I have always known that education was my chosen career…whether I was willing to admit it or not! In elementary school, I frequently would put school supplies down for my Christmas wish list! Purple paper, special erasers…still love them! Teaching children one child at a time is how we will change the world. I often pondered if Hitler ever had a teacher that really loved him and taught him more than the written curriculum of the time. I doubt it…How our world would have been a different place.
Remembering that I am here for the children is what keeps me coming back…even with all the stress of opening school in China, it is always worth it when a child gets excited about reading or finding that cool piece of information. I have already had my thanks when this little kindergartener named Ann clapped her hands and squealed with delight when I told her class that they could take books home. No other feeling quite like the delight of a budding reader!
Isn’t it great to see previews of movies to decide whether you want to watch it? Well now you can watch previews of books made by our very own 4th graders which can be seen every time a student searches for a book in Destiny, library catalog.
Step 1: Choose a historical fiction novel from the hundreds on the cart pulled by Mrs. Boyer!
Step 2: Read it, read it, read it…sounds like a frog!
Step 3: Write a reccomendation for the book which will be read in the preview. Sentence 1-Introduce yourself and the title and author of the book. Sentence 2-3 sentence of what the book is about. Sentence 4-6 is why the book would be classified as a historical fiction. Sentence 6-8 is why someone else should read this book (exciting part!)….Last sentence should be the hook, “If you would like to know more about, or why something happened, then you should read this book!”
Step 4: Computer Lab 1- Garageband-record written part and add appropriate jingle.
Step 5: Computer Lab 2 -Find 5-8 pictures that would go along with the dialog and upload to iphoto.
Step 6: Computer Lab 3 – Upload pictures from iphoto to Garageband and work on timing. Export to disk on desktop. Mrs. Boyer and Mrs. Shirley will then upload to Destiny. Teachers will then be able to get links to upload to links on blog!
Step 7: Enjoy watching the next book trailer before deciding on whether to check out that book!
Is an excellent website giving details about historical fiction…though I do disagree on 2 points. First, I learned from Children’s literature class that 15 years was considered historical fiction…and not 30. I think 30 years is too long, for some books clearly 15 years ago can be ancient history to children.
Some Resources
2nd point of disagreement is that the setting is the most important part of the story. I would argue that the setting may be more important than in other types of genre’s-sometimes integral to the story, but not always the most important. Understanding time and place is key to understanding a good historical fiction.
Another website for historical fiction (More adult, but some interesting guidelines). Their age for historical fiction is 50 years or written by someone not alive when the event occured. This website also brings up the important aspect of historical fiction in that how much of historical fiction should be true? How much responsibility does an author have to make sure that the historical elements are true?
Go over Destiny, Library Catalog, http://130.100.100.113 (at school)
You Explore-30 minutes
We Share with treat-10 minutes-What did you find that was new? What will help you in your classroom? Please provide an evaluation of this presentation. Thank you.
Thank you for allowing us to attend the 38th annual meeting of the International Association of School Librarians.The groupincludes higher learning institutions as well assecondary and primary school libraries.There were 100+ preconference attendees and 320+ conference attendees, which made for many lively discussions.
Most presentation were research projects being conducted in the field of library science(specifically school libraries) by university professors and doctoral candidates.Topics ranged from the assessment of school library mission statements to what intrinsically motivates to read.
Below are some highlighted thoughts from different keynote speakers and sessions that I found particularly thought provoking.
Pre-conferenceDigital Literacy
At Padua University in Padova,Italy.
Dr. Aiden Chambers-discussing brain research…In all the turning points for humanity, the percentage of the brain being used has increased when the introduction of new technology.We are at that point again in history.
We are living in an age in which we will need to teach what is a book?
“A BOOK IS A SEQUENCE OF PAGES ON WHICH APPEAR MEANING-COMMUNICATING SIGNS-ALL OF WHICH ARE BOUND TOGETHER IN AN AUTHORIZED ORDER.”
Reading digitally is more physical with clicking and typing.There also can be a disconnect with the author because one does not always know who is the author.
In 2007, 3 of the 5 most popular novels were written on a mobile phone.Publishers then put them on paper to sell…to those who had already read in on the mobile phones….We will see more development of the mobile phone in the future.
Ebook readers-the potential is just beginning.Might be especially intriguing to boys because it is somewhat more active…button pushing, etc…
We are NOT genetically programmed to be readers, but it is a learned behavior primarily by mimicking….Most important that a teacher reads because of this.
Sound Matters when reading aloud.By 3 the pathways for linguistics have been fully developed…they can be opened later, but it is harder.There is a symbiotic relationship between hearing and reading.
Concentrated silent reading is the most complicated activity that the brain does…that has been shown through brains scans..it almost looks like heat rising from the brain.ALSO!!!Scientists have shown that group Concentrated silent reading is even more active.It helps to do it as a group.
****(How does knowing this impact our schools?)
MS Ito from UNESCO-Goal of information society has now moved past gathering knowledge, but has moved to the creation of Information Societies.Their motto:“Monitorin the development of an information society to a knowledge society”.
Information Literacy is a world wide goal that is certainly bigger than the Librarians of the world. (Look to find the tech standards to see if we align?)
Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century by Carol Kuhlthau from Rutgers University (I am reading this book!She signed it!)
Guided Inquiry equips students with the ability to address the challenges of the an uncertain and everchaning world….Libraries should be a dynamic learning center with librarians being agents for change in the 21st Century.
School Library Plans from Denmark(One of my favorite):
Librarians created a year long plan that was given to teachers that was supported by the principal.The plans were given the previous year so that the teacher could plan with the librarians.Some lessons where mandatory and some were optional but all were supported by the principal.In a school of 720, there were 3 librarians, tech integrator, and support personnel.These plans were supported by the principal because it met the 2 goals that he or she had set for the school, literacy and tech.
***Most Disturbing Research Presentation.Barbara Coombs from Australia
Digital Natives or Digital Refugees?
“Net Generation”born after 1984…They are attributed with a great many skills that make them seem like they are the super generation.There is no research that supports that the present generation is better brain wired than any other generation.There is a lot of false conceptions about this and future generations about their “digital savvyness”, that somehow belies the need to teach digital skills to students…assuming that they already know…No research supports this claim.
After 4 years of researching college students self perception of their info skills and then evaluated their ability to complete info lit searching…Preliminary findings are that students have a high opinion of their ability to find information, but show low levels of ability to actually carry out the task.Research should be published in the next six months with a book following soon there after.
http://World Readers.ning.org-using social networks to promote reading…(.But how can we do this with students under the age of 12….I am working on this with my library Pages!BB)
International Children’s Digital Library…Books online
Games in the School Library:A tool for teaching information literacy skills
Games teaches kids
Information literacy skills
Reading
Keyboarding
Social skills
Hand eye coordination
Multitasking skills
Select fun games, shorter games, and align games with the curriculum
How does my school library impact student learning?Important question to be asked.
Next year’s conference is in Brisbane, Australia….would like to take a group with me to work on collaboration!
Again thank you for allowing me to attend this conference.
IASL Conference