Library Links

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

4.11.13

Fly Through 17th Century London

A realistic animation of Tudor London

"Six students from De Montfort University have created a stellar 3D representation of 17th century London, as it existed before The Great Fire of 1666. The three-minute video provides a realistic animation of Tudor London, and particularly a section called Pudding Lane where the fire started. As Londonist notes, "Although most of the buildings are conjectural, the students used a realistic street pattern [taken from historical maps] and even included the hanging signs of genuine inns and businesses" mentioned in diaries from the period."

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30.10.13

NJASL School Libraries Advocacy Video

The value of TLs in schools
Published on 27 Sep 2012, this video was produced by the New Jersey Association of School Librarians with funding provided by its advocacy partnership with LibraryLinkNJ. A offers a good mix of graphics and stats to promote the value of TLs in schools. I especially like the mention of the Pro-D profile of teacher-librarians. (Sources for the research are listed at the end of the video.)

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29.10.13

November 2013 Remembrance Day Resources

Some Remembrance Day Resources:

Vimy Ridge Remembered

Aboriginal War Veteran Monument

"A Pittance of Time"
Terry Kelly has written a song for Remembrance Day called "A Pittance of Time" based on an incident that he observed in a Dartmouth drugstore. The video and song are at http://www.terry-kelly.com/pittance.htm There is also a version available in French.

REMEMBRANCE DAY TOOLKIT
The Canadian War Museum created the Remembrance Kit as part of its mission to promote public understanding of Canada's military history in its personal, national and international dimensions.  http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/education/toolkit/remembrancee.shtml

The "Friends of Veterans Canada"
 Our charity has the mandate of video taping every living Canadian veteran that is willing to tell their story. We are building a library of veteran's stories to pass on to future generations. Our motto is "Video-A-Veteran Today for the Youth of Tomorrow" 



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28.10.13

Online Marketing to Kids | MediaSmarts

Be Savvy about online marketing
Level: Grades 6 to 9
Overview
"This lesson introduces students to the online marketing techniques used by marketers to target children on the Internet. It begins with a guided discussion about the similarities and differences between traditional marketing methods and online advertising and why the Internet is such a desirable medium for advertisers to reach young people. Student activities include a survey of the marketing techniques used on several commercial websites for children; the creation of a commercial Web site for kids that incorporates common marketing strategies; and an analysis of case studies about online marketing to young people."

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Engaging Boy Readers: Beginning with Teacher Behaviors

What can the teacher do to help not hinder?

Tony Keefer offers some strategies to engage boy readers in "reading culture." 1) walk the talk, 2) respect different kinds of readers, 3) boys will talk when they're ready, 4) be honest about dropping a book.

"Most of us still wonder about how to nudge boys toward the path of a reading life.  [Here] are the behaviors I have discovered that help me guide boys like Jackson in my classroom...."

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TweenTribune | News for Kids

A daily news site for tweens and teens

Versions for K-4, 4-8, 9-12 and Spanish. (Some pop-up video ads on some articles.)

"TweenTribune is a daily news site for tweens and teens – where you'll find relevant and interesting news for kids in K-12 and their teachers. Stories are selected by professional journalists working closely with teens, tweens and teachers. We're encouraging kids, teens and tweens to seek out news on a daily basis because our democracy depends upon a well-informed public, so we believe it is important to foster a daily news-reading habit as soon as kids begin to read."

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26.10.13

Download Vintage Film Posters in High-Res

Want to add atmosphere to your library?

Dress up a library display with a vintage movie poster:

FreeVintagePosters.com offers "hundreds of high quality printable posters in advertising, travel, food/drink, art, movies, westerns, military, magic and much more." You may have an interest in all those facets of human experience, but we imagine you'll find especially appealing the site's selection of high-resolution film posters, suitable for printing at home or elsewhere and hanging on walls in need of cinephilic flair.

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24.10.13

Gateway to the world

The difference a library can make

The documentary "Gateway to the World" is set in Namibia's capital city, Windhoek. The film follows two young people who work at the local library, which functions as a gateway to a better life. Trevelin, 20 years old, did not pass grade 10. Persuaded by a friend, he found his way to the nearby library, got interested in studying computers and now gives basic computer classes as a volunteer teacher in the library. Anna, 13 years old, is a schoolgirl at Olof Palme primary school. Every day after school she heads to the Greenwell library where she helps school kids with their homework and library customers with computers.

This library serves as an example library to the Libraries for Development project, which started in 2012. The good lessons learned will be extended both around Namibia (20 libraries) and to Tanzania (2 libraries in the initial phase).

Duration: 29 min

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23.10.13

Beyond the Book exchange

The literacy hub of the school

I was browsing past copies of "The Teaching Librarian" and came across an article in the Autumn/Winter 2001 (Vol 9, No 1) issue entitled "Eight ways an Elementary School can improve literacy" by Marilyn Willis. (p16-18)

While the issue is old (!), Willis has some great suggestions for making the library the literacy hub of the school. Knowing that many of you wear multiple hats, I'm wondering what you do to provide a library program that goes "beyond the book exchange"? Obviously, with time constraints, it's impossible to "do it all", but it's worth looking for an activity/innovation or two that helps solidify your library's reputation as the "literacy place".

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Organizing fiction by Genre

Genrefication - help your readers help themselves!

I must confess, I am a genre-aholic. I have my favs (sci-fi, mystery, fantasy) and I always gravitate to those areas at Chapters and other bookstores.

First of all, rather than right or wrong, it's really about what works best for your community. We went to genre spinners for fiction at McRoberts years ago when I was there, and I noticed an immediate surge in circulation. Students do develop preferences, and want to read more of what they like! (Don't we all.)

We can help students discover authors and genres outside their comfort zone by booktalking, creating "these-just-in" displays and promoting exciting authors. (I would never have read the "Adrian Mole" or "Bridget Jones" series if they hadn't been recommended - they don't appear in the sci-fi section!)

I'm not suggesting de-dewey-izing the non-fiction. In some ways, DDC is already genre-ified. (Sports with Sports, Robots with Robots, Dogs with Dogs, etc.) Browsing non-fiction lets you explore a narrow, specific interest to your heart's content.

Is it all or nothing? Some libraries keep the fiction by author, but add spine stickers to genres to help kids spot their favourites. Others only pull out some of the genres (sci-fi, mystery, romance) and leave the rest by author. You need to know your students and their interests.

Krashen talks about the three secrets to becoming a strong and dedicated reader: 1) reading great amounts..., 2) in a narrow interest area..., 3) at your reading comfort level. (link, link, link - especially p5 -narrow reading) Whether we genrify or not, it's all about promoting and supporting an exciting reading atmosphere!

Read on!

Want to read more about this?

Genrefy Your Library: Improve Readers' Advisory and Data-Driven Decision Making.

Genrefication Project

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22.10.13

NFB 2013-14 catalog

Explore NFB's catalog
View this catalog of National Film Board offerings. Titles labeled with a blue "C" are available for streaming via NFB's enhanced access called "Campus".

"1,000 emotions in 100 films filled with valuable lessons - This year we've decided to draw from our rich collection of films both new and old to bring you our 100 favourite educational titles. These compelling works will evoke a range of emotions while introducing students to a colourful cast of fascinating characters. Ambitious, artistic, funny, engaged, brilliant, sensitive... are but a few adjectives to describe the heroes of these films."

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Read-Aloud Handbook - Intro online

"the single most important activity"
"The 1983 Commission on Reading made two important declarations in its final report: 1) "The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children." and 2) "It is a practice that should continue throughout the grades." ... The experts were saying reading aloud was more important than work sheets, homework, book reports, and flash cards. One of the cheapest, simplest, and oldest tools of teaching was being promoted as a better tool than anything else in the home or classroom— and it's so simple you don't even need a high school diploma in order to do it."

Read more on the site.
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Dystopian fiction flowchart

Hungering for more?

Lawrence Public Library has put together a "Hunger Games flowchart" for teens looking for new novels to scratch that young adult dystopian itch. Full of both old and new titles - discover a new author or new novel!

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Virtual Field Trip - HR Macmillan Space Centre

Skype into the Planetarium

"Do your students have challenging questions about space science and astronomy? We might have the answers! Connect your students with our staff so we can share their passion and knowledge with them through video Skype. Your virtual field trip will include a short demonstration related to one."

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Transforming Curriculum & Assessment

Draft Curricula available

The new curriculum IRPs are designed to be "flexible, competency-driven, concept-based and inclusive." Currently, some K to Gr 9 curriculum documents are available for browsing and comment.

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17.10.13

"Writing to Learn"

Low-Stakes Writing Exercises

"Learn more about an instructional strategy called "Writing to Learn." This technique encourages the use of low-stakes writing to allow students a chance to clarify their ideas and think critically. In this video, Andrea Culver explains how "Writing to Learn" allows students to process information without worrying about assessment or judgment." (Lily Jones)

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16.10.13

Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming

The value and role of libraries

Neil Gaiman's lecture for the Reading Agency, delivered on October 14 at the Barbican in London. Here's an excerpt. Click the link above for the entire text.

"Libraries really are the gates to the future. So it is unfortunate that, round the world, we observe local authorities seizing the opportunity to close libraries as an easy way to save money, without realising that they are stealing from the future to pay for today. They are closing the gates that should be open."

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15.10.13

Young Learners Need Librarians, Not Just Google - Forbes

Teacher-librarian as professional guide to the internet

Mark Moran (CEO of Dulcinea Media, a Web publisher that offers free content and tools that teach students how to use the Web effectively) writes about the skills that teacher-librarians bring to students. Click on the link above to read his entire article.

"Before parents accept the wisdom of a school board to cut school librarians, they should ask: Will my child graduate with a 21st century resume, or a 19th century transcript? Can he use collaborative technology, such as wikis? When a search engine returns 105 million results, can the student find the five that will set her paper apart? ... As the information landscape becomes ever more complex, why does a school district want to abandon its professional guides to it?"

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Beyond Read-alikes: What Else Can You Find in NoveList?

Features in NoveList you might not know!

Lori Reed explains some of the additional features in NoveList you might like to explore:

  • Author Read-alike Articles
  • Award Lists
  • Book Discussion Guides
  • Common Core Connections
  • Curricular Connections Articles
Read her article this month for more info on how to access these "extras"

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Simple machines websites

Exploring simple machines

Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago
Play a game to move an animated character through a series of challenges using simple machines. (The sound can be muted.)
 
Science and Math activities
This is a web activity about simple machines. Learners will explore a lawn mower and identify six different simple machines which work together to help make our lives easier. This is an excellent activity for exploring how simple machines, and science in general, apply to learners' everyday lives.

The Franklin Institute
Short description of each of the simple machines.

Edheads - Simple Machines
Animated activity - find the machines, with explanation.

Investigate and report - Scholastic

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