And of course none of the ones you see here are in this packet (didn't pay attention and by chance the examples were ones I didn't have the right to share the files) ... but here you go.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Finished Kinder Research
Here are some examples of what the kiddos did. I think they're super cute.
And of course none of the ones you see here are in this packet (didn't pay attention and by chance the examples were ones I didn't have the right to share the files) ... but here you go.
And of course none of the ones you see here are in this packet (didn't pay attention and by chance the examples were ones I didn't have the right to share the files) ... but here you go.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
G is for ...
GOOGLE. It's both the bane of my existence as well as the awesomest. All depends on how it's used. (But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reconsider the iGoogle thing. Cause I'm going to be lost without it!)
Funny stuff.
Older blog post on possible substitutes for iGoogle. None of them compare yet. :(
This is interesting. Using Google Docs to make digital "kits" for projects. I like the idea. Most of our kids don't know how to use Google Docs, though. Been a SLOW rollout and not many teachers even feel comfortable with it yet.
Dan Gutman. My Weird School. Our students love these books. Interesting. He has a My Weird Writing Tips. Perhaps I will investigate.
Haven't found him yet. :/
Funny stuff.
TRICKS!
Older blog post on possible substitutes for iGoogle. None of them compare yet. :(
This is interesting. Using Google Docs to make digital "kits" for projects. I like the idea. Most of our kids don't know how to use Google Docs, though. Been a SLOW rollout and not many teachers even feel comfortable with it yet.
Dan Gutman. My Weird School. Our students love these books. Interesting. He has a My Weird Writing Tips. Perhaps I will investigate.
Haven't found him yet. :/
Monday, February 25, 2013
What Are You Reading Monday? & BB Swap
Our Kid Lit to YA version is hosted by Teach Mentor Texts.
GREAT IDEA! Check out all of the What Are You Reading? participants for title ideas.
Well. Last week all I finished was The Twelve. And I didn't even like it nearly as much as The Passage. That was a kind of a bummer. Note to Self: Discover series after they are already written. Then you don't have to wait forever in between installments and you won't forget everything.
Coming Up
The picture book from the swap! Cause it's adorable! Am I supposed to say what it is yet? Not sure. So mum's the word for a little longer.
Open This Little Book (PB)
The Mask of Destiny (MG)
The Madness Underneath (YA)
Pulse (YA)
And, of course, plenty of Dr. Seuss!
I am TERRIBLE and I forgot to get my book/bookmark in the mail on time. And the one FROM my person came today (AND IT'S SO CUTE!). Note to self: follow this and be more organized. Luckily (or does it mean it's ridiculous and I really had NO excuse?) I already have the book and bookmark to send. Just have to get it wrapped up and to the post office!
I am kind of bummed today. Funny how a week can change things, right? Teachers weren't excited about Camp Write a Lot. Something I was going to try again (cause lots of schools in our district do it--they have camp song parodies with writing themes and we read mentor texts and send them back to their "cabins" to write. And of course I'd already ordered a bag an pencil and bookmark and started making their writing journals) to get the 4th grade psyched up for their big test. Haven't done it for several years cause the first time I tried it I got NO help. Zip, zero, zilch. Only two of five teachers responded. And our reading/writing facilitator "had concerns." Admin was actually OK with it. Come on. I AM TEACHER OF THE YEAR, DANG IT! And the kids would have had fun. :(
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Bookish Un-Boring List Update #1
Here's an update. Figure I'll do it every couple of months. I'm actually moving forward on these. Tech Goals are sort of at a standstill. But that's neither here nor there for this post. ;)
1.Go to a comic book store and buy a Star Wars comic.
Dine in January. And in fact ... well, I missed the debut of February's issue. But the store ordered some more and I will pick it up next week. So this might become a regular thing?
2. To go along with R2D2's Guide to Folding and DoodlingI made this. I'm a bit early but oh well. I may recut the shapes either with sharper scissors (EGADS cutting duct tape!) or get some vinyl and use my Silhouette Cameo. For now I like him as he is.
3. Read The Twelve.
Then ... run/walk 500 miles using the Zombies Run app. Over the course of the ENTIRE YEAR.
And ... finished the book yesterday. Sadly, didn't love it as much as The Passage. Anyway, appendicitis threw a wrench into the run/walking and I am WAY behind. First for real HAD to take a break. Then I was lazy and let myself. Tomorrow is another day, right? ACCOUNTABILITY.
4. Read Penguin and Pinecone.
Then make a video (either a booktalk or just something about penguins!) using the puppet I got at SeaWorld last spring. My puppet is more lifelike than the cute book illustrations but I don't think that matters. DO things like make videos. Don't just think about it!
Nope. Haven't even started on that one.
5. Straight up stealing straight the visit new indie bookstores goal. Right now I know of exactly ONE. Does this have something to do with watching You've Got Mail last week?
6. At some point this year I will be moving into a new place. It will have a little closet under the stairs. Don't freak out that it won't be perfect ... just paint it something like THIS. I am going to be the coolest aunt ever with a reading nook. ;)
Anyone seen other pictures of Potter Nooks that they love?
7. A wall of bookcases in new place! A WALL. Only ... I want to paint the back of the shelves an accent color. Not sure what color the walls will be yet, or I'd start obsessing over that.
Well, they just finished clearing. Foundation will start next week. Gonna be a while on this one, too.
8. I feel like I should do something Oz-ish. I can't decide about the new movie adaptation preview. But hey. I need to think of something because the kids will be excited about the book! Any ideas?
This seems like an awful lot of work and only tangentially Oz related. Like is it even, really? Just found it on an Oz pinterest board.
NEED IDEAS! Or should I stick with this cloud one?
9. Also a kind of stolen idea ... book art. Only I am going to try Knuffle Bunny style with some photos I take (part of a goal ... photography!) and illustrations that I will get my nieces and nephews to make. ;) Had a student have to come show me that Trixie was reading a P&E book today. And a new Sunday School student that was SO IMPRESSED I knew about Mo Willems. So ... Knuffle Bunny style book art.
Haven't even started this one yet. But maybe during a visit with two of my nieces?
10. I WISH I could say "Visit Prince Edward Island." But I do not think that one will happen this year. So we'll say when I get into my new kitchen? Host some sort of get together and try making this.
Considering I burned one of my mother's new pans yesterday I may want to rethink this goal ... :/
1.
Dine in January. And in fact ... well, I missed the debut of February's issue. But the store ordered some more and I will pick it up next week. So this might become a regular thing?
2. To go along with R2D2's Guide to Folding and Doodling
Then ... run/walk 500 miles using the Zombies Run app. Over the course of the ENTIRE YEAR.
And ... finished the book yesterday. Sadly, didn't love it as much as The Passage. Anyway, appendicitis threw a wrench into the run/walking and I am WAY behind. First for real HAD to take a break. Then I was lazy and let myself. Tomorrow is another day, right? ACCOUNTABILITY.
4. Read Penguin and Pinecone.
Then make a video (either a booktalk or just something about penguins!) using the puppet I got at SeaWorld last spring. My puppet is more lifelike than the cute book illustrations but I don't think that matters. DO things like make videos. Don't just think about it!
Nope. Haven't even started on that one.
5. Straight up stealing straight the visit new indie bookstores goal. Right now I know of exactly ONE. Does this have something to do with watching You've Got Mail last week?
6. At some point this year I will be moving into a new place. It will have a little closet under the stairs. Don't freak out that it won't be perfect ... just paint it something like THIS. I am going to be the coolest aunt ever with a reading nook. ;)
Anyone seen other pictures of Potter Nooks that they love?
7. A wall of bookcases in new place! A WALL. Only ... I want to paint the back of the shelves an accent color. Not sure what color the walls will be yet, or I'd start obsessing over that.
Well, they just finished clearing. Foundation will start next week. Gonna be a while on this one, too.
8. I feel like I should do something Oz-ish. I can't decide about the new movie adaptation preview. But hey. I need to think of something because the kids will be excited about the book! Any ideas?
This seems like an awful lot of work and only tangentially Oz related. Like is it even, really? Just found it on an Oz pinterest board.
NEED IDEAS! Or should I stick with this cloud one?
9. Also a kind of stolen idea ... book art. Only I am going to try Knuffle Bunny style with some photos I take (part of a goal ... photography!) and illustrations that I will get my nieces and nephews to make. ;) Had a student have to come show me that Trixie was reading a P&E book today. And a new Sunday School student that was SO IMPRESSED I knew about Mo Willems. So ... Knuffle Bunny style book art.
Haven't even started this one yet. But maybe during a visit with two of my nieces?
10. I WISH I could say "Visit Prince Edward Island." But I do not think that one will happen this year. So we'll say when I get into my new kitchen? Host some sort of get together and try making this.
Considering I burned one of my mother's new pans yesterday I may want to rethink this goal ... :/
Friday, February 22, 2013
Finally Friday Pins Feb. 22
Yay! It's the weekend. Four days with the kids (and one day of "PD") are always so crazy!
Of course next week is early release/parent-teacher conferences. That's crazy, too.
How awesome is this?
For different reasons ... but so is this!
EVENTUALLY this will be useful at school. When we have more than the one.
Must find a book to read with PreK and make these! Simple but ADORABLE!
Of course next week is early release/parent-teacher conferences. That's crazy, too.
How awesome is this?
For different reasons ... but so is this!
EVENTUALLY this will be useful at school. When we have more than the one.
Must find a book to read with PreK and make these! Simple but ADORABLE!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Kinder Community Helpers Research
DOUBLE POST IN ONE DAY WARNING! #bloggernono
Super simple but hey it WORKED! I cannot always say that about my attempts with kinder. But I can't take credit. Two colleagues came up with the idea. I just put my spin on it.
Super simple but hey it WORKED! I cannot always say that about my attempts with kinder. But I can't take credit. Two colleagues came up with the idea. I just put my spin on it.
Last week we read this book and
watched this video.
We talked about all the different tools we'd seen in the book and video.
Then we filled out these note pages.
The font is Kimberly Geswein. The firefighters are from Digital Bake Shop. The book is from Scrappin Doodles and the computer is from Ashley Hughes.
This week? We read the first few pages of this book. Could have skipped it but it was a fun intro and the kids liked it.
Then the kiddos worked with a partner. Their job was to find 5 different tools in the pictures of the books they were looking at. Know what I discovered? One: our "job" books need updating! The TV reporter book showed the reporter carrying around a giant tape cassette recorder. The doctor and astronaut computers were HUMONGOUS. Two: Kinders don't always work so well in partners. But Three? Three: They are so cute. They come up with some of the funniest ideas and reasons for each tool. Most of 'em were spot on, too.
Stick around. You might get more of our notepages next week. And maybe a shot or two of the kiddos in action. If Ms. O gets her act together and remembers to take some.
F is for ...
Fishing Line. Use it to hang things from the ceiling. With no walls that is actually pretty handy. #whenIdontmisplaceit
John Flanagan and the Ranger's Apprentice series. AWESOME! Especially for kiddos that aren't ready to tackle, say, the Lord of the Rings yet. Fourth and fifth grade readers, read aloud to third grade or up.
THE FORCE. Not really library or book or tech related but hey. Made it work, I did.
Signs for the library. There are more besides this one. Is this one rude? IT MADE ME LAUGH. Anyway. Click on the pin to take you to the right post. Actually by now have learned how to link pics but already had the draft of this post written. ;)
Color bookmarks. The boys fight over these. And, luckily, a few of the girls!
B&W bookmarks. They are really fuzzy here. They aren't when you print/copy them.
So as not to be annoying I will just text link to thetwo three things I have in my TPT store (is that excessive to have that many SW things?). A set of posters, another set of posters, and a new reading promotion. Pin those if you like. And OH! One more freebie. The sort of Lego-SW inspired bookmarks. I just picked up another set from a different artist the other day. So ... you might see more. #imalittlebitofafangirl
John Flanagan and the Ranger's Apprentice series. AWESOME! Especially for kiddos that aren't ready to tackle, say, the Lord of the Rings yet. Fourth and fifth grade readers, read aloud to third grade or up.
THE FORCE. Not really library or book or tech related but hey. Made it work, I did.
Signs for the library. There are more besides this one. Is this one rude? IT MADE ME LAUGH. Anyway. Click on the pin to take you to the right post. Actually by now have learned how to link pics but already had the draft of this post written. ;)
Color bookmarks. The boys fight over these. And, luckily, a few of the girls!
B&W bookmarks. They are really fuzzy here. They aren't when you print/copy them.
So as not to be annoying I will just text link to the
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
E is for ...
Wait for it ... Elephant AND Piggie, of course. Yes, I know technically his name is Gerald. ;)
Also John R. Erickson and the Hank the Cowdog books. There are songs on the audiobook versions. Really, the songs are my favorite. And lines like the ones they share on the FB Fan Page "After a brief mutiny of my mental faculties, I regained control of my ship.-Hank" I looked all over the site and web for some audiobook previews. Couldn't find any. :( But trust me. These are funny books ... and are even funnier LISTENED to. I don't often say that. If you like animal stories, funny stories, mystery stories, or cowboy stories you must check these out! For student independent listening ... first or second grade and up. For independent reading ... probably high third grade.
Also John R. Erickson and the Hank the Cowdog books. There are songs on the audiobook versions. Really, the songs are my favorite. And lines like the ones they share on the FB Fan Page "After a brief mutiny of my mental faculties, I regained control of my ship.-Hank" I looked all over the site and web for some audiobook previews. Couldn't find any. :( But trust me. These are funny books ... and are even funnier LISTENED to. I don't often say that. If you like animal stories, funny stories, mystery stories, or cowboy stories you must check these out! For student independent listening ... first or second grade and up. For independent reading ... probably high third grade.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Chrome for Teacher Librarians #1
We take a short break from iDevice apps to talk about Chrome. Took me a while to love Chrome. I loved Firefox (don't get me started on Explorer :P) first. But now? Now I have seen the light!
These won't be as organized as I tried to make the iDevice ones. Sort of random as I go through and figure out which ones to share.
Extensions for Chrome. Do I understand the difference between apps and extensions? Not so much. Apps are links to websites? Extensions work inside Chrome? What does that even mean? Hopefully you don't mind I'm still not totally clear on the distinction.
Search for Feedly. It will come up in APPS!
Dear iGoogle, I'd still rather have you. But Feedly is a nice alternative to the Google Reader interface for keeping track of all my favorite blogs and YouTube channels. On the desktop, anyway. Flipboard on a iDevice or Droid.
Ribbet. Photo editing. Photoshop it's not but does a nice job for most of us amateurs.
NICE alternative to the disappeared Picnik, or Picmonkey/iPiccy.
Font-a-holic? Trying to decide which one to use? Install Wordmark.it and you can see what an example word would look like with all of the fonts on your computer.
Search for Read &Write in the Chrome Web Store and choose extensions.
Don't own the Chrome logo, just using it for this post. Scrappin Doodles frog doesn't have anything to do with Chrome, either, just thought he was cute. Kimberly Geswein font. ;)
These won't be as organized as I tried to make the iDevice ones. Sort of random as I go through and figure out which ones to share.
Extensions for Chrome. Do I understand the difference between apps and extensions? Not so much. Apps are links to websites? Extensions work inside Chrome? What does that even mean? Hopefully you don't mind I'm still not totally clear on the distinction.
Search for Feedly. It will come up in APPS!
Dear iGoogle, I'd still rather have you. But Feedly is a nice alternative to the Google Reader interface for keeping track of all my favorite blogs and YouTube channels. On the desktop, anyway. Flipboard on a iDevice or Droid.
Ribbet. Photo editing. Photoshop it's not but does a nice job for most of us amateurs.
NICE alternative to the disappeared Picnik, or Picmonkey/iPiccy.
Font-a-holic? Trying to decide which one to use? Install Wordmark.it and you can see what an example word would look like with all of the fonts on your computer.
Search for Read &Write in the Chrome Web Store and choose extensions.
This is a great one for accessibility in a Google Doc. If you have a student who has trouble reading independently upload the assignment and voila!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Random Questions I Have
in No Particular Order ...
(PS Dang. Hello shiny nose. Should have filtered that out. Or put on some makeup. Oh well.)
Pinterest. All the "authorities" say to have your boards be very specific. I dislike having to scroll through a bazillion board titles to choose one. Plus super small boards that only have like 5 pins? Who even has time for those? Is this just me? I'll admit I DO wish Pinterest gave you the ability to search just one specific board for a comment/pic you know you pinned and now want and cannot find. But I think that will come.
I will also admit that my Library Stuff board (along with a couple others but it's definitely the worst!) has gotten a bit out of control too big.
Also Pinterest ... WHY, WHY, WHY the "I'll be happy I pinned this one day" or "Another pinner said" comments? #petpeeves
Feast or Famine. Days when 400+ kids and all relevant staff are in the library wanting/needing something. Then days (which don't happen as often but they do happen) where no classes come and only like 50 kids ever show up and we almost don't know what to do with ourselves. Which makes no sense at all because there is always shelf reading and repairing and shelving and signage and displays and DUSTING and planning and ordering and weeding and newsletter writing and bulletin board doing and copying.
Will Apple ever come up with a school-friendly management plan for multiple iDevices? WILL THEY? Cause this individually updating and not being able to lock certain folders or make user profiles ... it's annoying.
Eric CARle books mixed up with the Nancy CARlson. Mo WILlems mixed up with the Karma WILson. WHY does this happen? Repeatedly? Also Dr. SEUss and David SHAnnon. Really makes no sense.
Cute shoes that hurt my feet.
MISPLACED APOSTROPHES!
WHY, MATTHEW, WHY? #downtonabbey
And a PS a quick 18 minutes before this post goes live ... plan a whiny post like this one and what do you get? Avery sweet day where you find out your colleagues voted you "Teacher of the Year" for your campus. #lessonlearned
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Bookfair is coming ...
Like it does. Twice a year.
And Friday I was informed one of the days I will be giving a test. #superawesometiming
Anyway. With the no walls or doors thing ... I don't tend to go all that big with decorating. Is that lazy of me? There's nothing to ATTACH things to but the ceiling. And if I have to spend a bunch of money buying trash cans and spray paint and pool noodles then we're not MAKING money.
I actually like the geeky Story Laboratory theme Scholastic is doing but it doesn't seem like it will fit in our space.
Or is that a bah humbug attitude?
Cari is doing a Seuss theme. That might work. Was also contemplating a Buggy for Books theme because that's springy and I could leave it up through April and the kids could make some decorations.
Anyway. Here are some pins that I've found helpful or interesting as I get started planning. It's in a month.
Love this but no walls and out in the middle of the floor kids would knock into it and destroy it within minutes. Plus money AND time.
This pin doesn't actually go anywhere and I can't seem to find it just searching by the title ... but the idea is cute for a decoration. May reinvent this wheel if we go with this theme. Also I have some cute die cut bug patterns for my Silhouette Cameo.
But then again there are cute bug party treats. And this would be pretty cheap.
Have this already. It's sort of "out in the hall" but hey, that's 5 feet from our 599-636 section. Well. Have minus one truffula top. It disappeared. :X
(PS I don't usually do much for the teacher preview ... we don't get nearly as many books purchased from teacher wish lists as we did even a few years ago so many of the teachers don't make one. But OH! The fun little truffula cupcakes and other Seuss related snacks all over Pinterest!)
Plus we could make the little empty TP roll Seuss puppets like we did last year and use them as decorations. #badblogger #didnttakepicturesofthose
Also you know me. I have cute bug clip art. :)
And maybe some Seuss related stuff that the artists had to take down but hey, I'd already purchased.
DECISIONS!
And Friday I was informed one of the days I will be giving a test. #superawesometiming
Anyway. With the no walls or doors thing ... I don't tend to go all that big with decorating. Is that lazy of me? There's nothing to ATTACH things to but the ceiling. And if I have to spend a bunch of money buying trash cans and spray paint and pool noodles then we're not MAKING money.
I actually like the geeky Story Laboratory theme Scholastic is doing but it doesn't seem like it will fit in our space.
Or is that a bah humbug attitude?
Cari is doing a Seuss theme. That might work. Was also contemplating a Buggy for Books theme because that's springy and I could leave it up through April and the kids could make some decorations.
Anyway. Here are some pins that I've found helpful or interesting as I get started planning. It's in a month.
Love this but no walls and out in the middle of the floor kids would knock into it and destroy it within minutes. Plus money AND time.
This pin doesn't actually go anywhere and I can't seem to find it just searching by the title ... but the idea is cute for a decoration. May reinvent this wheel if we go with this theme. Also I have some cute die cut bug patterns for my Silhouette Cameo.
But then again there are cute bug party treats. And this would be pretty cheap.
Have this already. It's sort of "out in the hall" but hey, that's 5 feet from our 599-636 section. Well. Have minus one truffula top. It disappeared. :X
(PS I don't usually do much for the teacher preview ... we don't get nearly as many books purchased from teacher wish lists as we did even a few years ago so many of the teachers don't make one. But OH! The fun little truffula cupcakes and other Seuss related snacks all over Pinterest!)
Plus we could make the little empty TP roll Seuss puppets like we did last year and use them as decorations. #badblogger #didnttakepicturesofthose
Also you know me. I have cute bug clip art. :)
And maybe some Seuss related stuff that the artists had to take down but hey, I'd already purchased.
DECISIONS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)