Tuesday Tips February 2, 2016

TECH TIP:  Adobe Slate

Adobe Slate is a free software that makes beautiful, scrolling and interactive stories.  They look very much like a slick website.  You add in text, photos, and links and select a theme.  It then publishes it for you.  The end product is ready to share via Facebook or by weblink.  Only limitation is you can't download.  

I always test out these tools in creating my quarterly reports for the library.  To see Slate in action, here is a link to the library's 2nd Quarter Report: https://slate.adobe.com/cp/UfqA9/

BOOK TIP:  In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

Judy Blume has long been a favorite of mine (Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret was a personal favorite from my youth), and she is back with a book geared towards adults.  Set in Elizabeth, NJ in 1952.   Elizabeth was right in the flight path of Newark Airport, and there were 3 plane crashes in the town within months.  The novel follows many of the townsfolks as they deal with these tragic events, but also as they just deal with the normal dramas of middle class America.  Offers good insight into what the 1950's were like. 

Tuesday Tips January 26, 2016

TECH TIP:  Flowchart Makers

A teacher asked for something that could make an organizational flow chart for a project she is involved with.  Organizing information is also something students need to do for things like research projects, science labs, etc, so these tools could be useful in your classes as well.  Here are two flow chart makers that I recommended:

 LucidChart is an online and iPad app that easily makes flow charts through a quick drag and drop software.  Here is a link for the web version: https://www.lucidchart.com/  a link for the iPad app:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lucidchart-flowchart-diagram/id611543423?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 and a link to a quick video showing how to use:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHk0CzKaS6Y#t=31

Text2 MindMap is a site I have used with students before in order to create an outline and organize their information before writing a paper.  You can see in the image that on the left, you create your outline, then click on "Draw Mind Map".  On the right, pops up your web based on your outline.  This is good for more visual learners.

BOOK TIP:  Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The Alex Award is an award given by the American Library Association each year to a book written for adults but that has appeal to teens.  Between the World and Me is a winner this year of the Alex Award.  This is a memoir of sorts.  The book is a series of letters written by Coates to his son about what it means to be a black man in America today.  A powerful read.  

Tuesday Tips January 12, 2016

TECH TIP:  New York Public Library Public Domain Images

The New York Public Library recently released 187,000 of their images into the public domain.  This allows these images to be reused and remixed.  This could be a great resource for students in project work.  There are letters from Alexander Hamilton, sheet music from the early 1900's, and pictures of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island.  

Search the collection here:  http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/

Thanks to Joyce Valenza at the blog Never Ending Search for this tip.

BOOK TIP:  Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

The book awards were announced yesterday by the American Library Association.  The Micheal L. Printz award goes to the best young adult book.  Bone Gap by Laura Ruby is this year's winner.  This is a novel of magical realism and mystery.  Roza goes missing, and only Finn witnessed what happened to her.  But he is unsure of what he saw and how to help.  A novel that will keep you guessing and wondering what is real and what is not. 

Tuesday Tips January 5, 2016

TECH TIP:  ClassHook 

ClassHook is a website that allows you to search for video clips. All the clips come from well-know television shows and movies.  Some of the clips are from longer YouTube videos, but the ClassHook link takes you right to the small section you want.  These would be great to use in class as an introduction to "hook" students in (who else has been here long enough to remember the Hook & Hold 'Em PD session? :)  

For example, I was just talking with Anne D'Aniello about her class' visit tomorrow for the students to study revolutions.  I put in a search for "revolution" at ClassHook and it took me to a clip from the movie Animal Farm and Old Major's speech.  This could be good to use with a class or part of a student's presentation on revolution.  

Found this tip at the Free Technology for Teachers blog.  

BOOK TIP:  The Hypnotist's Love Story by Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is one of my favorite current authors.  Full of quirky, flawed characters in unique situations.  But these are characters with heart, and you ultimately want the best for them.  In this novel, Ellen is a hypnotherapist whose new boyfriend has an ex-girlfriend that is stalking him.  Sounds like a set up for a horror story, but this is really a novel about love and all its many forms.  

Tuesday Tips December 15, 2015

TECH TIP:  Google Cardboard

Looking for an inexpensive, but super fun, stocking stuffer for the techie in your life?  Get them the Google Cardboard!  I had this around the library last week and students love it!  It is a virtual reality viewer.  You buy the cardboard device (lots of different options but can be purchased for under $5 at Amazon), download the free apps onto your phone, slide your phone in and explore!  The New York Times was also giving out these viewers to some of their subscribers and they have an app that allows you to explore in virtual reality many of the places they cover in their stories.  

BOOK TIP:  What To Think About Machines That Think by John Brockman

Another great idea for the techie in your life.  This is a collection of essays by today's leading scientists, thinkers, and artists.  The essayists reflect on technology, artificial intelligence, and the role of machines in our life today. Makes you think.

Tuesday Tips December 8, 2015

TECH TIP:  Doodle Poll

Have you ever tried to schedule a meeting, a party, or a study session with a group of people?  It can be tough to find the best time for all involved, and if you do it over email or text message, it can become a mess as you lose track of who can come on what dates in the slew of texts and emails.    Doodle Poll is the answer to that!  Doodle Poll is free and allows you to post options for dates and times and then the poll gets emailed to your invitees.  It looks like this:

You simply enter your name and select the best dates for you.  When others go to the poll, they can also see the best times for others.  You can set the poll so they can only select one option or any that they are available.    I just used it this week to schedule a pot luck dinner - and it was so easy!  

BOOK TIP:  Eden West by Pete Hautman

The Grace are a religious people who live in Nodd, their isolated compound in Montana.  Jacob knows only this life.  Until one day, he ventures off the compound through the broken fence and meets Lynna, a "Worldly" girl from next door.  This glimpse of the outside world leaves Jacob confused and unsure of his faith and the reality of life at Nodd.  This is a fascinating look at religion, faith and what is true.  

Tuesday Tips December 1, 2015

TECH TIP:  SaysIt Sign Generator

This is a fun one (although not all choices are school appropriate), but Says-It has options for making all kinds of signs like the one above.  You can also make an official seal!   Students make use of this with historical quotes, book character lines, posters for your classroom, etc.   Thanks to Lisa Nielsen's blog for this tip.  

BOOK TIP:  The 2015 GoodReads Choice Awards

Each year, readers vote and select the best books of the year in several categories.  Here are allthe winners.  Some selections on here good for holiday gift ideas!  If you're interested in reading any right away, the MMRHS library has these titles:

• Go Set the Watchman by Harper Lee
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
• Queen of Shadows by Sarah Maas