Library Links

"Content that might be of interest to Teacher-Librarians..."


13.5.11

The Multiple Purposes of Arts Education - SIGAE webinar archive

The Special Interest Group for Arts Education and Technology (SIGAE) made available an archive of their last webinar entitled: The Multiple Purposes of Arts Education.

You can find the recording at http://iste.acrobat.com/p69001764/
=================

Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Development and Conflict Resolution

Three Lesson Unit by  Lisa Storm Fink (Urbana, Illinois)
Teach Plot Development and Conflict Resolution with Picture Books

"In this lesson, students explore the concepts of plot development and conflict resolution through focused experiences with picture books. The class searches the text and illustrations for cues to the development of the book’s plot and the resolution of the story’s conflict. They then use a graphic organizer to complete a structured analysis of plot and conflict resolution in the picture book. Finally, students have the opportunity to build bridges from their own experiences as readers to those skills needed as writers by revising their stories to strengthen the plot."


Each lesson on readwritethink provides the following sections: Preview, Standards, Resources & Preparation, Instructional Plan, Related Resources, and Comments.
===================

Online Canadian resource for writing and reading

Have a look at WiER (Writers In Electronic Residence), http://www.wier.ca  administered by the Writers in Electronic Residence Foundation, a national, charitable non-profit organization, in alliance with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto and the Canadian Education Association.

A Canadian-focused learning tool on writing and reading for your students and  a teaching tool and pro-d resources for teachers (both elementary and secondary level). It provides free online author readings, Wired Writers Podcasts (available on iTunes and their website), and other resources.
===================


Sources for online Comics and Graphic Novels

Online Comics and Graphic Novels

Here are some sources for Graphic Novels and Comics that can be read online or downloaded as a pdf.

The WormWorld Saga
an Online Comic , available in a range of languages.  

DC Kids Comics

The Dream Chronicles
( an online Graphic Novel.)

Andy Runton

Toon Books
Also available in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese.

Online Comics
This site offers a range of Online Comics

Classical Comics
This site provides free sample downloads of classics which have been converted into Graphic Novels such as Romeo and Juliet, Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol and many more.  The site also provides teacher resources and comics with no text so students can interpret the images and add their own.

Written in Bone
Forensic science mysteries, better suited for older students.

How-toons
Free 'How to' downloadable, single page comics.

Cindi Comics
Free Download

Online Science Comics

Grammarman Comics
Free Download comics on Biographies of the Twilight actors.

Internet Safety Comics
Online comic about internet safety

Hamlet in Machinima
An adaptation of Hamlet created using Machinima by Adrian Bruce.

About Graphic Novels - Resource


Historical Thinking - website

Historical Thinking Project

The Historical Thinking Project was designed to foster a new approach to history education—with the potential to shift how teachers teach and how students learn, in line with recent international research on history learning. It revolves around the proposition—like scientific thinking in science instruction and mathematical thinking in math instruction—that historical thinking is central to history instruction and that students should become more competent as historical thinkers as they progress through their schooling.


Historical Thinking Concepts

  • Establish Historical Significance
  • Use Primary Source Evidence
  • Identify Continuity and Change
  • Analyze Cause and Consequence
  • Take Historical Perspectives
  • Understand Ethical Dimensions of History

Making Mentoring Work - GoogleBooks

ASCD action tool  - Making Mentoring Work       
(Preview this book)
by Laura Lipton and Bruce Wellman


"This is an ASCD action tool which provides a complete workshop to introduce the craft of mentoring beginning teachers. It offers the collected wisdom from our work with mentor teachers across North America. As a hands-on guide, it organizes templates, tools, and tips for expanding your knowledge and skills as a support provider for novice teachers."

National Jukebox

Historical Recordings from the Library of Congress:  the National Jukebox
The Library of Congress presents the National Jukebox, which makes historical sound recordings available to the public free of charge. The Jukebox includes recordings from the extraordinary collections of the Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation and other contributing libraries and archives.

(Use Firefox to access.)
===========================

Diving into Digital Books: Adding eReaders to Your Library

Diving into Digital Books: Adding eReaders to Your Library

Archive URL: (Use Firefox)
Session notes etc:

Short Description: Join Buffy Hamilton and Jennifer LaGarde as they discuss how they have use eReaders in their schools.

Kindles, Nooks and iPads, Oh My! Implementing eReaders into your library program is about more than just jumping on the latest technological bandwagon or attempting to reinvent your library in order to stay relevant. It’s about good practice. Join Buffy Hamilton and Jennifer LaGarde as they discuss how eReaders have helped them provide students with a) access to the most up to date titles, b) the unique ability to efficiently link works of fiction with nonfiction resources and, c) the opportunity to interact with texts in ways that are simply not possible with traditional, library owned, books – all in an environment that both appeals to and enhances their skills as 21st century learners.

Native American Resources - We Shall Remain

An Native American perspective on First Nations history in the US
("We Shall Remain" includes teacher guides online)

Native Public Media has partnered withWGBH in 2009 on We Shall Remain, a multi-platform project on Native history.

The site includes sections:  About the Film, Cast & Crew, Behind the Scenes, REELNATIVE, Beyond Broadcast, Native Now.

This "American Experience Production" is viewable online in 5 sections.
1 After the Mayflower
2 Tecumseh's Vision
3 Trail of Tears
4 Geronimo
5 Wounded Knee






EDUtalk - Short Podcasts on ED issues

EDUtalk // Audio publishing by educators, using mobile devices
(a project to gather the voices of educators.)

The idea is that anyone can join in and post audio snippets to the site. This can be done in several ways. Audio files can be emailed, posts on iPadio or AudioBoo can be tagged to be picked up automatically by EDUtalk It is simple to post to EDUtalk from mobile devices. EDUtalk is open to contributions from anyone on any aspect of education.

PD resources for Canadian educators

Canadian Education Association (CEA)'s website provides many helpful free PD resources.  

"The Canadian Education Association (CEA) is a cross-Canada network with a strong membership base of leaders in the education, research and policy, not for profit and business sectors.  [CEA is] committed to education that leads to greater student engagement; teaching that inspires students and teachers and that causes all students to learn; and schools that ensure both equity and excellence in pursuit of the optimal development of all students."

Interesting topics include:
- What's Stopping Innovation in Education?
- Improvement, Not Innovation, is the Key to Greater Equity

Podcasts, Teaching Out Loud host by Stephen Hurley
Interesting topics include:
 - Compensating Teachers: Is there merit in another model?
 - The Spirit of Innovation in Canadian Schools

(Additional weblinks are available when you click "Read more" buttons)
Interesting topics include:
- How Best To Motivate Students?
- How Children Learn to Read?

Interesting topics include:
  • Turnaround Schools and the Leadership they Require
  • What did you do in school today? Transforming Classrooms

Education Canada magazine

"Education Canada, is the CEA's flagship magazine. Its editorial stance stimulates thought and provides a forum for ideas and perspectives on current educational issues."

Spring 2011 issue - table of contents  
(This periodical can be read online without login or password.)

Feature article:

Some articles of interest:
1) Can Music in Schools Live Up To Its Promise? by Ingrid Whyte and Norman Mould
Click this link to watch a video presentation by Michele Jacobsen reporting the results of her research.
5) Desperation by Brooke Moore


11.5.11

A Parents' Guide to Facebook

A Parents' Guide to Facebook (PDF).

It’s designed to help you understand what Facebook is and how to use it safely. With it, you will be better informed and able to communicate with young Facebook users in your life more effectively. That's important because 1) if something goes wrong, we want our children to come to us and 2) as the Internet becomes increasingly social and mobile, a parent’s guidance and support are ever more key to young people’s well-being in social media and technology. The guidebook is published in partnership with the iKeepSafe Coalition.



10.5.11

Meet ASCD authors - video clips

Follow ASCD Authors
Interested in hearing more from your favorite ASCD authors?

Browse the ASCD index of featured authors, and follow the links to quickly watch videos on their author's page. Listen to them talk about their books, ideas and initiatives.

=============
ASCD authors

Ringling Collection : Images of 18th, 19th & 20th Century Actors and Actresses

The Ringling Image Collection

The collection is comprised of cabinet cards, postcards and photographs of American and British actors and actresses. (housed at the University of Florida - Gainesville, FL).

The images trace the history of stagecraft through Shakespearean prints, 18th, 19th and 20th century European and American handbills, posters and heralds, souvenir photographs and prints of the legendary performers of the past three centuries, numerous production and publicity stills of 20th century plays and films, and hundreds of individual photographs of the legendary and the now forgotten stars of minstrel, vaudeville and burlesque.

The Ringling Collection is also important for its depictions of period clothing and hair styles.  as well as a sense of each period's social mores and attitudes as seen in the poses taken.




NAIS science videos on iTunes

NAIS Science Videos (by NAIS Member Schools) offers videos demonstrating great teaching and great learning for its iTunes U site. This is an ongoing project, and is a resource for teachers, students and parents.

======================

Google Forms in the Classroom

Google Forms is a great tool for classroom use. Here are some links to explore.

Slideshow

Creating a form (basics)

Overview video (business focus, but good overview)

See also
34 Interesting Ways* to use Google Docs in the Classroom

9.5.11

Interactive iPad book - "Our Choice" by Al Gore

"Our Choice," Al Gore's sequel to "An Inconvenient Truth."
A next-generation digital book [TED]

Software developer Mike Matas demos the first full-length interactive book for the iPad -- with clever, swipeable video and graphics and some very cool data visualizations to play with. The book is "Our Choice," Al Gore's sequel to "An Inconvenient Truth."

SYNC YA Literature - audiobooks

"SYNC YA Literature into Your Earphones" is back!

What is SYNC?
SYNC is a program that develops the audience of teen/YA audiobook listeners.
Two complete digital audiobooks--a current Young Adult title paired thematically with a Classic or assigned Summer Reading title--are available FREE each week to listeners ages 13+.

SYNC 2011 is now in place! Teens and other readers of Young Adult literature will have the opportunity to listen to bestselling titles and required reading classics this summer. Each week from June 23 - August 17, 2011, SYNC will offer two free audiobook downloads.

A complete toolkit for librarians and educators to promote SYNC to their patrons is available at http://www.audiobooksync.com/info.html. The most exciting item in this year’s toolkit -- audiobook download schedule text alerts for patrons on the go. There are also posters, bookmarks, banner ads, student reminder cards, and more to download for use in your outreach.

Doctorow on Privacy Issues

Interview with author Cory Doctorow
ALA "Privacy and Youth" Conference
(Sound quality improves after the first 2mins.)
Doctorow has some ideas about how privacy is being eroded, and what we can or should do about it. (P.S., he is not a fan of Facebook!)


===========================

Finding Balance in student research

"The Internet Rocks...Or So I Thought"  Julie Hearn
In prepping for her Masters, Julie looked at how students do research. She shares her insights with the BCTELA journal "English Practice".
(Julie Hearn teaches a Grade 6/7 class in Maple Ridge that participates in the district One-to-One Laptop Program providing each student with a personal MacBook for their use throughout the year. )

How Blogging Saved SSR - BCTELA Journal

How Blogging Saved Sustained Silent Reading, by Rebekah O'Dell

======================================
Read the rest of the articles here:
English Practice - BCTELA Journal
Spring 2011 -- Table of Contents

English Practice is the Journal of the BC Teachers of English Language Arts which also publishes the President’s Newsletter and the Student Writing Journal. English Practice and other periodicals are distributed to BCTELA members throughout British Columbia and exchanged with other provincial specialist associations of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation.