Pinterest to PicMonkey: Just Right Books Poster in a Flash

I saw the cutest diagram on Pinterest (where else?) and I LOVE the direct connection for kids. Just Right Books are definitely a discussion point for Library this time of year. Popped the info into picmonkey and now I have a poster that will help me illustrate the analogy. I also thought using a sporty "boy" bike would help me grab more attention than the girl holding up her fingers.

Feel free to use this image in your library. I use and recommend posterrazor (for mac) to create poster for my Library. Upload, size to your need, print and laminate! Much easier and less expensive than a run to Kinkos. If you are using a pc, rasterbator (still hate that name!) is the same program.

The original diagram from Pinterest, via Teacher2Teacher Help

Library Sparks Debuts New STEM Column

My first year in the Library, Library Sparks was a LIFESAVER!! Cover to cover is not an adequate description of how I read LS, it would be more like cover to cover upside down and inside out. Check out the website at www.librarysparks.com - I prefer the magazine over the website but you can order a free sample and decide for yourself.

Then we became a STEM school. The transition made a huge impact on what we do in the Library and gradually I weaned myself from LS. As I have said before (and before and before) I am a Pinterest maniac and that has kept me rolling in ideas I could have never have imagined. Twitter has also become a go-to spot for PD, ideas and inspiration.

Library Sparks is not cheap (65.00 for 11 issues) and I was honestly considering not renewing our subscription this year. I had a few moments when the August/ September 2013 issue arrived to flip through and am I ever glad I did!

Page 20 has what I have been waiting for: Grow with STEM, a new column! This month highlights A Black Hole is NOT a Hole, and in LS fashion, multiple activities to investigate and integrate this text into the library. Keeping in mind that I have each grade for various times, this is SO easy to chunk, continue, or even launch online as at home enhancement.

Really, this is EXACTLY what I need right now. It answers my basic question on this blog: How does Media fit into a STEM education? This column completely energized my LS love. Scrapping the subscription is off the table for now - can't wait to see the other STEM columns have for us!

Back to the Library with the MIMIO VOTE

 
In a tech meeting this week, we laid out our tech goals as a STEM school. As I have mentioned before, we are challenged when it comes to having the tech we want as a STEM school.

I loved that my Principal cut to the chase and laid it out: this is the year to USE WHAT WE HAVE. One thing we have (that I love) is MIMIO. I have used Promethean Boards and I must say I prefer MIMIO for many reasons. The resources at www.mimioconnect.com are a go-to for me and grow each time I visit.

Our PTA purchased a MIMIO VOTE system last year, and I have to say I love it! For those of you not familiar with the system, it has 30 hand held "joysticks" that students use to interactively participate with a MIMIO lesson. The kids love it, it is like giving them their favorite piece of candy and telling them it counts as their veggies for the day. Instant buy in!

Last year I pulled the vote system and created a quiz for Library Rules and Guidelines. You can design the quiz with as many possible answers as you want, and it is a one stop lesson for me because while I create questions for all grades the younger guys may stop a few questions early.

Beginning the year with this activity is perfect because it gives us a chance to jump into how we treat  technology and how we engage in group activities. Depending on the group we may have "outloud" discussions about each rule or we may practice independent work.

I like to pull out the bite damaged books as visual aids, take tours of the shelves, and practice check out procedures as part of this orientation.

The MIMIO VOTE system is my biggest ally in this process. I get that kids are not dying to come discuss rules in the library, but kids totally love a gaming system in their hand AND seeing their work on the large whitescreen. The natural consequences of not being on task or taking care of your VOTE "joystick" all but eliminate negative behaviors.

Throughout the year I use the vote as we read together and take AR quizzes with the VOTE system, demonstrate post unit knowledge, or use the fun "racing" function as we even practice math skills or word placement in Kindergarten.

How are you using the MIMIO VOTE? Let me know what I am missing and how I can integrate this fun technology even more throughout our year. 

Promethean ActivTable - Now, We're Talking!

This  fall will start our second year as a STEM school. When we applied our School Board was supportive in as much as they could be. We have received PD, Science Kits, accommodations and many more things I am sure I don't know about.

What we really need right now is Technology. Grants seeking support for 1:1 tech have been submitted and rejected time and again. The list could go on for a bit here so I am going to skip to the good part: A Promethean ActivTable is coming our way!!!! I am not the person to ask about details so again I will breeze over that part.

I checked out the ActivTable and I am excited, more than excited actually! My first thought was that this would be an Interactive Board with legs and would garner some attention for the first month of school then gather a little dust.

After investigating, I love that Promethean KNEW we would think that and created a Table that is to be used collaboratively and not with six kids waiting their turn.

I don't expect that I will use the Table too much in the Library because of the 6 student limit (unless I incorporate centers, which would be a home run) but I am thrilled to see this technology at our school. As of now it seems like tech that is not a gimmick and will engage students while growing us as a STEM school. As we get rolling in the year I look forward to updating the Table progress.

This makes me say again Thank You, Diane Lauer! You are a MEDIA and STEM hero!

Teacher Librarians to Follow on Twitter

 When Miriam Shook pinned this link: 75 of the Coolest Librarians to Follow on Twitter, it got my attention big time. Even in the July depths of summer. Melissa Steele has compiled quite the list of Librarians to follow and there are about 5 I intend to check out in just a few minutes. 

Opening the list I FULLY intended to find at least three specific Teacher Librarians I follow. I can not express my shock that no where in the 75 I did not find Library Girl, Matthew Winner or Mrs. Lodge.

For what it is worth, here is my addendum to Melissa's list: Teacher Librarians to Follow on twitter. More than anything I can pinpoint, Twitter has enhanced our Library. Daily I am inspired and taught by these impressive Educators. * when I follow someone on twitter they have caught my attention with their view on the tech and media merge happening *

By NO MEANS am I a Twitter expert. I KNOW there are a ton of amazing Elementary Teacher Librarians and Tech Innovators I am missing (main reason I was pumped to read Melissa's article). Who do you follow, who am I missing? Please Share! tweet me @mrs_stembrarian

Library Girl @jenniferlagarde What doesn't she cover? My go to for current Media Snapshot

Mrs. Lodge @MrsLodge Don't miss her blog and apps for tech savvy Library

Matthew C. Winner @MatthewWinner I don't know when he sleeps but glad he doesn't

WES Media Center @WESMediaCenter Love this blog as well, display, centers

Jenny Lussier @jluss Tech forward Librarian

Tammy Massman @TammyMassman Inspirational Skype Across America Enthusiast

Kelly Fischer @DixieLMS She plans "Boys, Books and Blocks" Need I say More?

Mrs. Hurley @hurlechr STEM, Tech, Media, Literacy Threads

Kathy McNeiece @kemcneiece Daily Media AND Tech insights

Michelle Gohagon @mgohagon any time I want a tech booster, I check out her blog

Carolyn Vibbert @carolynvibbert her enthusiasm for Elementary Media keeps me going

While pulling this quick list together I fell in love with the people I follow all over again! Every day I am amazed by the work done in education, and twitter brings this right to me. Real time.

A Year of Bulletin Boards OR Pinterest Hacks for Libraries

Ideal Bulletin Board: SIMPLE and Impactful

OK, I am going to take it while I can - day two of team camps means I can cross ANOTHER Summer Goal off my list. Inconceivable!

Our Library is in the center of the school and has no walls. So yes, that's exactly as it sounds - a completely open design that everyone in the school sees daily. Because of this I am extra sensitive about my bulletin boards and they are a constant stressor for me. And forget children growing, nothing makes times fly like a season sensitive bulletin board. Unfortunately.

But that's ok, this year I am not going to stress each month about what fabulous message I will find and create - here is my list for the coming year. Keep in mind these ideas made the cut because they offer the whole package - attention grabbing, timely and SIMPLE. No murals here, people. This is absolutely one of the areas I feel my part time status.

I have one large board, one small side board and two small cases that face the halls. The smaller boards hang onto their messages longer than the main show.



MAIN BOARD TIMELINE
August/ September: Books are just really long text mssges
October: Vampire Take a Bite out of a Good Book
November: SKippy Jon, Dude I can Read You like a Book
December: either Pete the Cat Santa Bus or Holiday PostCard
January: No, PostCard just won because I can make it work for December and January
February: Are You a Library Book? BC I'm Checking You Out!
March : Escape guy into Book
April: Turn it Off no Screen Week Graphic
May: Mermaid Dive into Reading

SMALLER BOARD
In Our Library: we.....
ReadBox
Movies/ Books Display

CASES:
STEM Feature in Front Case

Genres in Back Case:
 Action
Think Pink
Artists
Boys Read

I will also do a cool Banned Books Week Display on top of the cases in September.

So, this is not even half the battle but again, a good start for June. Like menu planning, I still have to shop and cook but now we are having what we are having. And that helps!

Almost all of these ideas came from Pinterest...I am following a LOAD of AMAZING Librarians and Educators. Definitely check out my Pinterest Library Board to see some of the collections.

Summer Goals Progress!

OK, not bad at all! So this is what happens when the kids are gone at the same time (thank you, team camps). I am determined to get through my summer goals this year and today was not a bad start. I love seeing where my holes are in Library Events. This also shows me very clearly that I need to research and plug in STEM events through the year. And I guess if they don't have them I will invent them.

I KNOW I have missed quite a few events that Libraries are celebrating. I spent some time going through blogs and calendars posted online but I decided it was time to create and add as I go. IF YOU KNOW OF AN EVENT I HAVE MISSED PLEASE LET ME KNOW. My purpose is to be as comprehensive as possible. And this is not to include Holidays, etc but Library and Literacy Events. And STEM events to come. THANKS!!