Check out School Library Journal’s reader responses to Rebecca Miller’s editorial, “The Cost of Cuts,” the review of Dig Those Dinosaurs, and more.
The Best PowerPoint Alternatives for Creating Great Presentations
By on May 20, 2013
We’ve all endured “death by PowerPoint.” It’s a painful experience for the audience and probably not all that fun for the presenter either. To help students deliver effective presentations—free of those deadly bullet points—SLJ columnist Richard Byrne cites his go-to applications.
Constellations | Consider the Source
By on May 14, 2013 1 Comment
The focus on the close reading of texts suggests a new idea to SLJ’s columnist—an idea that taps librarians’ expertise and offers an exciting approach to inquiry.
What Are You Afraid Of? We Can’t Afford to Hesitate | Project Advocacy
By on May 14, 2013 Leave a Comment
Educators “must be fearless in advocating for our students’ needs,” says Carolyn Foote. In this debut of her SLJ column, “Project Advocacy,” Foote provides school librarians and media specialists with a “seed kit” of inspiration for stepping out and building a professional network and leveraging the autonomy of your library program.
SLJ Reviews Information Literacy Courseware ResearchReady
By on May 8, 2013
What is ResearchReady? The new information literacy courseware is “just about everything we try and teach condensed into a single convenient, Web-based and tablet-friendly can,” according to SLJ columnist Jeff Hastings.
Self-Published Ebooks not a Solution for K-12 Schools
By on May 6, 2013
While self-published titles may be an option for public libraries when it comes to acquiring ebooks, not so for schools, according to SLJ columnist Christopher Harris, who lays out the ongoing challenges for ebook adoption in K-12.
433 Words on Why Fandom Doesn’t Belong in Schools
By on May 3, 2013
A key part of the power of the fandom is precisely that it lies outside the realms of codified hierarchy we find in school and in the workplace…
RE: Reading | Consider the Source
By on May 2, 2013 2 Comments
The close reading of fiction and literary works is a standard requirement in our schools. Can we say the same of nonfiction?
World Peace and Other Aspirations: The Role of Play | Editorial
By on May 1, 2013 Leave a Comment
Pam Sandlian Smith’s ongoing reinvention of library service at the Anythink Libraries in Colorado shows what leadership exercised in a spirit of wonder and playfulness can achieve. John Hunter’s World Peace Game takes playing to a new level for learning. We can all learn from both.
Childproofed: When Your School Has Inflexible Filters | Scales on Censorship
By on April 23, 2013 Leave a Comment
Pat Scales, chair of the American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee, answers readers’ questions about censorship. This month, Scales addresses what to do when your school has inflexible or strict Internet filters, including strategies for aiding students in completing research assignments and advice on instituting new policies for challenged materials.
Getting Kids Engaged with Primary Sources | Cool Tools
By on April 22, 2013
Primary resources can help bring history to life for students. Make the most of first-hand accounts and other primary source content with tools such as the National Archives’ Digital Vaults, video tour included.
We Are Not Alone: National Curricular Reform Around the Globe | Consider the Source
By on April 18, 2013 Leave a Comment
In adopting the Common Core State Standards, U. S. educators are part of a larger educational reform movement. From England to Japan countries around the world are debating a national curricula. Why are so many nations considering one? And where does the impetus to do so come from? Marc Aronson ponders these questions in his latest Consider the Source column.
BYOD: Mobile devices belong in the classroom | Pivot Points
By on April 16, 2013 Leave a Comment
BYOD, or bring your own device, programs offer media specialists an opportunity to connect with students, teachers, and school administrators—and to take a leadership role in their schools and districts.
SLJ Reviews Gobstopper and Subtext: Apps that Enable Interactive Classroom Reading
By on April 15, 2013
The ability for teachers and students to embed their own content into digital texts, write notes, and get feedback on student reading—classroom reading just got a lot more dynamic. SLJ columnist Jeff Hastings test driives Gobstopper and Subtext.
Molly Idle’s ‘Flora and the Flamingo’ Is a Wordless Wonder | Under Cover
By on April 11, 2013 Leave a Comment
Artist and author Molly Idle talks about her latest book, her life, and her obsession with Prismacolor pencils.
The Bear Facts: Books About Cuddly Creatures | Nonfiction Booktalker
By on April 9, 2013 Leave a Comment
Books about bears and pandas are super-popular with K–4 kids and a great way to encourage them to read.
National History Day—A Perfect Support for Common Core | Consider the Source
By on April 4, 2013 2 Comments
With its emphasis on research, learning, investigating, and arriving at one’s own conclusions, History Day is a perfect complement to the new education guidelines.
Poem! Poem!: Everyday exposure to poetry brings joy and learning | Editorial
By on April 2, 2013 Leave a Comment
April is National Poetry Month and a favorite part of this initiative by the Academy of American Poets is Poem in Your Pocket Day, coming April 18. It’s a perfect time to see poetry all around us and reinforce that poetry infuses our lives. How will you be celebrating?
On Common Core | Nonfiction as Mentor Text
By on March 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
Many people hold on to the belief that nonfiction writing is “just the facts,” often synonymous with formulaic, dull writing. Nothing could be further from the truth. Writers for young people model both substance and style, and can serve as mentors to their readers.
In Light of Common Core, Seeking Ways to Circumvent Dewey
By on March 25, 2013
At one of the hottest sessions at ALA’s most recent Midwinter meeting, the Dewey Decimal System—that sacred cow of library organization—was trotted out in front of a packed room and subjected to intense scrutiny. But in the midst of Common Core, among other pressing issues, is this debate really worth our time?
