iPods and audiobooks in the Library

First of all, isn't this a great way to promote audiobooks! Way to go PlayfulLibrarian, I think that totally rocks and also a great book to showcase as well. If you haven't checked out The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, you really really should. I LOVE that book...it's like a movie that's been printed out scene by wonderful scene. But I digress...

Our upper school started checking out iPods loaded with audiobooks that are being read for the various English classes there so we decided to start the same program here at the middle school. Right now, I have 2 computers open - one devoted to the audiobooks (if available) used in our middle school courses and 1 for my work since there is some waiting and listening that needs to happen when determining if then audiobook will work.

I just wanted to mention it here but I can't go into it until later...However, if you are in Los Angeles, and attending the CAIS Conference next Monday, Maureen Frank, who figured this program all out at the US, will be presenting. You should go to her presentation!!! I'll be there!

It's all very exciting. Also, I am kind of surprised at how many classics are not in audiobook form - A Raisin in the Sun, The Pearl, and To Kill A Mockingbird to name a few that I can't find audio files for. Also, I love how many actors do voice overs, I'm previewing Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep read by Elliot Gould. He's a great reader so far. I also really love Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry) reading A Series of Unfortunate Events series. SO great!!!

Web 2.0 lessons - Networking and Kids

For the past couple of classes, we have been having our students explore various web 2.0 tools. One of them happens to be networking (I'm dropping the "social" and the "educational" because that is a whole other post) tools available online. A few of my students are comparing Myspace, Facebook and Imbee. One of them came up with the an amusing analogy after I asked them to describe the difference between the three tools and how the privacy tools work. This student is really energetic so just picture someone talking very excitedly about the topic.

Student: "Ok. Ok. so Myspace is like a kid jumping off a cliff. right?" He then proceeds to "jump off a cliff)

"and Facebook is like, you know, a normal kid." (then he points to himself)

and all the while his partner is agreeing with him and then throws in

"and Imbee is like a kid wrapped in bubble wrap!!!"

Eureka!

I cannot wait to see how they demonstrate and talk about these tools and am steering them towards the educational value of these sites but sometimes it's just fun to hear them talk.

Easing on down the road...

Coming back from winter break, I always tend to feel a off, but today was especially odd. The library was the most desolate it's felt in a long time. I was in the lab for most of the day and each period there would only be a handful of kids or no kids at all in there with me. During a couple of periods no one was there. My office mates were also gone so it was strangely quiet. There is usually a fair amount of talking kids and sometimes adults but it seemed as if everyone needed to ease back into the school day.

Nothing particularly exciting happened today though I did have a pretty good class. We had an activity where the students write a part of each other's story in addition to showing that they understand and can use the skills we are teaching. My friend, Missy, figured that one out and it was super fun though they still had trouble settling down. I have to read their mini stories but I can tell they will be funny.

Today, Ambookgeek commented on how he always gets really good classes because there is something about the types of classes and kids he gets. I think, he's also a great teacher but I also think that for some reason, I get kids who are into the same things and are also very social. Even the "quiet ones" are super social! I have yet to get a group that's mellow. I wonder if that has more to do with my personality and class management skills? I keep thinking and rereading parts of Fred Jones' book and I consciously apply them but I also wonder if it also has to do with the type of personalities drawn to having 6th period odd for the LT7 class.

Year 3-Week 1: Applying some workshop lessons

The first days of school have come and gone and I have to admit that it was great! I applied a couple of the techniques discussed at the Fred Jones Workshop in Santa Cruz I attended in June and also tips from the First Days of School book.
I have been steadily working on the goals for the school year I had listed here. I am happy to say that I did learn all of my students names and also met some really great 7th graders, who are not in my class. My students are pretty eclectic mix of personalities like every class room and about a 1/3 of them went to the same school. I learned that this is the only class where they actually have more than 1 or 2 people from their old school in the room. How does this happen? And why does it happen to me? I swear, sometimes I think someone is plotting against me :) It is not so bad though I have been re-arranging my seating chart every class meeting. I actually like doing this because I can see who talks to who during the period and then I can adjust accordingly next class meeting.
Learning all of their names before hand has made a huge difference. Who would have thought? Ok, every person who has written a class management and first days of school book! But remember I am not from a education background, I'm a librarian/art history major! Whether they are conscious of it or not, I think, they are pretty happy when you see them and know who they are. I even greeted them at the door and have made it a point to be there when they walk through the door of my class. Last year, I would be rushing from lunch and the set up was not very conducive for greeting them because there were 2 entrances. When you are standing right there when they walk in and are not hovering in the back somewhere, it makes a huge difference.
I have also been "working the crowd" and it has changed the talking level of the room though I work in a computer lab with a strange L-shaped set up so it makes it difficult to keep the space between me and a student to a minimum. I have been picturing the red/yellow/green zones and it has helped me immensely with keeping on moving and checking my students.
I really should keep writing about my class managment progress and in the end, I will probably write a letter to Fred Jones thanking him for a great workshop.
Hope everyone else's beginning of the year is off to a fabulous start as well!

Ethical Theme 2008-2009: Character

image from Simcoe County District School Board.

I have written about the ethical themes we focus on before for the coming school year. This year, our wonderful leader was inspired by Booker T. Washington's quote on "character" as something the school community will strive to instill in students for the following year.

What is "character"?

Searching Google you find a number of definitions, such as, "good repute" or (my favorite out of the list) "inherent complex of attributes that determines a person's moral and ethical actions and reactions; "education has for its object the formation of character"- Herbert Spencer."

How does an educator teach a student about "character?" What kinds of situations will arise where we have the opportunity to make it a "teaching moment"? I am not quite sure how to make the concept one that is so easily illustrated or explained. My first year, the ethical theme had to do with making the right choice as opposed to the easy one. The second year, the theme focused on understanding limits and being aware of how just because you can does not necessarily mean you should. Both themes seem easy enough to explain in my own head but how do you teach that to students, who are trying to figure out their own way no matter what?

Each year, I do find it challenging to try to make students more aware of their actions and how it affects those around them. At times, I feel a bit hypocritical but as they learn, I re-evaluate and re-learn as well.

I suppose that we just hope that years from now something will click. Something will inspire them to be their better selves.

In closing our meeting today, one of our leaders shared a story about a challenging student, who is now successful and focused and inspiring those around him. I guess, it's stories like these that will help motivate educators to continue to discuss and focus on ethics each school year.

Moving-In Time

I am about to start my 3rd year as a school librarian/teacher at the prestigious school I work at. I wrote earlier about how challenging last year was for me (I was definitely rethinking my career choice - well, the teaching part anyway) but I have a strong feeling that this year will be more interesting and challenging in other ways.

Things I will focus on this year include, but are not limited to (I got this wording from helping my friend, George, who was a architectural spec writer):

• applying the techniques discussed and practiced at the Fred Jones workshop I attended in June


• "work the crowd, or the crowd works you"


• remembering that my students' have enough friends


• preparing for each class, even though I feel I know the material (there are always surprises)


• learning my students' names before I meet them


• being a lot more open with my co-workers (I admit, I was a recluse last year)


• asking for help before it's too late!!!


• be better at taking criticism (thanks for the reminder BSB-"a thick skin")
  

Last week was officially my first week back. We spent 4 days unpacking books, organizing shelves, fixing magazines, organizing boxes for our offices and of course, catching up with my friends. Everyone had a pretty decent summer and I am hoping that I score on some Alaskan halibut that the Library Goddess caught in Homer.

My hands are pretty wrecked from all the moving but today I can actually type for a decent period of time. I still cannot open jars or bottles (e.g. water) but hopefully they will be back to normal tomorrow.

I have to say that the library looks absolutely beautiful! Lots of natural light, cream-colored shelving and the books are not super cramped! The stacks are not super tall! (I'm small and we have small kids) We can even have the tall books stand with their spine labels showing! You would not think that having books with their spines showing is a big deal but visually, it makes a big difference.

They will be moving in furniture soon so I will definitely take pictures after they are all in place.

With all the changes that have occurred this summer, it is fitting that we are in a new library.

Cesspool of germs - school environs

I love working at a school. The students are hilarious. They inspire me every day. I learn so much from my colleagues. There are so many pluses I cannot even write them down!

However, there are those moments, a couple times during the school year where the vicious flu virus or some strange mutated illness attacks the faculty.

This is one of those times. For the past 2 weeks, a number of my friends and colleagues have been going down because of the "flu." I am not even sure it is the flu but this one packs a punch - body aches, headaches, sore throat, stuffy/runny nose (look at that picture above! it's disgusting) and a person just cannot do anything.

I was talking to Felicious last night and she told me that I need to vibrate like the germ to battle it. I have no idea what that means because when I do visualize what I think that means, I just start cracking up.

Anyway, so, just as a warning to all you healthy people, do not get this strain of the flu and if you do go to the doctor right away. I have been sending panicked fear mongering emails to my friends because I care and I want them to feel better.

Thoughts on chaperoning: Northrop Grumman Symphonies For Schools

With the recent news coverage of Northrop Grumman and the military contract they recently won, I thought I would write about the other side of Northrop Grumman as sponsor for the education department of the LA Phil.

On February 28, I had the pleasure of chaperoning the middle school trip to see the LA Phil conducted by Joana Carneiro perform Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 "New World Symphony." The middle school symphony is amazing. We have one student who is a prodigy. I am not just saying this either. He's also one of the nicest and most focused and well-mannered students on campus but this goes for most of the students in symphony. I am pretty lucky in that I am asked to attend these things even though I have no real knowledge of classical music.

The performance of "New World Symphony" also coincided with a dramatic performance of Dvorak's contributions to American classical music /African-American History month. That was a little unexpected but it broke up the different parts of the symphony nicely (especially since the audience was made up of hundreds of L.A. middle schoolers). I learned about how Dvorak came to the United States to help create a style of classical music that was "America" and based it on folk music, African American spirituals and other American musical styles. The actors were interesting and one of them had the most amazing voice that just filled the concert hall. If I were a singer, I would want to sing in the concert hall. The acoustics are absolutely incredible.

I have only heard 1 part of the "New World Symphony" and it was just amazing listening to it live and in all it's 3 part glory. Also, one of the actors pointed out the influences of a section and it was great knowing where a beat or progression came from. We also had incredible seats where we had an excellent view of Joana Carniero. She is absolutely fascinating to watch. One student pointed out that she conducts ahead of the beat, which kind of blew my mind. She also uses every bit of her body to conduct. I have never seen anyone conduct with so much style and mannerisms. I was in awe of her.

Another great moment was listening to the pieces composed by 6 middle/high school students. 2 of the students are from the school. They were asked to represent America in the pieces they created. These are 14 - 18 year olds! Another mind blowing inspirational moment. If you let kids take off and nurture certain talents they can go so far.

Retreat Week!!!

It's retreat week again. This year I'm going to the desert again.

I thought about going to the river but am just a lot more excited about being out in the desert.

Last year was really fun even though I did not know the kids but this year, I am pretty excited about the group I am going with. Only the kids who really want to be in the desert go. It is a little rougher than the other trips. 4 days without showering, sleeping in a tent, hanging out with naturalists. Fun times :)

Cycle 1 - I made it

The first cycle of the school year is done. I made it!!! I have to say, this week has been a lot more relaxed than last year. Last year, the first day of school, I called my friends and had them go with me for ice cream because I thought I made the wrong decision. This year, no ice cream on the 1st day of school so that was a sign that the week would be okay!

I finished my first review for the school year. Here's a link. I just finished reading Blake Nelson's "They Came From Below." I have a couple of places where I put reviews but I think I will just place them on Vox because it's easier. If you do not want to read my review, just know, that I highly recommend this book.

This year, I have 15 students. All of them have good personalities. No one who is out of control. That is new for me and I am pretty happy about it. I still need to work on my class management skills and having the kids remain focused when they come to class. We start discussions and they just take it and run. It's great but at the same time, we have so much work to do.

I am feeling a lot more confident this year. I know, things will happen but at least I am more comfortable with the curriculum.