My Final Post on this Blog
This school year is a year of transition for me. With this final blog post, I want to say thank you for five years of blogging comments, support and readership. I have enjoyed this journey with Marshall Public School staff.
Nancy will take over with blogging in January. I look forward to following her and will continue to share "copyright morsels" with her to post on her blog as this is part of my personal goals.
As this is my final blog post on this blog, I encourage you to consider blogging with your students. The following article: 19 Ways to Use Blogs with Students offers ideas that are only a start. As mentioned in the referenced article, blogging can start now with students as young as kindergarten. In addition to the blogging tool available to students through their Office 365 Microsoft (email) accounts, some other blogging sites to consider for students older than thirteen are: Blogger and WordPress. For younger students, their Office 365 Microsoft (email) accounts or Kidblog are great to keep student safe and secure in the blogging environment. To get started, begin with a simple concept that will be manageable for you and your students. Make it a daily or weekly way to reflect, converse, or share what students are learning in your class.
Copyright Morsel
As I mentioned above, I will continue to share ideas about copyright through Nancy's blog. This week I am sharing an article that is one to read and share with staff and students. Students search for pictures to enhance and illustrate projects, but do they or teachers consider copyright? Check out the following article to learn more about copyright and pictures: 12 Most Picture Perfect Ways to Ensure You're Legally Using Online Photos,
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Sunday, December 14, 2014
District Wide Information
11 Alternatives to "Round Robin" (and "Popcorn") Reading
I am not sure how many teachers still incorporate Round Robin Reading, Popcorn Reading or others listed in this article. The alternatives not only improve comprehension and fluency, but also improve the self-esteem and confidence of students of struggling and English Language Learners as they grow as readers. Some of my favorites as an elementary teacher were choral reading, partner reading, and teacher read aloud. Teacher read aloud is a great way to model reading to students at all ages. Next time you are planning to have students read aloud in class, consider some of these alternate ideas.
Copyright Morsel
Copyright for Librarians and Teachers, in a Nutshell, by Carrie Russell, is an article that helps to clarify the concept of "work for hire." "Work for hire" is where you have created a lesson or teaching unit to be used as a part of your job as a teacher. The ownership of this work is owned by the school district that employs you. For more information, read the article.
I am not sure how many teachers still incorporate Round Robin Reading, Popcorn Reading or others listed in this article. The alternatives not only improve comprehension and fluency, but also improve the self-esteem and confidence of students of struggling and English Language Learners as they grow as readers. Some of my favorites as an elementary teacher were choral reading, partner reading, and teacher read aloud. Teacher read aloud is a great way to model reading to students at all ages. Next time you are planning to have students read aloud in class, consider some of these alternate ideas.
Copyright Morsel
Copyright for Librarians and Teachers, in a Nutshell, by Carrie Russell, is an article that helps to clarify the concept of "work for hire." "Work for hire" is where you have created a lesson or teaching unit to be used as a part of your job as a teacher. The ownership of this work is owned by the school district that employs you. For more information, read the article.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
District Wide Information
A Love of Reading?
Seven ways schools kill the love of reading in kids - and 4 principles to help restore it continues the concern we as educators should change. As much as we focus on trying to teach students to read by 3rd grade, how do we counteract students as readers by killing the love of reading in students? I continue to read articles such as this one and others that I have posted this fall. I continue to share these articles to help change the focus of reading most prevalent in our schools. Let's try to help students maintain or regain a love of reading through supporting their autonomy in choosing books they want to read. Let students realize when book isn't what they thought it was going to be and allow them to choose again. The part where reading for enjoyment improves student achievement will occur after the culture and climate of the love of reading is developed.
Copyright Morsel
The attached video is another resource to provide clarity for copyright. This video is approximately six minutes long, but provides a excellent explanation of what copyright is and how it can be used. Check it out to review copyright.
Seven ways schools kill the love of reading in kids - and 4 principles to help restore it continues the concern we as educators should change. As much as we focus on trying to teach students to read by 3rd grade, how do we counteract students as readers by killing the love of reading in students? I continue to read articles such as this one and others that I have posted this fall. I continue to share these articles to help change the focus of reading most prevalent in our schools. Let's try to help students maintain or regain a love of reading through supporting their autonomy in choosing books they want to read. Let students realize when book isn't what they thought it was going to be and allow them to choose again. The part where reading for enjoyment improves student achievement will occur after the culture and climate of the love of reading is developed.
Copyright Morsel
The attached video is another resource to provide clarity for copyright. This video is approximately six minutes long, but provides a excellent explanation of what copyright is and how it can be used. Check it out to review copyright.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
District Wide Information
Marshall High School Community Book Sale
Please come support the annual Community Book Sale starts Tuesday, Dec. 2nd and runs through Monday, Dec. 8th. The sale is open until 6 PM on Tuesday, Dec. 2nd and Thursday, Dec. 4th. All merchandise is 50% off. The profits from this sale along with collaboration with the public library will bring an author to Marshall High School and the Marshall-Lyon County Library.
Copyright Morsel
Know Your Copyrights is an article to use as a reference for teachers to know what they can do when using works in their teaching. This article is written with higher education teachers in mind, but the essence of all that is presented is applicable to all teachers. As I continue to provide tidbits about copyright each week, hopefully you will find some of the resources helpful in your teaching.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
District Wide Information
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media is an outstanding resource for educators, parents, kids, families and schools. It offers reviews and ratings for movies, tv shows, games, apps and much more. It also provides excellent resources for educators in terms of digital citizenship (this is the resource I used for our district wide digital citizenship course resources), 1:1 essentials, professional development to name a few. New is Parent Concerns/Common Sense Media where screen time, cyberbullying, privacy and internet safety, Facebook, Instagram, social media, learning with technology, and special needs and learning difficulties are the topics of focus for parents. Each topic includes FAQ's, articles and video resources. Check this out and share this fantastic resource with parents in your classroom.
Copyright - A Fair(y) Use Tale
This week's copyright resource is the video below addressing fair use.
Common Sense Media is an outstanding resource for educators, parents, kids, families and schools. It offers reviews and ratings for movies, tv shows, games, apps and much more. It also provides excellent resources for educators in terms of digital citizenship (this is the resource I used for our district wide digital citizenship course resources), 1:1 essentials, professional development to name a few. New is Parent Concerns/Common Sense Media where screen time, cyberbullying, privacy and internet safety, Facebook, Instagram, social media, learning with technology, and special needs and learning difficulties are the topics of focus for parents. Each topic includes FAQ's, articles and video resources. Check this out and share this fantastic resource with parents in your classroom.
Copyright - A Fair(y) Use Tale
This week's copyright resource is the video below addressing fair use.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
District Wide Information
Getting Kids to Love Reading
I continue to search, find and read about ideas to get kids to love reading. I love reading and know much about why reading is beneficial to you no matter your age, but getting kids to love reading is something that doesn't happen with taking an AR quiz or writing a book report. As in this article, Jon Scieszka on How to Get Kids to Love Reading, the focus isn't on how important or good it is to love reading, but allowing kids to read what they love is the beginning of developing that love for reading. Gretchen Rubin's post Now I Stop Reading a Book If I Don't Enjoy It. Do You? reminds us that we have the permission to stop reading a book if we are not enjoying it. My son loved reading the Artemis Fowl series when he was young. I wanted to read them too to share what he enjoyed and to be able to tell other students, "Hey read this book, it is great!" I tried several times to read the first book in the Artemis Fowl series. I never finished it. It still sits in my "books to read" pile on my night stand, but I continue to choose other books over this one. It is important for kids to learn that it is just as important to abandon a book they aren't enjoying as it is to read books because we can't put them down. This is that love of reading.
Copyright
Copyright with Cyberbee offers information about copyright for teachers and students. It also has an interactive Q & A resource to incorporate with lessons as appropriate for what you are teaching. Check it out and help raise student awareness about copyright.
I continue to search, find and read about ideas to get kids to love reading. I love reading and know much about why reading is beneficial to you no matter your age, but getting kids to love reading is something that doesn't happen with taking an AR quiz or writing a book report. As in this article, Jon Scieszka on How to Get Kids to Love Reading, the focus isn't on how important or good it is to love reading, but allowing kids to read what they love is the beginning of developing that love for reading. Gretchen Rubin's post Now I Stop Reading a Book If I Don't Enjoy It. Do You? reminds us that we have the permission to stop reading a book if we are not enjoying it. My son loved reading the Artemis Fowl series when he was young. I wanted to read them too to share what he enjoyed and to be able to tell other students, "Hey read this book, it is great!" I tried several times to read the first book in the Artemis Fowl series. I never finished it. It still sits in my "books to read" pile on my night stand, but I continue to choose other books over this one. It is important for kids to learn that it is just as important to abandon a book they aren't enjoying as it is to read books because we can't put them down. This is that love of reading.
Copyright
Copyright with Cyberbee offers information about copyright for teachers and students. It also has an interactive Q & A resource to incorporate with lessons as appropriate for what you are teaching. Check it out and help raise student awareness about copyright.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
District Wide Information
Happy 50th Birthday Flat Stanley!
I still have the Flat Stanley book I ordered from Scholastic book orders when I was in elementary school. He has been modified, but after 50 years many students love to read Flat Stanley books as well as participate in activities where they travel or take Flat Stanley on family vacations or around town. What a great way to excite students with reading! Author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney on Twitter celebrates Flat Stanley's 50th Birthday while on his book promotion tour for his newest book, The Long Haul.
Copyright
As a part of Auburn University's Digital Citizenship website, I am focusing on two areas:
Copyright for Teachers and Copyright & Plagiarism for Students. Both of these website pages have excellent information to help clarify and better understand copyright. Both pages include excellent videos. The first video found in Copyright & Plagiarism for Students provides some parameters as to how much of a source can be used and how without violating copyright. The second video illustrates what plagiarism is, how it can be avoided and more. I encourage teachers to review these pages and consider incorporating the student information in lessons or projects that involve research or making multi-media presentations.
I still have the Flat Stanley book I ordered from Scholastic book orders when I was in elementary school. He has been modified, but after 50 years many students love to read Flat Stanley books as well as participate in activities where they travel or take Flat Stanley on family vacations or around town. What a great way to excite students with reading! Author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney on Twitter celebrates Flat Stanley's 50th Birthday while on his book promotion tour for his newest book, The Long Haul.
Copyright
As a part of Auburn University's Digital Citizenship website, I am focusing on two areas:
Copyright for Teachers and Copyright & Plagiarism for Students. Both of these website pages have excellent information to help clarify and better understand copyright. Both pages include excellent videos. The first video found in Copyright & Plagiarism for Students provides some parameters as to how much of a source can be used and how without violating copyright. The second video illustrates what plagiarism is, how it can be avoided and more. I encourage teachers to review these pages and consider incorporating the student information in lessons or projects that involve research or making multi-media presentations.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
District Wide Information
5 Tips for Helping a Student Find the Right Book
I continue to find articles and ideas to help teachers to reach out to students to develop a love of reading just like they love their favorite food, and to help students make reading a part of their daily lives just like eating, brushing teeth or sleeping. The linked article offers 5 tips for helping students find the right book to read. I notice that one reference for this article is The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I am currently reading her second book titled, Reading in the Wild. Another reference for this article is Kelly Gallagher's Reading Reasons. This book is a series of mini-lessons aimed to motivate middle school and high school students to read. It explains "real world" reasons why students should be readers.
Copyright Morsel
Copyright Morsel is a new addition to my weekly postings in Media Info Bits to provide copyright information in small amounts. This week I have included the following short video (approx. four minutes):Copyright Is video. This video helps to illustrate what copyright is, and to help understand the importance of copyright.
I continue to find articles and ideas to help teachers to reach out to students to develop a love of reading just like they love their favorite food, and to help students make reading a part of their daily lives just like eating, brushing teeth or sleeping. The linked article offers 5 tips for helping students find the right book to read. I notice that one reference for this article is The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I am currently reading her second book titled, Reading in the Wild. Another reference for this article is Kelly Gallagher's Reading Reasons. This book is a series of mini-lessons aimed to motivate middle school and high school students to read. It explains "real world" reasons why students should be readers.
Copyright Morsel
Copyright Morsel is a new addition to my weekly postings in Media Info Bits to provide copyright information in small amounts. This week I have included the following short video (approx. four minutes):Copyright Is video. This video helps to illustrate what copyright is, and to help understand the importance of copyright.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
District Wide Information
TED-Ed is a great resource and a tool we have used for flipped learning in the MarshallTech4Teachers course. Check out these two resources:
TED-Ed and Periodic Videos - The periodic videos have a video and lesson for each element in the periodic table. The part I like about TED-Ed video/lessons is with the watch, think, dig deeper, discuss, and finally components help students to focus on important aspects to the video.
TED-Ed Comma story - Commas are confusing for students to learn. This video offers another way to think about commas and how to use them.
In addition to the videos discussed above, TED-Ed is great for professional development too. A great example is Simon Sinek - Why good leaders make you feel safe.
Check out TED-Ed and these great videos.
TED-Ed and Periodic Videos - The periodic videos have a video and lesson for each element in the periodic table. The part I like about TED-Ed video/lessons is with the watch, think, dig deeper, discuss, and finally components help students to focus on important aspects to the video.
TED-Ed Comma story - Commas are confusing for students to learn. This video offers another way to think about commas and how to use them.
In addition to the videos discussed above, TED-Ed is great for professional development too. A great example is Simon Sinek - Why good leaders make you feel safe.
Check out TED-Ed and these great videos.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
District Wide Information
How to Keep Students Engaged, What's Killing Engagement, and How to Get Them Back
Twitter is a great way for me to find professional articles and connect to other experts in education. I found this paper tweeted by Ian Jukes, the co-director of the 21st Century Fluency Project. In reading through this paper, many of the ideas are not earth shattering, but yet simple and sensible. Sometimes reflecting on our own teaching can help to re-evaluate ways that we can work to better engage students. I really like the the short chapters titled, "What's Killing Student Engagement," "How Can I Force Students to Spend More Time Learning," and "Keeping Students Engaged: A Student's Perspective."
This paper is organized nicely so you can read the chapters you feel may be most helpful to you and your classes.
Twitter is a great way for me to find professional articles and connect to other experts in education. I found this paper tweeted by Ian Jukes, the co-director of the 21st Century Fluency Project. In reading through this paper, many of the ideas are not earth shattering, but yet simple and sensible. Sometimes reflecting on our own teaching can help to re-evaluate ways that we can work to better engage students. I really like the the short chapters titled, "What's Killing Student Engagement," "How Can I Force Students to Spend More Time Learning," and "Keeping Students Engaged: A Student's Perspective."
This paper is organized nicely so you can read the chapters you feel may be most helpful to you and your classes.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
District Wide Information
Digital Citizenship
During workshop week at the beginning of the school year, I explained that the district did not renew the iSafe curriculum. I shared that a Schoology course of lessons would be available for teachers to use to meet erate funding requirements in teaching students about cyberbullying, appropriate online behavior, and social networking. These lessons are available to teachers, but if you have other lessons or resources that address these three areas, you may use your own resources.
In conjunction with digital citizenship, I thought sharing this infographic and article could offer information to teachers to address this topic in a manner appropriate for their students. I am not suggesting that you show this infographic to students, but there may be aspects that can be helpful in cyberbullying and appropriate online behavior lessons. This Graphic Shows How to Remove Embarrassing Photos From Social Media.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
District Wide Information
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see Jonathan Friesen, Minnesota author, speak again. His powerful message stirs your emotions and makes you think about mental illness, disabilities, how we, as teachers, have no idea what students lives are really like outside of school.
He spoke last year at MHS to the students. His message to students and educators is, "Every student has two questions, 'Does anyone see me? Am I visible? Does anyone like what they see?'" Jonathan shares how he was treated by students and teachers, he shares life with Tourette's Syndrome, Epilepsy and Panic Attacks, now he shares his message through his writing and speaking engagements. His message continues to resonate through books he has written. Jerk, his first book received the Schneider Family Book Award, honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Check out his website http://www.jonathanfriesen.com/ His books are available at the high school and middle school media centers, if you are interested in reading them to your class or just for your own reading. His books are quick to read, but well written. I cannot wait to read his newest book to be released in December titled, Both of Me.
Another way to recognize National Bullying Prevention Month is to check out the weekly events planned at Stomp Out Bullying. Simple things can make a difference. Jonathon says, "Teach with your heart, not your head."
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to see Jonathan Friesen, Minnesota author, speak again. His powerful message stirs your emotions and makes you think about mental illness, disabilities, how we, as teachers, have no idea what students lives are really like outside of school.
He spoke last year at MHS to the students. His message to students and educators is, "Every student has two questions, 'Does anyone see me? Am I visible? Does anyone like what they see?'" Jonathan shares how he was treated by students and teachers, he shares life with Tourette's Syndrome, Epilepsy and Panic Attacks, now he shares his message through his writing and speaking engagements. His message continues to resonate through books he has written. Jerk, his first book received the Schneider Family Book Award, honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Check out his website http://www.jonathanfriesen.com/ His books are available at the high school and middle school media centers, if you are interested in reading them to your class or just for your own reading. His books are quick to read, but well written. I cannot wait to read his newest book to be released in December titled, Both of Me.
Another way to recognize National Bullying Prevention Month is to check out the weekly events planned at Stomp Out Bullying. Simple things can make a difference. Jonathon says, "Teach with your heart, not your head."
Sunday, September 28, 2014
District Wide Information
PhET Simulations
As I browsed the poster sessions at the ISTE Conference this summer, I learned about
PhET Simulations. This resource is brought to you by the University of Colorado Boulder. It is simulations presented in a fun, interactive and research-based manner for free. You can search the simulations by grade level including simulations for elementary, middle, high school and university levels. The content of the simulations cover physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math. Check out these fantastic web-based simulations (they are written in Flash and Java).
Socratic Smackdown and the Institute of Play
Learning and play seem to be a great way to engage students. Socratic Smackdown is a game for students in grades 6-12. From what I read about the game, it sounds like a great way for students to learn discussion strategies and prepare them for AP courses they have the opportunity to take at the high school. The game Socratic Smackdown can be based on around a text-based question or organized around a debate question. This game is found on the site Institute of Play where there are more games. Some are print and play game and others are online. If you took MarshallTech4Teachers and are interested in gaming, check out this site!
As I browsed the poster sessions at the ISTE Conference this summer, I learned about
PhET Simulations. This resource is brought to you by the University of Colorado Boulder. It is simulations presented in a fun, interactive and research-based manner for free. You can search the simulations by grade level including simulations for elementary, middle, high school and university levels. The content of the simulations cover physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and math. Check out these fantastic web-based simulations (they are written in Flash and Java).
Socratic Smackdown and the Institute of Play
Learning and play seem to be a great way to engage students. Socratic Smackdown is a game for students in grades 6-12. From what I read about the game, it sounds like a great way for students to learn discussion strategies and prepare them for AP courses they have the opportunity to take at the high school. The game Socratic Smackdown can be based on around a text-based question or organized around a debate question. This game is found on the site Institute of Play where there are more games. Some are print and play game and others are online. If you took MarshallTech4Teachers and are interested in gaming, check out this site!
Sunday, September 21, 2014
District Wide Information
Banned Book Week
Banned Book Week (Sept. 21-27, 2014) and Banned Website Awareness Day (Sept. 24) are among my favorite celebrations in the library world. Banned Book Week celebrates the freedom to read.
The 2013 top 10 challenged books include:
Banned Book Week (Sept. 21-27, 2014) and Banned Website Awareness Day (Sept. 24) are among my favorite celebrations in the library world. Banned Book Week celebrates the freedom to read.
The 2013 top 10 challenged books include:
How many of these books are popular in your classroom?
Banned Website Awareness Day is to raise awareness of overly restricted blocking of educational websites and academically useful social media sites. Fortunately, we do not seem to have this problem in our school district.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
District Wide Information
How to Watch the Internet in Real-Time
I find fascinating articles and information on Twitter, this article caught my eye this summer. I thought it was fascinating enough to share with you. It is amazing how we do not realize, statistically speaking, how rapidly the internet grows each second as accounts are set-up, email is sent, advertisements make money, and much more. This link How to Watch the Internet in Real-Time starts at zero when you click on it and from there the internet statistics change at an amazing rate.
Claudette Colvin, Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
As teachers consider plans for teaching about Civil Rights, Black History Month, or other related standards, the award winning (Newbery Honor, Robert F. Sibert Honor, YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-fiction finalist, National Book Award Winner, and Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Honor) story Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose is an outstanding story that illustrates how students can make a difference. Claudette Colvin, is still alive at 75 years old. I read the following article The Story of Claudette Colvin: Students as Historians this summer and felt this story is one I wanted to post on my blog and teachers might consider incorporating in their teaching. Check out the linked sites as well as the book available (at West Side and the Middle School) in the district.
I find fascinating articles and information on Twitter, this article caught my eye this summer. I thought it was fascinating enough to share with you. It is amazing how we do not realize, statistically speaking, how rapidly the internet grows each second as accounts are set-up, email is sent, advertisements make money, and much more. This link How to Watch the Internet in Real-Time starts at zero when you click on it and from there the internet statistics change at an amazing rate.
Claudette Colvin, Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
As teachers consider plans for teaching about Civil Rights, Black History Month, or other related standards, the award winning (Newbery Honor, Robert F. Sibert Honor, YALSA Award for Excellence in Non-fiction finalist, National Book Award Winner, and Jane Addams Children's Book Award, Honor) story Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose is an outstanding story that illustrates how students can make a difference. Claudette Colvin, is still alive at 75 years old. I read the following article The Story of Claudette Colvin: Students as Historians this summer and felt this story is one I wanted to post on my blog and teachers might consider incorporating in their teaching. Check out the linked sites as well as the book available (at West Side and the Middle School) in the district.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
District Wide Information
This week I am sharing two articles I think you might want to check out!
321 Free Tools for Teachers
Teachers love the word "free," and the linked article 321 Free Tools for Teachers offers many web 2.0 tools that you may want to check out. This is organized by topic including free tools to create infographics, which follows up from last week's post about visual information. Two other topics I want to highlight help in terms of copyright compliance: Sites to download Royalty Free and Creative Commons Music for teachers, and free Stock Photos sites for teachers. Check some of these sites out! Share the with students too.
6 Ways Teachers Kill the Joy of Reading
I am guilty of some of these practices as a classroom teacher. I continue to have a great interest in helping students develop a "life-long love of reading," as many teachers do. I also follow leaders of reading on Twitter and repeatedly hear how we as teachers work to encourage students to love reading, but we also counteract this by our practices as indicated in this article. Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer and Reading In The Wild, shares many best practices to encourage and develop students in our classrooms as "real" readers.
321 Free Tools for Teachers
Teachers love the word "free," and the linked article 321 Free Tools for Teachers offers many web 2.0 tools that you may want to check out. This is organized by topic including free tools to create infographics, which follows up from last week's post about visual information. Two other topics I want to highlight help in terms of copyright compliance: Sites to download Royalty Free and Creative Commons Music for teachers, and free Stock Photos sites for teachers. Check some of these sites out! Share the with students too.
6 Ways Teachers Kill the Joy of Reading
I am guilty of some of these practices as a classroom teacher. I continue to have a great interest in helping students develop a "life-long love of reading," as many teachers do. I also follow leaders of reading on Twitter and repeatedly hear how we as teachers work to encourage students to love reading, but we also counteract this by our practices as indicated in this article. Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer and Reading In The Wild, shares many best practices to encourage and develop students in our classrooms as "real" readers.
Monday, September 1, 2014
District Wide Information
Learning Visually
With tools available today, teachers and students can create visuals to help convey information. The article How Visuals Help Us Learn provides information as to how we learn better with visuals in addition to some do's and don'ts when using visuals. This article refers to another article A Periodic Table to Help You Choose the Best Type of Visualization where A Periodic Table of Visualization allows you to mouse-over each type of visualization to help you find the best kind for the material you are presenting. Another type of visualization that has become very popular and is an alternate way for students to present what they are learning in you class is infographics. CoolCatTeacher, Vicki Davis, posted Infographic Tools for Kids. This offers many great infographic websites as well as comic creators. The infographic creators highlighted in this article are great for both teachers and students. Make your teaching more visual with these tools.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
District Wide Information
A Student's School Community
As we begin this school year, it is important for our school community to remember that teachers aren't the only important people in student lives. As the TED talk Jarrett Krosoczka: Why Lunch Ladies are Heroes explains that lunch ladies are heroes for students, but so are custodians and all other staff in our school community. Some students connect with teachers but others do not. We do not always realize how a smile, a simple "hello" or some other connection can make the day of a student. We all make a difference, and this isn't something we learn in college or grad school. Let's make a difference for our students this year!
As we begin this school year, it is important for our school community to remember that teachers aren't the only important people in student lives. As the TED talk Jarrett Krosoczka: Why Lunch Ladies are Heroes explains that lunch ladies are heroes for students, but so are custodians and all other staff in our school community. Some students connect with teachers but others do not. We do not always realize how a smile, a simple "hello" or some other connection can make the day of a student. We all make a difference, and this isn't something we learn in college or grad school. Let's make a difference for our students this year!
Sunday, August 17, 2014
District Wide Information
Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!
This year begins with many positive changes in Marshall Public Schools. With that I would like everyone to welcome Nancy Thooft (formerly 8th grade science teacher), media specialist, to our Media Centers.
Nancy and I are starting the school year with device deployment Monday and Tuesday at Park Side, and with the help of Shelly Moe and Joan Winter, we will be working to organize the media centers at both Park Side and West Side. Both were moved over the summer and there is much work to be done before being able to open either one. Media lesson and story time schedules at PS and WS will not be available for sign-up until later this week. Thank you for your patience.
We worked on setting up new student computer accounts for the HS and MA-TEC this weekend. We will continue to work on new student computer accounts for the MS, WS and PS this week. PS and WS teachers should send us a class list as has been done in years past.
This year begins with many positive changes in Marshall Public Schools. With that I would like everyone to welcome Nancy Thooft (formerly 8th grade science teacher), media specialist, to our Media Centers.
Nancy and I are starting the school year with device deployment Monday and Tuesday at Park Side, and with the help of Shelly Moe and Joan Winter, we will be working to organize the media centers at both Park Side and West Side. Both were moved over the summer and there is much work to be done before being able to open either one. Media lesson and story time schedules at PS and WS will not be available for sign-up until later this week. Thank you for your patience.
We worked on setting up new student computer accounts for the HS and MA-TEC this weekend. We will continue to work on new student computer accounts for the MS, WS and PS this week. PS and WS teachers should send us a class list as has been done in years past.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
District Wide Information
The Enjoyment of Reading and Reading Achievement
I close this year of blog posts with more regarding reading and reading achievement. Kylene Beers blog post article titled What the Research Says About the Enjoyment of Reading and Reading Achievement supports the Summer Reading Check-out Program the media centers are trying this week for students across the district. If you have any questions about this, feel free to contact me. I will be looking at feedback and data from the reading logs that will be sent home when students check out books. In this article Kylene has the following books as "must reads" for teaching professionals:
Book Love by Penny Kittle
Making the Match by Teri Lesesne
Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller (we have copies of this in our media centers)
You Gotta Be the Book by Jeff Wilhelm
Enjoy the summer! We have an exciting school year in 2014-2015 with the first year of the 1:1 Digital Learning Plan coming to fruition.
I close this year of blog posts with more regarding reading and reading achievement. Kylene Beers blog post article titled What the Research Says About the Enjoyment of Reading and Reading Achievement supports the Summer Reading Check-out Program the media centers are trying this week for students across the district. If you have any questions about this, feel free to contact me. I will be looking at feedback and data from the reading logs that will be sent home when students check out books. In this article Kylene has the following books as "must reads" for teaching professionals:
Book Love by Penny Kittle
Making the Match by Teri Lesesne
Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller (we have copies of this in our media centers)
You Gotta Be the Book by Jeff Wilhelm
Enjoy the summer! We have an exciting school year in 2014-2015 with the first year of the 1:1 Digital Learning Plan coming to fruition.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
District Wide Information
Social Etiquette Online
Twitter has become an outstanding professional resource for me. In following several tech education leaders, I found the following article last Thursday: A Great Social Etiquette Lesson From Jimmy Fallon. Be sure to watch the video. Consider sharing this as a talking point regarding the ease taken in posting rude and inappropriate things to people online, but when given the opportunity to say the same face-to-face people are socially appropriate. Below are the ISTE for students standards to support how we need to include these in our teaching daily.
5. Digital citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal
issues related to technology and practice legal and
ethical behavior.
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and
responsible use of information and technology
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using
technology that supports collaboration,
learning, and productivity
c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for
lifelong learning
d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Standards•S © 2007 International Society for Technology in Education
Twitter has become an outstanding professional resource for me. In following several tech education leaders, I found the following article last Thursday: A Great Social Etiquette Lesson From Jimmy Fallon. Be sure to watch the video. Consider sharing this as a talking point regarding the ease taken in posting rude and inappropriate things to people online, but when given the opportunity to say the same face-to-face people are socially appropriate. Below are the ISTE for students standards to support how we need to include these in our teaching daily.
5. Digital citizenship
Students understand human, cultural, and societal
issues related to technology and practice legal and
ethical behavior.
a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and
responsible use of information and technology
b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using
technology that supports collaboration,
learning, and productivity
c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for
lifelong learning
d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Standards•S © 2007 International Society for Technology in Education
Sunday, April 27, 2014
District Wide Information
A Potpourri of Ideas
This week I have a few ideas to share including Rubik's Cube 40th Anniversary (Rubik's Cube 40th Anniversary: 9 Facts Behind the 3-D Toy Puzzle). I still haven't solved it! The next two articles are math related: 10 Apps for Math Fluency - Edutopia and The Mathematics of Rock Climbing: Free Technology for Teachers. Finally, Online Etymology Dictionary is perfect for daily vocabulary building activities where the history of the word adds to the fascination of words.
Monday, April 21, 2014
District Wide Information
National Autism Awareness Month
As educators of all students, raising our awareness about Autism is critical in best serving students in our schools that have autism. In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, consider learning more about autism by clicking on this link http://www.autism-society.org/i-am-a/professionals/, and make yourself aware of educational mandates (http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/autism-through-the-lifespan/school-age/educational-mandates/). Under the autism umbrella is Asperger's Syndrome (http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/aspergers-syndrome/), considered by some professionals as a less severe form of autism.
As educators of all students, raising our awareness about Autism is critical in best serving students in our schools that have autism. In recognition of National Autism Awareness Month, consider learning more about autism by clicking on this link http://www.autism-society.org/i-am-a/professionals/, and make yourself aware of educational mandates (http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/autism-through-the-lifespan/school-age/educational-mandates/). Under the autism umbrella is Asperger's Syndrome (http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/aspergers-syndrome/), considered by some professionals as a less severe form of autism.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
District Wide Information
Earth Day 2014 #GlobalSelfie
A new way to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd) is to participate in Earth Day 2014 #GlobalSelfie. NASA is inviting everyone to help in creating an image of Earth from ground up. All of the selfies will be used to create an Earth mosaic image that will be release in May. Click on the title link above to learn more about participating.
Earth Day Network has activities and educational resources to incorporate Earth Day into learning. Searching on the internet for Earth Day Activities provides a plethora of ideas! Celebrate Earth Day while raising student awareness of why Earth Day everyday is important for our world.
A new way to celebrate Earth Day (April 22nd) is to participate in Earth Day 2014 #GlobalSelfie. NASA is inviting everyone to help in creating an image of Earth from ground up. All of the selfies will be used to create an Earth mosaic image that will be release in May. Click on the title link above to learn more about participating.
Earth Day Network has activities and educational resources to incorporate Earth Day into learning. Searching on the internet for Earth Day Activities provides a plethora of ideas! Celebrate Earth Day while raising student awareness of why Earth Day everyday is important for our world.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
District Wide Information
April is National Poetry Month
Celebrating National Poetry Month is a fantastic way to encourage students to write creatively, play with words, expand vocabulary, learn about rhyming, introducing forms of poetry, and more than likely meet a standard or two along the way. Have fun while checking out some of the sites/ideas listed below.
Taking Words For a Stroll - a blog of original poems
Think Kid Think - Offers a March Madness of poems competition where the "authlete" (author athlete) needs to incorporate an assigned word into his/her poem, use technical elements including poetic standards, creativity, and more!
A Year of Reading - a blog celebrating National Poetry Month
Poems for Your Pocket - Poetry.org offers Poems for Your Pocket and much, much more!
Laura Purdie Salas celebrates National Poetry Month with a daily Riddle-ku - Riddle-ku? It is a poem written from the point of view of objects or animals following the traditional 5-7-5 form of haiku. The idea is for students to guess who or what has written the poem. What a fun way to celebrate National Poetry Month by reading one each day! Check out her website to learn more!
Poetry Foundation - a fabulous website of poems including Poems good for children.
Integrating Daily Poetry in the Classroom: 5 Tools to Support Your Efforts - This article by Brett Vogelsinger shares some great ideas to integrate poetry into your classroom including playing Magnetic Poetry online!
Celebrating National Poetry Month is a fantastic way to encourage students to write creatively, play with words, expand vocabulary, learn about rhyming, introducing forms of poetry, and more than likely meet a standard or two along the way. Have fun while checking out some of the sites/ideas listed below.
Taking Words For a Stroll - a blog of original poems
Think Kid Think - Offers a March Madness of poems competition where the "authlete" (author athlete) needs to incorporate an assigned word into his/her poem, use technical elements including poetic standards, creativity, and more!
A Year of Reading - a blog celebrating National Poetry Month
Poems for Your Pocket - Poetry.org offers Poems for Your Pocket and much, much more!
Laura Purdie Salas celebrates National Poetry Month with a daily Riddle-ku - Riddle-ku? It is a poem written from the point of view of objects or animals following the traditional 5-7-5 form of haiku. The idea is for students to guess who or what has written the poem. What a fun way to celebrate National Poetry Month by reading one each day! Check out her website to learn more!
Poetry Foundation - a fabulous website of poems including Poems good for children.
Integrating Daily Poetry in the Classroom: 5 Tools to Support Your Efforts - This article by Brett Vogelsinger shares some great ideas to integrate poetry into your classroom including playing Magnetic Poetry online!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
District Wide Information
Teachers Guide to Teaching Using Social Media
Are you using social media in your classroom, for professional development, to connect with students, teachers and beyond the community? This linked article offers suggestions for using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and blogging sites to embrace powerful learning opportunities for you and your students. These ideas aren't just for high school teachers, but all K-12 teachers. Trying just one social media site is a challenge I offer to all MPS teachers if you haven't yet. If you have questions before diving in, be in touch with me or Vera.
Are you using social media in your classroom, for professional development, to connect with students, teachers and beyond the community? This linked article offers suggestions for using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and blogging sites to embrace powerful learning opportunities for you and your students. These ideas aren't just for high school teachers, but all K-12 teachers. Trying just one social media site is a challenge I offer to all MPS teachers if you haven't yet. If you have questions before diving in, be in touch with me or Vera.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
District Wide Information
March is National Reading Month
February is I Love to Read Month followed by March with National Reading Month. The following article 9 Great Things to Read in (Roughly) 9 Minutes shares some great ideas to illustrate that reading doesn't have to be a novel, but short stories, song lyrics, children's literature and other written works promote reading, increase vocabulary, and help gain an understanding of the writer's message or political connection with events of the time when written, as well as other reading standards that can be met. The article above also suggests a great free vocabulary building site Vocabulary.com. This site uses Adaptive Vocabulary Instruction where it is like having your own personal trainer. Vocabulary lists can be generated from the site or can be designed by a teacher related to a novel study. This year's Newbery Award Winner, Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo would offers an excellent story to increase vocabulary with words such as, illuminated, cynic, quarks, normalcy, illusion, vanquished, unanticipated, and many more!
February is I Love to Read Month followed by March with National Reading Month. The following article 9 Great Things to Read in (Roughly) 9 Minutes shares some great ideas to illustrate that reading doesn't have to be a novel, but short stories, song lyrics, children's literature and other written works promote reading, increase vocabulary, and help gain an understanding of the writer's message or political connection with events of the time when written, as well as other reading standards that can be met. The article above also suggests a great free vocabulary building site Vocabulary.com. This site uses Adaptive Vocabulary Instruction where it is like having your own personal trainer. Vocabulary lists can be generated from the site or can be designed by a teacher related to a novel study. This year's Newbery Award Winner, Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo would offers an excellent story to increase vocabulary with words such as, illuminated, cynic, quarks, normalcy, illusion, vanquished, unanticipated, and many more!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
District Wide Information
This is IT 2014 - SW/WC Technology Conference
Last Friday SW/WC's Technology Conference titled This is IT 2014 offered many great sessions! One session I attended that I want to highlight for this week's post is:
Primary Sources - More Powerful Than You Think by Mary Mehsikomer, Technology Integration Development & Outreach Coordinator for TIES.
This session focused on the Library of Congress National Archives and Records Administration DOCS TEACH and Guides to Minnesota Reflections: For Educators. Each of these outstanding sites provide teacher guides and resources (including photos, documents, posters, and much more) organized specifically for teachers. These primary source sites are cross-curricular including math topics with price inflation, geometry, circles and arches within Architecture plus so much more. If you are interested in further demonstration or explanation of these sites, I am happy to meet with you.
Last Friday SW/WC's Technology Conference titled This is IT 2014 offered many great sessions! One session I attended that I want to highlight for this week's post is:
Primary Sources - More Powerful Than You Think by Mary Mehsikomer, Technology Integration Development & Outreach Coordinator for TIES.
This session focused on the Library of Congress National Archives and Records Administration DOCS TEACH and Guides to Minnesota Reflections: For Educators. Each of these outstanding sites provide teacher guides and resources (including photos, documents, posters, and much more) organized specifically for teachers. These primary source sites are cross-curricular including math topics with price inflation, geometry, circles and arches within Architecture plus so much more. If you are interested in further demonstration or explanation of these sites, I am happy to meet with you.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
District Wide Information
Pi Day
Friday is Pi Day! This is not just for math class. Consider incorporating some of the suggested activities from the following links:
Great Pi Day Activities for Teachers
Pi Day 2014
How to Celebrate Pi Day
What a great way to introduce the mathematical symbol or learn a little more about pi in a fun way!
Sunday, March 2, 2014
District Wide Information
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!
Today is officially Dr. Seuss's 110th birthday. In his honor, I continue to post information to encourage teachers, staff and students to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading is more than achieving well in school or passing standardized tests. It brings much more to our lives and makes us richer, thought provoking citizens. The following article Read Across America and Dr. Seuss Themed Resources for Teachers provides several resources to celebrate this wonderful annual event. There are resources for people working with young students as well as high school students to gain a better understanding of Dr. Seuss's work from Green Eggs and Ham, a fun story written using 50 words for beginning readers to the political side of Dr. Seuss's stories such as, Yertle the Turtle represented Hitler. As we work to consider reading, the following article Reading 2.0 looks at how students are reading differently today.
Pics4Learning
This site offers free, copyright friendly images for education. Check it out next time you are looking to use images in your work or next time you ask students to include images in a project.
Today is officially Dr. Seuss's 110th birthday. In his honor, I continue to post information to encourage teachers, staff and students to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading is more than achieving well in school or passing standardized tests. It brings much more to our lives and makes us richer, thought provoking citizens. The following article Read Across America and Dr. Seuss Themed Resources for Teachers provides several resources to celebrate this wonderful annual event. There are resources for people working with young students as well as high school students to gain a better understanding of Dr. Seuss's work from Green Eggs and Ham, a fun story written using 50 words for beginning readers to the political side of Dr. Seuss's stories such as, Yertle the Turtle represented Hitler. As we work to consider reading, the following article Reading 2.0 looks at how students are reading differently today.
Pics4Learning
This site offers free, copyright friendly images for education. Check it out next time you are looking to use images in your work or next time you ask students to include images in a project.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
District Wide Information - Wow! I just realized that this is my 200th post on this blog.
I Love to Read Month
I Love to Read Month is almost over, March Madness is just around the corner, April testing season is fast approaching and we are on the heels of promoting summer reading! I always tell classes that just because I Love to Read Month is celebrated in the month of February, we should love to read everyday all year long forever and always. I found Tips to Help Promote a Love of Reading, 8 Apps to Introduce Reading and The Tangible Benefits of Reading (Real) Books to Kids to share this week. Although these articles focus on promoting reading for preschool and elementary aged kids, it is important to glean simple tips to help all students (K-12) develop a love for reading. There are many fabulous books out there! Encourage reading, model reading, promote reading!
I just realized that I forgot this site...
Book Love Foundation
More Info about OneDrive (SkyDrive)
As teachers move their documents and files to OneDrive, know that with this free account each account has 7G in storage. It is recommended that OneDrive is used primarily for documents rather than pictures and videos or SMARTBoard Lessons that tend to be much larger in size. A suggestion is that teachers can open a "personal" OneDrive account to allow for more storage (another 7G of storage).
Students, in contrast, have OneDrive (SkyDrive) through their Office365 email accounts. They get 25G of storage with this.
I Love to Read Month is almost over, March Madness is just around the corner, April testing season is fast approaching and we are on the heels of promoting summer reading! I always tell classes that just because I Love to Read Month is celebrated in the month of February, we should love to read everyday all year long forever and always. I found Tips to Help Promote a Love of Reading, 8 Apps to Introduce Reading and The Tangible Benefits of Reading (Real) Books to Kids to share this week. Although these articles focus on promoting reading for preschool and elementary aged kids, it is important to glean simple tips to help all students (K-12) develop a love for reading. There are many fabulous books out there! Encourage reading, model reading, promote reading!
I just realized that I forgot this site...
Book Love Foundation
More Info about OneDrive (SkyDrive)
As teachers move their documents and files to OneDrive, know that with this free account each account has 7G in storage. It is recommended that OneDrive is used primarily for documents rather than pictures and videos or SMARTBoard Lessons that tend to be much larger in size. A suggestion is that teachers can open a "personal" OneDrive account to allow for more storage (another 7G of storage).
Students, in contrast, have OneDrive (SkyDrive) through their Office365 email accounts. They get 25G of storage with this.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
District Wide Information
Future Name Change in SkyDrive
Just as Marshall Public Schools learns the name SkyDrive as a cloud source solution, the name is changing in the near future. The following article, Following Trademark Dispute With BSkyB, Microsoft Rebrands "SkyDrive" to "OneDrive," explains the rebranding of SkyDrive to OneDrive. Watch for this change and know that it is one in the same product.
Just as Marshall Public Schools learns the name SkyDrive as a cloud source solution, the name is changing in the near future. The following article, Following Trademark Dispute With BSkyB, Microsoft Rebrands "SkyDrive" to "OneDrive," explains the rebranding of SkyDrive to OneDrive. Watch for this change and know that it is one in the same product.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
District Wide Information
Read Across America
I Love to Read Month, Dr. Seuss, and Read Across America is one of my favorite times of the year! I am always looking for new ideas to share for this month long celebration to encourage and help develop a love of reading. The Read Across America Toolkit offers many ideas. If you are a Pinterest fanatic, check out NEA's Read Across America 2014 on Pinterest. These may be ideas to try in the classroom or to share with parents. Check them out and have fun!
I Love to Read Month, Dr. Seuss, and Read Across America is one of my favorite times of the year! I am always looking for new ideas to share for this month long celebration to encourage and help develop a love of reading. The Read Across America Toolkit offers many ideas. If you are a Pinterest fanatic, check out NEA's Read Across America 2014 on Pinterest. These may be ideas to try in the classroom or to share with parents. Check them out and have fun!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
District Wide Informationc
And the 2014 winners are.../Groundhog Day too!
Last Monday at the ALA Mid-winter Conference the Newbery, Caldecott, Michael L. Printz, Coretta Scott King, and several other book awards were announced. These and other award winning books will be in the media centers soon! These are great books to encourage students to read this year or over the summer.
Newbery Medal Winner:
"Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, " by Kate DiCamillo
Newbery Honors:
"Doll Bones, " by Holly Black
"The Year of Billy Miller," by Kevin Henkes
"One Came Home," by Amy Timberlake
"Paperboy," by Vince Vawter
Caldecott Medal Winner:
"Locomotive," illustrated and written by Brian Floca
Caldecott Honors:
"Journey," illustrated and written by Aaron Becker
"Flora and the Flamingo," illustrated and written by Molly Idle
"Mr. Wuffles!" illustrated and written by David Wiesner
Michael L. Printz Winner:
"Midwinterblood," by Marcus Sedgwick
Michael L. Printz Honors:
"Eleanor & Park," by Rainbow Rowell
"The Kingdom of Little Wounds," by Susann Cokal
"Maggot Moon," by Sally Gardner
"Navigating Early," by Clare Vanderpool
Coretta Scott King Winners:
"P.S. Be Eleven, " written by Rita Williams-Garcia
"Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me," illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Daniel
Beaty
Coretta Scott King Honors:
"March: Book One, " written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell
"Darius & Twig," by Walter Dean Myers
"Words with Wings," by Nikki Grimes
"Nelson Mandela," illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson
After posting about the award winning books above, I discovered this timely article about Groundhog Day! Enjoy!
An Ed Tech Groundhog Day PBL Story: Translated from Groundhogese Using Google
Last Monday at the ALA Mid-winter Conference the Newbery, Caldecott, Michael L. Printz, Coretta Scott King, and several other book awards were announced. These and other award winning books will be in the media centers soon! These are great books to encourage students to read this year or over the summer.
Newbery Medal Winner:
"Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, " by Kate DiCamillo
Newbery Honors:
"Doll Bones, " by Holly Black
"The Year of Billy Miller," by Kevin Henkes
"One Came Home," by Amy Timberlake
"Paperboy," by Vince Vawter
Caldecott Medal Winner:
"Locomotive," illustrated and written by Brian Floca
Caldecott Honors:
"Journey," illustrated and written by Aaron Becker
"Flora and the Flamingo," illustrated and written by Molly Idle
"Mr. Wuffles!" illustrated and written by David Wiesner
Michael L. Printz Winner:
"Midwinterblood," by Marcus Sedgwick
Michael L. Printz Honors:
"Eleanor & Park," by Rainbow Rowell
"The Kingdom of Little Wounds," by Susann Cokal
"Maggot Moon," by Sally Gardner
"Navigating Early," by Clare Vanderpool
Coretta Scott King Winners:
"P.S. Be Eleven, " written by Rita Williams-Garcia
"Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me," illustrated by Bryan Collier and written by Daniel
Beaty
Coretta Scott King Honors:
"March: Book One, " written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell
"Darius & Twig," by Walter Dean Myers
"Words with Wings," by Nikki Grimes
"Nelson Mandela," illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson
After posting about the award winning books above, I discovered this timely article about Groundhog Day! Enjoy!
An Ed Tech Groundhog Day PBL Story: Translated from Groundhogese Using Google
Saturday, January 25, 2014
District Wide Information
2014 Sochi Winter Olympics
How can teachers incorporate the events of the Winter Olympics into student learning? The following article New site explores the science of the Winter Olympics explains. Thanks to NBC Learn and the National Science Foundation for creating this video series titled The Science and Engineering of the 2014 Winter Olympics. This is a free resource that includes lessons related to the each video. Check this out to see how students can participate in the exploration and investigation of science in sports.
How can teachers incorporate the events of the Winter Olympics into student learning? The following article New site explores the science of the Winter Olympics explains. Thanks to NBC Learn and the National Science Foundation for creating this video series titled The Science and Engineering of the 2014 Winter Olympics. This is a free resource that includes lessons related to the each video. Check this out to see how students can participate in the exploration and investigation of science in sports.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
District Wide Information
23 Mobile Things
About 5 years ago I participated in a free, self-paced professional development opportunity for library professionals called 23 Things on a Stick. I enjoyed this and learned a lot about web 2.0 tools. Now 23 Mobile Things is being offered in the same format. Although this is for library professionals, anyone can complete the program on their own, you just would not need to register. You would just follow along completing the 23 Mobile Things. If you are interested in learning more about Apple or Android apps, check it out!
About 5 years ago I participated in a free, self-paced professional development opportunity for library professionals called 23 Things on a Stick. I enjoyed this and learned a lot about web 2.0 tools. Now 23 Mobile Things is being offered in the same format. Although this is for library professionals, anyone can complete the program on their own, you just would not need to register. You would just follow along completing the 23 Mobile Things. If you are interested in learning more about Apple or Android apps, check it out!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
District Wide Information
Cleaning the Mobile Germ Warehouse
In the season of flu and other virus, I feel this article is important for all to consider. As the article states, the mobile devices we use daily accumulate more germ-y grime than what would be on the bottom of shoes. I am not, by nature, a germ-a-phob, but after reading this article I am cleaning my phone and iPad daily. I admit that I am disgusted with the iPads when I see what they look like after students have used them. Routinely cleaning shared mobile devices is something I will be looking for comments from administration, school nurses, and media assistants.
In the season of flu and other virus, I feel this article is important for all to consider. As the article states, the mobile devices we use daily accumulate more germ-y grime than what would be on the bottom of shoes. I am not, by nature, a germ-a-phob, but after reading this article I am cleaning my phone and iPad daily. I admit that I am disgusted with the iPads when I see what they look like after students have used them. Routinely cleaning shared mobile devices is something I will be looking for comments from administration, school nurses, and media assistants.
Monday, January 6, 2014
District Wide Information
Award Winning Books
In my opinion, this is an exciting time of the year! On Jan. 27, during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery (to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children), Caldecott (to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children), Printz (exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.), and Excellence In Young Adult Non-Fiction (honors the best nonfiction books written for young adults) Book Awards will be announced and presented. Below are short lists of books that would be excellent recommendations to students. We do have some of these in our media centers, but will be getting the winners after they are announced.
The following are potential Newbery winning titles for 2014:
Journey, illustrated by Aaron Becker
The following are potential Printz winning titles for 2014:
In my opinion, this is an exciting time of the year! On Jan. 27, during the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, the ALA Youth Media Awards, including the Newbery (to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children), Caldecott (to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children), Printz (exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.), and Excellence In Young Adult Non-Fiction (honors the best nonfiction books written for young adults) Book Awards will be announced and presented. Below are short lists of books that would be excellent recommendations to students. We do have some of these in our media centers, but will be getting the winners after they are announced.
The following are potential Newbery winning titles for 2014:
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp, by Kathi Appelt
Zebra Forest, by Adina Rishe Gerwirtz
Twerp, by Mark Goldblatt
The Year of Billy Miller, by Kevin Henkes
The Thing about Luck, by Cynthia Kadohata
Hokey Pokey, by Jerry Spinelli
Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles:
America’s First Black
Paratroopers, by Tanya Lee Stone
Paratroopers, by Tanya Lee Stone
The Real Boy, by Anne Ursu
Paperboy, by Vince Vawter
P.S. Be Eleven, by Rita Williams-Garcia
The following are potential Caldecott winning titles for 2014:
Journey, illustrated by Aaron Becker
Locomotive, illustrated by Brian
Floca
The Day
the Crayons Quit, illustrated
by Oliver Jeffers
Exclamation
Mark, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
How to Be
a Cat, illustrated by Nikki McClure
Mister
and Lady Day: Billie Holiday and the Dog Who Loved Her, illustrated
by Vanessa
Brantley Newton
No Fits,
Nilson! illustrated
by Zachariah OHora
Frog Song,
illustrated byGennady Spirin
If You
Want to See a Whale, illustrated by Erin E. Stead
When
Stravinsky Met Nijinsky: Two Artists, Their Ballet, and One Extraordinary
Riot, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Mr.
Wuffles! illustrated by David Wiesner
The following are potential Printz winning titles for 2014:
Maggot Moon, by Sally Gardner
Rapture Practice: A True Story, by Aaron Hartzler
Far Far Away, by Tom McNeal
Primates: the Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey,
and Biruté Galdikas, by Jim
Ottaviani
Out of Nowhere, by Maria Padian
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock, by Matthew Quick
Eleanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell
Midwinterblood, by Marcus Sedgwick
Out of the Easy, by Ruta Sepetys
Winger, by Andrew Smith
In the Shadow of Blackbirds, by Cat Winters
The 5th Wave, by Rick Yancey
Boxers & Saints, by Gene Luen Yang
The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi, by Neal Bascomb
The
following are potential Excellence In Young Adult Non-Fiction winning titles for 2014:
The Nazi Hunters: How a Team of Spies and Survivors Captured the World’s Most Notorious Nazi, by Neal Bascomb
Go: A
Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design, by Chip Kid
Imprisoned:
The Betrayal of Japanese Americans During World War II, by
Martin W. Sandler
Courage
Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickles, America’s First Black
Paratroopers, by Tanya Lee Stone
The
President Has Been Shot! The Assassination of John F. Kennedy, by
James L. Swanson
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