Most people make their New Year's Resolutions in January, I make mine in August as I resolve each year to  make this the "best school year ever!"  (Does that sound familiar to anyone else?)  Anyway, I am reviewing standards and scores in preparation for our building improvement meeting, browsing the AASL's Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning for appropriate tools to share, and reading multiple books that I have picked up over the summer.
Over the next few weeks I will decide what I want to do about that dreaded library orientation -- is it really necessary? Could my students orient each other? What could I do to assure the success of this idea?  Is there some way to demonstrate evidence of student learning during this process?
Once again I resolve to grab my camera more often, catch those iconic moments of spontaneous sharing, then share them with others as a demonstration of the learning that occurs in the media center.
What is the best way to share the Web 2.0 finds with my teachers?

I will be attempting to answer these questions over the next few weeks.  Feel free to offer your suggestions!

AASL Standards for 21st Century

In anticipation of a presentation I need to do in August about the Standards, I am going back to the beginning to study them and figure out how, when, and if I really use these standards.  This is requiring lots of reflection, pulling out lesson plans and projects, and reading the many books and journal articles I have collected.  My essential question for this exploration is "How do the AASL Standards improve the teaching and learning I do with my students?"
Today, inquiry.  I feel very competent in this area, but am I really?  time to read, and find out.

Rainy Day Fun

Finally, after so many days of hot, hot, hot it is raining and cooler!  What a great day to catch up on reading.  I am reading "The Surgeon" by Tess Gerritsen (in anticipation of the new TV show, "Rizzoli and Isles" based on her recurring characters), "The Burning Wire: A Lincoln Rhymes Novel by Jeffery Deaver, John Grisham's book for young people, and Kristin Fontichiaro"s newest book, "21st-Century Learning in School Libraries," a complication of articles about, you guessed it, our role in teaching and learning in the 21st century.  It is just lovely to be surrounded by books (some on my Kindle) and having the time to really read and enjoy them.
What you are reading right now?

A Librarian in Every School..

While surfing the net (a.k.a., avoiding work I should be doing!) I came across this article in Rethinking Schools.  Take a minute to read it and respond.


A Librarian in Every School..