I fell into a bookstore and ...

Took a trip to our local children’s book store, Cover to Cover, and bought some great books. Not all new titles, but still great. In a few weeks I will be attending the Virginia Hamilton Multicultural Conference, held every year at Kent State University. This year’s speakers will be Nikki Giovanni, Chris Raschka, and Charles R. Smith, Jr. and I picked up the following books to get autographed. The Grasshopper’s Song: an Aesop’s fable revisited was written by Nikki and illustrated by Chris, and is an interesting retelling of this famous fable. There is a trial to determine whether the grasshopper deserves a part of the ant’s winter supply of food, which is a new twist! The illustrations are rather subdued for a Raschka book, but the two work together very well. Another exciting purchase was The Mighty 12: Superheroes of Greek Myth told in rhyming form by Charles Smith. I love this book, with comic book-like illustrations by P. Craig Russell, it gives some information about the major gods and goddesses of Olympus, and without telling so much that I can’t put it in an elementary library! My boys will be so excited to examine this book as they continue to devour the Demi god series by Rick Riordin. The other book I picked up for signing that I believe will be very popular with my male readers was 12 Rounds to Glory: the story of Muhammad Ali.  Fantastic illustrations by Bryan Collier helped this title win the Coretta Scott King award, along with Smith’s poetic retelling of important events in the life of Ali.


I also picked up two books about rabbits, although they could not be more different. The Rabbit Problem by Emily Gravatt, really intrigued me as it attempted to explain the Fibonacci problem, a math study I had to read more about after I finished enjoying the book. On a back sale shelf I found a retelling of Snow White by Melinda Copper in which the characters are illustrated as rabbits done in a detailed oil painting method. The evil step mother is a beautiful, but evil white cat.

My last book, Story Time by Edward Bloor, caught my interest as I read the blurb on the back of it. “Welcome to Whittaker Magnet School, where standardized testing truly is the work of the devil.” A middle school tale with reviews like this; “ a dark comedy that skewers the national craze for standardized testing,” and “a no-holds barred, deeply subversive tale about modern education …” This sounds like the kind of book I wish I had written! I’ll report on it once I have read it.

What great titles have you come across during spring break? I would love to hear about them.

Spring break - time to reflect and recharge

This has been a rough couple of months and I am really ready for this break!  The school library world is on a wild roller coaster ride without an end in sight.  I know that many of us will be faced with the fact that our libraries will no longer be maintained by certified media specialists, and am wondering what this will mean for our students and faculty.  Just in case this is my last year in one building, in a functioning program I love, I am going to use this week to decide how I want to finish this school year.  Do I try and cram in all the internet 21st century skills I know they will need for the next few years, or do I go back to the original reason I got into this career and share great children's literature to anyone who comes near?  Do I hide in my media center and wallow in my misery; I can't believe this is happening?  Why are "they" doing this to me?  Or do I continue to be an advocate for the things I know are important in the educational lives of my students?
Honestly, I spent the weekend wallowing -- reading children's books, eating chocolate and generally pining for the "good all days", now I think I am ready for action!  How about you?

True confession time

I am still taking the Newbery course and am now reading books from the 50s and 60s.  I am liking them better, but still ...  so, I did something bad.  My copy of "Moon Over Manifest" came in with a book order, and can you guess what I did?  Yes, I have been sneaking in reading time for this 2011 winner!  I feel like I did when I read with a flashlight under the covers as a child.  Maybe this is how you should feel when you read a great, distinguished book?

BTW, how many of you use the lesson plan template offered by AASL that uses our new standards?  If not, do you at least list these standards when you write your lessons plans?  Or do you at least think about them as you craft lessons?

What are you doing to engage students during these long, gray days before spring's arrival?

Sorry!

I should have known that if I talked about the nice weather, it would change!  I am only getting rain (for now) but I see by the weather map (yes, I am a closet meteorologist) that many states are getting snow.  So, no more talk about weather -- let's talk books!  As I continue with my Newbery course, I realize that I don't really remember reading any Newberys until I was an adult taking literature classes.  Can you remember the first Newbery you read?   Of course, the first book I really remember hearing was "Charlotte's Web", is that the same for you?

On another theme,  as a school librarian do you plan your year (curriculum mapping), what you will teach at each grade level?  Do you wait to see what your teachers are teachers and then combine your instruction with theirs?  Or do you do some kind of combination?

Sunny days!

I hope you  are in a part of the country that has had this gorgeous sunshine!  I can't help but stop at every window to enjoy it.  This weekend I am spending a lot of time reading, because I am taking an online course from ALSC about Newbery's -- the history, misconceptions, and mystique's.  It is great, because I have not read many of them, feeling like they must include at least one chapter with a dead dog!  We are reading through the decades, looking at trends, and reading articles that come from those decades.  I'll let you know if I enjoy more Newberys after this course is finished.
So far I have read: The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle, The Cat Who Went to Heaven, and Rabbit Hill.  Do you see a trend emerging in my reading choices?

BTW, has anyone gone to see "I am Number 4"?  I read the book and am wondering about the movie.  So let me know.

How did you spend your snow days?

I think most of us in the U.S. have had several calamity days this school year.  I had two this past week.  How did I spend them?  Reading books, mostly.  I brought back a whole bag of ARCs from ALA midwinter and I couldn't get out, so what's a girl to do?  (Housework, laundry, writing deadlines, actually all needed done!)  Just a few of the ARCs I enjoyed were: a new book by Kevin Henkes "Junonia," a chapter book for middle grade readers  A gentle, yet realistic story that shows nothing stays the same, but change is good.  "Across the Universe" by Beth Revis is a young adult title that takes place on space ship "Godspeed" transporting selected frozen people to create a new world on a new planet and save the human race.  They will be on this ship for 300 years, asleep -- except for Amy who is mysteriously awakened 50 years too early. This book has teen romance and angst.  The teen book I liked better was "Unearthly" by Cynthia Hand about Clara, who discovers she is one quarter angel, with certain gifts to be developed and a divine purpose to be done.  The characters are likable, the plot different, and the ending hard to predict.  The last book I read (to avoid doing I what needed to do ...) was "The Unseen World of Poppy Malone."  I loved this middle grade reader.  The parents are real life ghost hunters, but not very successful.  Poppy and her brother do NOT believe in ghosts, vampires, or any of the creatures their parents try to hunt, .... until Poppy accidentally finds the Goblin living the the house they just moved into.  Her brother and baby sibling get pulled into the adventure that ensues while the parents are blissfully unaware as they continue to try to contact the presence in the house.  After reading these, guilt set in and I got busy with my deadlines.
I am still struggling with my professional reflection portfolio which I am completing for professional development, which I must go and work on right now .....

Do you have an individual professional development plan?

I do, two actually.  The first is my own professional goals, where I see myself in 5 years, 10 years.  The things I want to accomplish, including articles I want to write, that book idea that is percolating in the back of my brain, roles I want to play in my professional organizations.  I also have my plan for my teaching and learning year with my students, my plan for collection development, and more. 
My other IPDP is the one required by my district.  I'm not complaining, I agree fully that I should have a plan in accordance with district goals.  My issue is with the format for this plan, it is very much like pushing a square block into a round space.  It would be so much easier for me to craft a narrative that describes my ideas and goals. 
Oh well, back to work ... wish me luck!

Update on my Newbery contenders

I want you to know that I did read the books I listed, and be fore any winners are announced I thought I would share my thoughts.  I loved "One Crazy Summer".  Period. The characters were so believable I felt as though I was there in California in the height of the Black Panther movement.  The author did an amazing job of juxtaposing the traditional behavior of the time for African Americans with the attitudes of this "new" group.  Here were 3 sisters swept into the middle of it all.  With this as the setting, the story is actually a quest to connect with the mother who left them right after the youngest sister was born.  This opportunity is ever so slowly developed throughout the summer, leaving the reader to implore the mother to "act like one!"  Excellent book all around, and certainly deserving of the Newbery.
I kept putting "Out of My Mind" to the bottom of the pile.  Hard as it is to believe, I don't always enjoy Sharon Draper's books.Finally it was the last book yet to read, so I picked it up.  Wow! Melody is someone I will continue to think about forever.  She is has Cerebral Palsy, essentially a quadriplegic, and cannot talk.  I know this sounds like a real downer, but talk about amazing character development~I know this girl.  She is in 5th grade, and finally is getting mainstreamed into classes.  This is great because she has a photographic memory and is brilliant.  Melody is also a 10 year old with the concerns and ideas that come with the age.  Definitely not a character to pity, she is feisty, and determined to find a way to have a "voice" to share her thoughts and ideas.  You, the lucky reader are privy to these and so share with her wishes,  dreams, and frustrations.  If this book doesn't win, I will be shocked; but I know that Melody would rise from that disappointment as well, an even stronger character!
Other quick mentions, "The Night Fairy" grew on me.  I really wanted to love it, I'm a sucker for fairies, but initially she was such a self-absorbed creature it was really hard. When disaster strikes, we get the opportunity to see her true character develop.  In much the same way Edward Tulane grows, so does this tiny creature.  A very nice job of describing the setting from the point of view of a tiny protagonist.
More later, and I will share my thoughts about ALA Midwinter .....

Back to school tomorrow!

I believe I am ready.  Clothes chosen, alarm set, attitude ~ great!  My plan of action, to find the joy in little things, and little people. This means sharing books I love, web sites I find interesting, and technology that will spur curiosity.  I do realize this will be difficult as we are so tied to data and testing scores, but I have been thinking, reflecting actually, and I think that making this small difference daily in the lives of my students will enable them to better handle all the content and stress that is present in their school lives. 

This week at school I have offered to teach a quickie picture book evaluation lesson and then have students use that to vote for the book that they think will be the Caldecott winner.  Many teachers have accepted the offer, so my days leading up the the ALA midwinter will be immersed in Caldecott discussions, fun! 

I am also opening at selected recess times for students to learn about websites with great activities.  There is never enough time to share these in a formal setting, so I'm going to try this.  Maybe I'll even bring back the Lunch Bunch book clubs.  Whatever I can to do to bring joy into my teaching day.  I'll bet I will learn more about joy from these activities with students than I can possibly teach them.

Finally ... a day of reading!

It has been a busy break, lots of cleaning and cooking, then cleaning some more!  At last, a day with no obligations but one, to start/continue reading the books that have been on suggested Newbery lists.  I am currently reading, "Keeper" by Kathy Appelt ~ not far enough along to make a judgement but I do like what I have read so far.  I like her descriptive language, I can see those blue crabs with markings on their backs, and the dark swirling waters.  (I still don't know why she is called Keeper, hope there is an answer!)  I am finishing the "Night Fairy" by Laura Amy Schlitz which was very different than I expected.  Usually fairy "tales" (sorry, couldn't resist!) are light hearted, even if the fairies are mean or indifferent; but this one is darker, and yet intriguing in a fairies version of survivor way.  Left in my stack are "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia and "Out of my Mind" by Sharon Draper.  Other titles I need to at least skim are "Just Like Falling off the World"  (I have it somewhere in an ARC) and "Dreamer" by Pam Munez.  My now lofty goal is to have all of these read completely before I get to the ALA Awards ceremony on Monday, January 10th, but if I can't read them all, to have at least skimmed them so I have an inkling of what they are about.  Of course, I am prepared to be totally surprised if some book comes out of nowhere to win, isn't that the fun this whole thing, but at least I can chat and commiserate with other folks in the awards audience.
So, if you don't hear from me for a while you know I am happily ensconced in front of my fireplace (on or off) indulging myself in my own read-a-thon! 
And if you are in my Librarians Who Read book club, you can probably guess what titles I will be talking about at our next get together!

Basking in the glow, or wallowing in complacency?

I don't make New Year's resolutions.  But I do like to stop, step back, and reassess my goals.  These are both my personal and professional goals, and require some serious reflection on my part.  Over the next few days I will be "talking" through my thinking and welcome your comments. 
For today, Happy Christmas to everyone!  I hope you recieved all the books you wished for!

One week left before winter break!

It is cold and snowing and is expected to be this way all week.  For those of us in education we know this to mean the dreaded " indoor recess!"  I am actually excited for this because I am hosting a pre-Caldecott viewing and voting.  Students will be able to visit during recess to read and evaluate 2010 titles that were chosen by the public library next door and the titles I have in my collection.  I have been working with 3rd grade on an extention of the idea "what makes writing worth reading" to include "how do illustrations tell the story."  We have been looking at past winners in small groups (differentiation) and are critically viewing these to help decide what makes an award winning title.  I am opening up my library to grades 1-5 at recess, and am really curious to see if the 3rd grade vote is any different than the rest of the grades because of this study we have been conducting.  Then in January the library next door will post both the winners from our school and the winners according to the ALSC Caldecott committee.  My students are excited, my question is: will this impact their book selections in the coming months?  Will they take the time to review and analyze a book once they choose it?  Will they think more critically about the choices they make?  Only time will tell.

Reaching the whole child; beyond differentiation

It is early on this snowy morning and I am mentally going through the day ahead, what still needs to be done, how will I approach this group of learners?  I am having some real issues trying to reach the whole child while racing up the mountain of "race to the top."  Because our media centers have several purposes, reaching and supporting individual students as well as whole teaching class/grade/department standards/indicators we have multiple levels of instruction occuring often at the same time.  I can handle that, I was given my super librarian cape along with my degree, didn't you?  My struggle is in another arena, supporting those disconnected students during the all too brief time I have them in a class setting.  With one eye on the clockand the other moving that lesson along so it gets done in the alloted time, how do I quietly move to that student to find out exactly where the disconnect is?  How do I find the time to pull that student back in to find another way to provide the necessary teaching and learning for that one or two?
I am exceptionally lucky, with a flexible program, and a supportive staff.  I can usually carve out a mutually acceptable time to work with those students.  I guess my question is this: what can I do while I am teaching the FIRST time to keep that reluctant learner engaged during my teaching, so I don't need to find that time.  How do you handle the able student who is just disengaged from the whole learning thing?

Best books for holiday gifts?

I am preparing to write an article for my school newsletter listing some "must" book purchases for households.  Beyond the regular, good dictionary, classics, I would like to suggest a few great destined to become classics titles.  I am considering "Ruth and the Green Book" by Calvin A. Ramsey, this is a very thought-provoking text about what it was like to travel during the days of segregation, and  "Chalk" by Bill Thomson, an amazing wordless picture book that elicits a great response from students.  Do you have any titles you would add to this list?  Maybe we can create a list we can all share!

Is my job getting in the way of my real work?

Ever tried not doing your job for a few days and just be an available presence in your library?  Last week, I did just that.  The bookfair had been scheduled for the media center but at the last minute it was moved to an empty classroom; so I had not planned with any teachers for this week.  Instead of rapidly filling my time, I decided to just "be" in the library and see what happened.  What a great week!  I had time to talk with students about what they were reading, what their projects were, and what they liked about the library.  Because I was in the library by myself, my assistant was in the bookfair madness, I asked students for their help on various things that came up, and they were so glad to help!  They were thrilled with the time for a one on one conversation with me, excited to be given trust and responsibility, and the week was a joyful one!  I made movies with  Pixie, edited narratives, searched for websites, and read books. Now I know I can't just abandon my work, but I will make time to just be; it is too important not to be too busy to spend quality time with students.  Now I remember why I went into this line of work!

Thankful for books even more than for pumpkin pie!

In light of the season, I am thinking of all my reasons to give thanks. There are so many this may take a few posts.

• First of all, I am thankful for having a job that I love.  Putting books into the hands of students and having them come back to say it was the best book ever ~ what other career rivals this? 
• I am thankful that my teachers are wonderful people who want the best for their students and love to plan with me to create lessons to engage students in learning.
• I am thankful for the amazing books being published right now, and that I can have access to them.
• I am thankful for my colleagues and friends across the country that I have gained because of professional organizations that have allowed me to meet others with like interests.

My hopes for the coming weeks:

• A room full of new books to read.
• A snow week to read them all!
• A fireplace, cozy chair, and hot chocolate for the proper atmosphere.
• Friends snowbound with me.

What are you thankful for?  I would love to know.

Where does the time go?

November, Really??  We are into our third month of school, and what have I done to positively impact student achievement.  This is a time for some reflection; I have assessed my students with the TRAILs, but have I used the data to plan with teachers?  When I do plan with teachers, am I making sure that the library skills are included in the unit?  Am I moving to be involved throughout the project, not just the research phase?  Do my teaching colleagues feel the library services I provide are invaluable?  These are all issues I must keep on the forefront of my thinking while I am instilling upon my students the 21st century skills they need to thrive.
How about you?  Do you continue to reflect on what you are doing, and why?

Ohio librarians and teachers, feel free to share these with your students!

OK, be patient, this is new for me!  I am attempting to link to the Buckeye Children's Book Award powerpoints created by my students.
These 5 powerpoints are advertisements for the 5 books nominated on the K - 5 ballot.  If you would like more information about this election, voting windows, when to nominate, requirements, visit this website: http://www.bcbookaward.info/index.htm

Bringing in the New Year http://tinyurl.com/295qz8y
Duck! Rabbit! http://tinyurl.com/2cyx3lu

Rhyming Dust Bunnies http://tinyurl.com/2cjb3ca

Mercy Watson: Something Wonky http://tinyurl.com/2ayngxh
The Mitten http://tinyurl.com/2bolf6m

Please respond about how this helps  your students, or what you have done to prepare your students to vote!

Reader's Advisory?

How do you practice Reader's Advisory?  Do you do regular book talks with classes?  Write a blog or a column for your library?  One to one at reader's point of need?  Even all of the above.  Is what you do effective, or are you looking for a change?  I do most of the things listed, and I like to, but what I am noticing now is that my students are beginning to do their own Reader's Advisory.  There are more conversations in the stacks, many more students bringing back books saying, so and so wants this book when I return it, and even more students offering me suggestions of books to purchase!  What is causing this change?  Maybe it is because I offered my intermediate teachers a chance to provide their students with book stacks, a supply of a great variety of books to stretch and broaden each student's reading diet.  Each class visited, and after a talk by me about trying new things, suggestions, and encouragement, the students took the time to make individual choices.  Each stack needed to be approved by myself or the teacher, mostly to be sure they were trying something new, not The Lightning Thief for the third time!  The first time we did this, alot of the books came back within a week, but we met again and talked some more about what we, the reader, wanted from our book choices. These books were checked out to the teacher, to be kept in class, so the students could still check out those favorites on their own card to take home and read again.  Now, conversations are happening, informal book groups are forming, and students are reading what they are checking out!
Have you tried something new that is working for your students?  Tell me about it.

The school year is galloping on!

Well, here we are in the middle of October.  How did we get here already?  I hope yours is going well.  I am working hard on integrated those 21st century skills; but I actually find myself doing more reader's advisory than ever!  Nothing beats an excited student running up to you to say, this book was great, do you have any more?  I am getting ready to start my family book club, anyone have a good idea of a classic chapter book that would span the interest of students,  K - 5?  In the past I have used, The Last of the Really Great Wangdoodles, Everything on a Waffle, Box Car Children, and The Hoboken Chicken Emergency.  I would like to find one about a library sleep over, spark any ideas?

Technology speaking, I have given my 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students the TRAILs assessment to determine what kinds of skills need to be integrated this year.  My teachers are pretty excited about this, it should make for some powerful collaborating.

I am also continuing my yearlong focus on inquiry, and thinking.  We have had some great conversations about thinking, and I feel it may be raising the quality of questions my students are posing!

I will be busy the next two weeks, getting ready for our state conference, OELMA.  Hope to see you there!