Book suggestion: Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Fever 1793 by author Laurie Halse Anderson provides the reader with a plot that is engaging, emotional and thought provoking. I love when fiction books rely heavily on non-fiction events. The author includes quotes at the beginning of each chapter that are written in that times vernacular which made the words the author has written even more believable. I think if I were a student reading this I would want to learn more history about this time period in our nation. I am going to suggest this to our middle school social studies and communication arts teachers for a cross curricular study. Post Revolutionary War time frame with lessons of compassion for today's youth. 

Teacher's Write Summer 2016 begins!

Today is the second day of Teacher's Write for Summer 2016.  I really love this group.  This is my third summer.  The first summer I wrote a lot.  Last summer, not so much.  This summer I am ready, committed and excited to participate. Today's prompt led me to thinking about the future.  

The prompt was to think about what you see when you go 100 steps:  

No matter which direction I go 100 steps, I end up in a field.  And sure there are lots of things you can explore and find in a field.  But, that’s not where my brain went.  I’m thinking about the future because I want to do some futuristic writing, so what will 100 steps look like in the future.  The closest town that has quite a bit of industry is about 20 miles away.  Could it expand this far south in the next 25 years, or so?  Will my farmhouse be the old house on the street that everyone wants to demolish for a strip mall?  To try and figure this out I looked up how large is a large city, like New York City.  According to what I found it is 305 square miles.  If that were a perfect square that would be around 17 miles across (which seems small.) I think I’m safe.  I hope if I can still walk 100 steps in 25 years, I end up in a field.  

Just a rainy day!

Today in 6th grade ELA enhancement class kids had the opportunity to have an electronics day.  We had finished a test and it's a rainy Friday. What could be better than zoning out in the computer lab, playing your favorite game?  I was pleasantly surprised when they wanted to play Kahoot!.  They didn't want to zone out on their own.  They wanted to do something together!  Yippee!

I have played Kahoot! at workshops, but honestly I really don't know much about it.  So, I was honest and said,  "I don't really know much about it, but, I would love to watch you."  Apparently the kids already have accounts made for other classes (kudos to those teachers!)  This plays into what we talk about all the time.  Don't be afraid to learn from students!  I know I have lots to learn.  I know things... but they know things too and I will be missing out if I don't give up some teacher ego and learn from them.

So, a lazy, rainy Friday afternoon turned into school for the teacher.

Here's a link if you would like to check it out:

Kahoot!


Happy Friday Afternoon!

Kate Messner at Write to Learn Conference

       This past week I attended the Write to Learn Conference at the beautiful Tan-Tar-A resort in Osage Beach, MO.  I know that I'm now a librarian however after looking at the conference brochure I decided that there was a lot there for me as a school librarian.
       Kate Messner was a Thursday pre-conference workshop presenter.  I have followed her career as an author of wonderful children's books and also as a teacher for teachers.  Her revision book is once that I have featured earlier in a blog post.  Unfortunately she was snowed in and couldn't be at the conference in person.  When I found out that she was going to lead the workship via Skype, I wondered how that would translate.  It was fantastic!  Of course I would have loved to have shaken her hand, but she was such a wonderful presenter that sort of thing became not so important.  I was able to see and hear her excitement about writing for about 6 hours. She spoke about mentor texts,  a topic I had read about and sort of understood, but now really understand.  This topic will certainly be applicable to the work I do in the library.

     
         She continued her presentation with teaching the process of revision.  What I gleaned from this is that revision shouldn't be so formal and structured.  It should take place in smaller chunks in such a way that students don't even realize they are doing it.  She spoke to that dreaded phrase that we all hear from students, "I like it the way it is,  I don't want to change anything."  And, the also popular, "My mom thinks it looks great."  Defending against those types of arguments can be daunting.  That is why not giving kids a lot of time, all at once, is so important.  Let the combination of several mini revisions be what sets the stage for learning how to make growth in writing happen.
          This first day set the stage for what was a wonderful conference.  I left the room feeling excited about my place in the world as a teacher librarian.  I figured out that just because I'm not in a classroom, I can still give students what they need to be successful writers.  I'll just be doing that from a different perspective.  And, here's the perk...  I'll get to have a lot of fun and won't have to do the actual grading.  Shshsh,  don't tell my teacher friends that.  They will all want to become librarians!

Chill Out With a Good Book...

Our area of the world hasn't quite caught onto the fact that it's winter.  Two years ago we had already been out for a week of snow days.  This year I have yet to drag out my heavy coat.  I usually don't even wear a jacket most days.  So, I'm having a hard time getting behind my old go-to "Chill out with a good book."  

I have snowmen and snow-women decorating the library.  I usually do this because I don't feel like I have to rush back in to re-decorate after Christmas break.  This theme works for both December and January.  

Two of my favorite winter, "chilly" books are:

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner (link to book trailer), illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

and, Sizing Up Winter by Lisann Flatt, illustrated by Ashley Barron.

These books provide wintertime scenes that are comforting and they also teach some facts about how animals adapt for winter.  Author Lisann Flatt has other books designed to teach about animals and the other seasons.  Here is a link to a bookseller with those books. 

Fall Favorites for the Library

Today I visited my favorite store.  Shout out to Barnes and Noble!  Of course, I headed to the children's section to look for Fall books to read to the little ones in the library.  I have several. But, can you really have too many?  I took advantage of their sale to pick up two new books.  The first is Click, Clack, Boo!  A Tricky Treat by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin.  Can Farmer Brown muster the courage he needs to get through the holiday he hates the most? I'm looking forward to sharing this with the Kindergarten and First Grade.  

Another new book I purchased was Llama Llama Trick or Treat by Anna Dewdney.  I know the Preschool class will love this one.  

My most favorite, favorite Fall book of all time is Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White and Megan Lloyd.  Here is a link to that book being read aloud.  Enjoy!

Too Many Pumpkins read aloud

Summer Reading List: 5 Books on Professional Development | Edutopia

This article by on Edutopia presents some things that I haven't read yet.  Looks interesting and there is still time this summer!

Summer Reading List: 5 Books on Professional Development | Edutopia