Makerspaces!

https://www.andreabeaty.com/rosie-revere-engineer.html

I've created a makerspace club and makerspace blocks in my library learning commons. It has been so much fun! I took a School Library Journal mini-course on designing makerspaces and it gave me lots of great ideas.

Currently, I am doing a station model with a combination of these stations:

• art bins with various recycled supplies,
• beading,
• coding with Scratch and Code.org (we also use Makey Makey),
• K'NEX,
• knitting and crocheting,
• Lego,
• littleBits,
• Playdoh.

The stations depend on the age and size of the group, but there are usually at least 5 options for students every time they are in makerspace. 

I've also tried stocking up on fiction and non-fiction books about making, especially making with technology. You can see some of the new ones I have bought by clicking on my Goodreads shelf in my virtual learning commons. You can also see some pictures of makerspace by clicking on Student Stuff in the virtual learning commons. If you have any great recommendations, let me know!

7 Habits Books

My job description has changed and I have taken on a library learning commons role. Our school is currently looking into teaching the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People from the Leader in Me program. As part of this, I have created this list of books for elementary schools that relate to the 7 habits. I have tried to give a mix of older and newer books, so that teachers may be already familiar with some.

Here is the list of books that were offered to teachers at my school for their classroom libraries. Each one includes a brief summary of the book and says how it relates to the habit.

Here is a basic list that just gives the book titles, what habits I believe each book best demonstrates, and it has my library location. This list does include a few more titles than the report above.

I am also updating a public Goodreads shelves with books about 7 Habits when I find really great additions. There are so many books that fit, that this is just a starting point. You can find them through my virtual learning commons webpage here. 

If you have any great additions of other books, please let me know!

How Are Books Made?

Today I had a great group of students in the library talking about libraries and librarians. Some students were wondering how books are made. Specifically, the students wondered about the printing process. We discussed it, but I thought it might be nice to have a video for them.

Here is a neat one that shows the process in detail:

 "How Books Are Made" from HowQueue

This one shows the process from idea to book. It is good for younger viewers but requires reading:

"Pingpong Perry Experiences How a Book Is Made" from Capstone Publishers


HarperKids has a series "How a Book is Made" that describes the process but doesn't show the actually printing of the books:

You can watch the playlist here: http://youtu.be/x0ZavODe5PM?list=PLiYzMwyBPG953QtOwUP_cyfIdfUItJym6

Finally, Penguin Kids' TV also has a quick overview of how a book gets from the printer to the store

It's been a long time...

It's been quite a long time since I've posted in this blog. In the past year, I've been using twitter and class blogs a great deal. Now, I am returning to this blog as I have had some exciting changes professionally. I am now working as a teacher-librarian in an elementary school. I am excited to work with students and other teachers in this new way!

Essay Writing

Technical difficulties...

I am away and Moodle is not working so I am posting the paragraph structure and essay writing things here!

Paragraph Writing

Paragraph Writing Prompt and Rubric for In-Class Activity

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aZc77bZ7XVbEIPrPJDWtcJPvePMM-Uuoao5emIrUdN8/edit?usp=sharing
Please make a copy, put it in your NLC folder, and share with your TOC. Write your paragraph below the rubric. When you are done, share your paragraph with someone else. You will use commenting to assess each other based on the rubric.

Hamburger Paragraph Graphic Organizer

http://freeology.com/wp-content/files/hamburger.pdf

Essay Writing

Essay Topics:

Grade 8: Would you want to live in the civilization you studied?

Grade 9: Was the War of 1812/ Seven Years' War/ Fur Trade important to the development of Canada?

Essay Writing Prezi

http://prezi.com/qsvnire6fugl/the-road-to-creating-a-five-paragraph-essay/?kw=view-qsvnire6fugl&rc=ref-40769229

Essay Outline (please complete)

You MUST submit an outline and rough draft with your good copy. 

Link to Essay Outline Doc

Rubrics

Essay Writing

Writing Conventions (for good copy)

Assess the impact of the fur trade, War of 1812, or Seven Years’ War in the development of Canada (Grade 9 Socials)

Describe daily life and cultural traditions of a civilization (Grade 8 Socials)

Paragraph writing (see above)

Resources for more info on civilizations:

Worldbook (through drc.sd57.bc.ca)

Grade 9 Canadian History Timeline

This is a student timeline showing the fur trade, War of 1812, and 7 Years' War. It was made with Timeline JS. A great site!

Grade 8 Civilizations Timeline