Consider putting together a unit that features Canadian Illustrators.
You could use this book: "Meet Canadian authors and illustrators", as a starting point for names, or look here for other suggestions: http://www.canscaip.org/memberscraft.html
22.4.10
Reading passports
Cathy adapted a number of different "foldable" passport booklets that students can use to "Read around the world" or "read across the genres". Here's a PDF version that you can use as is: http://iriseducation.ca/pdf/passport.pdf
You could even use a suitcase or two as part of your book display!
Eluminate session on Libraries and crisis!
School Library "Crisis" Seminar
Chris Harris - an administrator on the crisis in school library
(View in Firefox or Internet Explorer - Safari won't load the Eluminate archived presentation properly)
"It's the most exciting time to be a teacher librarian. The opportunities for learning have never been more rich. The studies prove the value of the role of strong school libraries in student achievement. Yet, the pink slips are flying. Where do we go from here?"
Chris Harris: His slides to support his presentation: 1. Cuts will happen
2. Don't be an easy target
3. It's probably too late now
4. Increased achievement
| Buffy Hamilton: We will look at 5 “librarian Iifestyle changes” we can make as library professional to “express" and "flip on" our best qualities so that we can evolve and adapt to the changing landscape/environment to become more effective librarians, and consequently, library programs. 1. Make our practice/data transparent.
2. Promote participatory culture
3. Bulid your collaborative tribe 4. Tap into the wisdom of the crowd
5. Be an advocate for access, multiple literacies. |
The art of game design: a book of lenses By Jesse Schell
I heard an interesting interview with Jesse Schell on the CBC show Spark.
He has written a book called "The Art of Game Design". In it, he lists 100 "lenses" that game designers need to try on in order to be good designers. What struck me, was how many of these lenses can be transposed into the teacher's role as "lesson designer." While they are not all a perfect fit, it's a great metaphor for what teachers do everyday.
Here's the Google books link for a preview. The table of contents lists all the lenses, and you can read his take on many of them from the Google Books preview.
21.4.10
Second World War Links to explore
The liberation of the Netherlands:
One of the best-known chapters from Canada’s military history is the
liberation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. 2010 marks
the 65th anniversary of this significant event that created a lasting
bond between our two countries.
The Canadian Navy.
2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy. From a modest
beginning of only two ships, it has grown to play an important role in
many of Canada’s military efforts over the years.
Francophone Canadians in WWII
It took the efforts of all Canadians, both on the home front and
overseas, to help the Allies to victory during the Second World War.
Francophone Canadians played an important role, including hundreds of
thousands of women who were called on to fill new, non-traditional roles
in factories, on farms and in the military. Veterans Affairs Canada has
an engaging multimedia Web feature about the many contributions and
sacrifices made by French-speaking men and women from coast to coast.
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20.4.10
Online Teacher Magazines from the UK
Primary (elementary) and Secondary teachers' magazines. Content is UK-centric, but some of the links and articles are useful. View the current issues or browse the archive.
Magazines are viewable in an online virtual magazine format. They can be downloaded as well.
Interested readers can create an email reminder announcing each new issue.
Teacher read-alouds in Primary classrooms
Using Read-Alouds with Critical Literacy Literature in K–3 Classrooms
Reprinted from Young Children • November 2009
Wendy B. Meller,
Danielle Richardson,
and J. Amos Hatch
"This article describes read-alouds that feature critical literacy literature. Critical literacy literature consists of high-quality children’s books that prompt children to think and talk about social issues that impact their daily lives. The article includes a rationale for the importance of using children’s literature and read-alouds in primary classrooms; a description of critical literacy and the kinds of children’s books appropriate for critical literacy read-alouds; and an example of a critical literacy read-aloud in a first grade classroom by one of the authors."
Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades - Preview online
No More I'm Done!
Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades
"No More "I'm Done!" demonstrates how to create a more productive, engaging, and rewarding writer's workshop. Jennifer guides teachers from creating a supportive classroom environment through establishing effective routines; shows teachers how to set up a writer's workshop; and provides an entire year of developmentally appropriate mini-lessons that build confidence and, ultimately, independence. Through her years of teaching and consulting, Jennifer has heard all the tough questions about working with primary writers: How do I get my students to sustain for a full writing period? What do I do about the student who can't choose a topic? What about the student who writes about the same thing every day? She answers these questions and many more in the final chapter of the book."
19.4.10
"Infotopia" enhancement
"As you know, Infotopia is a student-friendly, safe search engine that many are finding to be a good alternative in the library and classroom, because it accesses only trusted websites previously selected by librarians, teachers and library and educational consortia. At the request of a Canadian user, I am making available a search code menu item in the upper right corner of the page (http://www.infotopia.info ). Click it to get the necessary code to embed an Infotopia search form in your library and school pages.
Please stay in touch and let me know of any sites or enhancements you would like to see in the search engine."
Dr. Michael Bell (Former Chair, Texas Association of School Librarians)
15.4.10
"Catching Readers Before They Fall" -preview online
Catching Readers Before They Fall:
Supporting Readers Who Struggle, K-4
by Pat Johnson and Katie Keier
"Every teacher of reading plays a vital role in helping to catch those readers for whom learning to read does not come easily. If you have ever been at a loss for what to say and do when confronted with a child who struggles, this book is for you."
14.4.10
New version of Wordle - Tagxego
If you have tried Wordle before with classes or your staff, there is a new version of this great little app called Tagxego. It's a great way to visually represent word frequency. Good as a brainstorming tool, anticipation guide or review exercise: http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html
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9.4.10
Productive Group Work - preview the book online
Productive Group Work: How to Engage Students, Build Teamwork, and Promote Understanding
by Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher and Sandi Everlove
Please forward this link to interested staff members.
Groups are smart. From the earliest interest in how groups work at the beginning of the 20th century to research today, evidence gathered has shown that "under the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them" (Surowiecki, 2005, p. xiii). We are not suggesting that teachers turn their classrooms over to student collaboration in the absence of instruction, but we are suggesting that productive group work be considered a necessary part of good teaching.
"Pulling Together" - for English Teachers - online preview
Pulling Together: How to Integrate Inquiry, Assessment, and Instruction in Today's English Classroom
Preview the book on-line - share this with interested members of your staff
Complete with diagrams, graphic organizers, classroom examples, assessment tools, and lists of core understandings, Pulling Together presents a comprehensive answer to the current big ideas in teaching—formative assessment, backward design, inquiry learning, strategic teaching, metacognition. The authors show how this collaborative process is reflected in all aspects of the literacy learning, from unit planning and lesson sequences, through the inquiry process and gradual release of responsibility in the classroom, to linking formative and summative assessment for responsive planning.
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Series and Sequels
Looking for the title for the next book in a series?
Not sure if you are reading a series in the right order?
Here are some sites to look at.
RPL offers suggested authors lists:
And Novelist (in the EBSCO Databases) also gives suggestions ("Recommended Reads")
GP
8.4.10
“What Does a Teacher Librarian Really Do? Ask a TL!”
Saw this video (see link below) posted on the "Wanderings" blog (http://wanderings.edublogs.org/)
A nice boost for the job of being a TL.
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Great article from EL - "REVERSING READICIDE"
REVERSING READICIDE.
Authors: Gallagher, Kelly
Educational Leadership; Mar2010, Vol. 67 Issue 6, p36-41, 6p
(EBSCO database link)
The author discusses some of the causes for the decline in reading in US students and talks about how this trend might be reversed. Food for thought.
PDF link:
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6.4.10
Financial Literacy links
Here's a good resource for Planning or Business Ed classes.
Here is a teacher link for improving the financial literacy of students.
Handouts
Clips
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Re: Fractured Fairy Tales
Fractured Fairy Tale Resources
Here's a website that encourages kids to write their own version of fractured fairytales:
Here's a list of titles:
Some great ideas and an overview of the genre
(includes story maps and story starters)
Lesson ideas for "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs"
(Most school libraries have a copy of this!)
Playlist of clips from the old Rocky and Bullwinkle TV show
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A very simple Book Cover creator
Here's a very simple Book Cover creator that would work with younger kids.
Easy to use.
new EBSCOhost feature: the Enhanced PDF Viewer
Check out the following new EBSCOhost feature: the Enhanced PDF Viewer:
EBSCOhost features a embedded viewer designed to streamline the browsing of an entire issue, or all available volumes and issues, from one screen. There are also several helpful features to enable users to easily navigate and manage open PDFs. Click on the link for a video clip outlining this feature:
Here's an example from the "Reading Teacher" magazine
(EBSCO subscription required)
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