Librarians/Media Science Chatboard

Mar 2, 2014

With so much "heavy" news being reported this week, this is a great article offering interesting tips for using current events in the classroom. Please pass it on!

Writing prompts for March 1-9 by Jim Wayne are posted!

Why did the US Government buy a herd of camels? What did Dennis the Menace and Albert Einstein have in common? Whose brain set a record for the smallest brain ever measured for an adult man with a normal head?

All of those intriguing questions and many more will be answered during March in Jim Wayne's very popular Writing Prompts! The firs...See More

Mar 1, 2014

This week's writing prompts by Jim Wayne now posted!

This week's writing prompts by Jim Wayne are posted at the link below!

Here's a sample from the writing prompts for Feb. 28:

Most of the people of Curiepe, Venezuela, make their living fishing for sardines. Every year on this day, they have a funeral for the sardines they have caught during the previous year. The funeral serves to...See More

Feb 24, 2014

Writing prompts for this week now posted!

Feb 16, 2014

This week's prompts are now posted! Here's a sample from the dozens available!

In 1930, the first cow flew on an airplane. The cow was even milked while on the airplane. What kind of problems do you think there would be trying to fly a cow or other large animal on an airplane?

I am compiling a list of "Tips for the First Year Librarian" to help a newbie through this transition. She's been a classroom teacher for 2 years but is now moving into the library. She is at a small school and has no library training so I am helping her get on her feet and through the first few months. I thought it would be nice to give her a "che...See More

Tips for New Librarians

by Mandy

Feb 3, 2014

(2)

Happy Librarian I have a few suggestions and maybe they might help to keep from being overwhelmed. First of all, is this a small private school or a small public school? If a public school then with the move to Common Core Standards (among others) she should really meet with the classroom teachers and find out what they would most like her to do to support them fo...See More

Feb 3, 2014

Amanda Thank you for your response. This is a small private school that is not adopting the Common Core. She's coming from a classroom teacher background and has no technical library training. I'm trying to create a checklist for her so when she gets into her library this summer she won't be entirely overwhelmed if I can give her some direction. As of rig...See MoreThank you for your response. This is a small private school that is not adopting the Common Core. She's coming from a classroom teacher background and has no technical library training. I'm trying to create a checklist for her so when she gets into her library this summer she won't be entirely overwhelmed if I can give her some direction. As of right now she will not be in charge of technology, so she can focus all her attention on the library. So far my list for her is as followed: 1. Learn your collection. 2. Know your staff. 3. Figure out you LMS and if/what you have. 4. Stay organized and ahead of the game 5. Advocate with actions, not words. 6. Start small with teachers you know well and are willing to trying something new and offer your assistance. 7. Say YES! 8. Come up with your own Policies and Procedures 9. Create an orientation 10. Create/develop a weekly schedule for classes to visit for checkouts and instructional time. This list is a place to start but is in no way exhausted. Your help is appreciated! Thank you! On 2/03/14, Happy Librarian wrote: > I have a few suggestions and maybe they might help to keep > from being overwhelmed. First of all, is this a small private > school or a small public school? If a public school then with > the move to Common Core Standards (among others) she should > really meet with the classroom teachers and find out what they > would most like her to do to support them for student learning- > and that could guide where she puts her energy. I assume this > would also be true if the school is private, to still find out > what the curricular needs are. Ditto for the principal or > whatever administration there is that she will report to... > As far as managing the library there is loads of information > available online- in my state we are really responsible for > teaching information literacy and if yours is the same she is > going to need to get that in place. Not sure for technology > what she has or what kind of training... > If you wrote back with some more specifics to her situation > that might help? > You are a good friend to her! And she is fortunate to have > found a library! > On 2/03/14, Mandy wrote: >> I am compiling a list of "Tips for the First Year >> Librarian" to help a newbie through this transition. She's >> been a classroom teacher for 2 years but is now moving into >> the library. She is at a small school and has no library >> training so I am helping her get on her feet and through >> the first few months. I thought it would be nice to give >> her a "cheat sheet" so to speak of things she needs to do >> or be aware of. >> >> Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

Feb 13, 2014

Teaching in Finland vs US:Work-Life Balance Vastly Different

Tim Walker, an American now teaching in Finland, feels as though he's on a different planet. He begins his latest blog post:

"Now that I’m in Finland, my idea of the teaching superhero has changed dramatically."

Click below to read what Tim has to say about the stunning differences between life and teaching in Finland compared t...See More

Feb 12, 2014

8 Black History Study Strategies to Avoid by Jennifer Davis

Feb 10, 2014

Jennifer Davis Bowman, Ed.D. writes in Teachers.Net Gazette:

After thinking about the curriculum that most educators (including myself) fall into during the month of February, I compiled a list of 8 things to avoid during the study of Black History. [Click below to read her list.]