Library Links

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

11.6.12

Google World Wonders Project

A virtual stroll through world heritage sites

A virtual stroll among the ruins of Pompeii or into the temples of Kyoto is available to anyone with an Internet-connected device through Google's new project.

The Google World Wonders Project is a platform which brings world heritage sites of the modern and ancient world online. Using Street View, 3D modeling and other Google technologies, they have made these amazing sites accessible to everyone across the globe. With videos, photos and in-depth information, you can now explore the world wonders from your armchair just as if you were there.

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Canada's History - View "Young Citizen" video projects

A video showcase of history projects from Heritage Fairs across Canada

Each spring, more than 250,000 students gather to showcase their history projects at Heritage Fairs across Canada. The video project called "Young Citizens" is an opportunity for participants to further explore their topic and to share their work with a national audience.

Two hundred students (ages 10-16) participating in their local Heritage Fair were selected for the "Young Citizens" showcase. Each participant was asked to create a short video report about their Heritage Fair project. Click on the link to view the submissions, and to vote for the strongest presentation.

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Re-engage busy adolescents in reading

Irresistible Reading - VOYA Mag
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?eid=60cd38b6-5752-42a0-89a0-33d91c5c18b3&pnum=34
"Irresistible Reading" - VOYA Mag article
[Link to article] It may take a moment to load the page.

In the article "Irresistible Reading", Librarian Jole Seroff and English teacher Katie Sauvain talk about how they re-engage busy adolescents in a lit circle program, organized around themes. Students can't wait to share these novels with their peers.  Jole and Katie give practical advice on how to generate enthusiasm in these middle schoolers for the pleasures of reading. They talk about how their success has begun to spread to other grades.

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Readathon 2012 - summer reading - MeMeTales app

A free book each week over the summer

"To help combat learning loss among young readers during the summer months, app developer MeMeTales is partnering with PBSKids and various publishers for its Readathon2012, which will make a free book available to readers through its iOS app each week.

"Kids can earn stickers and certificates and track their reading, and parents can receive specially created and theme based learning activity ideas created by educators. Participating publishers include HarperCollins, Orca Books, Shens Books, and Little Pickle Press.

"Students can participate in the program free by creating an online account from June 18 to July 28.

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8.6.12

Alphabet Zoo - PDF download

Primary Animal Activity Book

Alphabet Zoo - a downloadable 50 page fun filled primary activity book of blankline masters in pdf format, by Pacific Edge Publishing. Part of the Alphabet Zoo set. gr. K–3 (5.2 mb) (From Pacific Edge)

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7.6.12

Transit of the Sun by Venus

Images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory

Here's a link to a "video and music" compilation celebrating the Venus Transit 2012. You can use the NASA app on an iPad or go to the Youtube clip on a desktop/laptop. The images show Venus against a backdrop of the Sun using a variety of filters. Students gain a sense of scale, especially considering that Venus is about the same size as the Earth. Stunning images. Moving music.


"On June 5 2012, the Solar Dynamics Observatory(a spacecraft launched in 2010 to study the Sun)  collected images of the rarest predictable solar event--the transit of Venus across the face of the sun.  This event happens in pairs eight years apart that are separated from each other by 105 or 121 years.  The last transit was in 2004 and the next will not happen until 2117."

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Kids' Stop - Games with FN focus

Aboriginal Games | People and History | Recommended Reads | Classroom Resources

Kids' Stop is a "fun zone" for students filled with information about Aboriginal history, culture and languages, games and stories, and classroom resources for teachers. The Recommended Reads section includes 15 fact sheets for children aged 8 to 11 on a range of aboriginal topics. (Sample: First Nations Music in Canada.)

(Thanks YLP)
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Welcome to Canada's Polar Life

Explore Inuit Traditional Knowledge

"Part of a set of educational materials examining Canada's Arctic environments and the organisms that occur in them. Although the Arctic comprises more than a third of our nation, most Canadians have only a superficial knowledge of our polar regions. We decided that an innovative educational effort was needed to direct Canadian perspectives northward."

Thanks YLP
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6.6.12

Readicide - Preview book online

How Schools are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It
Readicide by Kelly Gallagher

Preview the book online, watch related videos or request a physical copy of the book from DRC.

"Read-i-cide n: The systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools. - In Readicide, Kelly argues that American schools are actively (though unwittingly) furthering the decline of reading. Specifically, he contends that the standard instructional practices used in most schools are killing reading"

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Aboriginal Teaching Resources


Building Strong Learners - Lesson  downloads
Reading Power Strategies to use with resources available on the site. (These ideas can be used with other novels or non-fiction materials.)

BC - Authentic First Peoples Resources K-7 (31 pp PDF)
This resource guide has been developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) with assistance from the BCMOE and support from the Education Partnerships Program of AANDC. (March 2012)

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5.6.12

"Books, Books, Books" CBC Radio - podcast

An episode of "Under The Influence" with Terry O'Reilly on Books in advertising

"We'll look at a new book, titled, Mad Women, written by an original Mad Woman from the 60s era Madison Avenue. Next, we flip through the pages of another new book by one of the most outspoken and notorious Mad Men of all time - George Lois - whose no-holds barred book of advice will certainly ruffle some feathers. Simon Sinek's book, Start With Why, argues that most companies don't know WHY their in business, and will not succeed as a result. Lastly, we discuss a book by Steven Johnson that looks at where good ideas come from."

Transcript, audio, images and video clips from the show.

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Spaces & Places - Rethinking your class layout

Designing Classrooms for Literacy

Preview the first chapter of this useful book. The introduction gives some good principles for classroom layout.

"Debbie Diller, author of numerous best-selling books and videos on literacy work stations and small group reading instruction, writes another practical resource filled with ideas you can use immediately to better manage your classroom and support student learning and independence."


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YALSA's Teen Book Finder App

New iOS app from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)

"YALSA's Teen Book Finder is a free app to help teens, parents, librarians and library staff, educators, and anyone who loves YA literature access to the past three years' of YALSA's awards and lists on their smartphone."

The application works on any iOS device ( iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad). An Android version is coming shortly. It's a great way to get teen readers to see and talk about upcoming titles. High School TLs might want to download the app to stay on the "cutting edge" of YA titles.

App features include:

  • a homepage featuring three titles from the database, refreshed each day
  • the ability to search for books by author, title, award/list year, genre, by award, and by booklist
  • a Favorites button, to create an individualized booklist
  • the ability to share books from the Teen Book Finder on Twitter and Facebook
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4.6.12

Sask Tips for promoting the library

Practical Suggestions for TLs


"These modules explore components critical to the role of teacher-librarians as instructional leaders in Saskatchewan schools. Each module contains information, examples of  best practices, resources, and learning opportunities. Together, they will assist in developing the skills required by teacher-librarians to support student learning. "

See more handouts and resources below.

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1.6.12

Stagecraft explained

Love Letter to Plywood. By Tom Sachs

For students of Stagecraft everywhere, who use plywood all the time!

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31.5.12

How to Identify Mysterious Images Online

Where exactly did that image come from...?


"Can't figure out the source of an image you found online? There's an easy trick you might not know about — and it's an essential tool for citing sources. Students who find images they want to use in projects need to follow the appropriate rules of citation: state the title and the original source. But with so much misinformation and mis-attribution online, students might either change the research topic to avoid the problem altogether or simply cite the source poorly."

Read this article to find out how to use the powerful search feature in Google Images to track down the original source of an image your students are using in a project or presentation.

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"Why can't I just Google?" - YouTube

LA TROBE University Library video

"Information is everywhere! It's just so easy to Google and use something that looks relevant... so why can't you just Google?"

Aimed at university students, but can be useful for the high school level. Worth watching with students and discussing the points. (3 mins.)

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Celebrate National Aboriginal Day

Gateways 2 Learning
Canada's First Peoples: a cultural appreciation


Explore this 2Learn.ca collection of weblinks, media, classroom activities, VC events, and Web 2.0 tools celebrating National Aboriginal Day.


Additional links on a range of FN topics:

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Ebooks: We're talkin' 'bout a revolution

the New Reading and the New Reader:

From Jamie McKenzie's new book: (Follow the link to see preview pages on this interesting topic.)

"The eBook has come of age and promises to change reading as we have known it — for the good. The shift is not a minor one. For a number of reasons, the reading of both fiction and non-fiction will be enhanced dramatically by the interactive nature of the eBook — expecially those created with software like Apple's new iBooks Author. As the availability of iPad type devices and iBooks increases in the world outside of schools, more and more reading will take place on screens, and school reading programs must shift to take advantage of the features offered."


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29.5.12

"ComicLife-like" Panel Generator

"SuperLame" Word Balloon Engine

Use this online tool at SuperLame.com to create single cartoon panels in a "Comic Life" style. Upload pictures, add speech balloons and apply effects. Individual panels can be downloaded and assembled on a Word page to create a simple comic.

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