Library Links

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

12.2.14

goREACT - Chemistry made easy

Experiment with this drag-and-drop laboratory
"Experiment with chemistry virtually anywhere with goREACT! In this drag-and-drop laboratory, combine elements from the Periodic Table to create chemical reactions and discover the chemistry in the world around you! With goREACT, you can become a virtual chemist. Whether you're a novice or expert, the free play and guided modes make it fun and fascinating."

iPad and Android apps to do the same thing!

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Everest Education Expedition

Retrace this Everest climb
Good for grades 5-8. Includes teacher materials, multimedia resources and a chronicle of the expedition

"In Spring 2012, a team of athletes and scientists embarked upon an historic expedition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first successful American ascent of Mount Everest. The team sought to retrace the steps of the first American ascent of Mount Everest via the difficult West Ridge. The Everest Education Expedition, supported by Montana State University and Montana EPSCoR, placed special emphasis on bringing the excitement of science, discovery, and global adventure into classrooms across Montana and the nation."

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Sparticl - STEM videos

Images, videos, games, & hands-on activities.

Sparticl is a web and mobile collection of the very best the web has to offer in science, technology, engineering, and math or STEM. Sparticl includes answers to science questions, images, videos, games, and hands-on activities, all curated by a team of experts.

(Created by the National Productions division of Twin Cities Public Television, and supported by 3M.)

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Trading Card App for iPad

A fun way to share what you know
Web-based app: http://ow.ly/tqzDS
"ReadWriteThink's Trading Cards app gives kids a fun way to share their understanding of various topics, to build study aids, or to create their own fictional world of characters. Create trading cards for any number of categories, including: a fictional or real person, a fictional or actual place, objects, events, vocab words."

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11.2.14

Teaching about BC Flora?

Here are some resources to teach about the flora of BC.

Teaching about Wild Products from BC's Coastal Rainforests

Native Plant Society of BC

Wild Edible Plants of BC

Flora of BC Flickr

Richmond Plants

e-Flora BC Photo gallery

First Nations Plants and their uses

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On Reading, Learning to Read, and Effective Reading Instruction - NCTE

"An Overview of What We Know and How We Know It"
"The Commission on Reading of the "National Council of Teachers of English" has compiled an overview of what the profession knows about reading, learning to read, and effective reading instruction and referenced some of the large body of research that has given rise to this view."

This link includes an impressive bibliography of key research on "the reading process", "learning to read", and "effective reading instruction".

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Organizing a "School Wide Read"

Finding Success with School-Wide Reads
Read about how this TL organizes such a successful event.

"It has been six years since I organized my first SWR. I have shared my experience with SWRs with other TLs in the district, and this year alone we have had seven middle schools in our district participate in a SWR. Not only are teachers asking about next year's SWR, but so are the students. And it all began with one great book." Tu Loan Trieu (TL at Hillcrest Middle School Coquitlam, BC)


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Freedom to Read Week - Canada

Celebrate Freedom to Read Week - February 23-March 1, 2014
        
"Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Ideas for teachers: http://www.freedomtoread.ca/get-involved/

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Canadian Parents for French magazine

The Spring issue of CPF mag
This issue of CPF Magazine compares the different types of FSL programs currently available across the country, and features interviews with prominent Canadians who share their views on the value of Official Language Bilingualism in Canada. It also includes examples of how CPF is working to provide opportunities for students to use French outside of the classroom.

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A teacher’s guide to implementing inquiry-based learning.

Focus on inquiry
"This document provides supports for implementing inquiry-based learning activities in the classroom and is intended for teachers working on their own or in teams, with or without the support of a teacher-librarian or other library personnel. It provides an instructional model that can be used by all teachers, Kindergarten to Grade 12, in guiding inquiry with students."



District Literacy Plans - Kindergarten to Grade 12 and beyond

Literacy Planning Guides


Learn how school districts are partnering with other organizations such as libraries, colleges, community groups and businesses to support the literacy needs of all community members. Review the comprehensive literacy plans prepared by school districts in collaboration with community partners. The plans support all members of the community, from early learners to adults.

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5.2.14

Educator & Teacher Guides | Disney Publishing Worldwide

Do more with these titles

Here's a set of teacher guides for some popular titles: (This is just a partial list)
Code Name Verity        
Eleanor, Quiet No More  
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale        
Pigs Make Me Sneeze!    
Red Kite, Blue Kite     
Schooled          
The Battle of the Labyrinth             
The Last Olympian       
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!       
There Is a Bird On Your Head!   

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Project-based learning Guide

PBL: a powerful motivator for students and staff.
Downloadable guide from "The Innovation Unit"

"Project-based learning' refers to students designing, planning, and carrying out an extended project that produces a publicly-exhibited output such as a product, publication, or presentation. It is related to enquiry-based learning (also known as inquiry-based learning), and problem-based learning. The distinctive feature of project- based learning is the publicly-exhibited output. We have chosen to focus on project-based learning because it incorporates enquiry, and because, in our experience, public exhibition is a tremendously powerful motivator for both students and staff.

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Wordless Picture Books - activity suggestions

Ask young readers to exercise their imaginations
Random House offers this downloadable guide for teachers.

"Many times, we ask young readers to listen to a story and try to picture the images of the action in their minds. By sharing wordless (or nearly wordless) picture books, we ask young readers to exercise their imaginations in just the opposite way. Young readers can "read" the images of the picture book and create the narrative for the action in their minds. Wordless picture books can help young children think about the basic elements of storytelling, and are perfect for the youngest children who may not have the skills or confidence to read text on their own."

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Apprendre le français - webdocumentaires

Découvrir et apprendre le français... c'est facile !

TV5 offers a collection of short webclips (80 in total) that help the viewer learn French. (includes "exercices, mémos, jeux, défi" )
"Comme au cinéma, laissez-vous porter par les webdocs et découvrez la vie en France à travers le regard de quatre personnages. Au cours de cette promenade, des ateliers et des jeux vous permettront de comprendre, d'apprendre, et de pratiquer le français."

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Let's speak French - Français facile

Apprendre en écoutant
Expressions, short recordings for beginners, some grammar (eg), vocab, dialogs, stories, short videos  - the list is quite extensive. The creator of the site speaks clearly and slowly, in a European French accent.  (There is a funny text about using franglais in France.) You can subscribe by email to get the latest lessons.

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Textes et narrations: français langue

50 themed readings in French

UQTR has produced a set of 50 texts (with audio files) and comprehension activities for French language learners. This is very useful resource for FSL and some levels of Immersion.
"Nous avons rédigé cinquante textes pour adultes et jeunes adultes touchant des thèmes aussi variés que l'alimentation, le corps humain, les sentiments, les loisirs, les transports, les présentations, etc. En général, les textes comportent entre 200 et 400 mots. La difficulté de lecture augmente par groupe de 15 textes environ. (On notera toutefois qu'à partir du texte A-037, le passé composé s'ajoute aux temps verbaux déjà utilisés (impératif présent, indicatif présent et futur proche)."

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4.2.14

Primary Sources - in BC

Finding FN Primary Sources

This can be difficult task, especially when it comes to indigenous knowledge. Actual artifacts are challenging to access. A strong reliance on oral tradition as a way of passing down teachings doesn't transfer easily to the classroom context.
Here's a "primer" on the difference between primary and secondary that you might like to adapt for your students:

CBC and NFB have some archival footage, and other digital collections of artifacts are as close as you may get to the actual items. (see list below)

The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (Searchable database)

Museum of Anthropology

Glenbow Museum

Reciprocal Research Network

Manitoba  Museum

VIU - Primary Sources: First Nations

Then/Hier (Primary Sources)

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Jesse Hirsh - The Internet as "Learning Curve"

Technology, Leadership, and Authority:
What it Takes to be Taken Seriously in an Era of Rapid Change


"Meet Jesse Hirsh, cyber space guru. His passion is to educate people on the potential benefits and perils of technology. An internet strategist, researcher, and broadcaster, Hirsh has a weekly nationally- syndicated column on CBC Radio, explaining and analyzing the latest trends and developments in technology, using language and examples that are meaningful and relevant to everyday life."

(Using Edpuzzle to add a comment spot to the end. Assign this to a "class" and you can collect responses or quiz answers.)
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Gale Geek February webinars archive

Short and Sweet Webinars
Register and hear the 30 minute Gale Geek interview every Friday and learn how you can do more with your library's resources! If you can't make it "live", then check out the archived webinars. (Most of the webinars feature Gale products specifically, but some sessions offer general suggestions that can be applied to many resources and contexts!)

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