Library Links

"Content that might be of interest to Teacher-Librarians..."

27.9.12

Educational Leadership Introduces New iTunes U Courses

Professional learning on the go via iTunesU

"Busy educators, we've got your professional learning on the go. Now, when you download the iTunes U app on your iPhone or iPad, you can subscribe to Educational Leadership's monthly study guide. This free course, available exclusively through iTunes U, is a structured way to deepen your learning through inquiry on a selection of articles from each EL issue. Progress through the content at your own pace and according to your points of interest, record reflections, and share ideas and practices with staff."

Current and archived versions of all articles in Ed Leadership are available via EBSCO Host.

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Teaching Writing - Resource Topics

Writing is Essential - National Writing Project  

Great articles and how-to segments that focus on writing.

"The National Writing Project focuses the knowledge, expertise, and leadership of our nation's educators on sustained efforts to improve writing and learning for all learners. Writing is essential to communication, learning, and citizenship. It is the currency of the new workplace and global economy. Writing helps us convey ideas, solve problems, and understand our changing world. Writing is a bridge to the future."

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Kelly Gallagher Takes on the "Killing of Reading" - National Writing Project

For the love of reading!

An interesting article, with links for further reading and 2 video clips of Kelly Gallagher talking about the dangers of "readicide".

"Evidence of readicide, says Gallagher, is not hard to spot. By the time kindergartners, who once embraced the adventure of learning to read, reach his high school classroom, way too many of them are telling him in so many words that "reading really sucks." Gallagher is pretty sure he knows what has happened. One of these mind-numbing practices is many schools' single-minded obsession with preparing children for multiple-choice tests to the exclusion of what Gallagher calls "authentic reading."

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Disciplinary Literacy: Why It Matters and What We Should Do About It

Giving access to the tools of knowledge production

At the 2010 National Reading Initiative Conference in New Orleans, keynote speaker Elizabeth Birr Moje discussed the concept and practice of "disciplinary literacy."

Moje said, "If you are working from a disciplinary literacy perspective, you're really trying to work on giving access to the tools of knowledge production and critique. . . . The idea is that you want kids to understand where these ideas come from."

Writing is one vehicle to such understanding, said Moje: "One tool for understanding that is through language, thinking about how we put ideas into oral and written language. That allows us to uncover and then teach and practice different ways of producing knowledge. Once we know how knowledge is produced, then we can critique it, so it isn't really just about teaching kids to be really good science writers, it's giving them access to how science is written so that then they can ask better questions."

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A sharing wiki - "elementarylibraryroutines"

Where Elementary Librarians share their knowledge!

"This wiki was born from a short Twitter conversation. Please join and add your expertise to our wiki. No need to reinvent the wheel when you have a strong library PLN."

Explore practical advice, download handouts and lesson plans, watch short demo clips.

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26.9.12

MediaSmarts lesson plan on Internet search skills

Hone internet search skills while researching a personal hero

"Students are introduced to Internet search skills by researching a personal hero. Focusing on the early parts of the research process, students learn to select well-defined topics, ask relevant research questions and select effective keywords. Students then present what they've learned in the form of a media product."

This lesson plus extras (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.


Additional lesson plans can also be found on the website.

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BC First Peoples Learning Resources Books for Use in K-7

First Peoples-themed books for young people

"The past three decades have seen a dramatic increase in the number of resources with a First Peoples theme or focus aimed at young people. This guide has been created to help you, the BC elementary school teacher, make appropriate decisions about which of these resources might be appropriate for use with your students. The annotated listings provided in this guide identify currently available authentic First Peoples texts that your students can work with to meet provincial standards related to literacy as well as a variety of specific subject areas."

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English 12 First Peoples - Resource Guide

TEACHER RESOURCE GUIDE - English 12 First Peoples

"This document is designed to provide support for teachers of English 12 First Peoples. It has been developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee, as an extension of the curriculum development process for English 12 First Peoples.

*Some of the texts recommended contain difficult situations or highly charged language. Always read the material before using in class. The guide offers suggestions for using selected resources.

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Canada's History -TVO interview- James Laxer: Tecumseh & Brock

Profiles of Tecumseh and Brock and 1812

"James Laxer, author of "Tecumseh and Brock: The War of 1812" appears on TVO. Sometimes known as "The Forgotten War," Laxer outlines the events of the war and offers profiles of Tecumseh and Brock, who had formed an unlikely alliance, which resulted in changing the course of Canadian history."

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War of 1812 - 3 education guides for download

Bring this era in pre-Confederation history alive

"To bring this essential era in pre-Confederation history alive for students, The Historica-Dominion Institute has created three War of 1812 education guides. We invite your students to examine defining moments in Canadian history, international relations and Aboriginal and multicultural history in historical and contemporary contexts through themes of perspective, identity, legacy, historical significance and personalities."

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25.9.12

A public Librarian deals with a book challenge

myliblog: "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" Challenge

I recently came across a letter written in 2008 by Jamie LaRue (the director of the Douglas County Libraries) in response to a book challenge. (BTW, I recommend reading both the letter and the many replies to Jamie's post.) His blogpost is a tremendous example of how to repond: clear, reasoned, acknowledging the patron's concern while carefully explaining the rationale for the title in question.

I will definitely be following his blog!

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Help students access more sophisticated texts

Guiding Readers
Making the Most of the 18-Minute Guided Reading Lesson

In "Guiding Readers" Lori Jamison Rog argues that the 18-minute guided reading lesson may very well be the finest teaching we do.

"This practical book introduces a range of specific reading strategies and processes that lead students to access increasingly more sophisticated text, including sequential practical lesson routines, suggestions for selecting appropriate texts for readers at each stage, and tips for setting learning goals and a wide range of lesson routines for reaching them."

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ASCD resources on "Feedback for Learning"

Less Teaching? More Feedback?
Some resources to consult if you want to know more about giving effective feedback in the classroom (magazine, blog posts, online webinar, research results list.)

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Feedback for Learning: Making Time for Feedback

Work Smarter—Not Harder

There are ways to save time and ensure that feedback is effective. By taking a number of guidelines (click to read article) into account, teachers can create more time for learning.

"Differentiate between mistakes and errors, look for patterns, identify errors as global or targeted, use prompts and cues."
Read the article and then view video interviews at the bottom of the webpage.

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