish, which benefits our English Learners. The second is the ability to click a button to have the article read aloud (in chunks) for the students who struggle with reading. The third is the ability to easily generate a citation for the resource. This promotes ethical use of information.

Troubleshooting Basics (5th Edition)

2011-11-29T07:20:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is from a series by Dion Station, school librarian at North Jefferson Middle School.

The computer starts up in "safe mode"?

At times your computer could develop a problem which causes you machine to boot up in what is called "safe mode". The easiest way to try and solve this problem is to run a "scandisk".

1. Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Scandisk.

2. Place a check on "Automatically fix errors."

3. When Scandisk finishes, reboot your computer to see if this fixed the problem.

4. If the computer still boots up in the Safe Mode, click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Defragmenter. If you receive the message "You don't need to defragment this drive now," continue with the process anyway.

5. When Disk Defragmenter is finished, reboot your computer to see if this fixed the problem.

6. If the computer still starts up in safe mode, you need to contact a computer technician.

Just for Fun

2011-11-28T06:18:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is by Marcia Amason, one of the school librarians at Shades Valley High School/JCIB.

If you enjoy making pictures, being creative with pictures, sharing pictures, and motivating others with pictures, then you will love Big Huge Labs! One of the many utilities on the site is the Motivator. Using the Motivator you can use your own digital photos to create your own inspirational, funny, parody, or motivational poster for any occasion. The possibilities are endless, especially for use in today’s library media center.

To begin, click on the browse button to find a photo that you want to use and upload it. Select your cropping option, orientation, border, and colors. Next, enter the title of your poster and the motivational text. Click on the box, add credit to the image, if the image belongs to someone else, or you can give yourself credit. Now, you are ready to click the big blue Create button and see the finished product!

When you are satisfied with the poster, you can download it to your PC in JPEG format; share it via e-mail, Flickr, or Facebook; post it to your wiki, blog, or website; and print it to run it through a poster maker if you want a large poster.

We had fun making our poster!! It was easy and it is FREE!!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

Snaptab

2011-11-23T06:18:00.000-08:00

*Today's post was written by Meg Brooke, one of the librarians at Shades Valley High School/JCIB.

Going to conferences and getting free posters is always a treat. Or, opening that mail that has a fold out poster…..Woo hoo! New color, instruction, and promotions for the library walls! With our wonderful poster maker at the IMC, we’ve all been able to enlarge homemade computer pages to poster size as well. We love displaying seasonal and promotional posters, but storage became a real problem in our library as they piled up and slid around after being laminated. They were a heavy pile, too!

Our problem was solved when we found the WallFile Snap Tab organizer online. It takes up a small space on the wall of our storage room, and we’ve found that it’s very easy to organize and actually see what posters we have so that they can be pulled out and used for various seasons and promotions. No, we’re not on the payroll or getting a kickback for sharing about this company with you! :) You might have someone at home who could make a similar product and you’d only need to purchase the tabs, or some of you might know a handyman or even have someone in your PTO who’d try this. We found that the organizer was affordable, and it works well. In order to save even more money, we used post-its to organize the topics, months, seasons! If this is something that would make your life less hectic, check out more information at www.snaptab.com. The picture below just gives you an idea of what it looks like, but seeing it on the website gives a larger, clearer picture.

PS----They do have larger products for maps, too! :)

Troubleshooting Basics (4th Edition)

2011-11-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

*Today's post was written as part of a series by Dion Station, school librarian at North Jefferson Middle School.

The mouse doesn't work?

Check to make sure the mouse is still properly connected to the computer. If the mouse has been disconnected, you may have to reboot your computer.

Like the keyboard, the mouse pad is sitting in the open most of the time getting dusty, wet, slimed, or anything else that happens on your desktop. The mouse (if you are using the kind with the rolling ball insert...an infrared mouse would be immune to this) then rolls over whatever has collected on the mouse pad and gets inside, gumming up the works. To clean the mouse pad, wipe it off occasionally with a damp cloth or get a new one.

You also need to clean your mouse regularly, as often as twice a week. If you turn your mouse over, you’ll notice a round ball with a cover over it. This cover can be twisted off and the ball will come out. Roll the ball on a clean, lint free cloth. Then take a look at the rollers inside the mouse. Take tweezers, a screwdriver, or even your fingernail to scratch the dirt and lint off the rods. Next, you should look inside the mouse and clean out any other dirt or lint that is hiding in there. Finally, replace the ball and twist back on the cover.

Troubleshooting Basics (3rd Edition)

2011-11-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is written as part of a series by Dion Staton, the school librarian at North Jefferson Middle School.

The keyboard doesn't work?

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del (all three keys at the same time) to bring up the Task List. Select any program that says "Not responding" and click the End Task button. Repeat until all tasks are ended. Check periodically to see if the keyboard will work.

2. Check to make sure the keyboard is still properly connected to the computer. If the keyboard has been disconnected, you may have to reboot your computer.

3. If all else fails, then turn the power off. Wait a couple of minutes before turning the computer back on.

Special Note

One of the dirtiest parts of your computer is the keyboard. Regular cleaning will help keep the keyboard working properly. First, blow compressed air through the spaces in between the keys to remove dust and lint. If you shake your keyboard upside-down this will also remove some of the particles.

Another keyboard problem that could occur is when you turn your computer on and you get a message that no keyboard was detected or you get into Windows but are not able to type. Remove the keyboard connector for the CPU, examine the pins in the connector to ensure they are straight, and then reinsert the connector. Also, check and make sure the mouse and keyboard connectors have not been switched. If the keyboard still doesn’t work try connecting, another keyboard that you know is working. This will determine if you need a new keyboard or if you have a CPU problem.

Alabama School Library Week

2011-11-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

Alabama School Library Week was created by the Alabama School Library Association in 2009 as a way to promote school libraries around the state. School libraries are important (Can I get an "Amen?")! By holding special activities such as inviting special guests in to visit our libraries and read with our children, we are advocating for our library programs!

This is how ASLW looked at my school this week:
Monday: Library OPAC Scavenger Hunt Day (All classes who visited the library participated in a scavenger hunt created just for them.)
Tuesday: Favorite Book Character Day (All students who visited the library got to vote for their favorite book character.)
Wednesday: Library Treasures on the Web! (Learning how to access NHES Library's "treasures" 24 hours a day.)
Thursday: Library Stamp Day (All students who visit the library get a special stamp.)
Friday: Book Character Dress-Up Day (District dress code must be followed).
*Every day, we welcomed guest readers into the school library to read with the children.
**Every day, we had special quotes about the library read on the announcements, as well as book trivia (question in the morning, answer in the afternoon).

Does any of this sound fancy to you? Nope, it really wasn't. The point wasn't to be fancy. The point was to promote the library, and that goal was accomplished. Every single day students were talking about the library, begging their teachers to bring them, and more importantly they were excited about the privilege of using the library.

Alabama School Library Week: Mission accomplished!

Creating a Works Cited Page

2011-11-17T06:19:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is by Laurie Dunlap, school librarian at Mortimer Jordan High School.

Using Easybib to Create a Works Cited Page

One of the most challenging aspects of putting together a research project is correctly documenting the sources of information. This is especially challenging when using databases and websites. I used www.easybib.com with my 9^th graders to help them create a works cited page for their I-Search A Word Project. Wow – this was a tremendously helpful tool. The format used was MLA7 which is the latest version. All the students have to do is go to the website and enter the information about each source based on the type of source they used (i.e. book with author, book with editor, websites, and databases).

Here are the steps we used for an AVL database:

Click on the tab for the correct type of source.

Click on Manual entry and then enter in the fields the information available on that particular source.

Steps for Manual enter for a database:

Click on the tab for database

Click on manual entry. Fill in the information available for the source. Here is a magazine article from an AVL database.

Once you have filled in all of the information click on create citation and a citation will be generated.

Once you have completed entering all sources click on Print as a Word Doc.

It will then create the Works Cited page for them. The only issue I have is that sometimes a teacher will require additional information. If so, they can edit it once it has been exported to Word.

I really think this is a great tool!

Alabama Virtual Library: Kids InfoBits

2011-11-16T09:36:00.000-08:00

Kids InfoBits is one of the AVL's best resources for elementary level students. VERY visual, it's one of the best picks for younger students. They can browse each category according to their unique interests OR they can use the search feature to locate information about a specific topic.

One of the neatest categories is "Stories & Literature." When students access this category, they can then choose from a variety of literature-related sub-categories.

*We have recently been told that the new ARMT+ standardized test will measure higher, more rigorous standards in regard to literacy. Poetry is one item that we can hone in on, and this section of the Kids InfoBits database can help with that! Please be sure to share this database with the classroom teachers in your building who will be focusing on poetry this year.

If you choose the sub-category of "Reading, Writing, & Language," you can see that there is an abundance of resources available to support literacy, and the instruction of English Learners.

Kids InfoBits is also really useful as a safe, ad-free dictionary tool!

Troubleshooting Basics (2nd Edition)

2011-11-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

*Today's post is written as part of a series by Dion Staton, the school librarian at North Jefferson Middle School.

The computer is completely dead?

Check all the connections, the cables between the CPU and the monitor and all the electrical cables. Check the wall socket or surge strip to see if they are bad (sometimes a surge strip will have good and bad outlets). If you have a green light on your monitor but not on your CPU, then there is a problem with your CPU. If there is a green light on your CPU and not your monitor, then you have a problem with your monitor and your CPU may be fine. If you have another monitor that you know is good, the quickest way to test is to put another monitor on the machine and see if you get an image on the screen. If you have a light on both the monitor and the CPU, check the pins of the data cable between the monitor and the CPU. A single bent pin can cause an image problem.

The usual problem is that the power cord or other cord has been pulled or bumped loose from the connector. Just because it looks like it is plugged in does not mean that it is, many times unplugging and re-plugging the cord will fix the issue.

Alabama Virtual Library: Enciclopedia Juvenil

2011-11-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

Another vital database in our state's collection of resources on the Alabama Virtual Library is the Enciclopedia Juvenil. Created as a service for students whose primary language is Spanish, Enciclopedia Juvenil eases the barrier to information access for English Learners by providing a quality search resource they can use in Spanish.

Users can search the database for information they can then translate to English if necessary. This database also has the text to voice recognition feature, meaning

This site even has games and videos created to match course of study content, created in the Spanish language to aide those students who are struggling with English language acquisition. These can also be used to create background knowledge which will help the students make stronger, clearer connections to their classroom content.

One unintended but also potentially relevant use for this database might be using it to demonstrate to teachers how English Learners feel as they are attempting to utilize learning resources on an every day basis that is in a language so different from their primary language.

Troubleshooting Basics

2011-11-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

*Today's post is the first in a series by Dion Staton, the school librarian at North Jefferson Middle School.

Troubleshooting Basic Computer Issues

I often am asked what you do when teachers have computer problems. And the answer is, truthfully I inhale deeply, and ask one question, “Have you restarted the computer since the trouble began?” This one question actually solves about 50-60% of all computer issues in my school. But what if that does not work? What do you do?

Well here is my basic process and some thoughts behind why I do these things. They are very basic and easy to perform and they get to the root cause of 80-90% of computer issues in my school. So take this for what it is: a very basic troubleshooting guide. I hope you find it helpful.

The computer locks up and/or is acting weird?

1. If a computer is frozen and will not respond to any commands, you will need to press Ctrl + Alt + Del (all three keys at the same time) to bring up the Task Manager (See pic1 below). Select any program that says "Not responding" and click the End Task button. Repeat until all tasks that are not responding are ended. If this does not work, turn the computer off by holding down the power button for 10 seconds, wait thirty seconds, turn the computer back on, and let the computer start up again. Likely 60% of computer issues can be fixed this way.

2. Just as stated above “When all else fails, restart!” A majority of problems that occur while you are using your computer can be fixed by shutting down the computer and restarting. Applications sometimes don’t release memory like they should when they are finished. The end result is your computer locks up or acts really weird. When you restart, memory registers are cleared and most everything is reset. This fixes a lot of problems.

Special Note

It doesn't hurt a computer to leave it running all the time. However, using the computer for long periods of time causes small problems that can build into larger ones. When Windows restarts, it fixes most of these small problems. Restarting the computer periodically while working can help reduce the risk of glitches causing big issues later on which seem worst than they are.

Encyclopedia of Alabama

2011-11-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Encyclopedia of Alabama is a free resource provided by a partnership of the state department of education, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, and many other state entities.

It is an incredibly useful tool for us because it is a database dedicated solely to the information about and resources of Alabama. It's one of the most relevant sources of quality information about our state. 4th graders at my school have used the Encyclopedia of Alabama to create class Alabama ABC's books, and have also spent time researching Alabama author Kathryn Tucker Windham as well.

Here is one example of using the Encyclopedia of Alabama to locate quick facts about Alabama:

A rich source of quality images and articles, EOA would be very useful for middle and high school students exploring primary sources about Alabama as well.

How have you used the EOA?

Ghostly Literacy Programming

2011-11-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

*Today's post is written by Jennifer Anders of West Jefferson Elementary.

As school librarians we are charged with collaborating with teachers, students, parents and the community as we plan and develop our program. One of our most valuable resources, however, is each other. Recently, Michelle Wilson (North Highland Elementary) and I got together and planned a “Big Read” unit for our respective schools without ever meeting face to face. However, we were in constant contact using different communication and social tools. Actually, we spent more time collaborating than an average lesson with teachers because of the ease of communication. This blog entry explains a little bit about what we did and how we did it.

First, we chose the book 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey by Kathryn Tucker Windham. This was a good choice for a couple of reasons. One, it is pertinent right now because Mrs. Windham passed away this past summer, so there has been a good bit of media coverage about her and her life. Second, if you are an elementary school librarian, you know that her series of ghost stories is always popular with the kids. This selection also allowed us to concentrate on the 4th grade social studies curriculum featuring Alabama geography, history and culture.

Next we developed a list of activities we could do with the students in our schools, and then secured or created resources to teach the activity.

Examples:

1. Introduce Kathryn Tucker Windham to students using video clip from APT Plus.

2. Develop research booklet to guide students learning.

3. Booktalk the ghost stories in the book.

4. Take a virtual trip through Alabama using Tripline.

5. Use the Encyclopedia of Alabama to research Kathryn Tucker Windham.

6. Create ghosts crafts with each grade level.

7. Attend production of 13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey one act musical.

(Just a stroke of luck that it was playing at the local high school.

8. Conduct a Ghost Museum, invite parents, community members and district level employees to tour the museum.

Some of the networking tools we used to communicate are tools we use everyday. We communicated by Facebook, email, text and Pinterest. While we were teaching the lessons we would of often text between classes to find out what was working or not working so we could adjust our teaching strategies. And most importantly, it was fun, educational and strengthened a working relationship between two librarians miles apart.

If you want more information about this lesson, please attend the First Friday session Friday, November 7^th. We will share live with you details about the unit and links to all the resources.

Celebrating Literature

2011-11-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Everything we do as school librarians has a distinct purpose. Every lesson we plan is done so in support of the course of study. Every objective we design for collection development is in harmony with the school's strategic plan. Every activity we coordinate with students is relevant to their everyday lives.

Book character pumpkin contests is an annual fall event for many schools. Students are given some basic guidelines and suggestions for book characters, and the activity is designed to promote an awareness of literature and provides an opportunity for children to reflect on the traits of a character. It works well because it's fun, inexpensive, simple, and permits such room for creativity. As other students come in to view and vote on their favorite pumpkins, they discuss the book characters with one another and have informal yet in-depth talks about why they like each character. That's good stuff!

Here are a few pictures of this year's book pumpkins from my students at North Highland Elementary:

Cinderella

Indiana Jones

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The Rainbow Fish

Bad Kitty

Hello Kitty

Wizard of Oz-Scarecrow

Wizard of Oz-Wicked Witch of the West

Wizard of Oz-Tin Man

These are a few of the pumpkins from West Jefferson Elementary's contest. Jennifer Anders is the school librarian there.

Kermit the Frog

Wicked Witch (Wizard of Oz)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Alabama Virtual Library: Biography Reference Bank

2011-10-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

One of the most useful AVL resources for students is the Biography Reference Bank. They can search for the names of historically significant or famous individuals related to a learning activity (each grade's social studies course of study is chock full of "famous people"), and can also perform as advanced or as basic a search as their needs and abilities require. Older students can define search parameters such as a person's year of birth, place of origin, date of death, and even the person's profession or activity of merit. These advanced search options provide students with experience in utilizing unique reference sources.

There are "Featured Biographies" each day that students can peruse to discover more unique, significant, and interesting people as well.

Library Fun for the Littles

2011-10-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

We elementary school librarians are always on the lookout for fun, cutesy activities that are engaging to our young readers. Here are a few ideas I have gleaned from Pinterest recently that I hope to do with my students this year:

Story Art

Musical Books

Leaf Glitter (perfect for Lois Ehlert's Leaf Man book)

Name Skeletons

Clipboard Organization and Storage

Alabama Virtual Library

2011-10-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Alabama's education budgets have suffered considerably in recent years, but thankfully we still have access to the Alabama Virtual Library. This incredibly powerful tool provides equitable access for all Alabamians to quality resources and information.

Remember the days when you were assigned those little blue AVL cards with the crazy user names and passwords? Thank goodness, those days are behind us! Now we have the benefit of geo-caching, which authenticates that a computer is in the state of Alabama and therefore grants access to the databases without requiring signing in.

Now, if you still have some of those blue AVL cards, don't throw them away!!! Repurpose them as bookmarks or bulletin board decorations.

If you need AVL bookmarks or mouse pads, simply ask and you shall receive! Contact the AVL helpdesk from the AVL's home page, and let them know how many you need.

*We should all keep in mind that the Alabama Virtual Library's resources have already been cut many times. Usage statistics (broken down by district and sometimes even by school) are major players when the committee has to have the hard discussions over what to cut, so remember that the most important way we can preserve the AVL is to USE it! :)

There are database-specific posts with usage tips on the way.

Read 100,000

2011-10-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Looking for ways to increase reading scores? We can tell students to read all day, everyday, but Scholastic has created a neat tool to add some novelty to keeping up with reading minutes that kids will love! The program is called Read 100,000, and will allow kids to be a part of a Worldwide Record-Breaking reading team this summer. Here is how it works:

The school librarian sets up an account on the Scholastic website by registering your school to participate. Then students will be able to register their minutes by logging in to the "kids" sign in area. They create a username by "spinning the wheel!" One bonus of signing up for the program during the school year is that students will be accustomed to signing in to the site when summer starts. Then they can help read for a World Record. That way, all you have to tell them for a summer reading program is to continue using their Read 100,000 account. (There are other options for registering large numbers of students at once).

Reading logs, flyers, and sign up information are all located in the resources section of the webpage as are bookmarks and a certificate of achievement.

One nifty feature is the Reading Calculator which - no surprise here - adds up the minutes of reading for the individual student or the whole school. The point is to get the whole school to read 100,000 minutes.

Here's an example:

200 Students

x Reading 30 minutes a day

x 180 Days

That equals 108,000 minutes! There is no end to the mathematical calculations that can be done!

Now, all you have to do is meet with your language arts colleagues and plan a time for students to register on the site. My school is doing it during their Book Fair time. While some students browse, I will have others signing up for the program. The program runs through April 2012.

Alabama School Libraries Week

2011-10-20T04:26:00.000-07:00

The Alabama School Library Association works tirelessly on behalf of school librarians in our state. One of the newest efforts established by ASLA is Alabama School Libraries Week. This year ASLW is November 14-18th, and marks the third annual celebration of school libraries in our state. Alabama School Libraries Week helps us direct some much-needed focus on the wonderful programs we have established in our libraries. It is also an incredible opportunity for advocacy.

How can you use ASLW to advocate for your library?

1. Use the resources already created for you by the ASLA to promote the week. Bookmarks, posters, postcards, etc. are all ready for you to print!

2. Plan special activities to highlight the library. Invite a guest reader from your district's central office. Give out temporary tattoos for QR codes that link to your OPAC, website, wiki, or blog. Hold participation contests where you draw for door prizes of everyone who checks out a book on a certain day. Write newspaper articles about your school library and send it to the local media. There is a more comprehensive list available on the ASLA site.

3. Use the postcards (printables on the ASLA site) to let students write notes to your legislators or central office staff giving your school library a shout-out. Let their powerful little voices be heard!

4. Make a "Why I Love My Library" bulletin board for students to add their comments.

Don't put it off...start planning your ASLW activities TODAY!

Alabama Library Media Online

2011-10-19T04:06:00.000-07:00

Have you used your ALMO today?

ALMO is our pet name for the state department's webpage for Alabama school librarians. It's filled with pictures of Alabama school librarians in action and ways to hone your skills.

Check the First Friday page (under Professional Development) for a list of upcoming sessions and topics.

The Publications page will give you links to all official state documents for school librarians, as well as archived sessions from past First Fridays.

Check the Library Happenings page for everything from Alabama School Library Week (coming up November 14-18!) to photographs of new libraries being constructed around the state. If you are in a school with a newly constructed library, please send pictures to the state department to have your school featured on this page!

The Resources page is also filled with information that is specifically tailored to our needs in Alabama. It is being updated often, so be sure to share any tips or suggestions with the state department.

Pinterest for Librarians

2011-10-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

Pinterest is growing a name for itself in the world of education. A visual social bookmarking tool, it was once used mostly for DIY project ideas and home decor.

We teachers, however, have a superpower of making things fit to suit our needs. In the past several months, I've noticed an explosion of educators using Pinterest to share and glean ideas that help with teaching strategies, classroom/library organization, and creative lesson ideas and printables. I've seen everything from bulletin boards to anchor charts posted on Pinterest, and the teachers are gobbling it up. So much that in the most recent update (a few weeks ago), Pinterest added a specific category just for education. Pretty nifty.

Are you new to Pinterest? Here are a few basics...

1. Before you do anything, you must have an account. You can go to Pinterest and request an invite, OR I can send you an invite. Email me at mwilson518 at gmail for an invite or leave a comment and I'll send you one.

To complete login, you have to click on a link Pinterest emails you and then log in with your Facebook or Twitter information. The point of this is that Pinterest wants to connect you with people you know who are already using Pinterest.

2. How does it work? Pinterest is a visual bookmarking tool. I've also heard it referred to as a social catalog. You see something you like, and you "pin" it (which means saving it for later). To pin something, you categorize it to a "pinboard." You can use the defaults or you can change the names of your boards to suit your needs. You can add or delete pinboards as your heart so desires. That explains the catalog part. The social part of it is that you are viewing other people's pins and other people's pinboards on Pinterest (Yes, there is an app for that!)

3. Once you get your pinboards like you like them, start pinning things. If you are using Pinterest from your computer, you can click on "About" and go down to the "Pin It Button" page. This helps you install a bookmarklet that helps you pin things you see from elsewhere on the internet (as long as there is an image and a website associated with it, you can pin it.)

4. You can leave the pin descriptions as they are or you can edit them to suit your needs. What librarians love about Pinterest is that the nature of the tool is sharing resources, but it is impossible to do so without connecting the image to its original source (read: CITATION). As a matter of fact, Pinterest is pretty serious about copyright violation. Here's a glimpse at their policy:

5. So, with all this awesomeness...what's not to love?

Well, a word of caution...

*Pinterest is social in nature and you must understand that if you choose to peruse the entire Pinterest catalog, there may be pins you come across with offensive language or perhaps a tad more skin than you want to see. Therefore, this is not a tool for students. This is not a tool to use in plain sight of students (ex: do not browse on your projected desktop). Pinterest is an INCREDIBLY useful resource for teachers and librarians...so use it wisely.

I showed Pinterest to some of the classroom teachers at my school and they have loved it. It gives them access to so many resources to use with their students, and our hallway displays prove just how creative some of their Pinterest ideas are. If you'd like to complete a training with your teachers, feel free to use my handout.

6. Just one more thing! :) There are librarians on Pinterest whose pinboards you may want to follow. Here are a few to get you started:

Sharon Matney
Jessi Peterson
Elizabeth Eastman
Yours Truly

7. And yes, guys, Pinterest users seem to be mainly chicks. :) Don't let that scare you away, though!

Screen Recording Tools

2011-10-17T07:25:00.000-07:00

Pinterest is one of the newest places to find creative ideas for lessons, teaching strategies, and classroom organization. I have a post in the works about Pinterest, coming to a browser near you very soon!

Pinterest is also a place to find a bit of humor here and there. I present to you, Exhibit A:

Like many of you, I have had this very conversation not only with my mother, but also with some of the tech-aphobic teachers with whom I've worked over the years. Advocating for technology integration is every bit as much about coaching and mentoring as it is providing exposure to new tools and resources. My standard phrase with teachers who are terrified of their computers is: You know way more than you think you do.

For those who really need that extra push to becoming confident using technology with their students, you may want to consider using a screen recording tool to provide them with short tech-support snippets or tutorials. Once you select a screen recording tool, you download the program to your computer and follow the simple instructions for capturing either images on your screen or recording a video of you manipulating and navigating content on your computer screen. You can even activate audio so that you can verbally coach users through the process. These pre-recorded "screencasts" can serve as a living anchor chart to which teachers can refer back later for assistance with computer-based activities.

Screen recording tools are incredibly powerful for visual learners. After all, telling someone how to do something is one thing, but showing them how is another!

Here is a very short example of a VERY basic screencast I've taken using Jing.

Screen recorders aren't just for tech support, either! You can also use them to record ways to access a database, or steps to take to retrieve citation information for a source. Because the screencasts generate a URL, you can post them anywhere from your OPAC to your wiki.

Teachers can utilize screencasting for students who are absent, or for unique tutorials to support English Learners. What other ways can you use/have you used screen recorders in the library?

Here are a few screen recorder tools...happy screencasting!

Community Clips

Jing

SnagIt

Just one more funny from Pinterest...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of HeLa cells? Want to recommend a book to discuss medical ethics in a high school English, Social Studies, or Science class? Here's a great one to start with - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (how did I miss it?). I pulled the review from Titlewave:

Library Journal (December 1, 2009)

This distinctive work skillfully puts a human face on the bioethical questions surrounding the HeLa cell line. Henrietta Lacks, an African American mother of five, was undergoing treatment for cancer at Johns Hopkins University in 1951 when tissue samples were removed without her knowledge or permission and used to create HeLa, the first "immortal" cell line. HeLa has been sold around the world and used in countless medical research applications, including the development of the polio vaccine. Science writer Skloot, who worked on this book for ten years, entwines Lacks's biography, the development of the HeLa cell line, and her own story of building a relationship with Lacks's children. Full of dialog and vivid detail, this reads like a novel, but the science behind the story is also deftly handled. Verdict While there are other titles on this controversy (e.g., Michael Gold's A Conspiracy of Cells: One Woman's Immortal Legacy-and the Medical Scandal It Caused), this is the most compelling account for general readers, especially those interested in questions of medical research ethics. Highly recommended. [See Skloot's essay, p. 126; Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/09.]-Carla Lee, Univ. of Virginia Lib., Charlottesville Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

The Young Reader's Edition is slated to be out this month. When I first read a review of this book, I thought it was such an abomination. I can only imagine discussing the subject with teens and how deeply offended they would be for the family of Henrietta Lacks. It would, in fact, make a great book club book and perhaps a service project for raising money for the Henrietta Lacks Foundation. The Foundation raises money for college tuition and various needs of her descendants. If this story couldn't spark a book club to life, I truly don't know what could.

What other books have begun as adult books and a young adult version has been published?

Publishing Student Books

2011-10-13T04:55:00.000-07:00

Teaching young children about authors and illustrators through author studies or author adventures is good. Letting them become authors and illustrators is powerful!

In my first year as a classroom teacher (so many moons ago!) publishing student books meant having students use crayons/markers/colored pencils to draw out the illustrations and hand-write the content for each page, then physically binding them with either tape, metal clip rings, or those plastic comb things that tended to pop up in your face if you didn't get them positioned juuuust right. :)

Not that that isn't also a good option for publishing student work today!!! After all, the authorship process is basically the same no matter what tool you use. At the end of the day, publishing is publishing.

However...

There are a few of the many services available that can take some of that labor off your hands and also provide your students with a polished, professionally-bound copy of their work that they would truly cherish for years to come. These are listed in no particular order, and no one is receiving any compensation whatsoever for their mention. They seem very useful resources for use in a collaborative lesson in with classroom teachers or as an ongoing project in the computer lab. They will have their own respective planning tools to use in creating student work, as will be the payment process. Talk to your local school officials and financial record keepers about how to make these work for you!

http://langwitches.org/blog/2011/09/15/finally-a-book-creator-app/

Student Publishing

Student Treasures

Snapfish

Shutterfly

Creative Memories

Scrapblog.com

Lulu

Going Mobile

2011-10-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that mobile technology is revolutionizing society. Through apps and simple encoding updates, companies are taking mainstream web content and converting it to mobile-friendly format.

Why?

There are many schools of thought on this issue. The technology is less expensive and growing in prominence. Think about it. How many people do you know personally who had an iPhone/Droid/Blackberry or other "smart" device a few years ago? How many more have those devices today?

As librarians we really need to embrace this mobile technology revolution. Even in the most impoverished communities, many parents still have access to iPhones or other smart devices because they are available at an affordable cost. The reality for many of my students is that though they may not have a personal computer at home, they do have access to the internet through mobile devices.

One of the most important ways we can bridge the Digital Divide today is to make sure that all of our web-based library resources are enabled for mobile access.

Is your OPAC mobile-friendly? If not, submit a request to the software company to include mobile capability in their next update. For some companies, this may mean devising an application to be downloaded through the respective app markets for mobile devices. For others, this may simply mean updating the encoding to detect mobile access (yes, they can detect everything from what operating system you are on to what web browser you are using) and adjusting sizing to fit the mobile screen.

Recently our very own Alabama Virtual Library updated its encoding for mobile-friendly use. This is a prime example of making every effort to enable equitable access to materials. My prediction is that the AVL's usage statistics for the mobile operating system will skyrocket!

Using the Overdrive iPhone app, Jefferson County Library Cooperative users can download audiobooks from the system's collection. JCLC patrons can also check out books for their Kindle or other mobile reading device.

How much more likely are you to use a web resource on your phone if everything fits the screen nicely and is easy to use, or if it's one where you have to scroll back and forth and up and down and you mistype because the data entry screens are too small (then too large, then too small...ugh!).

QR (quick response) codes are one of the fastest growing tools utilizing mobile technology.

Here are other resources on mobile technology in school libraries:

Library in Your Pocket

Mobile Libraries

Are our school libraries mobile?

Mobile technology is changing the relationship between libraries and their users...

So, what do you say? How is your library MOBILE?

Book Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney)

2011-10-11T06:19:00.001-07:00

My students are obsessed with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. At no less than 5 requests every single day, these items are hot commodities in my school library. At the end of the year I was finally able to wrangle the first installment to see for myself just what all the fuss is about.

The very first observation I had about this book was that Greg Heffley is a little jerk. He's narcissistic, rude to his parents, completely self-absorbed, and the most inconsiderate, selfish "friend" any kid could ever have. But, you know what? A lot of upper elementary/middle school boys are just like Greg Heffley. I suppose at the end of the say, it's all a part of their emotional development and that they are who they are at this stage for a reason. Still. He might be funny, but he's still a little tool.

And he is most definitely funny. Greg Heffley makes some pretty witty observations about the social order in schools that I think most educators and maybe even parents miss out on. There is a tinge of a "bully or be bullied" theme which I definitely believe is part of the under-the-table social interactions between students. Another observation I have is that the books are 5th grade level readers, which I think is overestimating a bit. These books are not exactly solid 5th grade level material. There are illustrative comics interspersed throughout, which make it even more popular with kids. These kiddos do love their graphic novels (sigh)...

Overall, it's a good set to have in the school library. As for me, I'm done with you, Greg Heffley. But I like that my kids like you, so maybe you were worth my time after all.

Book Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)

2011-10-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of something called HeLa cells? Yeah, umm, me either...not until a few months ago, anyway.

HeLa is a building block of cell science and a cornerstone of modern medical research. Among numerous other very interesting uses, HeLa cells were used in the first space missions to test the effects of space on human cells, they were used in nuclear experiments, and they were (and still are) used to develop important vaccines, chemotherapies, and radiation treatments that have and continue to save millions of human lives. HeLa is widely known in the medical science community as one of the most important tools in the development of modern medicine. The purchase and sale of HeLa cells for the purpose of medical research over time likely numbers somewhere in the billions.

This book goes into painstaking detail about the relevance of HeLa cells in the existence of mankind, but its primary purpose is to shed some light on how HeLa came to be...which went a little something like this:

Once upon a time there was a woman, a wife and mother to several children. She suffered several medical ailments on and off in her life, but one day she became very ill and was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The doctor treated her with radiation, but the cancer spread and in her very early thirties this young woman died. After her death, cells were removed from her body and used in an experiment of cell division. Unlike any other cell in that experiment, this woman's cells kept dividing. And kept dividing. And kept dividing. And even unto this very day, they are still continuing to divide. Because of this unique type of cell division and multiplication, the woman's cells were extremely valuable for a multitude of research purposes. The woman's name was Henrietta Lacks. Likely because it was the 1950's and even more likely because Henrietta Lacks was a black woman, her family was never informed of the cultivation of her cells for research and certainly not informed of their value. Today, Henrietta's family is trapped between an expired statute of limitations on the several infringements committed toward them and an understandable inability to trust anyone in the legal or medical communities after a lifetime of betrayals they have experienced. They have lived 60 years of intense frustration, and no one in the Lacks family has lived happily ever after.

What a sad, sad story. Henrietta Lacks left a legacy that has transformed medical science, yet her own children stated at one point that they were so poor that they couldn't even afford health insurance.

Somehow the author of this book won the trust of the Lacks family and was therefore able to put together this very comprehensive tale of Henrietta's life and background, her medical treatments, and the process of the discovery and subsequent uses of HeLa cells. It is incredibly thorough and in the author's own words was extensively fact-checked.

The thoughts that continued to run through my mind while trudging through the bits of cellular science history were that the real untold story here is that this family has been exploited in ways unimaginable. Their disadvantages due to poverty and race (at that time) made them easy prey for the people who they should have been able to trust: the doctors. What has been done to the Lacks family is positively inexcusable, and why no reparations have been made to Henrietta's descendants is beyond me.

In addition to her cells' contributions to science, the controversy surrounding Henrietta's family's experience has led to a revolution in the way patients are required to be informed and to give consent for their treatments or for bits removed from their bodies. What you and I take for granted in that stack of release, privacy, and consent forms we fill out at the doc's office or for pre-operative processing, Henrietta was never given the opportunity to consider. You can thank Henrietta Lacks for her seemingly ceaseless contributions to science, but you can also thank her for your right today as a patient to be informed and to give consent to procedures that involve your body and what is removed from it. And we can all thank Rebecca Skloot for telling Henrietta's story.

*The author used a portion of her earnings from sale of her book to establish the Henrietta Lacks Foundation, which is a foundation that provides scholarships and grants for descendants of Henrietta Lacks as well as descendants of other research subjects (ex: the Tuskegee experiments). Learn more about that here: http://www.henriettalacksfoundation.org/

For more about the author and Henrietta's story, go to http://rebeccaskloot.com/.

Resources on the ASLA Website

2011-10-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever check out the Alabama School Library Association website? (http://www.alasla.org/)

If you missed the ASLA Twitter chat session, then there are some resources listed on the site that you might like to try out!

Diane Quirk, a participant, and others mentioned several tools of the trade:

Popplet - a site for brainstorming ideas
Noterize - an App for combining typed text, written text, and audio
www.ahead.com - presentation tool
www.animoto.com - also for creating slide shows

The next Twitter chat session will take place Tuesday, November 1, at 7 p.m. CT

Turning the Page...with AASL

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

AASL's National Conference theme is Turning the Page (photo credit: http://www.aasl11.ning.com/). As I reflect on Turning the Page on my own career, I think of the new activities I have done so far this year and my own hopes and dreams for the future. Skype with an author. Check. (Really! It was the most fun thing in the world for the 6th grade class who spoke with Jennifer Nielsen, author of Elliott and the Pixie Plot (photo at left courtesy of Jennifer Nielsen's website).

She loved them as much as they loved her). Write a blog entry. Check. Stretch my Book Fair dollars with an online fair and promote online Wish Lists for teachers. Check.

But how else can I work to Turn the Page on my own career? I plan on doing more of the same, but I also want to stretch my horizons by reading The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains by Nicholas Carr, AASL's keynote speaker and author of the all-conference book. Click here to see an interview posted on AASL's website. I want to do all of the things listed on this blog: read the fantastic ideas posted by school librarians and experts in the field to glean new ideas, plan to attend as many conferences as possible (This year's ALLA will be in Birmingham in April and a school librarian is at the helm: Steven Yates, Mountain Brook High School librarian. What does he have in store for school librarians?), and lastly try out all the new tech ideas listed on the AASL website.

One more idea that all of us can do to Turn the Page, if not attending the AASL National Conference, is register for the AASL virtual conference. Register online by 4 p.m. on October 26. Registration for AASL members is $99.

Happy Trails to You!

2011-10-05T04:31:00.000-07:00

*Today's post was written by Marcia Amason, one of the librarians at Shades Valley High School/JCIB.

As librarians it is part of our job to make sure that students are equipped with the skills to research, evaluate, gather, communicate, and manage information. Even though we spend much time teaching these necessary skills, we are not always aware if our students have mastered them or not. So, when I read an article by Patricia L. Owen in the May/June 2010 issue of Library Media Connection about the assessment tool, Trails-9, I was delighted to find there is a valuable tool that provides precise evidence of student learning and achievement of information literacy skills.

TRAILS – 9 (Tools for Real-Time Assessment of Information Literacy Skills) is a standards-driven information literacy test based on 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th, and 12^th grade standards and provides evidence of student learning of the information literacy skills. The assessment items are based on Ohio Academic Content Standards and the American Association of School Librarians' Information Power and Standards for the 21^st-Century Learner. It is available free online and easy to access. You can set up as many test sessions as needed and all student scores are password protected.

“Why do Trails?

First, TRAILS-9 quickly captures a large amount of information about student learning. By including questions in five areas of information literacy skills, you can get a thorough picture of student skill weaknesses and strengths. Second, TRAILS-9 can be used for pre- and post-testing of students such as measuring differences in student learning from freshman year to graduation. Third, the report module in TRAILS-9 provides easy access to student scores, both individually and as a group” (Owen 36).

At our school we are now using TRAILS with our Freshman Studies 9^th grade classes. Through the test results, which are generated in graph form, we are able to easily assess student learning, revise our information literacy instruction, and produce evidence of our library’s impact on student achievement.

The website is www.trails-9.org

Remember, it is FREE!

Skyping and Webcasts: Some of the Benefits of Professional Magazines and Memberships in Professional Organizations

2011-10-04T06:57:00.000-07:00

A fellow librarian, with just enough wiggle room within her budget for one professional publication, asked about the cost versus the benefit of professional magazine subscriptions. First, whether it's School Library Journal, Library Media Connection, or Booklist, they are all beneficial (please add more in the comment section). Occasionally, there are webcasts offered that involve no subscription at all. One thing's for sure: the publications all fit the budget just right with their free Skype offerings and Webcasts!

As a subscriber to School Library Journal there's still an opportunity to join a free live webcast event on October 13 from 1:15 to 2:00. Students can submit questions to James Patterson, author of Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, about writing, middle school, or anything they can think of.

Sometimes a publisher will offer a Skype event with an author. Sourcebooks recently did with author Jennifer Nielsen's Elliott and the Pixie Plot. Go ahead and download Skype to your computer to be prepared when an opportunity comes along. Sometimes free books are even thrown in.

Scholastic and Dear America are teaming up for a webcast with Lois Lowry, Andrea Davis Pinkney, and Kirby Larsen on October 26 at 12 p.m. central time. Create a login at Scholastic and join the event (Scholastic is free, of course, but there are many professional resources here).

The big difference between Skyping and Webcasts is that Skyping can work with smaller audiences because more dialogue can take place (individuals can step up to the camera and speak; webcasts aren't usually set up that way). Also, a live stream of video is seen. Webcasts can accomodate a larger audience and multiple viewing areas. Skype allows up to three additional parties in different viewing areas that can be invited to join in on the video chat.

Almost all publications have a smaller free online version available for subscribing to, so look them up, log in and be ready scoop up information. It's there for the taking!

Book Review: Horseradish (Lemony Snicket)

2011-10-03T04:22:00.000-07:00

Lemony Snicket (which I think is a pseudonym for Daniel Handler, and a writer who I find fabulously entertaining) is best known for his authorship of the Series of Unfortunate Events. I have a few books left to complete the series, but I know enough about them to know that A) Lemony Snicket is hilarious, and B) this series in particular is most delicious when consumed audibly.

Horseradish is a collection of maxims that are categorized by applicable areas of life (as Lemony Snicket sees them), including Home, Family, Literature, A Life of Mystery, the Mystery of Life, and An Overall Feeling of Doom that One Cannot Ever Escape No Matter What One Does, etc. There are some adages that are of a more serious nature, and others which seem serious but end silly. And then there are those that start silly and end serious. Something for everyone, you see.

Just a few of my favorites:

"No matter who you are, no matter where you live, and no matter how many people are chasing you, what you don't read is often as important as what you do read."

"A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late to read them."

"A library is like an island in the middle of a vast sea of ignorance, particularly if the library is very tall and the surrounding area has been flooded."

"Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby - awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess."

"Just about everything in this world is easier said than done, with the exception of "systematically assisting Sisyphus's stealthy, cyst-susceptible sister," which is easier done than said."

Easily consumed in one sitting, Horseradish is sarcasm at its best.

Teaching with Primary Sources

2011-09-30T04:32:00.000-07:00

You all know we can tell our students about the horrors of a pioneer's journey west in the 1850's until we are blue in the face, but there is just something special about reading about it from someone who was there.

Primary sources are a way for us to help students bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge of history and true, deep understanding of events that have transpired in our nation and our world. Here is just a wee smattering of some tools that may be beneficial to you or your teachers in using primary sources in your school library!

Library of Congress "Teaching With Primary Sources" Guide

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

National Archives: Teachers' Resources Page

Using Primary Sources on the Web (A Guide by the American Library Association)

Constitution app for iPhone and iPod Touch devices

Declaration of Independence app for iPhone and iPod Touch

Smithsonian Institution

Edmodo

2011-09-29T04:29:00.000-07:00

Touted as one of the 25 best teaching tools by AASL, Edmodo just might become your favorite social networking site. One of the best features of this tool is that students can create an account without having an e-mail (an optional feature)! Edmodo allows the creation of a web page that features a calendar, grades, threaded discussions, assignments that students can download, and simple profiles that students can create without much difficulty. It is set up to look similar to Facebook, but with a focus on school. Students can choose a profile picture through e-mail, download from a digital camera, or simply choose one of the cute icons within the site. They can also choose their learning style and future career choice to round out their profile.

Create your own site and/or collaborate with a teacher on www.edmodo.com. It's fast, easy, and it excites kids about learning! What's not to love? The web site itself says, "learn how in five minutes" and it's really true. I recently had a Social Studies teacher ask me about something fresh and new for his class. My answer? Edmodo! I had recently been browsing the AASL web site for ideas for myself. The students I have used it with are so excited to use it that they were through my assignment sheet in 15 minutes. At the end of the day I added two polls to ask them what they thought and I could see that kids had gotten on the site overnight. Not a single negative comment was written.

As with all social learning networks, the teacher has to closely monitor posts made by students.

Picture 1: www.blog.edmodo.com

Picture 2: www.classcommunication.wikispaces.com

Jazzin' Up Atriuum!

2011-09-28T04:09:00.000-07:00

*Today's post is by Meg Brooke, NBCT. Meg is one of the school librarians at Shades Valley/JCIB High School.

Atriuum has paved the way for us to have a great web tool to help with all of
our day to day library business. It also allows room for color and creativity in
our homepage appearance and visual searches that I’m sure everyone is using.
Something different that we’re trying this year is to add videos of author talks
or book trailers of some of our books so that students can click and perhaps be
more enticed to read that book! In our freshman studies we demonstrated how
the students could look at the videos when we showed them how to use Atriuum,
and there was a huge demand for the books with videos! The downside is that
finding the videos can be a time-consuming endeavor, and most of us just don’t
have that time. This project might be something you could get your student
assistants to work on, or maybe you have parent volunteers who could help. If
you have parents who want to help but can’t due to conflicts with their work,
perhaps this would be a project they’d want to tackle at home! You could always
have a list of books and publishers ready for anyone wanting to help with the
library program!

Getting Started:

We began our searching with the publisher's or the book's website. Scholastic
was a publisher that had some good videos. Googling is also an option,
but many of these will lead to youtube videos which can’t be seen on our
servers. You can get around this, however, by downloading this tool: http://
youtubedownload.altervista.org. Next, upload the video to Teacher or School
Tube or your website and have Atriuum link to it from the unblocked source now.
I know……lots of steps AND time! This is a project for any down times (in a blue
moon!) or for helpers in the library to do.

*By the way, we may not be able to find videos, but we can certainly make our own, post to our websites, and link from there. This would be a fun and educational library activity, and the library catalog would probably be viewed more than ever!

You’re close to the end now and the easy part as you’ll just have to enter the
URL and a note. It’s on the Add Item: Bibliographic Record page after Core and
Analytics and will say Media. You’ll just add the URL and a note. For the note we
usually write something like this: Click here to see author talk about book or Click
here to learn about the book. See below:

Try this if you haven’t already, and be prepared for the books to become instant
successes!

P.S.We’ve only just begun and aren’t experts on time management OR having
super success with videos. If you have suggestions, let’s blog about them and
help each other!

Leaders in Librarianship

2011-09-27T04:21:00.000-07:00

Check out some of these great thinkers in the school library world! Their blogs are fantastic sources for daily PD.

Doug Johnson: Director of Media and Technology for the Mankato Public School System in Minnesota

Joyce Valenza: School Librarian at Springfield Township High School in Pennsylvania

Kathy Schrock: former School District Tech Administrator, currently a professor of graduate coursework
-Discovery Education's Kathy Schrock page

iPads

2011-09-26T06:21:00.005-07:00

Supporting English Learners

2011-09-26T04:33:00.000-07:00

English Learners (nationally, the terminology has moved from ESL to ELL to now just EL) are continuing to become a very specialized group of patrons in our libraries. Our district has recently moved from the pull-out model to the coaching model for EL support and instruction, and the EL department at our central office has done a fantastic job of communicating effective ways to best assist English Learners in our schools.

Although the inclusion of bilingual literature in a collection is an essential way to meet the needs of EL students, I have noticed personally that many EL students prefer English-only books. This may be a cultural issue, the desire to conform, or it may simply be that there are more options in English-only. However, we should support our EL students with selections of bilingual literature in every genre of our collections.

-With their permission to share, here are some helpful links provided by our EL department regarding bilingual literature in school libraries:

http://www.bilingualbooks.com/

http://www.wida.us/standards/elp.aspx

*Scholastic Book Wizard can help with this as well. Here is an example of a search for "bilingual."

These are specific tips offered by the EL department for all educators in supporting the needs of English Learners:
1. Establish a classroom community that values and celebrates all languages and dialects.
[Implications for librarians: include literature with a variety of dialects!]

2. Encourage parents to develop and maintain primary language at home.
[Implications for librarians: provide translations of library documents and communication in native languages. There is a procedure in place for securing authentic translations from professionals at the central office level. For more info, see your EL Handbook!]

3. Offer primary language support through bilingual parent and community volunteers, peers, cross-age tutors, and extended day programs.

4. Learn and use some second language yourself with students. You don't have to be fluent. Just learn a few phrases and key vocabulary!

5. Understand the differences between supporting and developing the primary language.
[Implications for librarians: celebrate a variety of cultures through creative programming!]

What are some ways you have provided language support for English Learners? Please share!

First Fridays

2011-09-24T06:02:00.000-07:00

On the first Friday of every month, the state department plans a webinar session to assist school librarians with professional development.

For many school librarians and in these difficult days of limited release time, these webinars are the preferred format format for professional development because it minimizes the time we are away from our schools. Because the state department offers these sessions twice monthly, this helps provide us with additional flexibility to choose the sessions that work best for our schedules. These are great opportunities for professional development!

See the list of sessions for the 2011-2012 school year HERE.

P90x for school librarians?

2011-09-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really! But seriously, try this challenge to start new habits of tech integration "fitness!"

http://eisdworkshops.wikispaces.com/13+Things

Book Review: Sarah's Key (Tatiana de Rosnay)

2011-09-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

*Today's post is written by Christina Sutton, the school librarian at Clay Elementary.

Sarah's Key is a wonderful realistic picture of Paris during 1942 - and the "roundup" of Jewish people. (The Paris police were actually the ones that did the "roundup" which adds to this terrible part of history.) A lot of us may know about the Holocaust in general, but not necessarily the role that Paris and other places may have played in this part of history that changed our world forever.

Here is the School Journal write up that I found on Titlewave - it's a great summary.

Library Journal (May 15, 2007)

Pivotal to this novel is the key in ten-year-old Sarah's pocket. It opens the cupboard in which she has hidden her younger brother from the French police, who are rounding up Jews in Paris. It is July 16, 1942, and Sarah, along with her parents and hundreds more people, are brought to the stadium Vélodrome d'Hiver, where they spend several days without food or water before being sent to French camps en route to Auschwitz. Arriving at the camp Beaune-la-Rolande, Sarah is separated from her parents and manages to escape. Nearby farmers not only protect but eventually adopt her. In alternating chapters, we read of American-born journalist Julia Jarmond, who's working on a magazine story about the "Vel'd'Hiv" roundup on its 60th anniversary. Because the grandparents of Julia's husband moved into the apartment once owned by Sarah's family, we learn what Sarah discovers when she finally returns ten years later with the key-knowledge so traumatic that it changes Julia's life forever. This debut by French-born de Rosnay has been translated into 15 languages and will surely be an international best seller. Masterly and compelling, it is not something that readers will quickly forget. Highly recommended.-Lisa Rohrbaugh, East Palestine Memorial P.L., OH Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.