Category Archives: Recommended Reading

A Renaissance of Reading Just for You

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Here are some of my favorite links since last I dropped in on you.

I see that Google has opened up registration again for their Power Searching with Google class.  Totally worth it.

Here’s three searching tips from the teacher, Google’s own Dan Russell.

Did you see that the new Kindles are out?  And that the basic Kindle is now only $69?!  More of our students and teachers will be getting them soon.  This article discusses the changes Amazon is bringing to reading, calling it Amazon’s Renaissance of Reading.

Although, points out YA author John Green, Amazon seems to be perpetuating the myth that the only person involved in the creation of books is the author in this post, On Self-Publishing and Amazon.

Oh, and be skeptical of those Amazon reviewers.

Which makes some people come up with new ways to “read” the Amazon reviews.

And finally, you probably heard about Judy Blume’s cancer, but have you read this great article from the Atlantic, Judy Blume Still Has Lots to Teach Us?  Well you should.  It’s great.

Jim Randolph
Partee Elementary
Snellville, GA

Navigating the Information Tsunami: Engaging Research Projects that Meet the Common Core Standards, K-5

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[slideshare id=13269269&doc=clpinfotsumnai4jun2012-120610140931-phpapp02&type=d]

Cherry Lake Publishing has a new and exciting book coming out called, Navigating the Information Tsunami:  Engaging Research Projects that Meet the Common Core Standards, K-5.  This text offers 18 projects, three from each grade level K-5, that go well-beyond fact recall.  These lessons are all grounded in the new Common Core Standards and focus on quality student research from our earliest learners to our older elementary students.  Each lesson is written by an educator who is an expert on the many literacies involved in research projects, the school teacher-librarian.  While the  lessons are written for classroom teachers, they all incorporate collaboration with the school librarian at some point during the project.  Also within the pages of the book, there are many graphic organizers and tips on topics such as citing sources in a multimedia world, creative commons images, what to do when Youtube is blocked, and more.  I encourage every elementary library in Georgia to own at least one copy of this book.  There are even featured lessons from Georgia librarians, Andy Plemmons & Linda Martin.  Check out the attached flyer and order your copy today!

Andy Plemmons

School Librarian

David C. Barrow Elementary

Athens, GA

http://barrowmediacenter.wordpress.com

http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/webpages/aplemmons

May Links

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It has been a crazed month.  My calendar poked me this morning and let me know that today is my GLMA posting day and I got nothing.  So I’m going to take the time-honored blogger escape hatch and share some of my favorite links from the past month.

The ALA has released their list of the most challenged books in 2011.  The thing that caught my eye under the Hunger Games entry was the “satanic/occult references.”  Huh?  I don’t remember those.

RIF has a funky new look (via Boing Boing). I like it.

Reading books can make you a better person.  We’re just sure of it. But it’s always nice to hear specifics.  How Homer P. Figg Made Me a Better Person.

The Nerdy Book Club (blog title envy!) has a great post on Top 5 Reasons to Let Kids Choose Their Own Books.

I know you’ve probably already seen these posters, but I just wanted to put them here just in case to share the awesome.

Congrats to Dr. Shaq.

And, finally, this was the month that saw the passing of a children’s lit. giant.  Or Wild Thing.  There were many words written, but Fuse #8 has the best collection of them.

Have a great last few days of school everyone!

Jim Randolph

Partee Elementary

Snellville, GA

Committee Members Needed: Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers

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Good afternoon,

Next month, the Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers winner and two honor books will be announced at the Kennesaw State University’s Annual Conference on Literature for Young Adults.  Just a reminder that the voting for this year’s award ends on March 15.  Teens vote online at the Peach Award website:

http://georgiapeachaward.org/2011-2012-vote-voting-ends-midnight-march-15-2012
The committee is now accepting applications for the 2012 -2013 Committee.  If you currently work with teens at the library, love YA books, and love to read (and get tons of free books) then this is the committee for you!!!  This 12 member committee reads and reviews over 100 YA novels and non-fiction texts each year.  In February, the committee selects the 20 nominees for the upcoming award; then Georgia teens vote for their top three titles.  Comprised of both high school media specialists and public library staff who work with teens, this committee provides insight into current YA literature trends and the opportunity to review the best of the best titles available.

If you are interested in becoming a committee member, please take a look at the website for more information about the Peach Award and to complete your application.  And if you have any questions or need additional details about the committee, please do not hesitate to email or call me–I am happy to help!

http://georgiapeachaward.org/reading-committee

 
Mary K. Donovan

Mary_Kay_Donovan@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

Media Specialist

Mill Creek High School

678-714-5846

Vice-Chair, GA Peach Book Award for Teens

The Reading Promise: A Review and an Idea

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My daughter has already had a book read to her every day since she was born

Happy Father’s Day!  For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been enjoying The Reading Promise: My father and the books we shared by Alice Ozma.  This was such a fitting book to read as I think about my own relationship and reading life with my 18-month old daughter, but the book connected with me in so many more ways as well.

The Reading Promise is Alice Ozma’s memories of a reading streak that she achieved with her father from the time she was in 4th grade until college.  Her father, an elementary librarian (see another connection?), had seen his older daughter move away from wanting to be read to, so he vowed he wouldn’t let that happen with his youngest daughter.  Even though they already enjoyed reading together often, they decided to make a commitment to read together every day for 100 days.  When they accomplished that, they set their sights on 1,000 days and just kept going.  Alice recounts the stories of her life and how the streak seemed to come into every aspect of her life from informing her questions about growing up to coping with life topics like divorce to finding the conversations to have with her father.  The book is about so much more than just the streak.  It surrounds the reader with ideas and themes such as:

  • a single father doing everything he can to provide for his family
  • the importance of immersing yourself in the written word
  • how a solid foundation in stories can inform every aspect of your life, including your successes and your struggles
  • the changing roles of libraries and librarians
  • the challenges of holding to a commitment
  • the value of daily family time
  • how literature can be a doorway to the most difficult conversations in life
  • the dangers of censorship

After seeing where “the streak” took this now 22-year-old, I can’t help but think about my own life and my own students and families.  What would happen if every family in my school started a streak?  What would it look like?  How would it change the culture of my school?  How would it impact student achievement?  What roles could technology play?

 

So much has developed since Alice Ozma experienced the streak with her father.  I could imagine families using blogs, wikis, and shared documents to document their streak.  Tools such as Skype or Face Time could be used stay in touch on nights when they might be away from one another. E-books and the many tools that accompany them such as highlighting, sharing, and note-taking could further support family discussions.  At the same time, more traditional print books and journals could still be a valuable tool as well.  I think so often there is a mindset that it’s technology or paper when in reality it’s a combination of them all.  We must harness the wealth of tools at our fingertips and find ways to incorporate them into our lives.

 

At the end of The Reading Promise, there is a form that can be used to create an actual promise to read together as often as possible, to protect the written word in whatever format it takes, and to celebrate the joy of story.  It makes me curious, and I’m thinking a lot this summer about how this idea might come to life in my school next year.  I encourage you to read this book and consider this too.

 

Andy Plemmons

School Librarian

David C. Barrow Elementary

Athens, GA

http://barrowmediacenter.wordpress.com

http://www.clarke.k12.ga.us/webpages/aplemmons

What Are YOU Reading This Summer?

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Why are you gliding through your feed reader?  You should be out by the pool or beach or on the porch or deck or whatever with a cool refreshing beverage in one hand and a book or ereader or audiobook device of some sort in the other enjoying the heck out of your own summer reading!  Here are some lists to help you out:

Top 10 Summer Reading Picks for Adults & Kids

What they’re reading this summer at the NYT Book Review

Must Read Summer Books

10 Books That Will Fry Your Brain This Summer

NPR’s Summer High Flyers

Crime Fiction Picks for Summertime Suspense

and, of course, How to Create and Awesome Summer Reading List

Have a great summer!

Jim Randolph

Partee Elementary Library

Snellville, GA

BOOKS TO RECOMMEND

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It’s always difficult trying to anticipate what books with be popular with your students.  Sometimes I think I have hit on a no-fail series, just to watch the books gather dust on the shelves.  It seems like lately nothing can compare with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series—all those books just fly off the shelves.  I think, though, I might have found some series that rival Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 

Recently I bought the entire Katie Woo series, and the students love them.  One of my second graders last week told me: “I am going to read every one of the Katie books.  I really like them.”  Music to a librarian’s hears!!!  Who doesn’t want to hear a second grader say her goal is to read the entire series?!??!?!

There are about 30 books in the Katie Woo series, written by Fran Manushkin and Tammie Lyon.  The AR level range is between 2.0-3.0.  Even though the plot of the books are universal, meaning the subject matter is appropriate for boys and girls, the girls will gravitate toward the books—I haven’t had one boy check out a Katie Woo book.  The main character is a girl, and some of the covers are purple or pink—not exactly colors elementary school boys want to tote around.  But that’s okay—I am thrilled the books are flying off the shelf and the girls are excited to read!  It’s also a great series for 4th and 5th graders who read below grade level— the series has chapters, the series is not a graphic novel, and when the older girls earn a good AR score they feel successful.

Bone is another series that brags good circulation statistics.  This is a graphic novel series by Jeff Smith that appeals to both girls and boys.  Initially I ordered just the first three books, and recently ordered the other volumes—there are about 10 books to date in this series.  Although younger readers who read above their grade level check out these books, it seems more popular with my 4th and 5th graders.

So does anyone have a series they could recommend?  What’s popular in your library?  Would love and appreciate any sage words!

Thanks so much-

Anja Tigges, Ed.S.

Scott  Elementary School Librarian

1752 Hollywood Road

Atlanta, GA 30318

404-802-7000 

atigges@atlanta.k12.ga.us

How the Internet Gets Inside Us

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The Information: How the Internet gets inside us by Adam Gopnik at the New Yorker is one of the best and most sensible things I’ve read about that crazy force/source called the Internet.  He reviews all the major writers on the subject and boils them all down into an amazingly clear essay.  You may have read one or two of these and made a handful of observations about our relationship with the digital world, but Adam Gopnik, one of our best essayists, writers and thinkers, sums it all up so well that you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t read his thoughts on the subject before engaging in any further ruminations of your own.

Below are all the authors and books he mentions in the article.  It’s practically a syllabus for an amazing and contentious media studies class, no?  Best of all, the article is bookended by an image of Hermione Granger in the stacks of the library at Hogwarts.  Enjoy and let me know your thoughts.

Jim Randolph

Partee Elementary

Snellville, GA

Cognitive Surplus by Clay Shirky

Is the Internet Changing the Way You Think? edited by John Brockman

The Book In the Renaissance by Andrew Pettegree

Supersizing the Mind by Andrew Clark

The Sixth Language by Robert K. Logan

The Shallows by Nicholas Carr

Hamlet’s Blackberry by William Powers

Alone Together by Sherry Turkle

Too Much to Know by Ann Blair

Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television by Jerry Mander

Within the Context of No Context by George Trow

The Age of Missing Information by Bill McKibben

Wangari Maathai: Black History Month

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 While perusing the children’s section one of those massive chain book stores, I stumbled upon picture books featuring Wangari Maathai.  (A side note: I check the children’s section of book stores regularly, even when on vacation, to gather ideas for books to order for my school’s library.)  When I saw the picture books, I thought: “WOW!  What gems!  I simply must have these for our school’s library!”

Wangari Maathai’s story is amazing.  In 2004, she was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her Green Belt Movement in her home country of Kenya.

There are four books I recommend for elementary school students:  Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa, Mama Miti: Wangair Maathai and the Trees of Kenya, Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai, and Seeds of Change: Wangari’s Gift to the World.  The simple text and beautiful illustrations in each book will appeal even to the youngest students.

Last year I read the books during Black History Month to my classes, kindergarten- 5th grade.  Then I tweaked the lesson depending on the grade level—you can keep it simple, or make it as complicated as you like.  If you dig around on the internet, you can find videos and pictures of Wangari Maathai, her movement, and the trees she and her group have planted.  Youtube has a clip of her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, which I showed to all my classes.

But Wangari Maathai and the books about her life and movement are not just for Black History Month.  Indeed, these books can be used as springboards to other topics.  With books about Wangari Maathai, you can develop lessons about: geography (focusing on Africa) and mapping skills, character education and the Nobel Peace Prize, women’s rights, sustainability and the Green Belt Movement, the life cycle of trees,  and how important trees are because of all the wonderful things trees do for us and give us.

Follow the link below so you can look inside some of the mentioned books.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D4&field-keywords=wangari+maathai&x=12&y=19

ENJOY!

Anja Tigges, Ed.S.

Librarian

Scott Elementary School (Atlanta Public Schools)

1752 Hollywood Road

Atlanta, GA 30318

atigges@atlanta.k12.ga.us

My Top 4 Thought-Provoking Readings for January

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My Top 4 Thought-Provoking Readings for January, 2011

 

One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to complete my GLMA Blog post in a timely manner.  I have many websites and articles that I would like to share, but I have culled it down to my top 4 (plus that gives me another couple of blog posts so I can keep the resolution going for several months.)

 

1.       Tony Vincent presented at the Dalton ETC Media Consortium and shared the following:  http://engagetech.pbworks.com . Several schools in Northwest Georgia are using the Working on the Work framework by Phillip Schlechty.  Tony’s presentation was based on the WOW framework, but he has excellent ideas for integrating instructional technology for all levels and subjects.  Explore this website for creative ideas to share.

2.      The following article gives an interesting perspective for future educational technology Top 10 Predictions for 2011 (with proof!)
Source: techlearning.com

3.      The next article addresses the importance of reading for pleasure. Only my grandmother reads books– Each semester, assistant elementary-education professor Heather Rogers Haverback poses a question to her students: “What was the last book you read for pleasure?” In a recent ASCD Express article, Haverback shares that nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds in the U.S. aren’t reading for pleasure at all, a point reinforced by the lack of answers she’s been getting from her students. Haverback discusses the importance of reading and offers six strategies for helping students get into the practice. Read on. 

4.      Joyce Valenza’s Manifesto for 21st Century School Librarians is a must read for us all. The following SLJ Blog post is an updated Manifesto from December 2010. A Revised Manifesto posted by joycevalenza on December 3rd, 2010.

 

Send me your suggestions for thought-provoking articles and websites for the New Year so I can share, plus it will keep me on track towards fulfilling my 2011 resolutions.

 

Cawood Cornelius, Ed.D

Library Media Specialist, NBCT

Sonoraville High School

Cawood.Cornelius@gmail.com

 

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened.”

–Alexander Graham Bell,
American inventor