February 16, 2013

Whodunit?: Mysteries Can Support the Common Core | Listen In

Milo and Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Stinky Socks
© 2009 by Amy Wummer.

With their emphasis on clear observation, logical thinking, and well-drawn conclusions, mysteries support many Common Core State Standards and lend themselves to an array of interesting writing assignments. These audiobooks are sure to spark student interest.

(Mis)Guided Reading | Consider the Source

Teacher reading at desk with children

Marc Aronson explores the fundamental clash between guided reading and Common Core.

On Common Core | Talking about Nonfiction

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“Talking takes time” note the authors, but allowing students time for conversations about the texts they are reading is essential.

Planning Common Core Lessons?: Free, Web-based applications can help align your plans with the new standards

Planning Common Core Lessons?: Free, Web-based applications can help align your plans with the new standards

Ready or not, here they come. At almost every school I visited this year, teachers asked me to address the Common Core (CC) standard in my workshops. Planning lessons with CC in mind presents a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. These sites are designed with the express purpose of helping plan lessons around Common Core.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: New Releases for Your Nonfiction Shelves

Book cover of girl and boy w/ clothing for diff temperatures

Good nonfiction titles rise to the top as librarians focus their content needs to meet the Common Core State Standards. New releases by our favorite authors and illustrators include an environmental bilingual poem, a picture-book biography, a fact-filled science title, and a narrative account of a bird’s 7,200 mile migration.

Consider the Source: Getting History Right

bomb

History texts for young readers and young adults should invite them to participate in the process of thinking about, and thus re-imagining, who we are and how we got that way. Using annotated citations and other methods, our goal should be to let kids in on the process.

Deconstructing Nonfiction | On Common Core

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If students are not familiar with nonfiction texts, they may assume that every nonfiction book serves the same function.

‘Pathways to the Common Core’ | Professional Shelf

pathways

“Pathways to the Common Core” offers solutions and directions for teachers looking for a way to understand and implement the Common Core State Standards into their lesson plans.

A Call for ‘Blended Funding’: Schools must pool money to support Common Core

A Call for ‘Blended Funding’: Schools must pool money to support Common Core

How will schools pay for new CC resources, including digital? One approach is to look for existing funds within your school and district that can be redirected so that your library can purchase CC resources for the classroom. But that requires that libraries market their expertise in resource selection and collection development so that your value is obvious to others, says Christopher Harris.

Clustering and the Common Core

sotwbbook

Achieving the level of complex thinking in the classroom required by the Common Core standards can feel overwhelming, particularly when students will be reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing in this capacity throughout the day.

The Public Library Connection: The new standards require that public and school librarians pull together | On Common Core

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Now, more than ever before, collaboration between public and school librarians is critical. As we strive to be at the center of the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in our schools, strong relationships with our local public librarians can make all the difference in the world and provide us, our students, and our school colleagues with tremendous advantages.

While public and school libraries differ, our common patron base of children gives both groups fertile ground [...]

Stories for Winter Nights| Listen In

SLJ1212w_ListenInopen

Cold winter weather provides the perfect setting for putting on headphones to listen to a good book. For over 50 years, Search Institute, a nonprofit organization, has worked to improve the lives of young people by examining and offering ideas to combat risky behaviors and determining what kids need to succeed. They were early adopters of the adage “It takes a village to raise a child,” believing that the entire community must band together to help [...]

On the Radar: Top Teen Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Two Parts Make a Whole: Using Graphic Novels in Your Common Core Classroom

Bloody Chester

If you’re looking for official justification for the purchase of graphic novels, look no further than the Common Core State Standards. In grades 6-12, students will be required to apply the Reading standards to a variety of text types, including graphic novels. For mature readers, this fall’s releases offer stories of war, madness, gangs, and failed dreams. Young adult patrons will have much to think and talk about after reading these selections.

NCTE’s 700-plus Sessions Deliver on Tech, Lit, and the Common Core

NYC in Las Vegas

Amid the sparkle of bling and sounds of cha-ching, visitors to Las Vegas, NV, last week caught sight of thousands of educators from around the country wending their way through Metro Golden Mayer Grand complex toward its conference center for the 102nd annual National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) convention November 15-18.

NCTE Round Up, One

NCTE 2012 logo

Over the next few issues of SLJTeen, I’ll be posting brief summaries of many of the sessions I attended at the annual National Council of Teachers of English annual conference, held in Las Vegas, Nov.15-18, 2012. Hand-outs for many of the sessions are available from the NCTE 2012 website. This round up includes sessions on nonfiction resources for English teachers, literacy efforts for incarcerated youth and adults, and faeries in young adult literature.

Consider the Source: The Mandate

Downed tree on the way to New Canaan Library, CT.

In the wake of the destruction wrought by Sandy, Marc Aronson emphasizes the importance of the Common Core standards as students and teachers discuss the link between the recent hurricane and climate change.

On the Radar: Top Picks from the Editors at Junior Library Guild: Graphic Novels and the Common Core

Book cover with erupting volcanoes

If you’re looking for official justification for the purchase of graphic novels, look no further than the Common Core State Standards. In grades 6 to 12, students will be required to apply the Reading standards to a variety of text types and formats, including graphic novels. Today’s graphic artists and writers provide a plethora of titles for beginning readers to adults. Check out these new titles that will strengthen your collection and thrill your readers.

Wondering how to put Common Core into practice? It’s easier than you think.

Illustration by Amy Wasserman.

This fall, as we’ve traveled around New York State doing workshops for librarians and teachers on the Common Core State Standards, we’ve been living and breathing the new education standards.

Consider the Source: On the Common Core Trail

Motorcycle on the road

Here’s Marc Aronson’s latest report from Common Core land. Two weeks ago, he was on the road for four days along with Sue Bartle leading Common Core (CC) workshops. They learned a lot—much of it encouraging.

SLJ Summit 2012: Nonfiction Authors Address the Common Core

Authors Deborah Hopkinson and Barbara Kerley display their books.

At the School Library Journal Summit held October 26-27, authors Deborah Hopkinson, Barbara Kerley, Steve Sheinkin, and Sally M. Walker came together to share their views on their work and how they can address Common Core principles as they conduct research for their books.