Skipping to the Good Part

The End.

2012-03-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

"Cutting the deficit by gutting our investments in innovation and education

is like lightening an overloaded airplane by removing its engine.

It may make you feel like you're flying high at first,

but it won't take long before you feel the impact."

-President Barack Obama

I'm wearing black today. I'm in mourning.

I'm mourning the current state of education.

Had my parents not already planned to come volunteer in our library today--and the library needed it so very much-- I would have stayed home, overdosing on strong black tea, finishing my novel, and hanging out with my two best (non-human) friends.

BFF 1 snoozing on a sock

BFF 2

I'm really depressed.

You see, last night at School Site Council (SSC), Dr. Joyce showed us the budget for next year.

It wasn't pretty.

We have (barely) enough to cover teachers of core curriculum (math, science, history, English), our two music teachers, and our PE teachers.

We do not have enough to cover: an assistant principal, a dean, a nurse, a therapist, a librarian.

Are you kidding me??

We are an inclusive school that accepts all learners, including those with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), otherwise known as "Special Education," or SPED. Twenty percent of our students fall into this category. Those IEPs are legal documents that state what a child needs and needs to be doing in order to be a successful scholar. As such, they need a licensed therapist to sign that the child is getting what he or she needs. There are one to four of these meetings every day. Additionally, our current therapist runs groups to provide therapy to our scholars who need it.

One principal (think CEO) cannot run a school (company) of over 100 faculty and staff (employees) and 700 students (clients) without help. That help takes the form of an assistant principal--who helps with other running the school responsibilities--the scheduling of classes, putting students in said classes, organizing bell schedules, organizing grades, and so much more. Without that sort of help, it all falls onto the principal, who also has important running the school responsibilities. Our current assistant principal takes on all these responsibilities--and so much more. She has an open-door policy and is always willing to take a moment to help anyone who needs administrative help or guidance, student or faculty.

To say that it's useful to have someone to remind our scholars to behave like scholars is an understatement. As I stated earlier, we are an inclusive school, and we welcome all scholars. Only, sometimes they don't know yet that they are scholars, so we have to teach them how to be one. This came come in the form of a dean. Our current dean has managed to keep our students in line with a firm yet kind hand. Moreover, she is organized, and it seems that the faculty trusts her. This is important; as a teacher, if a student is being unruly and there isn't a strong discipline policy in place, the education is undermined.

We work with middle school students who take physical education. Scratch that, we work with middle school-aged students. Additionally, there are over 1,000 humans on our campus on any given day. To say that we only have scraped knees would be an understatement. I have seen students carted away on stretchers, drunk as skunks. I have seen broken bones and elderly teachers fall. I personally have had boxes fall on my head hard enough to give me a concussion. I have experienced classes where students forgot to take their meds. All of this requires the expertise of a school nurse.

Do I even need to sing the praises of a school librarian? Especially in these dark days of literacy, of losing the ability to think for one's self, of not everyone being able to afford a formal education? If you're reading my blog, I think not.

We have an incredible, cracker jack team right now. All of these people--I'd like to include myself, too, if that's not too self-serving--are passionate about children and their healthful development into solid community members. Each does a phenomenal job at supporting the growth and development of our scholars from their job standpoint to make sure that each child get the best experience here at Webster they possibly can.

The district has, in the past, orchestrated this situation so that when someone complains, "well why don't they have a (nurse, therapist, librarian, dean, assistant principal)," they can respond, "well, we gave them money, and they chose to spend it how they did. It's their fault they don't have that on their campus." That's been a complaint for the last few years. Only, this year, we don't have enough for any of those positions.

I'm honestly not sure how we're supposed to do this. I'm not sure how we will be expected to create a solid learning environment in this situation, or how we will be expected to increase test scores when we lack basic school needs. I don't even understand how putting a high importance on test scores in these economic times is conducive to learning. We are constantly threatened that if we don't raise our test scores, the state will take over. But now I'm wondering... if they do, will we get to have these positions funded? And do they really think they can do better?

If you have an answer to any of these questions, please let me know.

Happy Reading.

Happy Birthday to You!

2012-03-02T14:46:00.002-08:00

The more that you read,

the more things you will know.

The more that you learn,

the more places you'll go.

-Dr. Seuss

Tomorrow would have been Dr. Seuss's 107th birthday. To celebrate, we joined thousands of other schools across the nation for Read Across America day by inviting members from the community to come read Dr. Seuss books to homerooms. Dr. Joyce, our principal, generously added 10 minutes to homeroom so that we could accomplish this feat.

Our principal, Dr. Joyce

Our art, leadership, and yearbook classes all chipped in to help create incredible Cat in the Hat hats for our readers to wear. Many of our readers wore them!!

Panera Bread donated a bunch of sweets and my parents donated 4 dozen bagels, so there was definitely enough food! Thanks, Panera and Mom and Dad! Also, one of our awesome parents made...are you ready for this??? GREEN EGGS AND HAM!!!!!!!!!!

What a spread, eh?

Mmmmmmmmm.

Yes, I tried some.
Although I'm not quite sure why I'm orange.
Dr. Seuss theme, I guess...

Some volunteers showed up early to practice their presentation.

I <3 how he's cuddling with Yertle

We were so lucky to have Liz, Stephen, and Sara from the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators come to read to our kids!

Some random shots of the day:

Diana, one of my friends

Ms. Machado

Mr. Jacobs, of Communities in Schools fame

Alex, dressed for the occasion, as always!
(Can I just say how awesome my friends are for showing up and reading today???)

Ms. Orendorff let us borrow her Seussian friends for decor.

And of course we had to get a group picture!

I think there were still a few missing, but holy cow! Look at our awesome volunteers!

I had completely forgotten that I'd asked Mr. Lisker and his drama class to perform The Lorax during lunch time, and when I saw the crowd they were gathering, I just smiled. Unfortunately, because I keep the library open during lunch so scholars can do their homework or read, I couldn't watch the show, but I sure could hear it. I was as impressed with them as I was the last time they performed this, which was at our Barnes & Noble night.

What an awesome, celebratory day we had here at Webster! I have had nothing but positive feedback. I am very appreciative of the generosity of all our readers, the food that was donated, and the extra help I got from Miriam, Paola, and Brianne, who not only helped me organize the whole day, but got to work early (before 7:00am!) to help set up. Without them, I'd never have been able to pull off this awesome event. And another thank you to Ms. Strong and Ms. Orendorff, both of whom called my cell phone before 7:00 to remind me that the day was going to be awesome. You both were totally correct!

I'm delighted that today's event went so well. I can't wait to do it again next year.

Happy Reading!

Please check out our friends:
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Communities in Schools
Panera Bread

Welcoming the Stranger

2012-02-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

"And to any new fans we made along the way, I say welcome to our party!

It's just starting to get going."

-Richard Marx

In the midst of running around today--I have gained a sixth grade English class this semester and have been given a classroom that needs to be set up before the kids enter--I popped back into the library to get a camera so I could then go take photos of Ms. Haderle's posters so that I can recreate them. In teaching, we share, what can I say? When I began my work as a librarian I gave all my awesome posters and stuff away to teachers who would use them. So anyway, there I am running around, and I pop into the library and a beautiful woman was waiting for me.

"Hi," she said. "I'm Vanessa Adams. I'm your new library aide."

Holy cow! They district did it! They actually (finally...) hired a library aide for us! This is really exciting for a number of reasons, the first being that if I'm now going to be teaching for two periods a day, the library would be completely closed during that time without a library aide. This conversation was heartbreaking for me--every time a teacher asked to bring in a class during periods 3 or 4 I had to turn them away! This meant books were not getting into the hands of the students who had that teacher.

By the way, getting books into student hands is my number one priority.

This also means that I can divide my work up. Instead of me doing all the library programming, creating workshops on technology, research, or literacy for teachers to bring their students, the website, teaching two classes, helping anyone who needs to get into the book room, and all the other stuff--and checking in and out books and making sure the books are shelved, I don't have to worry about the book part any more. She also said she can help with fixing broken books and starting to import the ones that have been patiently waiting to be put in the library. These are things that I have let slide due to the overwhelming amount of other activities I do.

So, let me introduce you to Ms. Vanessa:

Ms. Vanessa comes to us from Broad Acres Elementary School and is very excited to be here and work with a new staff. She loves kids and enjoys reading--and is really looking forward to reading middle school books rather than elementary books. Her favorite book genre is fiction and family stories. Her favorite book is Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred Taylor.

Please come by and introduce yourself to Ms. Vanessa! She is a much needed and very valuable resource to our school.

Happy Reading!

Love and the Time of Cholera

2012-02-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

"All you need is love!"

-The Beatles

I am wearing my green Wild About Reading t-shirt today. It says "Daniel Webster Middle School, Los Angeles, California" on the back. I got it because I read a million words a few years back.

Everyone else is wearing red today, it seems. Grinning students are carrying around stuffed bears and bunnies, more chocolate than they can eat, balloons, and roses of every color imaginable. I saw a black-leather jacket clad dark haired boy give his equally dramatically dressed, heavily eye-linered friend three black roses.

The main office is filled with contraband items: cupcakes, cookies, balloons, etc. captured from loving celebrants who might get them back at the end of the day. Ms. Meekins did not need to decorate this year! Valentine's Day is in full swing.

I'm not even present to that.

What I am present to is the fact that thirty-seven students, faculty, and staff have managed to read one million words in the space of just one semester. This is more than we have had at the end of first semester ever. This is thrilling to me, especially in light that there were times when Accelerated Reader, the program that we use to track student reading, was down.

California state educational standards expect that by eighth grade, students ought to be reading one million words per year. If you think about it, that's about the entire Harry Potter Series, with a Twilight or two thrown in. Those are huge books! And, if you continue to think about it, reading them all in one semester is quite an accomplishment.

On February 24 during lunch, we will have a reading celebration for all the thirty-seven. Each person who met their goal will dine on pizza and bottled water as they are called up in front of the group one by one to much applause and given a certificate and a t-shirt. We will take a group photograph that will go on our website and be displayed proudly in the library. This is a big deal.

The following faculty members joined in the fun: Mr. Higgins, Ms. Orendorff, Mr. Brener, Ms. Strong, and, of course, yours truly (I WILL have a Wizard of Oz t-shirt).

I also want to give a shout out to one of our paraprofessionals who joined us in this endeavor. Ms. Smith--who also sang and played the guitar for the show we put on for our students last semester--particularly stands out to me because she participates in school activities. Paras don't usually get so involved, and this is Ms. Smith's third year joining us for pizza and a shirt. Way to go, Ms. Smith!

So today I celebrate not by wearing red and eating chocolate (ok, tonight my husband is making me a special lamb dinner and I'm surprising him with cupcakes--but that's after school...) but by doing the prep work to reward our readers so that reading stays special and precious to them. This work makes my heart feel good. And that's really the point of today, right?

Happy Reading!

We Got It Covered!

2012-02-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

"Ask, and it will be given to you."

The Christian Bible

In November I wrote a Donors Choose project for a Document Reader. With the help of many gift certificates, in January I got it. Well, it has arrived.

I am totally excited to have new media in the library. For those of you who have not experienced the awesomeness that is a document reader, I ask you to think of the overhead projectors that teachers have used in their classrooms for the last 20 - 25 years. An overhead projector is a light bulb that shines through dark writing on a piece of plastic, and then projects that onto a screen. You need a bunch of sheets of plastics to use them, although I know teachers who just wrote on the glass. What this means is that if you want to read something to a class that they can see, you need to create transparencies first, which wastes both time and plastic.

A document reader, however, is simply a camera that you attach to an LCD projector, that then projects whatever you put under it onto a screen. Like homework that you're correcting. Or a book that you're reading to the class--so that they can see the words. Or an old copy of the Declaration of Independence that you don't want to pass around, because student hands are often sticky. Or anything to make teaching more accessible to students. It does not require you to create transparencies. It requires you turn it on and then place something underneath a camera.

At this point, I've used it while teaching my two classes, during workshops and meetings, and with my after-school class. I have literally used it every day I have had it.

I am thrilled that the Webster community--and anyone who contributed falls into that category--thought that this was important enough to place in our library. Thank you.

Happy Reading!

Catching Up or Leading the Way

2012-01-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

"If you start soon enough, you won't have to catch up."

-Anonymous

Did I really just go two months without writing anything in this blog? How embarrassing. But at the same time, I would just like to note for the record, that this very moment was the first time--apparently in two months--that I have seated myself at my computer with a self-satisfying grin and thought, "holy cow, I finished everything on my to-do list! Maybe I should catch up on the library blog!" So, it's been busy in here! Which is kind of awesome.

So, I guess this is going to be a catch-up blog.

Our FFB in December and January were great! It was nice to have time and space to wish everyone well over the holiday, and then greet people when we came back.

Mr. Brener showing off the holiday decor.

(Wow, that freshly-painted Reference sign looks great!)

The Feast

January's Feast

Our Donors Choose games came in! We had a fun day opening ALL the boxes and playing the chess, checkers, Chinese checkers, Sorry, and Life. The kids were incredibly excited and I learned quickly that maybe it wasn't a great idea to open all the games, all at the same time, before I got Ziplock bags to keep pieces in. Ah well, ya live, ya learn.

Euuch, those kids look creepy with their faces blurred out!

Next year I must work on getting the forms signed so that I don't have to do that!

Also, we started a chess club on Thursdays during lunch. Today we had about 30 kids! It was pretty awesome. My dad has been running it and teaching the kids the finer points of the game. He totally rocks.

I've been doing Book Talks, of course. Two weeks ago I did Matched by Ally Conde. I discovered that if I shut down the library--which means making ALL students present stop what they are doing and come hear the presentation, there is a bigger turn out. Tomorrow I'll be doing Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. It's a freaking GREAT book. And older than Hunger Games.

I truly love it when I finish a presentation and the kids vie for who gets to check the book out first. That tells me whether or not it was a successful book talk.

Finally, Donors Choose, a pretty terrific website, got a GINORMOUS grant from the Wasserman Foundation, specifically for LAUSD schools. Apparently, a postcard was mailed out to the homes of each scholar in LAUSD with a gift code for $15. This could be used to fund a teacher's project! This is nothing short of awesome. If you haven't checked it out yet, and feel charitable, I highly recommend them. Even $5 can make a big difference!

I think that's about it.

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Room on the Broom

2011-11-18T14:02:00.000-08:00

"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention."

-Oscar Wilde

I have been crazy busy these last few weeks. This is exciting to me, because it means that the library is being used as it's supposed to. Yay that!

Today I just wanted to write a quick blurb because I read one of my all-time favorite books during Book Talk today. Instead of just allowing my regular book talkers to come, I made the entire room of kids who were in here during lunchtime today come and listen. They came slowly, dragging their feet.

Ok, so confession: it's a picture book I wanted to read to them. So it wasn't really a book talk, more of a Book Read. I'm totally ok with that.

I wasn't sure how a picture book would go over. These are middle school kids after all. I told them that this is a Thanksgiving book, and that while I read they were to listen for the reason it's a Thanksgiving book -- instead of a Halloween book, because it has a witch in it.

Then I started to read.

They were enraptured. They didn't say a word, except for one student who made a perfectly appropriate comment at one point. Which was something to the effect of, "wow, she really loses things often." Which told me he was totally engaged and into the story.

I finished the book and then asked them what their response was.

"It's definitely a Thanksgiving book," said a girl. "They all helped the witch and then she said thank you. Thanksgiving is about helping, like the Indians helped the Pilgrims. And the Pilgrims should have said thank you."

My day is complete.

Happy Reading!

Together

2011-11-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."

-Henry Ford

When I looked at my schedule this morning, I was a little overwhelmed. What a busy, busy day I had planned!

Mr. Levengood had scheduled his classes to have their library orientation periods 1 - 5. We would have the November FFB during nutrition. I had a book talk scheduled. *whew*

First of all, I love library orientation. It's that time near the beginning of the school year when I get to talk at each and every student in the entire school and remind them how awesome the library is. We go over rules and procedures--how to behave, how to check out books--and why the library is important. We cover fines and the cheapest way to replace a lost or damaged book. But most importantly, I get to connect with every one of my students. I have 700 of them this year and it's so great to remind them that the library is here for them, that I am here for them.

The November FFB was hosted by our awesome history department.

Historians Extraordinaire: Mr. Gearin, Ms. Arzanipour, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Benjamin-Joseph, Mr. Cornett

Being as dedicated to historical events as they are, they included some historical information about our breakfast.

They served Starbucks coffee (now we're getting fancy!), juice, muffins, bagels, and fruit.

What a spread!

Artful display arranged by our awesome parent volunteers while I taught Mr. Levengood's classes.

Awesome.

Blurry photo of breakfast drinks and 8,000,000,000,001 creamers.

There are two more that I left in the fridge.

Once again, just before the nutrition bell rang folks started to show up, nosh, talk, and laugh.

Mrs. Teems with bagel and A Brief History of the Bagel

Mr. Brener, Mr. Catanzariti, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Valverde, Mrs. Macris, Mrs. Teems, Ms. Winberry,

Mrs. Cook, Ms. Strong, Mr. Levengood

Mr. Brener, Mr. Lisker, Ms. Strong, awesome parent volunteer

This time there were many comments. I heard, "this is so great. I love seeing everybody!" I also heard, "oh you just wait until the science department's turn comes!" This all makes me very, very happy.

During lunch, I quickly set up Doctor Who and all the Little House books I could find, which were a lot, thanks to Ms. Strong's personal library. This time only two kids came to the book talk, but they were both very present and attentive, and thought that the idea of covered wagons was "really cool." They also particularly enjoyed when I talked about Pa carrying a shotgun, trapping game to feed his family, and how he had to cut down trees to build them a home. I tailored the book talk for the boys, what can I say.

Little House on the Prairie with the Raggedy Doctor

Mr. Levengood observed to me that I seem to be always busy, the library phone is always ringing (he had to answer every time it rang while I was teaching his classes), and I don't ever seem to stop. I like that observation; to me, being busy all the time means that I'm getting a lot done. I hope to continue doing so for a long, long time. <3

Happy Reading!

What Makes a Rainbow?

2011-11-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

"Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution.

If you don't have any problems, you don't get any seeds."

-Norman Vincent Peale

Remember when I wrote about my wish list? Remember those photos of our signage that were lovely and important but boring pine, and I asked for a gift certificate to Home Depot so that they could get painted? Well, we got a gift certificate--which means they got painted!

Check out their story:

First they were primed:

Eighth grade scholar Alex Loza helped a parent volunteer with the priming and painting.

I took pictures.

I'm helpful.

then painted:

Gillikin Purple

Winkie Blue

Quadling Red

then placed back on the shelf in all their glory:

Emerald Green

This one is my favorite. First we painted it blue, then decided that was too dark, so we went over it in red,

but only the front. You can still see the blue. I call it the Superman Sign.

Look how much they brighten up the back wall of the library!

I am surprised how much adding just a splash of color does to cheerify the space. Ms. Winberry popped in for a brief moment to drop something off and immediately mentioned how much they add to the ambiance in here.

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed to this project -- the donor, the painters, and the admirers. It's people like you who make life so much better for our kids.

Happy Reading!

In November

2011-11-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

"Dull November brings the blast

Then the leaves are whirling fast."

-Sara Coleridge

Here's the November calendar (so far):

The November calendar was illustrated by two of my library practice students. I freaking love the turkey.

Wow, we've got a ton of stuff planned! Crochet Club, Book Talks, Book Club, Game Day--plus, our next FFB, Coffee with the Principal, Library Committee meeting, and a Booster Club meeting. A lot goes in on here!

Happy Reading!

The Night Before Halloween

2011-10-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes comfort doesn't matter. When a shoe is freakin' fabulous, it may be worth a subsequent day of misery. Soak in Epsom salts and take comfort in the fact that you're better than everyone else."

-Clinton Kelly

The one question I've been asked most often today is this:

"Where on Earth did you get those shoes?!?"

Well, here's the answer. Ebay. Also, they're my wedding shoes. :)

Yes, I did.

Here's what I look like today:

Wicked Witch of the EAST, people! Ruby Reds and stripy stockings? Get it? Well, do you?

Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday.

Today's schedule was a busy, busy one: the first half of the day was taken up by our library committee meeting, and then at lunch the plan was to read scary stories.

The library committee meeting went quickly, I felt. Here's the agenda:

New Business

1. Million Word Readers

* 10 already! (Eight students, plus Ms. Orendorff and Mr. Higgins.)

2. Library grants page

Old Business

1. Name (we're going with 'library committee')

2. Mission Statement (see below)

3. Virtual Reference Desk (VRD)

4. Server update

5. Technology update

6. Blog (I got to show off this blog!)

Discussion/ Suggestions

Mission Statement

In support of the Daniel Webster Middle School Mission Statement and Vision, the Mission of Daniel Webster Middle School’s Library Media Program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The Library Media Program accomplishes this mission by:

1) Being an integral part of Daniel Webster Middle School and it’s learning community.

2) Collaborating with teachers to create authentic learning for all students

3) Providing instruction in information literacy

4) Supporting the content curriculum and reading initiatives

5) Promoting life-long reading and learning, both for pleasure and for information

6) Providing scholars with materials that meet their needs

7) Providing our students with an inviting and safe environment

There was great discussion and suggestions. This time I had someone else take notes so that I could focus on what was going on rather than taking notes. That worked much better, although I have not taken a look yet. If you have more to add, questions, comments, and/or concerns, please feel free to add them in the comments section below.

During lunch I competed with the leadership class. They had a huge costume contest and I read scary stories. I honestly didn't think I would get anyone in here; it would seem to me that watching all the fun costumes would definitely win out over some geezer reading. I prepared my table anyway.

Yes, that's the Raggedy Doctor sitting on a pumpkin. Of course he joined in the fun!

Let's see...Jack o lantern full of chocolate. Check. Pumpkin carved into Ruby Red Slippers, complete with glowing LCD candle in red candle holder. Check.

Actually, here's a better photo of that:

Carved pumpkin courtesy of one of my library practice students.

...Basket full of pretzels. Check. Pile o' books of scary stories. Check. Shades pulled down. Check. Lights out. Check. All ready.

The bell rang and the usual crowd didn't rush in to grab their accustomed seats. While I was expecting this, I still felt...disappointed? I'm not sure. But then a few minutes later two girls came in and asked, "are you going to read the scary stories?" I grinned. "I would love to."

In ones and twos kids started to come in and sit with us. They passed the treats and whispered to each other to only take one, just in case more kids came in. I would ask one student to choose a book, then ask another to pick a number between 1 and 100 to figure out the page number of the story to read. We all agreed that while the stories weren't actually scary, they were certainly creepy. There were about fifteen kids crowded around my table, which surprised me. I read until the bell rang. I was almost glad it did--my voice was starting to go.

As they filed out, they thanked me and asked when the next activity would be. I showed them the library calendar where they wondered about the crochet club and asked about the next book talk.

When the last student left, I walked around campus--people will milling about and taking their time to get to class and I wanted to see the costumes. I was able to take a few quick photos with Mr. Higgins and some of his students.

With Mr. Higgins. He was a vampire Viking. I called him Eric all day long.

Eric is a vampire Viking on the show True Blood, for those of you who don't watch.

With the adorable Fairy Princess Noor.

Noor is in my Library Media class, so I know she turned her permission slip in!

So, that was today. I wish you all a safe evening full of fun.

Happy Reading!

Games for Everybody

2011-10-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

"The perfect family board game is one that can be played each time with fewer pieces."

-Robert Brault

Today we had our first Game Day. (Hey, look! I'm telling you about the first one!) It was, in short, awesome. Basically, I borrowed a bunch of games, added a few of my own, told one of my library practice scholars--who decided to bring some of his own--and made a couple of announcements.

Now, you have to understand that we had Spirit Week going on this week, so there was a lot to do during lunch. Today the leadership class had a mummy wrap contest, where grade level teams wrapped up a teacher in toilet paper. The winning team got their teacher wrapped first. (That sounds way grosser than it actually is--it's pretty fun, as far as activities go.) In any case, I thought that having a game day might give the few students who are in here every day a change of pace.

Holy. Cow.

I was in no way expecting to have fifty students in here arguing about who got to be Professor Plum or the Dog or whoever in the game they were playing. The room was full and boisterous, and I heard more giggling than I have in a long time. I saw poker faces that could have been professional. My library practice scholar brought a game I'd never heard of--Scene It--and a group was playing that on the TV I'd borrowed from Title 1 earlier today.

There were still the few who wanted to get their homework done or read quietly. These, I banished to the farthest table in the back of the room so that they could all be at a quiet table together. The rest of the tables were full.

I was torn between checking out books to students who wanted to take them home and walking around making sure no one was doing anything inappropriate. Of course no one was, although I caught a gum chewer. (Side note: I so, so love hearing wow, she's good under breaths as they get up to spit out their gum. Catching gum chewers might seriously be my superpower.)

When the bell rang, I hurriedly began to announce the upcoming lunchtime library events. "Monday, we're reading scary stories," I began, and then they interrupted me by cheering. No kidding. Fifty students all said, "YAY!!!!!" at the same time. Can you imagine that? It made my ears happy. Their yay stopped me in my tracks and totally made my day. I had to look at the calendar to remember what else was coming up.

Gosh I love my job.

Happy Reading!

Virals

2011-10-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

"She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain."

-Louisa May Alcott

Yesterday we had our second Girl's Book Club meeting of the semester.

I know, you're thinking, "...Webster has a girl's book club?!?! I didn't know that!" Yeah, we do. And we had our second meeting yesterday. And now you're thinking, "but you didn't write about the first meeting!" And to that I say, no, I didn't. Sorry about that--sometimes I have way better things to do than blog. Like talking to classes about awesome books and teaching classes about library use and talking to kids and just getting caught up in the general business that is the teacher librarian position at Daniel Webster Middle School. But I'm telling you now, so I'm hoping you'll forgive me. :)

Ms. Orendorff and I have run a Girl's Book club here at DWMS for the last 4 years. This year, Mr. Prinn has joined us. We meet once a week in the library during lunchtime. The books come from Donors Choose or donations from kind souls (usually Ms. Orendorff) and we give each girl a book. Then we read a small portion of each book each week, and talk about that portion at the next meeting. We discuss such things as character, setting, plot, and whether or not we believe she really ought to go out with that guy. And if he's hot.

And yeah. You heard that right. We give our girls books to take home and put on their shelf. I like to think of it as a starter library. I've been told that we should only loan them the books, so other students can read them in the future, but I absolutely disagree with that theory. I personally believe that there is no gift as powerful as a book.

* * *

When I was in the classroom, I once took Scholastic up on an offer. If I jumped through a hoop--I don't even remember what that hoop was--they would send me a book for each one of my students. You can surely bet that I jumped! I think I gave the books out as Valentine's Day presents. I remember one student in particular. He liked to talk about gangs a lot and had many, many referrals to the dean, mostly for defiance. I handed him his book and he held it strangely. I didn't get it at first--it was a tiny paperback book, I think about the presidents of the United States of America, and he was holding it like I held that tiny piece of flawless tanzanite that one time when I was in the Caribbean after the gem seller told me it cost $90,000. After class that day the student came up to me and said, "Ms. You gave me a book." I blinked at him and wasn't sure how to respond. "Ms," he said. "I never had a book before."

* * *

Last weekend Ms. Orendorff called me excitedly. She does that some times. Kathy Reichs, author of Virals, the very book our book club had just started was going to sign book her new book Seizure at the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore in Redondo Beach!!! OMG!!!!!!! We got all excited. It was exciting!!!! I was excited. She made trip slips and invited the girls to her home. Unfortunately, I didn't end up going due to this dang cough I'm trying to get rid of that completely saps my energy. But here is a photo of Ms. Orendorff, Mika, amazing author Kathy Reichs, and her son, Brendan.

AND they brought this back for me:

Notice the signatures! It is up on display in the library for all to see. I also love that it's in the background of the first photo. :)

Ms. Orendorff--of course-- asked Dr. Reichs if she would come talk to our girls or even our entire student body. I sure hope she does!

Happy Reading.

Ender's Game

2011-10-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

-Emilie Buchwald

Today we had our first episode of Book Talk with Ms. Bender. It was, in short, awesome.

We discussed Ender's Game, a book that is somewhat controversial but completely solid. I began by introducing Doctor Who (the tenth doctor), who will be our mascot for the year. I figured that he would be a good mascot, because he travels through time and space--and who better to join us through all the time periods and places of all the novels we'll discuss than a time and space traveller? Yanno whaddImean?

The raggedy tenth doctor and Ender's Game, winner of many awards and all around fantastic book

I know, I know, I have the End of Time injured tenth doctor. I got him for my last birthday. My husband didn't realize there were other options, ones who were not beat up and raggedy. *sigh* I'll get an uninjured one, one of these days...but for now, he'll do.

About six kids came, bringing their lunches and good attention spans. Not bad for a first event! I began to read the first chapter and as I read either I stopped to ask them a question to see if they got it (they did!) or they interrupted me (politely) to ask me a question. We didn't make it all the way through, but I feel that's a great sign, because we had a great conversation around literature. And isn't that the point, really?

The tenth doctor and all of the Ender books

The Bean books are my favorites. In case you wondered.

Unfortunately, the bell rang before we could finish the chapter, but three of them asked if they could check out Ender's Game because it sounded "cool." It sounded cool. Ok, maybe I lied before, maybe that is the point. Getting children interested and excited about reading books.

Yeah, that's definitely the point.

Happy Reading!

* Note: Of course there are more pictures of the event, but they have kids in them and I can't legally post photos of student faces until all AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) forms are turned in with parent signatures. Pesky legals matters and such.

Charlotte's Web

2011-10-19T18:50:00.000-07:00

"Some Pig"

I just finished reading E.B. White's Charlotte's Web for the first time. I'm still teary-eyed. I sort of feel bad for my poor husband, who found me red-eyed and weepy when he came back from taking Casey to the dog park moments after I closed the book. He truly thought something was really, really wrong.

I think I never read this book prior to now because I had such strong, happy memories of watching the cartoon with my mother when I was a child. I only picked it up because it was recommended by my professor. I remember my mother telling me it was one of her favorite stories when she was little, and I remember her hard cover copy with color illustrations that she kept on a shelf. Because I had seen the cartoon, I thought that I knew the story; it never occurred to me that I was missing out on something precious by not actually reading the book.

This just reminds me that reading the classics--and I certainly believe that Charlotte's Web is a classic-- are tremendously important, and still incredibly relevant in today's world. I may not live on a farm or know anything about pigs, but I sure do treasure my friends. Also, just because there is a wave of phenomenal current children and teen literature doesn't mean that we should ignore the stories that touched our hearts when we were young.

Your mission, Parents, Guardians, and Friends, should you choose to accept it, is this: share the stories you loved as a child with your kids. Take down that book you treasured as a child. Read with them. Talk to them about those stories. Create treasured memories.

You'll be glad you did.

Happy Reading!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Facebook

2011-10-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

My friends are my estate.

-Emily Dickinson

I started a Facebook page for our Library Media Center. I will post dates and things that are happening in the LMC there, as well as give everyone a space to chat and connect.

Check it out, and please click Like! (Come on, if my mom can Like it and make comments, so can you!)

Happy Reading!

Gratitude Soup

2011-10-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought;

and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. "

-G.K. Chesterton

Last night's Open House was a success. Families dined on mouth-watering salad, pasta with marinara sauce, rolls, and bottles of water. Our principal Dr. Joyce held a meeting about the importance of education. Our awesome parent group sold cookies and sodas--and they hawked the library magazine subscription fund. So much so that our awesome tech guy--who donates his time to help us get our dilapidated computers up and running and had already purchased a cookie and a soda--dropped in a donation. Our parents (and the tech guy) seriously rock my world.

We made $110 for magazine subscriptions!

This morning, of course the first thing I did was narrow magazines down to the ones I think are most important to order first. This is what I came up with:

Entertainment Weekly

Seventeen

Teen Vogue

Shonen Jump

Nintendo Power

I often find these carelessly left on tables and under chairs after the rushed daily exodus from the library at the bell that signals the end of lunchtime.

So, thanks, Webster community. We're off to a great start!

Happy Reading!

The Art of Asking

2011-10-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

"Only those who ask for more can get more, and only those who know there is more, ask."

-Alan Cohen

I've been cleaning for Back to School Night, which is tomorrow night. A parent volunteer has been helping me.

Ok, I'll be honest here. She's been cleaning and I've been helping.

In any case, while working on getting the library ready, she suggested that I put up a poster with a library wish list so that parents could see what the library needs. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I don't like asking our families for anything because it makes me uncomfortable and I don't want anyone to feel like they have to do anything; the idea of a free education is important to me.

On the one hand, our library really, really needs some love!

Here is my poster:

We have two adorable red rocking chairs that were donated two years ago. Here's one:

SO cute. SO comfy. SO dirty! I thought that perhaps if we got some slipcovers--I think that's what they call them when they go on couches--for the chairs, then I could take them home and wash the slipcovers, and the chairs wouldn't be so dirty. They are certainly favorites in this room and used on a daily basis, which is why they are so dirty. (And we would love some more!)

I didn't know how to ask for paint. I thought that might come out weird, "hey, could you all go to Home Depot and purchase some purple, blue, yellow, red, and emerald spray paint? Oh, and I need some primer, too. Hey, while you're at it, could you also get a small thingie of each of the colors above? And paint brushes?"

Yeah. Still doesn't sound so hot. So I'm asking for gift cards to Home Depot and Michael's. This is why:

We have these great Fiction, Nonfiction, Magazine, and Reference signs, and they're all in lovely pine. That no one can see because there is no color pop. That people have actually complained about not seeing.

Also, check out the library carts:

I think they've been here since 1954, when the school opened. Do you like the tape? How about where I wrote "Fiction" with a black Sharpie? They look so old and sad to me. My plan is to paint them one color, and then paint "Fiction" and "Nonfiction" on them with the brushes in a different color that sparkles with glittery love. Or something like that. I hope that by painting them in bright colors, our library will feel even more friendly than it already does.

(By the way, did you notice the colors I've chosen to paint everything? I'll have my Wizard of Oz library yet!)

This year, we have no funds to purchase magazines. So, I'm asking for either money to go to purchase magazines (the parent promised me that this was an ok request) or actual magazine subscriptions from the fund raiser. I have a catalog that I order from that offers more choices than the fundraiser does, but the fundraiser gets money into the school, so I'm not sure which would be a better choice. Or I guess someone could actually just order a magazine subscription for us from the company... that would be great, too!

Speaking of requesting money, we need a large "piggy" bank--I guess they are called "money banks" now-- in which to collect it. I think an owl or Oz motif would be awesome, but that would be up to the donator. :)

Finally, we need printer ink. There are two issues here:

This printer services the students and the teachers who come to the library to print things like homework and grades and other such nonsense. It has no ink.

This printer is only used for one thing: to print book labels. It has no ink. I have books on shelves in the back room who would love a label, and even more love to be put out in circulation so that our scholars could read them. Books like to be read; it's their purpose in life.* But these books can't go out because we don't have all the materials to process them. Mainly, printer ink. It's a sad tale.

* * *

It's not comfortable asking for help, but I have a vision for this library, and it's one that I won't be able to achieve alone. My vision requires way more than what I'm currently asking for, but these things will be a great start. Making the library a comfy place to spend time and putting wonderful books within the reach of our scholars are my main goals with these requests, and even if I only get one of these items, it'll be super helpful. I am grateful for whatever anyone can give.

Happy Reading!

*No, a book's purpose is not to sit on our shelves, unread but looking impressive. We just think it is.

Update: a parent put this together for the library:

It's so great that people care about this place and want to help!

Oz

Return to Oz

2011-10-10T14:45:00.000-07:00

I am so very excited!

Four years ago we purchased a program called Accelerated Reader, which allows us, among many other things, to track the word count of each of our scholars. Thus, our Million Word Readers (MWR) program was born. The goal is for each student to read a million words by the end of the school year, as per the California State Standard for grade 8. Each year has been more successful than the one prior. I love the excitement it generates, and it's all around reading.

For the last two years, I have been in charge of this program. The first year I found funds to purchase t-shirts for those amazing readers who were able to read a million words by the end of first semester. Think about what that means: middle school kids reading that many, many books. It's a pretty amazing accomplishment to read a million words in a year--much less, a semester. The shirts were adorable, with a Where the Wild Things Are motif on a lime green shirt. Last year, with new funds, we got The Very Hungry Caterpillar t-shirts--also full of cuteness; we had SO many readers that I had to order a second. Luckily, this was just when the company that I order from unveiled it's newest design: Harry Potter. I got these in black and purple, mostly because I liked them both so much I couldn't choose between them. Here they are. Aren't they just so cute?

Over this past summer I got an email from the company that I order from. To be honest, I don't usually read email like that because, really, who has time? But for whatever reason I opened it, and felt a sudden moment of shock when I saw the t-shirt that they offered. I had to take a moment to just breathe. I was immediately thrilled! I decided right then and there that we had to have those shirts! Of course, I moved heaven and earth (and heartily annoyed Dr. Joyce in the process) to get it. We were able to order just 50.

Well, they came, and here, in this very email, I'd like to showcase the new Daniel Webster Middle School 2011 - 2012 Million Word Reader Shirt:

Modeled by our very own Ms. Orendorff, of P.E. department and MWR fame.

Can you see him? Can you see it? No? Here's a close-up:

YES, it's THE SCARECROW from THE WIZARD OF OZ! Which, if you have ever set foot in my library, you'll know is MY FAVORITE!!!!!! And he's dancing down the Yellow Brick Road! Under a rainbow! With a book!!!!!!! I am so excited! There are going to be Webster scholars walking around with this blue shirt on for the next three years!

(I'm trying so hard not to write "OMG!!!!!", I can't stand it!)

Um. Excuse me for a moment.

* * *

Ok, I'm back from jumping up and down in excitement. Teacherly decorum, you know. *ahem*

In any case, I'm off to go find my book, because I NEED that shirt. Need. There is one with my name on it that I'll wear as soon as I reach 1 million words. Then I'll model it and make students want, want, want it so badly that they'll get to a million words just to get the t-shirt. Yep. That's exactly what I'll do.

Happy Reading!

Eat, Pray, Love

2011-10-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

"Let's get together and feel all right."

-Bob Marley

We lost many of our coworkers this year--some, Webster old timers who were particularly beloved--due to budget cuts and pink slips, and there has been a feeling of sadness and stress on campus. In trying to combat this, the Faculty Staff Association is trying to put on some events to create some cheer and remind us that, hey, we Webster adults like each other! One activity we've planned is the First Friday brunch. While I know that nothing will make up for the loss of our coworkers here on campus, I am hoping that by having one day a month where we come together as a community, we'll at least start to close the gaping holes that were left in the circle. I think it's so important that a faculty congregates for no other reason than to to talk, eat, and laugh, especially in these times of economic strife.

So, today we had our first First Friday Brunch during nutrition in the library. Each department will host a month throughout the school year. Our English department were the brave folks who volunteered to host us first, bringing delicious bagels and cream cheese, fruit, cookies, orange juice, and coffee.

Mrs. Pulliam, our strict yet compassionate dean, made a cute sign with the names of all faculty who had perfect attendance during the month of September, and she gave out certificates congratulating us. (Did you catch that "us"? Yes, I did have perfect attendance in the month of September. *bows*)

Faculty and staff got the chance to catch up and spend some time together, and it was really great to watch all the conversations going on.

And, of course, it's not an event without Mrs. Teems mugging for the camera.

Parent volunteers came to help set up and clean up, so that I wasn't stuck with extra work all by myself. I am so grateful! Also--this is SO awesome!!!-- after overhearing that, since we are one department short of the school months the administration team was going to have to host two First Friday Brunches, one parent volunteer said that the Booster Club would host a month for us! How exciting to be surrounded by such caring people.

I <3 Webster.

Happy reading!

The Bad Beginning

2011-10-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

-Semisonic

We had our very first ever Library Advisory Committee meeting this past Monday. This was pretty exciting to me, as I'd been given the idea years ago and it took me years to put it in action. There was a terrific turn out, and after I brought up the DIRE NEED to change the name from Library Advisory Committee (LAC, for short. I know, right?) to anything else, we discussed the following:

Creating a library policy for insuring that our books stay in our library
Library displays to make it look awesome and homey
Our Million Word Readers (MWR) program
The Virtual Reference Desk (VRD)
Purchasing a server for the library
This year's library budget, which is exactly $0.00

Suggestions involved a discussion regarding how to modify Accelerated Reader (AR) for differently-abled students, requesting magazine subscription donations for the library from the community (we are in the midst of a fund-raiser that has magazines right now...brilliant!), and ... me starting a library blog.

Holy cow! A library blog! How fun! I feel that this is both the end of an era--that of me being a beginning librarian--and beginning a new one: that of me being a ...well, whatever I am now. I plan to post about goings on: in the library, at Webster, etc. Because that sounds like fun. And I think that's what people want to know about. So...yeah.

In any case, I have a good feeling about this. :)

Happy reading!