tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81185428376789315742024-02-20T00:06:08.770-08:00Virtual CheeseclothThis is the "cheesecloth" of a school librarian: namely an attempt to filter my learning and wonderings about the ever-growing set of collaborative tools called Web 2.0. There is a sea of information out there. This blog is my effort to make some sense of it and implement where it can most effectively support students. It's all about lifelong learning!Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-69848907258601254232011-04-19T12:41:00.000-07:002011-04-19T12:42:28.149-07:00Latest Author Interview now availableOur third graders were most fortunate to spend some time with author <a href="http://www.ronischotter.com/">Roni Schotter</a>. She has written many <a href="http://www.ronischotter.com/books3.html">wonderful books</a>, filled with beautiful, figurative language. After her presentation, student representatives from each class interviewed Ms. Schotter, asking her questions brainstormed with their classmates. Click <a href="http://teacherweb.com/NY/YorktownMohansicElementary/LibraryMediaCenter/apt14.aspx">here</a> to listen to the interview on the Mohansic Library podcast page, and <a href="http://teacherweb.com/NY/YorktownMohansicElementary/LibraryMediaCenter/apt10.aspx">here</a> to view the slideshow.Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-11078525485903152902010-05-02T18:50:00.000-07:002010-05-02T20:12:56.522-07:00Reflections on a conference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/82369865@N00/2618631244/"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_l6JhBMZH8Le-9VkWFODUHNmyJeaHWnvPdcxug9x7-0-ioWRZjHpJCc3_zz_BZx2gNtE0YYzfdGEQRoydraVTbGScOE-pdvbbKycJRPzM7ewDajZXGF3tpcvkyOcqMkIR2FE_f96VeY/s320/student+camera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466871228736655890" border="0" /></a><br />I spent only one day at the <a href="http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=52">NYLA/SLMS</a> <a href="http://slmsconferencewiki.wikispaces.com/SLMS+2010+-+Home">Spring Conference</a>, yet came away with so much. The keynote speaker was <a href="http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/%7Ertodd/">Dr. Ross Todd</a>, an inspiration to the school librarian's changing world. He reminds us that the largest effect on the education of our children is quality teaching. Alongside excellent resources, <span style="font-style: italic;">excellent teachers</span> foster learning. Todd asks us to step back from the image of the library as the "hub" of the school, the resource-centric view. Instead, our school libraries should be centers of teaching with a vision based upon inquiry and imagination. The emphasis is to inspire students toward deep knowledge creation, rather than emphasizing resource location skills. He advises us not to teach process in a vacuum. Knowledge outcome is far more critical. This is so much what our national <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards.cfm">Learning Standards</a> are all about. "We need to teach kids to work with ideas." He points us to a <a href="http://www.cea-ace.ca/res.cfm?subsection=wdy">Canadian study</a>, "What Did You Do in School Today?: Transforming classrooms through social, academic and intellectual engagement. Much food for thought...I look forward to reviewing his slides when he posts them on the <a href="http://slmsconferencewiki.wikispaces.com/SLMS+2010+-+Home">conference wiki</a>.<br /><br />A session on the NYSED <a href="http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/library/SLMPE_rubric/">SLMPE Rubric</a> was illuminating. Our State Education Dept is asking us to become familiar with this document and share it with our administrators (rather than the other way round...!) A high school librarian and an administrator from her district shared their experience, and this was extremely valuable.<br /><br />But wait...there's more! I was honored to receive at the luncheon a scholarship to the wonderful <a href="http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=1157">Summer Leadership Retreat</a> in Ithaca this August. I have attended the past two years and highly recommend it to school librarians in NY State. <a href="http://www.jamespreller.com/">James Preller</a> addressed our group at lunch with an engaging account of his journey as an author.<br /><br />And...let's face it, sitting near <a href="http://www.writerlady.com/">Laurie Halse Anderson</a>, our <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2010/january2010/slmm_aasl.cfm">school library hero</a>, in a session on Boys and Books was a thrill! All in all, a highly rewarding day...Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-63774956145521683302010-05-02T18:32:00.000-07:002010-05-02T18:49:07.865-07:00Wordles for Character Analysis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodwMaAr6G3tCLfwkPTiwRl7yEJEE99pGKOWLl9VJt7hQDOTAEI2oiJfpEpmztaIBy3hj-XdVRPGNjPSxkGasvkHc3erjX9B2NNtTFPdPw-KtjK7ns4pTxVtuK8W0LAgSG_hxGLH5dxaM/s1600/2SA-wordle.bmp"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodwMaAr6G3tCLfwkPTiwRl7yEJEE99pGKOWLl9VJt7hQDOTAEI2oiJfpEpmztaIBy3hj-XdVRPGNjPSxkGasvkHc3erjX9B2NNtTFPdPw-KtjK7ns4pTxVtuK8W0LAgSG_hxGLH5dxaM/s320/2SA-wordle.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466851260629733266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here is a wonderful use for <a href="http://www.wordle.net/">wordle</a>, mentioned in an <a href="http://virtualcheesecloth.blogspot.com/2010/02/quick-notes-after-absence-before-longer.html">earlier post</a>. (Don't miss <a href="http://blog.wordle.net/2009/08/how-to-make-wordle-safe-for-classroom.html">this info</a> on how to make wordle safe for classroom use.) Second graders studied author <a href="http://www.tomie.com/">Tomie dePaola</a>, and created a character analysis for Big Anthony.Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-26556007370709753042010-02-03T19:59:00.000-08:002010-02-03T20:39:32.037-08:00Group workI am reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Comprehension-Collaboration-Inquiry-Circles-Action/dp/032501230X">Comprehension & Collaboration: Inquiry circles in action</a>, by Stephanie Harvey & Harvey Daniels. In reflecting on this book as part of a <a href="http://teacherlibrarian.ning.com/group/inquirycirclesbookgroup">ning group</a> discussion, and from <a href="http://virtualcheesecloth.blogspot.com/2009/08/slms-leadership-conference.html">threads of inquiry</a> from last summer, I have been attempting to implement more student collaborative work into instruction. I am working with two second grade teachers on an author study. Students are evaluating character traits for a character of their selection from one of many books they have read by the author, <a href="http://www.tomie.com/">Tomie DePaola</a>. (Don't miss his <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/depaola">video interviews</a> on Reading Rockets.) We are able to climb Bloom's Taxonomy a bit as students evaluate the relative importance of the different traits they uncovered for their character. We'll develop <a href="http://www.wordle.net/">wordles</a> based on their evaluations.<br /><br />It's fascinating to facilitate group work among students, especially 7 year-olds. My reading of the Harvey & Daniels book has made me acutely aware of the importance of this work, yet as a nation of educators, we do not do enough to prepare students for the essential skill and experience of productively working together.<br /><br />As part of a r<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4G3pzI7TBIWAabdOeBE-ptuexl_-6rabsy43zqRVvfJgT2uzeadeq1gfyghm3chc8G7qwytffnzf9sCA6f_8KZ230ZURyhfUeFhHJGR3of1VHwZwPKF9PYgRaGjAeIvsEj2rCT5soKk/s1600-h/lousy+rotten+stinkin+grapes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 115px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4G3pzI7TBIWAabdOeBE-ptuexl_-6rabsy43zqRVvfJgT2uzeadeq1gfyghm3chc8G7qwytffnzf9sCA6f_8KZ230ZURyhfUeFhHJGR3of1VHwZwPKF9PYgRaGjAeIvsEj2rCT5soKk/s320/lousy+rotten+stinkin+grapes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434239534824007954" border="0" /></a>eflection piece mid-project, we read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rotten-Stinkin-Grapes-Margie-Palatini/dp/0689802463">Lousy, Rotten, Stinkin' Grapes</a> by <a href="http://www.margiepalatini.com/index.html">Margie Palatini</a>. It's a fabulous, fun read aloud, and a perfect springboard for discussing group behavior. The kids had so much to say about both positive and negative group experiences. They came up with amazing options for dealing with challenging behavior on the part of team members. It's my hope that this type of discussion recurs frequently in their elementary education.<br /><br /><br />Thanks to my friend <a href="http://www.grandviewlibrary.org/">Sarah</a> for nudging me to wake up my blog from a long snooze. Here's a shout out to <a href="http://thelorax123.wordpress.com/2010/01/26/educator-blogs/">Christine</a>, one of Sarah's students: Thanks for tagging me!Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-71840143109215988462009-08-29T05:16:00.000-07:002009-11-15T19:25:24.345-08:00Handwriting in this day and age<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eYvVwO141k1wwQCsPbkl-T4GJ1cF-VNG8QEAjpRarIY_GgXDBVO1pT0wUsQox4beX0hvfDf_TwOStoQysVajkVSo0D6P6jale6ED2RkAPIxAK56mXV6aGwz1nQ_oNAsjEcygwrxxudI/s1600-h/script+and+scribble.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 156px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eYvVwO141k1wwQCsPbkl-T4GJ1cF-VNG8QEAjpRarIY_GgXDBVO1pT0wUsQox4beX0hvfDf_TwOStoQysVajkVSo0D6P6jale6ED2RkAPIxAK56mXV6aGwz1nQ_oNAsjEcygwrxxudI/s320/script+and+scribble.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375358802528901602" border="0" /></a> I recently read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Script-Scribble-Rise-Fall-Handwriting/dp/1933633670/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251548288&sr=1-1">Script & Scribble: the Rise and Fall of Handwriting</a> by Kitty Burns Florey.<br /><br />Handwriting is of so little concern these days. We don't worry, the computer takes care of it. In her book, Florey shares stories of people who thought quite differently, people who devoted their lives to their passion for penmanship. <br /><br />This book was a nostalgic read. I thought, for the first time in years, of my grandmother's beautiful cursive writing. She used to write with such an even scale. And yes, she wrote her script 'Q's like large '2's. I found myself pondering when handwriting will become obsolete. Penmanship like my grandmother's is now so rare. Most adults write with a hybrid style. This is a wonderfully enjoyable book, written with appropriate lightheartedness for its subject, yet sharing an obvious passion for reading and writing.Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-73785919808644627322009-08-26T09:02:00.000-07:002009-08-26T13:14:31.986-07:00Karla Kuskin<div>I was so sad to read about the death of Karla Kuskin, the children's poet, author and illustrator. Read the obituary in the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/22/books/22kuskin.html?_r=1">here</a>. I find her poems to be so satisfying in their rhythm, both line by line and overall. One of my favorites is in a collection I just purchased for my library, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wonderful-Words-Reading-Speaking-Listening/dp/0689835884/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251302731&sr=1-1">Wonderful Words: Poems about reading, writing, speaking and listening</a>, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. It is called "Finding a Poem", and goes like this:</div><br /><div> </div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">Dig deep in you,</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">Keep everything you find.</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">Sketch the ever changing views,</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">dappled behind your eyes,</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">rustling in your mind.</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">Unlock the weather</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">in your heart.</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">Unleash a thousand whispers,</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">let them shout.</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">Then</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">when you feel</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">the presence of a poem</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">wating to spring</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">to sting</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">within you,</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">bewitch it</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">into words</div><br /><div style="font-style: italic;">and sing it out.</div><br />There is no doubt that Kuskin loved (and understood) cats, frequent subjects in her work. On the cat or dog question, I place myself in the dog camp, yet I love to read these stories and poems because she shares her special insight so poignantly and with few words.<br /><br />Some favorite Karla Kuskin titles in the Mohansic Library:<br /><br />Any Me I Want to Be: Poems<br />Dogs & Dragons, Trees & Dreams: A collection of poems<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moon-Have-You-Met-Mother/dp/0060271736/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251316050&sr=1-1">Moon, Have You Met My Mother: the collected poems of Karla Kuskin</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Soap-Soup-Other-Verses-Read/dp/0064441741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251316954&sr=1-1">Soap Soup and Other Verses</a> (An <span style="font-style: italic;">I Can Read</span> book)<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Upstairs-Cat-Karla-Kuskin/dp/0618316760/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251315529&sr=1-1">The Upstairs Cat</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Me-Karla-Kuskin/dp/0689814739/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251315607&sr=1-1">I Am Me</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Had-Mother-Who-Bought/dp/0060753307/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251315113&sr=1-2">A Boy Had a Mother Who Bought Him a Hat</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Great-Miracle-Happened-There-Chanukah/dp/0064434265/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251315204&sr=1-2">A Great Miracle Happened There: A Chanukah story</a><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Philharmonic-Gets-Dressed-Reading-Rainbow/dp/006443124X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251315367&sr=1-1">The Philiharmonic Gets Dressed</a><br />The Dallas Titans Get Ready for Bed<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/So-Whats-Like-Be-Cat/dp/0689859309/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251315907&sr=1-1">So, What's it Like to Be a Cat?</a><br /><br />Here is a link to a <a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/karla_home.htm">workshop with Kuskin</a> on Scholastic's <span style="font-style: italic;">Writing with Writers</span> site.<br /><br />Thank you, Karla, for sharing your voice with all of us. You will be missed, but fortunately, we will continue to read your poems and stories and enjoy the gifts you shared.<br /><div> </div>Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-55757253717899471272009-08-07T12:03:00.000-07:002009-08-16T06:50:04.823-07:00SLMS Leadership Conference<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDxqKk5_pX1XnAKQ-V-k2QaTV7ttPG7xhboif_9xy_U51z3uTSdoSRuSDBNbrcyKht1TBsFTHgfuSyeQnyvFBlu7gXmeNBEddVgxc3kbs0aIKDuc-17Ctn7OvE5hNNfMnlDYS4mGvqaE/s1600-h/cornell+-+mcgraw+clock+tower+flickr+rdesai.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDxqKk5_pX1XnAKQ-V-k2QaTV7ttPG7xhboif_9xy_U51z3uTSdoSRuSDBNbrcyKht1TBsFTHgfuSyeQnyvFBlu7gXmeNBEddVgxc3kbs0aIKDuc-17Ctn7OvE5hNNfMnlDYS4mGvqaE/s320/cornell+-+mcgraw+clock+tower+flickr+rdesai.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370542303187657698" border="0" /></a><br />From August 2 -4, I was fortunate to attend the <a href="http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=52">NYLA SLMS</a> <a href="http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=1157">Leadership Retreat</a> on the <a href="http://www.cornell.edu/visiting/ithaca/live_views.cfm">Cornell University campus</a> in Ithaca with my friend and colleague Renee. Starting my third year as a library media specialist, I find this annual conference to be particularly useful. Kudos to the library media specialists who organize this event, always featuring a noted speaker from the information and education fields. I attended last year when the featured presenters were Barbara Stripling and Gail Dickinson, who helped us process the new <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards.cfm">AASL Learning Standards</a>.<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo: McGraw Clock Tower on flickr.com by rdesai<br /><br /></span></div><a href="http://edleadershipretreat.wikispaces.com/">This year</a> we worked with Carol Koechlin, who along with David Loertscher and Sandi Zwaan, has been a leader in instructing teachers and teacher-librarians about the inquiry process. She taught us the importance of getting our kids to learn how to learn by asking deep questions. We learned "questioning is cross-curricular." With curious, observant minds, our kids will soar. It's not a matter of some kids have it and some don't: we must teach this mindset. (A fascinating recommendation from Carol: read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Success-Carol-Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250422207&sr=1-1">Mindset</a> by Dweck. A quick read - I highly recommend it.) How do we as library media specialists do this? We need to start by building a community of learners, reinforcing observation skills, modeling effective questioning, and creating a desire to know. A strong reminder resonated with me: I need to model strong questioning more with my young students. Their natural curiosity and enthusiasm does not automatically transfer to deep thinking, though there's a natural progression there to be supported.<br /><br />Toward this end, Carol supported us in extending our own questioning skills, reviewing three levels of questioning which she attributed to Manzo (1969):<br /><ul><li>on the line - it's clearly stated in the text</li><li> between the line - inferring from multiple references in the text</li><li>beyond the line - it's not there; students must do further study and connect to prior knowledge </li></ul>Carol shared wonderful exercises to deepen our questioning. We closed the day by linking questioning to the <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards.cfm">AASL Learning Standards</a>. The second day focused on applying questioning to learning. Carol left us with The Big Think, from her work with Loertscher & Zwaan. When students complete the unit project, there is more work to do...we need to reflect with our students on what the content and process mean to us ("so what?") and to ask ourselves "what next?", helping students to go beyond the basic questions and to continue the learning journey.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Recommended Professional List</span>:<br /><a href="http://www.lmcsource.com/isell3/product.php?id=82&locatekey=5bead46981275a999158b8f5a7a8001e">Beyond Bird Units! Thinking & Understanding in Informaton-Rich and Technology-Rich Environments</a> by David V. Loertscher, Carol Koechlin, and Sandi Zwaan<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Matters-Translating-Research-Classroom/dp/0871205173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249674248&sr=1-1">Brain Matters: Translating research into classroom practice</a> by Patricia Wolfe<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guided-Inquiry-Learning-21st-Century/dp/1591584353/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249674621&sr=1-1">Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century</a> by Carol Kuhlthau<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fno.org/qwl/qwl.html">Learning to Question to Wonder to Learn</a> by Jamie McKenzie<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Librarians-Learning-Specialists-Meeting-Imperative/dp/1591586798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249674081&sr=1-1">Librarians as Learning Specialists: Meeting the learning imperative for the 21st Century</a> by Allison Zmuda<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Success-Carol-Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250424554&sr=1-1">Mindset: The new psychology of success</a> by Carol Dweck<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tasks-Empower-Students-Questions-Answers/dp/1551381974/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249674490&sr=1-1"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Q</span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tasks-Empower-Students-Questions-Answers/dp/1551381974/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249674490&sr=1-1">Tasks: How to empower students to ask questions and care about answers</a> by Carol KoechlinAmalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-37527883442879120922009-06-16T19:08:00.000-07:002009-06-16T19:19:12.408-07:00Top 20 TED Talks podcasts<a href="http://www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org/2009/05/top20tedtalks.html">This site</a> offers the Top 20 TED Talks podcasts for busy school administrators. Clay Shirky made the list; I am reading his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/B0027VT0C4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245204565&sr=8-1">Here Comes Everybody: the Power of Organizing without Organizations</a>. The opening story of a lost cell phone in a taxi cab is such a great intro to his explanation of how we interact in a connected (read, "wired") society. Shirky was recommended by <a href="http://weblogg-ed.com/">Will Richardson</a> at a seminar I attended at BOCES last month. (oops, meant to blog on that, too!)Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-41537753607337567182009-05-28T13:08:00.000-07:002009-06-16T19:06:23.609-07:00The arts and brain development<div>I found <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.arts18may18,0,1345340.story">this article </a>in the Baltimore Sun, courtesy of <a href="http://www.ncte.org/newsletter">NCTE</a>, that described studies looking at the connection between arts instruction and brain function. Highly interesting, though not surprising.<br /></div>Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-15415306796883726712009-05-07T10:50:00.000-07:002009-05-07T12:55:38.458-07:00Having fun with nonfictionFirst graders are enjoying their study of nonfiction, culminating in writing their own book on a topic of their choice. We played with the idea of fiction and nonfiction in the library today. We read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Mole-Rat-Pebble-Plus/dp/142961739X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1241718732&sr=1-3">Naked Mole Rat </a>by Jody Sullivan Rake and identified many nonfiction features we have studied. Then, we switched gears a bit and read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Mole-Rat-Gets-Dressed/dp/142311437X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1241718732&sr=1-1">Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed</a> by Mo Willems. Lots of laughs! Finally, we read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Animals-Should-Definitely-Wear-Clothing/dp/0689708076/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241718882&sr=1-1">Animals should definitely not wear clothing</a> by Judi Barrett, and we wondered which animal we might use in our own illustrations of Ms. Barrett's theory.Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-49894253850555982132009-04-11T06:24:00.000-07:002009-04-11T06:49:22.790-07:00Kate DiCamillo's miraculous leadsI am already drawn in by the first chapter of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Magician's Elephant</span> as read by the author, Kate DiCamillo. The book will be out in Fall 2009. Watch and listen to the author read <a href="http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763644102&pix=n">here</a> (click on "watch more about <span style="font-style: italic;">The Magician's Elephant</span>"). See if you don't get drawn in too! She also has a link to a PDF of the first chapter on her <a href="http://www.katedicamillo.com/">website</a>. This would be a great starter for a discussion about writing leads.Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-23107334837101628572009-03-17T04:00:00.001-07:002009-03-19T04:36:32.950-07:00LHRIC Tech ExpoI was fortunate to attend the <a href="http://www.lhric.org/news.cfm?story=106">LHRIC Tech Expo</a> last Friday. The morning keynote speaker was <a href="http://www.intellagirl.com/">Sarah Robbins</a>. She shared relevant facts about today's young learners (e.g., this is the first year that 99% of students will have had internet access their entire school career.) She made really interesting connections between gaming and learning. This is not a new topic to librarians, yet her comments led me to a great discussion with my eight year-old son about how he learns a new game on his Nintendo! She addressed the "prosumer" component of the web, as consumers participate in creating new content (example: 12 year-old Kevin Lin' s <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b97KIlJuYs">Youtube video</a> of video special effects). She reminded us to facilitate, not "teach"; to "grow" our students in a garden instead of a flowerpot. And most impressively: she's completed requirements for her PhD while being mom to young triplets!<br /><br /><a href="http://homepage.mac.com/torres21/%29%20%29%20%29%20torres21%20%28%20%28%20%28.html">Marco Torres</a> gave the afternoon keynote. His enthusiasm and love for his students and instruction were completely contagious. He showed how through digital storytelling, he teaches students to organize and classify their ideas. (His 4 P's: Plan, Produce, Present and Pheedback.) This is a lifelong skill; I use visual graphic organizers with my primary students to plan their writing. They get it. I asked him about video projects for the little ones, and he shared a project where third graders created a superhero story with illustrations and high schoolers animated the film. It was a beautiful collaboration. (He also mentioned that he prefers the quality of the <a href="http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-locale=en_US&pq-path=13064">Kodak Zi6</a> to the <a href="http://www.theflip.com/">Flip</a> camera.) After showing how technology supports the challenging work his students do in school, he closed with a hilarious segment on how technology is often used to support the teacher rather than student learning. Marco Torres reminded us to concentrate on the verbs, not the nouns. <br /><br />Quick tip from Heidi Lappi, science teacher from Clarkstown: create a form in Google docs for students to input their collected data. Embed the spreadsheet in your wiki and they will see updated results as they continue their research projects.<br /><br />Overall, a great day with wonderful ideas, large and small.Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-16655305466038795652009-03-09T20:18:00.001-07:002009-03-09T21:08:39.480-07:00Thinking of PoetryNational Poetry Month is around the corner, though I believe in celebrating poetry throughout the year. Kindergartners loved <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Poem-Arnold-Adoff/dp/0590479709/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236655237&sr=1-1">Touch the Poem</a> by Arnold Adoff. I look forward to Eloise Greenfield's recent book, Brothers & Sisters.<br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="biWidget" align="middle" width="184" height="182"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://www.harpercollins.com/services/browseinside/widget.aspx?hc.guid=a9a091b6-288f-4ccb-9139-6254858c418e"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="flashvars" value="isbn=9780060562847&guid=a9a091b6-288f-4ccb-9139-6254858c418e&siteId=2"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.harpercollins.com/services/browseinside/widget.aspx?hc.guid=a9a091b6-288f-4ccb-9139-6254858c418e" flashvars="isbn=9780060562847&guid=a9a091b6-288f-4ccb-9139-6254858c418e&siteId=2" wmode="transparent" quality="high" name="biWidget" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" width="184" height="182"></embed></object><br /><br />If you choose to begin with Mother Goose, take a look at <a href="http://www.fidella.com/trmg/">The Real Mother Goose</a>. Find ideas for a Poem in Your Pocket Day at NYC Bd of Ed's page <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/poem/html/teachers/curriculum.shtml">here</a>. First graders loved listening to<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><a href="http://www.kristinegeorge.com/poetry_aloud.html">Krist<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>ine O'Connell George</a> reading her short and touching dog poems. Hear <a href="http://www.charlesrsmithjr.com/activities-poems.htm">Charles R. Smith, Jr.</a> reading from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Harmony-Musical-Journey-Harlem/dp/078680758X/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236657073&sr=8-14">Perfect Harmony</a>, his magnificent collection about the Boys Choir of Harlem. Naomi Shihab Nye's poems for teens are amazing; for elementary, try <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Come-Me-Naomi-Shihab-Nye/dp/068815946X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1236657506&sr=8-2">Come With Me: Poems for a Journey</a>. Enjoy <a href="http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/feature.html?id=182334">children's poet laureate</a> <a href="http://www.maryannhoberman.com/books.html">Mary Ann Hoberman</a>. Don't wait until April!Amalia Connollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09734188501177781590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-15076929990067449382009-02-08T05:29:00.000-08:002009-02-08T05:59:05.778-08:00Has anyone tried National Geographic Wildlife Filmmaker?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZoNPg1bJbwEovsVnK18yUyYYi9cBMlSsZweZHihE4t4D3VdwagoWFzI6ALN4ye1mMYluURVAtulbzd_Be82nuiwZjKv0y-R7PAqn2uY5AtZ4OECpnzVF9uuwRd4HpRcVkpufNubUtno/s1600-h/NatGeo_Wildlife_Filmmaker.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZoNPg1bJbwEovsVnK18yUyYYi9cBMlSsZweZHihE4t4D3VdwagoWFzI6ALN4ye1mMYluURVAtulbzd_Be82nuiwZjKv0y-R7PAqn2uY5AtZ4OECpnzVF9uuwRd4HpRcVkpufNubUtno/s200/NatGeo_Wildlife_Filmmaker.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300422717981367698" /></a><br /><br />I just picked up on this fun and applicable tool from <a href="http://blog.schoollibrarymedia.com/index.php/2009/02/04/national-geographic-wildlife-filmmaker/">this post</a> on Kristin Fontichiaro's blog on SLMAM. <br /><a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/filmmaker.html"><br />National Geographic Filmmaker</a> lets kids create their own wildlife video with a library of video and sound clips. They can add their own captions too. You can save and share your final product. Visual learners will love this! Second graders will love this! I am sure NatGeo will add more clips as they develop the product. I agree with <a href="http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/1280040128.html?nid=3714">Joyce Valenza</a> that a voice recording feature would be nice. I can't wait to share this with students! It's a great complement to our second graders' animal research project.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-58511727857093830472009-02-06T15:48:00.000-08:002009-02-08T06:00:09.005-08:00The Mohansicott Winners!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6E_v9aWqY1e4Yv3dFpso02nhChqkroZDkqKj_cDQpq1-Y4NSYIQeBrLGa5gSPH7wXFxQZ31zS13p1RpyFG6ojEsQFmhm3UcJ9483BYKu5q29zhQOKK5HYuBTns2Aglh_2uWhL1vOFGw/s1600-h/a+kitten+tale.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6E_v9aWqY1e4Yv3dFpso02nhChqkroZDkqKj_cDQpq1-Y4NSYIQeBrLGa5gSPH7wXFxQZ31zS13p1RpyFG6ojEsQFmhm3UcJ9483BYKu5q29zhQOKK5HYuBTns2Aglh_2uWhL1vOFGw/s200/a+kitten+tale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299836898020991922" /></a><br />First graders chose the winners of our first annual Mohansicott Award! Students evaluated what makes a "distinguished" picture book, as described in the Caldecott <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottterms/caldecottterms.cfm">Terms & Criteria</a>. We looked at several past winners to help us identify "distinguished" attributes, such as details in the illustration, colorful pictures, something new and different we had never seen before, and illustrations that shared a feeling from the story.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkMeehIo413Kct_lmqmVRT8wiu6ZSb6ocbHbRuDWxVfbQ2rPyWqbC5TZ6aAHpL8mstu4n_9HS-IsE-8QTLXsAK0BxWiwEFkmMtptC7eMu03MrlQujJODN2LFmM_7lkmwOd3mPgdpoxRA/s1600-h/louise.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkMeehIo413Kct_lmqmVRT8wiu6ZSb6ocbHbRuDWxVfbQ2rPyWqbC5TZ6aAHpL8mstu4n_9HS-IsE-8QTLXsAK0BxWiwEFkmMtptC7eMu03MrlQujJODN2LFmM_7lkmwOd3mPgdpoxRA/s200/louise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299843634939365938" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd6hNygfGpEPrBQtT9nhekTLrxGE7WHwgYUYLTYDKXC3L1IkY87ALyLiHWefRkbWUlIoEgVbiiGRrqp5C8roSdKGDVrQDT1BJzYIiGUiKKnq2f05rORS1cte5fX-UN9BaeTv-MSWFlBs/s1600-h/old+bear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdd6hNygfGpEPrBQtT9nhekTLrxGE7WHwgYUYLTYDKXC3L1IkY87ALyLiHWefRkbWUlIoEgVbiiGRrqp5C8roSdKGDVrQDT1BJzYIiGUiKKnq2f05rORS1cte5fX-UN9BaeTv-MSWFlBs/s200/old+bear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299849152862339874" /></a>The winner is <u>A Kitten Tale</u> by Eric Rohmann! Students enjoyed the colorful and playful illustrations complementing a sweet story of kittens enjoying winter's first snow. Our two Honor titles are <u>Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken</u> illustrated by Harry Bliss and written by Kate DiCamillo, and <u>Old Bear</u> by Kevin Henkes. The illustrations in <u>Louise</u> matched the adventures in the story: exciting and fun! Louise looked like a cartoon! In <u>Old Bear</u>, Kevin Henkes told the story of a bear who went to sleep for the winter and dreamed of the changing seasons. We loved how we could tell from the illustrations which season Old Bear was dreaming of.<br /><br />We enjoyed sharing the <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottmedal.cfm">Caldecott Committee's choice</a>, <u>The House in the Night</u>, illustrated by Beth Krommes, written by Susan Marie Swanson. Some first graders noticed that this cumulative tale tells a story then "rewinds" to tell the tale in reverse. Many students loved the beautiful etched illustrations with its careful use of golden color.<br /><br />Special thanks to <a href="http://www.polldaddy.com">polldaddy</a> for helping us tally our votes. We will soon have a medal designed for the winning and honor books that will be placed on the book covers in the Mohansic Library. Can't wait until next year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-83496414545015237082009-01-29T04:25:00.000-08:002009-01-30T01:45:58.060-08:00Web 2.0 GoodiesThe Web 2.0 goodie of the month: Jing Project, for video screen capture. Capture exactly what you are doing on your computer into a video package which you can narrate then share. Great tool! Thank you to friend <a href="http://grandviewlibrary.wordpress.com/">Sarah Chauncey</a> who introduced me to it! <a href="http://www.jingproject.com/">Jing</a> seemed cool right away, but I keep thinking of more ways to use it in professional training for teachers and classroom instruction. You need to <a href="http://www.jingproject.com/download/pc/">download</a> a piece to your computer then you're good to go!<br /><br />Another fun tool: <a href="http://remindr.info/">Remindr</a> - lighter than Jing, but very useful! Tell it what to remind you of, when, and how (phone, email, Twitter). It sends you a message. The authors do not take themselves too seriously either; but, they have a really simple tool that works.<br /><br />I am excited to begin studying with Shelley Paul's online <a href="http://k12learning20.wikispaces.com/">K12-Learning 2.0</a> class this month. Off topic for a moment, I highly recommend the online course, <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/edcareeers/profdevelopment/alscweb/index.cfm">Teaching Poetry to Children</a>, offered through <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/index.cfm">ALSC</a>, taught by <a href="http://poetryforchildren.blogspot.com/">Sylvia Vardell</a>, a tireless advocate for poetry for children. The Moodle course improved my practice in the library. I was charged up about several poets and well-prepared to share their work with my students. A favorite "find" from the course (perfect for kindergarten!) was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Poem-Arnold-Adoff/dp/0590479709/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233280020&sr=1-1">Touch the Poem</a> by Arnold Adoff. <br /><br />One more: I follow <a href="http://smartboards.typepad.com/smartboard/">Teachers Love Smartboards</a>. There are some gems on this site,including a link to Nicole Mobley's site with <a href="http://teachnic.googlepages.com/home">Smart Board lessons for your Kindergarten classroom</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-2545292098977247552009-01-19T09:16:00.000-08:002009-01-20T04:46:31.437-08:00The Inauguration Concert<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXrtesLcWR2dTUq-zDNvY_kLOZkV4zI7yo5AgA5gdPsjGpZVijTyXzrpKN0uH6y5XgQBOjpjckmC756SYzkGz_Hf1bOhNdt9YiPJfc4XIoWaFo6-t5gG0NmIL4h9hO0oXtFWCuFqZykI/s1600-h/obama.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXrtesLcWR2dTUq-zDNvY_kLOZkV4zI7yo5AgA5gdPsjGpZVijTyXzrpKN0uH6y5XgQBOjpjckmC756SYzkGz_Hf1bOhNdt9YiPJfc4XIoWaFo6-t5gG0NmIL4h9hO0oXtFWCuFqZykI/s200/obama.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293060578004359362" /></a><br />I was so thrilled last night to view the concert in celebration of tomorrow's <a href="http://www.pic2009.org/">inauguration of Barack Obama</a>. My family and I are not in Washington; we watched on television, but the excitement and anticipation of the huge crowd was still palpable. My young son was excited to see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger">Pete Seeger</a>, whom we met this summer in nearby <a href="http://cityofbeacon.org/">Beacon</a>, during a street festival. My family adores Pete Seeger, and can sing much of his classic folk repertoire by heart. We joined in with Pete and Bruce Springsteen as they sang "This Land is Your Land", written by Woody Guthrie. We sang also with James Taylor singing his "Shower the People" and the moving finale by Beyonce singing "America the Beautiful", joined by all the actors and singers who had performed earlier. The entire event was an astounding feat of logistics and artistic show and we enjoyed it from beginning to end. As we look forward to tomorrow's event, which we plan to view via streaming video in our school, I look forward to not just hearing the words of our new president and the response of the enormous crowd, but viewing this experience through the eyes of the 6 - 8 year olds in my school who have some sense in their young experience that this is a moment in our American history which will not be forgotten. Options for viewing the inauguration, check <a href="http://inaugurationday2009.com/broadcast.html">here</a> (thank you to LM_NET).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-5834219879380595582009-01-10T06:44:00.000-08:002009-01-10T13:51:30.250-08:00Martin Luther King, Jr. Day<table><tr><td><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0r3JXdET1xE6Qkgojh0QZHCrr83_41CT4obUO82sgqCGE3_BuFooz54rXF7BdGxw_zW1DCqIqEwNrOnhIiQRwFD9m09r-kYlMpctYRjL3meV1vc7sGFuynOVKOQtTiMzK29P66h1oTM/s1600-h/Martin+Luther+King1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0r3JXdET1xE6Qkgojh0QZHCrr83_41CT4obUO82sgqCGE3_BuFooz54rXF7BdGxw_zW1DCqIqEwNrOnhIiQRwFD9m09r-kYlMpctYRjL3meV1vc7sGFuynOVKOQtTiMzK29P66h1oTM/s200/Martin+Luther+King1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289781361428069474" /></a></td><td><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9-e8Jvmg5EjC1ZU2kr3rNPmNvLEucJcCfHuYYcKNysB22QgH3rTUZpoTl3Jk8PqHeypLgIhrg_Ao6BMeiloXzgW9IqPOX-dtxgxM2sd8yfBu94SpxtOKoSI6cgVZwQGWaOzstX3DVW0/s1600-h/Martin+Luther+King2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9-e8Jvmg5EjC1ZU2kr3rNPmNvLEucJcCfHuYYcKNysB22QgH3rTUZpoTl3Jk8PqHeypLgIhrg_Ao6BMeiloXzgW9IqPOX-dtxgxM2sd8yfBu94SpxtOKoSI6cgVZwQGWaOzstX3DVW0/s200/Martin+Luther+King2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289781916348289810" /></a></td><td><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs_SOS0I9pTxYTxkDTSx3AcF8YNwZGEG0Sry85Hb893F7XAy2anMErcbDHs_yny_b4UiAh8990l_ZVJpFDCCh_Ca_JcBz7s3iNt1U02vfF_P2vsYOUv-On35cSA7m3SJ9zevZGaJrE20/s1600-h/Martin+Luther+King3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs_SOS0I9pTxYTxkDTSx3AcF8YNwZGEG0Sry85Hb893F7XAy2anMErcbDHs_yny_b4UiAh8990l_ZVJpFDCCh_Ca_JcBz7s3iNt1U02vfF_P2vsYOUv-On35cSA7m3SJ9zevZGaJrE20/s200/Martin+Luther+King3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289782068296656898" /></a></td></tr></table><br />Courtesy of one of my favorite sources for navigating the web, <a href="http://www.lii.org/">Librarian's Internet Index</a>, here is a helpful guide to <a href="http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/events/birthday.htm">Martin Luther King, Jr.</a> at the San Jose Public Library. They link to an interesting <a href="http://holidays.kaboose.com/martin-luther-king-jr-day.html">page for kids</a>, including games. Try and guess the words to Dr. King's legendary <i>I Have A Dream</i> speech <a href="http://www.windmillworks.com/games/dream.htm">here</a>. Check out the origin of Martin Luther King Day at <a href="http://www.factmonster.com/spot/mlkhistory1.html">factmonster</a>. Two lesson plans for K-2 on <a href="http://www.readwritethink.org">ReadWriteThink</a>: <a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=259">100 Acts of Kindness</a> and <a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=257">Identifying With a Hero</a>. Take a <a href="http://www.nps.gov/features/malu/feat0001/BirthHomeTour/">virtual tour</a> of Dr. King's birth home in Atlanta. This year on January 19, 2009, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Dr. King's birth.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-33827714115972817912009-01-05T08:24:00.000-08:002009-01-07T18:41:26.258-08:00Jan Brett's new contest is open<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitj0vCNByarFdou8gTETsq_beRdtfvnat20FcXnL56agdrzIeo5hbz_sDbhnB-2OPujAsPm1k0jfxuStHdoQHo37dXW8hpgRx7tlP-gp8c9FtATxTtu7Tez5r4uN7qPZY4ld32BuUHJ7k/s1600-h/gingerbread+baby.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitj0vCNByarFdou8gTETsq_beRdtfvnat20FcXnL56agdrzIeo5hbz_sDbhnB-2OPujAsPm1k0jfxuStHdoQHo37dXW8hpgRx7tlP-gp8c9FtATxTtu7Tez5r4uN7qPZY4ld32BuUHJ7k/s200/gingerbread+baby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288747460687241378" /></a><br />Jan Brett opened her 2009 school library visit contest today! This year is a little different -- you print out three characters to color and glue them under the right hat, then mail it to Jan Brett. Last year's contest was entirely online; this year, you get to mail your entry to Jan Brett! Remember that last year, Mohansic first-grader Ben won a signed poster from Jan Brett!! You can enter as many times as you wish! Click <a href="http://www.janbrett.com/contest_2009/free_school_visit_contest_2009.htm">here </a>for the contest page at <a href="http://www.janbrett.com">janbrett.com </a>to enter. Good Luck!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-52783477252474148252009-01-03T15:27:00.000-08:002009-01-03T17:32:46.362-08:00First Annual Mohansicott AwardFirst graders are learning about the <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/aboutcaldecott/aboutcaldecott.cfm">Caldecott Medal</a>, awarded to one picture book annually <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecotthonors/caldecottmedal.cfm">since 1938</a>. We looked at the <a href="http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/caldecottmedal/caldecottterms/caldecottterms.cfm">terms and criteria</a> for the award, and had a lively discussion of what is meant by "the most distinguished American picture book for children"; how do we identify "distinguished" illustrations? We examined many Caldecott winners and noticed some characteristics of these "distinguished" books. <br /><br />We do not know which books are being considered for this year's award. But there are several places to find some educated guesses. Try and google "Mock Caldecott" and you'll get a glimpse into a variety of opinions on the subject. Check out what <a href="http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/340038234.html">School Library Journal</a> thinks. The Allen County Public Library has a <a href="http://www.acplmockcaldecott.blogspot.com/">blog</a> devoted to their mock Caldecott election. Here is the list by the <a href="http://www.wellscolibrary.org/caldecottlist.html">Wells County Public Library</a>. These are the books that first graders will choose from for the first Mohansicott Award:<br /><br /><table><tr><td>What To Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjRS9znSvuJCRo4Y0Rc5pqWTtdOXCKyXyCg2RPSWHEcWbgpWyImvqYj_GcdKAXmrogJVqUM9e63WgX_GJgXomHvAXSLPBE7bgzQPN0fwT5QCsSSCwBU1ZoxqCChE7Uso4wVT7QEkdtxo/s1600-h/what+to+do+about+alice.gif"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjRS9znSvuJCRo4Y0Rc5pqWTtdOXCKyXyCg2RPSWHEcWbgpWyImvqYj_GcdKAXmrogJVqUM9e63WgX_GJgXomHvAXSLPBE7bgzQPN0fwT5QCsSSCwBU1ZoxqCChE7Uso4wVT7QEkdtxo/s200/what+to+do+about+alice.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287220019607671602" /></a></td><td>Owney, the Mail Pouch Pooch by Mona Kerby, illustrated by Lynne Barasch <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgnanSH68MW_3A42OGk_NFMqy3zl41ADdYKVnwgcBC1fe5QzauuFyeyZuQY9PUu8s7dbObDxHkjhObe36qWVM_N2c9SBnTjqd5mVS2T7XEoTAO1okkmrlZKj-LwCDZ8vSrNDT45LrE_k/s1600-h/owney.gif"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 137px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgnanSH68MW_3A42OGk_NFMqy3zl41ADdYKVnwgcBC1fe5QzauuFyeyZuQY9PUu8s7dbObDxHkjhObe36qWVM_N2c9SBnTjqd5mVS2T7XEoTAO1okkmrlZKj-LwCDZ8vSrNDT45LrE_k/s200/owney.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287220822782698290" /></a></td><td>Old Bear written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMYsAdZaoUvRsdelUrDV9pEQsqSFtMN9pDZOlbNws3MD7-oc_K2SS3uvN56o2zkxKNUVFNKN4sGRlUmDcqTgJCtNyPRwY8hBcQ7VbJ94pvgtNIDmmr8oKCoecRLIqMwCNH6hvn4bXTrI/s1600-h/old+bear.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMYsAdZaoUvRsdelUrDV9pEQsqSFtMN9pDZOlbNws3MD7-oc_K2SS3uvN56o2zkxKNUVFNKN4sGRlUmDcqTgJCtNyPRwY8hBcQ7VbJ94pvgtNIDmmr8oKCoecRLIqMwCNH6hvn4bXTrI/s200/old+bear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287221411805498770" /></a></td><td>A Kitten Tale written and illustrated by Eric Rohmann <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUL3nGUjPkUvmESCfbhltvbnBQIE57kFKhK-x7Q1SuaNOv9WshMygObRcKhGpUGFzoBlEyaHMlk5ntV5qVFGaghbPis4KtJCyFFEEWF1mqmiF6n8ffGy0nFBx-nAT7a_0WttWwwj1nc4/s1600-h/a+kitten+tale.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 155px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUL3nGUjPkUvmESCfbhltvbnBQIE57kFKhK-x7Q1SuaNOv9WshMygObRcKhGpUGFzoBlEyaHMlk5ntV5qVFGaghbPis4KtJCyFFEEWF1mqmiF6n8ffGy0nFBx-nAT7a_0WttWwwj1nc4/s200/a+kitten+tale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287221859041320402" /></a></td><td>Grace For President by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by LeUyen Pham <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-eJgGyupf5e2Nm5_otJXTcLz0nvxylhIzM9yPEad_WI91XBmrscH4ayfyVnIyd69R7dYc_JGl3eFSuL8XWXPI_oCV_bQ9clw2UGUQWg1bGHpjBXik7ztbD0C1RAUDeU-9_eCtPciOgI/s1600-h/grace+for+president.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-eJgGyupf5e2Nm5_otJXTcLz0nvxylhIzM9yPEad_WI91XBmrscH4ayfyVnIyd69R7dYc_JGl3eFSuL8XWXPI_oCV_bQ9clw2UGUQWg1bGHpjBXik7ztbD0C1RAUDeU-9_eCtPciOgI/s200/grace+for+president.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287222807337060978" /></a></td></tr><tr><td>Monarch and Milkweed by Helen Frost, illustrated by Leonid Gore <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceyiprmu1ffU9KYfQJYJHvxkGV6uf0MG0rgXHuxYjwBImSvxXwYV0xqZJZmP9m8jVKn99Hw2WOHvUdLC03l0K9L_lBOKEtinyFL0t0tkVCK9uK-AWt1WjAorNgrhuaqjURXQbwDUu3Ks/s1600-h/monarch+and+milkweed.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 139px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceyiprmu1ffU9KYfQJYJHvxkGV6uf0MG0rgXHuxYjwBImSvxXwYV0xqZJZmP9m8jVKn99Hw2WOHvUdLC03l0K9L_lBOKEtinyFL0t0tkVCK9uK-AWt1WjAorNgrhuaqjURXQbwDUu3Ks/s200/monarch+and+milkweed.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287223199524615042" /></a></td><td>Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, illustrated by Ed Young <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajSpLTXNztydydATlV1Y01UmL2IndnGbdyV0G4bjSvWHOBVm8hzz9qAPn69kS3yEUIXN-WrnmDZF1sEtUxgm6B0TDBr6K5oCmsy7TEpddjI-Dz3SwqalbqYuqH-8tFlWR3Axw0qKqLyA/s1600-h/wabi+sabi.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 181px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajSpLTXNztydydATlV1Y01UmL2IndnGbdyV0G4bjSvWHOBVm8hzz9qAPn69kS3yEUIXN-WrnmDZF1sEtUxgm6B0TDBr6K5oCmsy7TEpddjI-Dz3SwqalbqYuqH-8tFlWR3Axw0qKqLyA/s200/wabi+sabi.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287224410492353682" /></a></td><td>1, 2 Buckle My Shoe by Anna Grossnickle Hines <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaiV-HLu1ucXSLHrQLc4mnlmwEOBD7KgX-OCIYh0PbTvn3fnfwA_9J-26wFjUTK3cSfQ62Tb-pihuPd_9N_2UYfEXhiC-yN3kyLpt02vVXy_gRX7tn2JxSnqSbhZr3SbeUNurLs2zgpQ/s1600-h/1+2+buckle+my+shoe.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 170px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaiV-HLu1ucXSLHrQLc4mnlmwEOBD7KgX-OCIYh0PbTvn3fnfwA_9J-26wFjUTK3cSfQ62Tb-pihuPd_9N_2UYfEXhiC-yN3kyLpt02vVXy_gRX7tn2JxSnqSbhZr3SbeUNurLs2zgpQ/s200/1+2+buckle+my+shoe.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287224868638052786" /></a></td><td>Duel! : Burr and Hamilton's Deadly War of Words by Dennis Fradin, illustrated by Larry Day <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-xKEJw696a4XoQY8FXV-XQNVKW7Lcvkf4D-xTzTeepDOwaVDpm3kTZLk8uo-q8ymIl3ygxc7wawXfAMsSXjQl-ZqSkQmMHg9vHkMSdgKYp_7j5pnIudsAYTOVo-M_QcHrswW4UcEFug/s1600-h/duel!.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 167px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-xKEJw696a4XoQY8FXV-XQNVKW7Lcvkf4D-xTzTeepDOwaVDpm3kTZLk8uo-q8ymIl3ygxc7wawXfAMsSXjQl-ZqSkQmMHg9vHkMSdgKYp_7j5pnIudsAYTOVo-M_QcHrswW4UcEFug/s200/duel!.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287225612423323554" /></a></td><td>Louise: the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Harry Bliss <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzq-msknMmFhs6Vb0dfOgd4xTWLZL9u0TL8c7Nbgy9JrQ5y-1RoiOJN1XVTZU5ohZH0Nh63nw5nL-Zh8eXYprxP19fjTyGsz0L98fEmEGcIhTjz2QgkQL7rfjuRVvzurN0LrvYnYop18/s1600-h/louise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 182px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzq-msknMmFhs6Vb0dfOgd4xTWLZL9u0TL8c7Nbgy9JrQ5y-1RoiOJN1XVTZU5ohZH0Nh63nw5nL-Zh8eXYprxP19fjTyGsz0L98fEmEGcIhTjz2QgkQL7rfjuRVvzurN0LrvYnYop18/s200/louise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287245351467764706" /></a></td></tr></table><br /><br />We will use a <a href="http://www.polldaddy.com">survey website</a> for our election, so we can easily track the winner. I can't wait to get started sharing these books together! Even if your favorite doesn't win, there's nothing better than discovering a wonderful new story!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-5334248893565496782009-01-01T07:59:00.001-08:002009-01-03T16:32:46.912-08:00Author visit in January<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81zrC3cG62sXyk2QhSd3NrhTlcTjiOiIzXXiBkcheyvsfh4HPrwN294tqW26UnSEAFBG7mkpHkgA9TtERyeZpsJFe9UJQ1WdHZmKmqsS0Hxd0ubGy3WtrytDwuxhFbSUbeN0A229BCT4/s1600-h/pat+schories-jack.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 114px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81zrC3cG62sXyk2QhSd3NrhTlcTjiOiIzXXiBkcheyvsfh4HPrwN294tqW26UnSEAFBG7mkpHkgA9TtERyeZpsJFe9UJQ1WdHZmKmqsS0Hxd0ubGy3WtrytDwuxhFbSUbeN0A229BCT4/s320/pat+schories-jack.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286364733804273522" /></a><br />We are all very excited about the planned visit by talented author/illustrator <a href="http://www.patschories.com">Pat Schories</a> to Mohansic's kindergarten. Pat's illlustrations for the <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=mozilla-20&index=blended&link_code=qs&field-keywords=biscuit%20capucilli%20schories&sourceid=Mozilla-search">Biscuit</a></i> books are adored by early readers. She has also created her own character, Jack, a Jack Russell terrier who is the main character in a wonderful <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&tag=mozilla-20&index=blended&link_code=qs&field-keywords=jack%20pat%20schories%20wordless&sourceid=Mozilla-search">series </a>of wordless books.<br /><br />Kindergarten students will learn where Pat gets her ideas for her illustrations and how she uses models for her drawings. We will enjoy telling each other the stories in the wordless <i>Jack</i> books. <br /><br />If you would like to view an interview with Pat Schories and Alyssa Satin Capucilli, the author of the <i>Biscuit</i> books, click <a href="http://hastingsonhudson.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=260">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-38983245569650947492008-12-27T19:02:00.000-08:002009-01-03T16:33:25.091-08:00Favorite Holiday StoriesThere are so many wonderful stories to read together at the holidays. The ones that I love share a deeper meaning of different holiday traditions and provide magical illustration to tell their story. Here are some of my favorites:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Polar Express</span> by Chris Van Allsburg<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Trees of the Dancing Goats</span> by Patricia Polacco<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Night Tree</span> by Eve Bunting<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">How the Grinch Stole Christmas</span> by Dr. Seuss<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Santa's Book of Names</span> by David McPhail<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Best Eid Ever</span> by Asma Mobin-Uddin<br /><br />For some more inspiration, read <a href="http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6623318.html?rssid=190">this </a>article in <span style="font-style:italic;">School Library Journal</span>, with holiday memories by favorite authors. Comment with your family's favorite holiday reads!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-85254471383436198582008-12-15T20:15:00.000-08:002009-01-03T16:33:43.808-08:00Visiting Authors 2008-09In 2008-09, students will meet these wonderful authors!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vcVpznB7rhkdu_-IXpo4kr8hputdkZM8CPY6wfwxDuardOvxQeNkOhsU8c9y2hC3vB5-YxPGKwcYqkWNEaUQGk4qoe2uVlp_xWajxEjP7Ccxu6j9F-nY8-Ze6toSQuo2XeXzId-uOiU/s1600-h/pat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280240779370467538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 317px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vcVpznB7rhkdu_-IXpo4kr8hputdkZM8CPY6wfwxDuardOvxQeNkOhsU8c9y2hC3vB5-YxPGKwcYqkWNEaUQGk4qoe2uVlp_xWajxEjP7Ccxu6j9F-nY8-Ze6toSQuo2XeXzId-uOiU/s320/pat.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Pat Schories</span> </strong>will visit <span style="font-size:130%;">Kindergarten</span>.<br /></div><div>"Probably best known as the illustrator of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Biscuit-Storybook-Collection-Alyssa-Capucilli/dp/0060759046/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229404352&sr=1-2">Biscuit books </a>written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and published by HarperCollins, Pat is now using her story-telling skills to create new books starring <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Jack-Pat-Schories/dp/1932425160/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229404251&sr=1-2">Jack and his family</a>, published by Front Street Books, an imprint of Boyds Mills Press, Inc. Jack and Biscuit are modeled after her own two beloved dogs, Speed and Spike." (<span style="font-size:78%;">Text and photo from</span> <a href="http://www.patschories.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.patschories.com</span></a>) </div><div>Pat is a Westchester County resident. We are very excited about her visit!<br /></div><div>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.patschories.com/">Pat's website</a>.</div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqz9SvMLXsPv4xicm3_MLcClfR7uB4SakIUotHb586xHJiv2PwnYIQKW6uUBUM9svAjMX6LiHLkCz-9gxEuZ8iKBY5Yefzrm8NkxXyzRd1baJTvmvfEehJHM5kHSOVKiPR-S2UUdHkyA/s1600-h/hans.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWICZiGgNGVcVpa_dgYQGQIynf_XhU-QUUw_KC2e_q7IXOgG4mHWGUXrcKF4OMmFLl-f0AfErm4PaAnFMgYEprrlyDcIxEf7LqJ8zXDJjh3SDrx76EIpMHChdkMhEuAe_XNhjfDN7O4s/s1600-h/hans.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280242639172339122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWICZiGgNGVcVpa_dgYQGQIynf_XhU-QUUw_KC2e_q7IXOgG4mHWGUXrcKF4OMmFLl-f0AfErm4PaAnFMgYEprrlyDcIxEf7LqJ8zXDJjh3SDrx76EIpMHChdkMhEuAe_XNhjfDN7O4s/s320/hans.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:180%;">Hans Wilhelm</span></strong> will visit <span style="font-size:130%;">1st graders</span>. </div><div></div><div>"With over thirty five million books in print, Hans Wilhelm is one of America's foremost author/illustrator of children's books. Many of his 200 books have been translated into twenty languages and have become successful animated television series that are enjoyed by children all over the world. His books have won numerous international awards and prizes." (<span style="font-size:78%;">Text and photo from </span><a href="http://www.hanswilhelm.com/"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.hanswilhelm.com</span></a>) Hans has chosen to make many of his books available online for free. Go to <a href="http://www.childrensbooksforever.com/">childrensbooksforever </a>to read and enjoy his stories!</div><br /><div>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.hanswilhelm.com/index.html">Hans' website</a>. </div><div></div><br /><div></div><div><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJcKCzrYmJcTuI26gMgG9sRpfiRKFeckBs-20YapMSB70FlwG1AeavFv6iIbykmDLo4pFt7dir6b_edUuBAZ9_anjNeGisMYXBsDum23KVk_McxYHhbrv8sueaET2VTfy5iKtOsqvRpM/s1600-h/helen+lester.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280243619247945202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 162px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJcKCzrYmJcTuI26gMgG9sRpfiRKFeckBs-20YapMSB70FlwG1AeavFv6iIbykmDLo4pFt7dir6b_edUuBAZ9_anjNeGisMYXBsDum23KVk_McxYHhbrv8sueaET2VTfy5iKtOsqvRpM/s320/helen+lester.gif" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:180%;">Helen Lester</span></strong> will visit <span style="font-size:130%;">2nd graders</span>.<br /></div><div>Helen knows her audience...she was a second-grade teacher for many years! She will share how some of her students inspired her engaging story characters, Tacky the Penguin and Fluffy the Porcupine. </div><div></div><div>"In addition to writing, I enjoy visiting schools all over the country encouraging children to write. Armed with messages such as "My books don't jump out of the computer," "Not all of my stories get published," and "Being edited isn't fun but it's good for you," I've found a new form of teaching. <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Author-True-Story-Helen-Lester/dp/0395827442/ref=ed_oe_h">Author: A True Story</a></u> comes directly from my school visits, and is perhaps the book of which I am proudest. How fortunate I am to have backed into this wonderful field. After living in New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, and Minneapolis, my husband and I have settled in our favorite village, Pawling, New York, where we tend our writing, our dog, and our empty nest." (<span style="font-size:78%;">Text and photo from</span> <a href="http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/helen_lester/index.shtml"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/helen_lester/index.shtml</span></a>)<br /></div><br /><div></div>For more information, visit <a href="http://www.helenlester.com/index.html">Helen's website</a> or the <a href="http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/authors/helen_lester/index.shtml">Helen Lester page </a>on Houghton Mifflin, where you will find her bio and ideas for using her books in the classroom.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8118542837678931574.post-61740575840265907552008-12-02T12:14:00.000-08:002009-01-03T16:34:11.382-08:00New Books!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5zPZeECxiyeQ-HEjCW8DTBj0Gdm8sHNn1Vs7nejHf5v6YP89X7qKBjIVhN79qznVrdaQXp4suZ6oFoIn5zrPAlJSM0Yfhkb3a1V1ZtRWQo_4_SRJVtrCoDunLDaQYHUmxwuHh_V72iw/s1600-h/Sea+Horse.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275295478005795906" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 140px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5zPZeECxiyeQ-HEjCW8DTBj0Gdm8sHNn1Vs7nejHf5v6YP89X7qKBjIVhN79qznVrdaQXp4suZ6oFoIn5zrPAlJSM0Yfhkb3a1V1ZtRWQo_4_SRJVtrCoDunLDaQYHUmxwuHh_V72iw/s320/Sea+Horse.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The new book order came in at the start of the school year and I am still enjoying reading all of the wonderful books! I just finished reading <u>Sea Horse: The shyest fish in the sea</u> by Chris Butterworth. It's my latest favorite (hint: the last book I've read is usually my favorite!) I learned so much about sea horses and I loved the beautiful illustration by John Lawrence. Did you know that a newborn sea horse is as long as your eyelash? What is your favorite new book in the Mohansic Library? (Or an old one...!)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0