tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86264970217718614682024-10-06T22:38:10.166-07:00Children and books in our school libraryLibrary Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-90896487839883394572015-04-21T03:16:00.000-07:002015-04-21T03:16:28.840-07:00

This post is a copy of what I wrote to Eval2015@nysed.gov  as teachers were invited to comment on possible changes to the NYS teacher evaluation system.  There has been a lot of controversy over what role, if any, standardized tests should play in teacher evaluation.  I feel that there is a role for tests, but not for standardized tests. Why standardized tests are not an

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-29525053851383527772014-08-15T14:24:00.005-07:002014-08-15T14:32:15.834-07:00

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Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-41917255339206136602014-08-08T06:56:00.000-07:002014-08-08T06:56:07.605-07:00

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Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-14856915322152087732014-08-08T06:53:00.000-07:002014-08-08T06:53:06.569-07:00

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Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-78728485541071712822013-08-11T11:18:00.000-07:002013-08-11T11:18:14.022-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6KB6-7uCrI Neil Gaiman is a favorite author, although he writes faster than I can read, so I don't read everything he writes.&nbsp; Here he addresses the Digital Minds Conference way back in April (I realize that I am way behind!) and talks about the future of books.&nbsp; Many people have told me that they will never be comfortable with e-books and that curling

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-5735531376899372032013-07-09T09:40:00.000-07:002013-07-09T09:43:53.313-07:00

I am back on Net Galley.&nbsp; I finally figured out that all I had to do so I could download books from NetGalley and the NYPL reinstall Adobe Digital Editions.&nbsp;&nbsp; That shouldn't have taken so long to figure out!&nbsp;&nbsp; So now I can feed my reader - just in time for summer reading! So here is my first summer reading log and book report.&nbsp; After all, if we ask the kids to do it

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-27823547663610772382013-07-01T04:57:00.000-07:002013-07-01T04:57:28.405-07:00

Jo Knowles writes the "Monday morning warmup" for the Teachers' Write summer workshop.&nbsp; Today she asked us to write about what we and our characters want or hope.&nbsp; I think this has spurned some possible directions for the next Megan and Munchie book.&nbsp; Last week I also gathered some advice for what to do to send Megan and Munch off towards publication.&nbsp; So maybe that will

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-39517787145597128112013-06-28T15:47:00.002-07:002013-06-28T15:47:28.172-07:00

It's been a while since I have written here.&nbsp; Life in the school library was intense in 2012-13.&nbsp; Somehow I am determined to make more time for myself and for writing next year.&nbsp; I have found an online writing workshop to help me towards this goal.&nbsp; Kate Messner's Teacher's Write is an online writing workshop for teachers.&nbsp; So far I have been lurking - doing the

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-3218960777528657782013-01-21T15:52:00.002-08:002013-01-21T15:52:34.750-08:00

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Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-23362487720812513292012-10-29T18:04:00.000-07:002012-10-29T18:04:12.394-07:00

Saturday was the the Backstreet Book Fest. It was a wonderful day.&nbsp; I got to talk to many people who share my day-to-day experiences. The whole group presentations were wonderful.&nbsp; When there is video I promise to put a link here - I learned a lot about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House books.&nbsp; Mary Pope Osborne deserves a big thank you for her generous offer! The best

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-47999571645543353822012-10-29T17:41:00.003-07:002012-10-29T17:41:31.443-07:00

On my circulation desk I have three miniature pumpkins. The first question is always "is it real?"&nbsp; Usually a student will pick up a pumpkin when they ask this question.&nbsp; Because this is often asked while students are on line to check out books, I answer briefly "yes, they are real pumpkins."&nbsp; Many students will then identify them (a la three bears) as big, medium, and little.

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-62839790212352879142012-10-29T17:41:00.001-07:002012-10-30T11:30:30.367-07:00

Hello Sandy!&nbsp; My do-list for tomorrow is rounding up materials to help students better understand storms and hurricanes, so I can be better prepared on Wednesday when we return to work.&nbsp; Wednesday is also Halloween.&nbsp; It will be a high impact day for the school librarian Update on Sandy - no school on Halloween!&nbsp; I hope to be back by Thursday. &nbsp;

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-64303075120988924422012-10-13T15:52:00.003-07:002012-10-13T15:59:20.784-07:00

I haven't stopped reading, even if blogging fell off the radar! Two yummy books from Net Galley: Pale by Chris Wooding was exciting and thought provoking - until I realized it was a tease, and I only had the first few chapters!&nbsp; So far, it seems like it would need almost no salesmanship - a book that could easily go viral.&nbsp;&nbsp; This is an edgy take on some of the same themes from

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-22364589235487835672012-09-03T14:35:00.004-07:002012-09-03T14:35:48.428-07:00

Tomorrow I go back to work, so today is the last day of summer vacation.&nbsp; (sob) On the general principal that I don't want to ask students to do anything I wouldn't do myself, here is my summer reading log.&nbsp; <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-50166031232817195362012-09-03T14:12:00.002-07:002012-09-03T14:14:02.152-07:00

Marlowe, Sara.&nbsp; No Ordinary Apple: A story about eating mindfully. Wisdom Publications.&nbsp; June 2013. Yes - 2013!&nbsp; Time is flying! I was completely prepared to be annoyed at this book. It's subtitle sounded more than a little preachy!&nbsp; But I was curious enough to request it from Netgalley, and was pleasantly surprised.&nbsp; The story about Elliot and his caregiver, Carmen is

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-64422281938288951662012-08-25T18:23:00.001-07:002012-08-25T18:24:54.557-07:00

Two and Twenty Dark Tales.&nbsp; Edited by Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink. Month9 Books.&nbsp; October 2012.&nbsp; ISBN 9780985029418. This rather uneven collection of stories are each based loosely on a Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme which is quoted at the start of each story.&nbsp; Some stories left me wanting more, wanting to spend time in the eerie world the author created

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-10893772019082044782012-08-25T17:59:00.000-07:002012-08-25T17:59:41.277-07:00

Anderson, Caroline. Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week.&nbsp; Illustrated by Ben Clanton. 2012.&nbsp; ISBN 9781554539895. Jasper John Dooley, the quirky star of the week in this easy chapter book, collects lint and makes music by sloshing water in his belly.&nbsp;&nbsp; After his teacher pins a star to his shirt each morning he gets to be the center of attention in a different way each day;

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-52568729481821022242012-08-25T17:57:00.002-07:002012-08-25T17:57:44.368-07:00

I picked up a couple of interesting books this week from netgalley.com .&nbsp; Both books sent me back to the old question of reading level vs interest level vs what are kids (or adults) going to actually do with the books? The first book I picked up from Netgalley was Jasper John Dooley, Star of the Week. This is a comfortable chapter book level with a funny and sophisticated protagonist, a

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-87553945016640479222012-08-22T17:17:00.001-07:002012-08-22T17:18:30.384-07:00

I was just reading an article emerging language and library story time. But my mind kept wandering, playing back a scene that I witnessed this afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp; A charming little girl was being treated to ice-cream by her grandmother.&nbsp; The girl was talkative yet obedient, and was probably about six - just the right size for thinking about reading. And one of those magic moments when

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-45524736750386637302012-07-30T13:28:00.000-07:002012-07-30T13:37:37.893-07:00

My sons also grew up expecting to read. Reading was the default activity, what you do when there was nothing scheduled. Our home was filled with books but we were still regular customers at the local library. When we traveled they were expected to select a few books (along with the inevitable Legos, etc.) to carry along. What has changed for this generation is that now there is summer

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-73952623941177714212012-07-14T10:29:00.001-07:002012-07-14T10:29:34.508-07:00

Else Holmelund Minarik, the author of the Little Bear series and No Fighting, No Biting, passed away on Thursday. She was 91 years old. Lee Bennett Hopkins shares some of his memories in this blog post

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-18966547257745879662012-07-13T06:51:00.002-07:002012-07-13T06:51:58.062-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about summer reading and what it has meant to me. Reading was a part of almost every routine when I was a child. From weekly library trips to “packing” for trips, finding and organizing what books to bring was part of the ritual. Of course, taking the familiar books along on a trip didn’t mean I would actually read them! The Oz books I had so lovingly packed would

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-16163924582934299222012-02-01T16:33:00.000-08:002012-02-01T16:33:36.951-08:00

My school requires daily homework of all students, and one standard part of that homework is reading. Students are required to read for a given amount each evening. The number of minutes is different in each grade, with 5th and 6th graders being told to read for an hour or more each night. I have started wondering how this homework requirement is interpreted by various students. As I check

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-29020740537274262082011-12-03T16:39:00.000-08:002011-12-03T16:39:00.486-08:00

I learned a few tricks from this tutorial http://mashable.com/2011/11/24/google-search-infographic/ I learned a few tricks from this infographic tutorial by Josh Catone. Looking at this reminded me that I can definitely work on being a smarter searcher.

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8626497021771861468.post-24841990228180253382011-11-12T20:34:00.000-08:002011-11-12T20:34:03.526-08:00

Today I spent a certain amount of time being a sidewalk superintendent. A crane was being assembled for the construction of Columbia's new sports facility on West 218 Street. What a treat to watch this behemoth being assembled like an out-sized Tinker Toy, or Knect construction. The crew assembling it were a real team - focused and synchronized. I went out to visit the crane three or four

Library Lizhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11981936892406244171noreply@blogger.com2