Tuesday Tips March 27, 2018

TECH TIP:  SIRS Issue Researcher

SIRS Issue Researcher is one of the library's databases and I shared it this week with Brian Leslie's Sociology class and Meghan St. John's Journalism class. It's a great resource that could be helpful in many of your classes and students have access anytime, anywhere to it (NOTE: if accessing from home, you will need to use the password you get from the library)  Here's what it looks like:

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BOOK TIP:  The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

​If you like a good suspense novel with lots of twists, or were a fan of Gone Girl, then you'll love this one!   Richard's former wife is going after his new fiancee, but this is a novel where you should never trust anything or anyone!  Put this one on your summer beach read list!

Tuesday Tips March 20, 2018

TECH TIP:  Write Arounds in the Library

I love when the library can be used as a creative learning space.  Meghan St. John and I collaborated in her Journalism II class for her unit on editorials.  We began by using the write around technique to introduce various types of editorials to them.  Meghan selected the editorials and I set up the library using the "low tech" tools of enlarged readings, colored butcher paper, markers and a on-screen timer.  The students then spent time at each station, annotating the editorials through a specific lens at each rotation.  We then used these table posters the next day to discuss the pros and cons of each editorial. 

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BOOK TIP:  Wellness Wednesday with the PE Classes

Ryan Kelly and Michelle Campbell put out a call to any teachers who wanted to lead a Wellness Wednesday.  Last Wednesday, all of the PE classes met in the library and I shared about the stress reducing benefits of reading, including a 2009 study at University of Sussex that found that reading can reduce stress by 68%!  We then let the students grab a sleeping bag or blanket and find a comfy place to curl up with something to read.  It was great to see how calm the students were throughout the period!  Here are some pictures from the day:

Tuesday Tips March 6, 2018

TECH TIP: Printing Your Own Custom Sticky Notes

This is a tip that I read about from another blogger and I love it!  Using a sticky note template, you can add in your own content and designs and then print those right onto sticky notes!  I've used it to make my daily to do list:

You could make custom sticky notes for:

• Project checklists
• Math Grids
• Date Due reminders
• Notes to Parents
• Positive notes for students
• Thank you notes
• To Do Lists
• Pictures / Emojis

I've attached the Word documents below that will allow you to create your own custom sticky notes.  When printing, be sure that you know the correct way to lay down the notes into your printer!  ​

BOOK TIP:  The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

   There has been a lot of historical fiction set during World War II, but this novel has a unique perspective on this time period.  Set in Germany, the book follows three women, all of whom are the widows of resistors, men who led a campaign to kill Hitler.  This is a story of survival and forgiveness, spanning many years.  

Tuesday Tips February 27, 2018

TECH TIP:  Response Validation in Google Forms

Google Forms can be a great formative assessment, allowing you to create quick quizzes and see what students know.  However, students don't always know right away what the correct answer is. Using the Response Validation in Google Forms, students can't move on to the next question until they have answered correctly.  Here's how to set this up:

First, create the Google Form.  Then:

BOOK TIP:  American Library Association Youth Media Award Winners 2018

Each winter, the American Library Association announces the best in children's and young adult literature.  If you are looking for a good book to buy for some special young person, this is a great list to find a title.  

American Library Association Full Winner List 2018

Tuesday Tips February 13, 2018

TECH TIP:  All About the Olympics

 

A few fun resources about the Olympics!  The New York Times has several lesson plans for ways to teach the Olympics across curriculums on topics like sports writing, global politics, and design and fashion.  

On YouTube, there is the Olympics Channel, where you can find short videos on daily highlights, tips from the athletes (like on how to spin in ice skating) as well as workout tips, like this back squat workout from bobsledder Jamie Groeber Poser.

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BOOK TIP:  Printz Award Winner We Are Okay by Nina Lacour

​Yesterday, the American Library Association announced the Youth Media Awards.  These are given out in a variety of areas to celebrate the best in children's and young adult literature.   The Michael Printz Award goes to the best novel written for young adults.  This year, We Are Okay by Nina Lacour won the Printz Award.  It is a story of a young girl who must come face to face with a tragedy that befell her just before leaving for college. 

Tuesday Tips February 6, 2018

TECH TIP:  Like Special Effects Video Editor

This one is mostly just for fun (play around with it on the possible snow day  ) .  Like is an app that makes videos music and other special 4D effects.  It is a social media app, but you can download your creations privately to your device.  My own kids turned me on to this and they make some great ones, but here was my attempt:

BOOK TIP:  Stock Up on Some Books

Again, just in case.....

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Tuesday Tips January 30, 2018

TECH TIP:  Visme ​Presentation Software

Each quarter, instead of grades, I do a Quarterly Report for the library.  These reports highlight library statistics, events, and classes.  These are also opportunities for me to try out new software.  For this 2nd Quarter Report, I used Visme, an online presentation tool that makes PowerPoint-type presentations, but also will make infographics and easy charts.  You can add music to play in the background, add presenter's notes and share via a weblink.  They have great templates that you can use, making your presentation look very professional. You can make up to 3 presentations for free, after you have to pay to upgrade.  Embedded as images below is the presentation I created.

BOOK TIP:  1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz

Today is National Plan A Vacation Day and they say you are happiest when planning a vacation (see this New York Times article), so check out this book on the library reference desk today to select your next vacation!  ​