Thoughts From The Book Diva....

To all my Ney kids and parents, welcome back to school! I had a slow start this year. This week is actually my first full week for library. The students at Ney are coming to me regularly starting this week. I am excited that first grade through fourth will begin checking out books this week, too. Kindergarten will wait until later this fall. Please remember to email me or post on this blog if you have any questions or would like book suggestions. I look forward to visiting with you!

1. What were your favorite discoveries or excursions on this learning journey? I would have to say that I have two favorites: Skype Island and Excursion Island. I really liked learning more about Skype so that I can start seriously considering using it in the library. I already knew a little about it, but I have not actually ever used it. This class sort of "forced me" to stop, research it, and consider how I might use it in the library. On Excursion Island I absolutely loved that you posted the sites that are all neatly organized and list so MANY of the web 2.0 tools that we could possibly be using. Last year we learned about some of them, but I don't really remember you posting sites that links to so many and organized so that we can find what we might be interested in. 2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? As I get older I have learned that technology is growing and changing faster than we can keep up with it. If we are not in the g...

First of all, let me say, Excursion Island is not for the ADD at heart! :) Oh my goodness! I spent two days playing around with these tools! I couldn't get off the computer! I finally had to MAKE myself stop to do this post. So, here we go.... For your Excursion Island post first reflect on the Horizon Report. What do you see as the most important emerging technology that will influence schools? After skimming the report, I would say the most upcoming would be the Mobiles section. Everything we do these days is becoming interconnected. I was reading the other day about Apple's new Cloud app. It is going to intertwine the iphone, ipad, ipod, and computers. For example, when you take a picture with your iphone, it will automatically go to all your other devices and then store on itunes. It is becoming so that EVERYTHING we do is somehow connected to the internet. And since this is the case, we expect to have service WHEREVER and WHENEVER we go. Not just any service, either. We wa...

Glitterfy.com - Summer Glitter Graphics

I am just playing with some of the new web 2.0 tools I am learning about!

I was totally amazed at all of the different options for searching. I knew about some, but others were brand new. I love, love, love that there are specific search engines for multimedia, blogs, and podcasts. These sites will definitely save lots of time! I really like the blinkx site. I found myself needing videos last year to put into presentations for teachers AND students. I would usually try YouTube, but the things you get from that site aren't always of quality. I do not think that there are any that I would throw back. You NEVER know when you need specific things. So, I would definitely keep all of these on hand. In fact, I did add a link to this site on my delicious account so that I will always have these on hand.

I love the idea of Skypeing with an author! I am especially interested in this since I know our budgets will be cut heavily this year. I appreciate all the lists of authors who are willing to visit with schools using Skype. I have not researched the authors in depth to decide which one I might like to use, but I plan to do that more this summer. I have been burned before with virtual discussions. The worst time was when Scholastic offered a special virtual visit with Mrs. Frizzle. I created a login and then prepared all of our technology so that I could broadcast the virtual presentation. I thought this might be best so that we were not all trying to log in at the same time and bogging down the internet on our campus. Then at the specific time, I had all the teachers stop and tune in to our broadcast. Well, big surprise, it NEVER would work. I also never figured out why. This was very frustrating to all of us and very embarrassing for me! For this reason I think that my first few exper...

When I first started my job at Ney, this magazine came to my library. I really enjoyed reading through it. I would also use it to read book reviews and make decisions on my purchasing. However, with budget cuts over the past couple of years this magazine was one that I had to cut. Sadly, the subscription cost is very high! I am so embarrassed to say that I did not know that this website was available! Oh my gosh! For the past few years I have gone without using this magazine and it's valuable reviews when all along it was available to me free online. I am very thankful that this has been pointed out to us. I feel so goofy overlooking it. I would have to say that my favorite part of this one is the book reviews. I can't wait to save the link to this site on my desktop so that I can access it for book reviews at anytime! http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/csp/cms/sites/SLJ/Reviews/PreToGrade4/index.csp

Once again, didn't even know this existed. And once again, all I can say is, WOW!!! I love it!! All the sudden I feel like I am having brain overload over here! I am finding so many cool things that I am afraid I won't remember it all to go back and play around with. At first when I saw this site, I was disappointed that it was ANOTHER ALA site. I was wondering how ALA could have so many companion sites and not have overlapping information that is the same on all of them. I am pleasantly surprised that this is not the case. Each companion site holds it's own information. I am so excited at all the stuff I am finding!!! I like the lesson plans section found at: http://aasl.jesandco.org/ However, I am sad to say that there is very little for the elementary librarians. I do think those of you who service the older students will find lessons that you may be able to use. It seems like I am always looking for new, fresh, and exciting lessons to implement. I was hoping this might ...

Wow! I have used the ALA site in the past and not once did I ever realize they had an entirely seperate portion dedicated to the Children's Library! I really like this site! My absolute favorite section of the site is the portion that focuses on a list of great websites for kids! I don't know how many times I have teachers as well as parents ask me for good sites for their kids. I LOVE that this is a one-stop place to find valuable sites! I can't wait to share this with my teachers. http://www.ala.org/gwstemplate.cfm?section=greatwebsites&template=/cfapps/gws/default.cfm I also really like that this site dedicates sections to educators and parents. The educator portion would be valuable for teachers to use when looking for good book lists and also suggested websites. http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/audiencemenus/educators.cfm The parent section has a lot of valuable information! They can find everything from information on the Caldecott and Newberry awards to res...

This site is focused on the Librarian that services the teenage reader. This really doesn't apply to me, but I still found a few interesting things to pass on. I noticed several papers had been posted on hot library issues as they relate to teens. These could be used when arguing these points to an administrator. These were all found in the Professional Development Center portion of the site. I also found under this section a subsection labeled, Toolkits. While browsing around this section I found a few things that the high school librarian might possibly use. For example, I found a premade pamphlet on Social Networking that could be used by the High School Librarian while teaching online social networking safety. All of this can be located at: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/profdev/professionaldevelopment.cfm#resources

I usually end up using this site several times during the year. Typically I will use it to access lists of award-winning books such as the Caldecott list, Newberry list, and the Coretta Scott Kind award list. I really like that all these (and more) can be located in one general spot: http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsgrants/index.cfm After playing around on the site I found that I like the section on Reccomended Print and Media. This part of the site has several different lists of suggested books. It is seperated into various categories like young adult, early childhood, etc. I really like to review lists like this when doing my ordering so that I can make sure I am buying what is deemed good literature by a respectable site such as ALA's. http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?template=/CFApps/awards_info/browse.cfm&FilePublishTitle=Awards,%20Grants%20and%20Scholarships&stype=R I also like the online professional learning opportunties that are offered on this site. I looked through th...

I am not a huge fan of this website. I feel like it is too busy and my self-diagnosed ADD will not allow me to focus on any one item. I am also not sure that it is as relevant for me being an elementary librarian. However, I did give it a try and looked around. I would say that my favorite gem from this site would be the book lists for middle school readers. I plan to refer back to these when my seventh grader "just can't find anything good to read". The top shelf fiction book list from 2010 can be found at: http://www.voya.com/2011/06/14/top-shelf-fiction-for-middle-school-readers-2010/

I use the Tx Library Association's website throughout the school year. Typically I use it to get information on the current year's Bluebonnet list. This is my go-to spot to get the list, get the annotated bibliography on each book, and sometimes purchase products, such as bookmarks for the kids related to the current year's list. Here is the link to access that information: http://www.txla.org/TBA The new "gem" that I found on this site is a list of librarian blogs. I especially am interested in the early childhood blog. I will admit I rarely have time to sit down and read a blog, but when I do, this is one I would like to take a look at. :) You can find this list at: http://www.txla.org/member-blogs

I chose this video because it breaks 21st century learning into three easy steps. I really like the author's ideas for creating a 21st century learning classroom. It would be so awesome if we could share this with administrators and have them "buy in" to this idea. Then, as a year-long theme we could focus on moving each classroom and the entire school towards this 21st century learning style!

I think the video is dead on about teaching. Our world is changing and we as teachers must change with it. The old way of teaching, standing in front of students and writing on a board or overhead, is not reaching kids. The new generation of students is more connected to their world and they have adapted to a completely hands-on form of learning. This, of course, means that we are going to have to adapt to how they learn. I believe it affects my teaching tremendously. Each time we sit down to create lesson plans, hands-on, technology-integration MUST be at the forefront of our minds. Our students need to be actively engaged, not just to keep their attention, but to also prepare them for the world that lies ahead. Of all the verbs listed in the video I think I can identify most with the word, advocate. I have felt so much pressure over the past year to be an advocate for the library program. Interestingly, I feel this pressure from ALL angles. I have felt like I need to advocate to stud...

This year I have been slow getting my Pre K group of kids to check out. This has been a challenging year for me and I was not sure I was ready to take another challenge on. Well, last week I bit the bullet and allowed both Pre K classes to check out for the first time. I am not sure why I was so nervous. They were wonderful! It is so amazing to see their eyes light up when they hear that they will get to check out a book and take it home! Then to see them struggle with the tough decision of which book to take home, it's just so precious! Times like this remind me of why I became a librarian!

Thanks to author, Chris Espinosa for visiting Ney today! The kids had a super time and learned a lot! I am always amazed at how the authors that make school visits are able to maintain such a high energy level throughout the whole day. For any fellow librarians....if you are looking for an educational, entertaining and affordable author...Chris Espinosa is your man!

Congratulations to Katelyn in third grade at Ney! She was our top Bluebonnet reader for this year! She read twelve Bluebonnet books! As a reward, she and I (Mrs. Roland) went to lunch at Chick-fil-A! We had a wonderful time! She even got to miss some of her school day! Wouldn't that be cool if you were a part of this???? Well, you can be!! Just start getting ready for Bluebonnet reading club for next year. All third and fourth grade will be eligible to read books from the list and earn prizes like this! I am already looking for to it! My Ney friends need to post comments below and let me know what other prizes you would like to see given for Library contests. I want to hear your ideas!!

Wow! Time has flown by! I have not been very active on this blog site. I am hoping that I will be able to catch up on it and stay that way for the rest of the year. Here are some highlights of what the kids at Ney can look forward to in the coming weeks: *Author Visit- Author Chris Espinosa aka Uncle Chris is coming on February 16th *Ice Cream Social- February 18th *Spring Break (wooo hoo)- March 14th- 18th *Book Fair- March 28th- April 1st