Thoughts From The Book Diva....

Last year was the first time I had really studied Google. I was amazed at all the features it has to offer. My two favorites are Google Reader and Google Earth. Google Reader is something I use to keep up with all of the blogs I try to follow. It saves me so much time. Rather than going to each blog and opening up each one everyday to check for new postings, now I can have all of that information in one place on Google Reader. I love this feature! I have divided all of my blogs into specific folders: library blogs, just for fun,friends, and news. Google Earth is another tool that I have recently used in the library. I went to the Technology conference this past year and went to a session on how to use Google Earth in your lessons. I incorporated it last year with my second grade library kids. We started by reading Flat Stanley. Then, I had each student create a Flat Stanley and I asked them to mail it to someone they know that does not live in Lake Jackson. As the Flat Stanleys came ba...

Thank goodness I can use my blog from last year. I remember the process of setting it up to be a little long. I am so glad to hear that our district is going to allow us to use these blogs in the classroom next year. It was very frustrating to set this up last summer only to be told we were blocked from using this site at school. I hope to find ways to incorporate my blog into what I do in the library next year. I would also like to use it for teachers. I hope all of my Ney friends are learning lots on this adventure and enjoying what they learn! I was so thrilled to actually receive a facebook message from one of my self-proclaimed, "Non-techno teacher". There is hope out there! If this friend of mine is on Facebook, the world just may be coming to an end! Love you, Billie!

I am officially behind everyone. I totally forgot about the first face to face session, so now I am registered to attend tomorrow. This morning I am without my children, so I decided to start this journey in the peace and quiet of my home. I am glad that these first two weeks seem to be a repeat of what I did last year that way I am not quite as behind as I first thought. I appreciate Michelle for setting this up for us. It is nice to get my professional development hours while lying in bed in my zebra print pj's.

Here is my Photostory project. I have my fingers crossed that this is successful!

Here are my thoughts about the 23 Things program: First of all, I would like to say, "THANK YOU" to everyone involved in creating this program. It was so beneficial to me. This is the first time in a long time that I have ended a professional development workshop feeling like I learned something that was truly valuable to me as a librarian! I am so thankful that although my district is not part of Spring Branch, we were allowed to join in the fun anyway! Now to summarize: 1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? I would have to say that my absolute favorite thing was setting up the blog. When I set it up I felt so successful, like I had really accomplished something worthwhile! I like that I have this blog ready to go for use later with my students, teachers, and parents. I also really enjoyed the mashups. I had so much fun playing with all of them! Finally, I would have to say that the discovery of Delicious has made my life so much easi...

My favorite Ning was the Teacher Librarian Network. I even signed up for it! I can think of many ways to use this site. One thing that comes to mind right off the bat is when a teacher comes to me asking for titles that will coordinate with a topic she is teaching. Many times I get stuck after two or three suggestions. There have been sometimes that I couldn't think of anything! I like that once I am a member of this site I can post a question and see who has ideas to share. In one of my earlier posts I was talking about setting up a social networking group with fellow librarians on Facebook. Now I see that that would be unnecessary! This is already set up and ready to go! I really plan on using this Thing!

I am going to come back to this Thing when I come up with an idea to post.