“Yes: I think it is fair, appropriate and altogether fitting that we share our passion for media. I think a great question to ask anyone and to demand an answer to is: why are you a fan of __(fill in the blank)_?”
The Oscars: Frank Baker Talks Critical Thinking, Movie Fandom, and the Common Core
By on February 18, 2013
What’s the Buzz? Nonfiction Books for Common Core
By on February 15, 2013 Leave a Comment
Tuesday, March 12, 2013, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET What are the best nonfiction Common Core books to stock with your shelves with? DK Publishing, Teacher Created Materials, Lerner Publishing and ReferencePoint Press are here to help fill your library’s nonfiction section by presenting their upcoming titles that fit perfectly into the new standards. This is a must-see resource for Common Core, featuring forthcoming books, nonfiction trends, and answers to your questions! Archive now available!
Fusenews: Though wouldn’t you rather read “Bertie & Psmith”?
By on February 13, 2013
Before we begin I would like to have a few words with the publishers on behalf of catalogers nationwide. Ahem. Hi, guys. How’s it going? Heckuva weird weather we’ve had lately, right? Yeah . . . so . . . here’s the thing. You know how you’ve been rereleasing a couple classic children’s books recently [...]
Planning Common Core Lessons?: Free, Web-based applications can help align your plans with the new standards
By on January 31, 2013
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.
Exploring Common Core’s Informational Text… with Violent Video Games
By on January 24, 2013
Scholastic Plans ‘39 Clues’ Baldacci Webcast at Smithsonian American History Museum
By on January 24, 2013 2 Comments
Scholastic will offer a free, behind-the-scenes video tour of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History with author David Baldacci as a guide. The “Decoding History” virtual field trip coincides with the release of Baldacci’s new book, “The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers: Day of Doom,” the latest in the bestselling series.
Britannica School | Digital Resources
By on January 22, 2013 Leave a Comment
Britannica Digital Learning
www.info.eb.com/school
Grade Level: PreK Up
Cost The list price is $525 for up to 700 students and 75 cents for each additional student. Discounts are available for school district and consortium purchases. In addition, some states pay for the subscription in public schools and libraries. The following federal funding is available: Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Title X; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Investing in Innovation (i3); Race to the Top Funds; 21st Century [...]
Consider the Source: Getting History Right
By on January 16, 2013 1 Comment
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.
Model Library Curriculum shared on our PA DOE portal
By on December 31, 2012
In times like these it’s even more meaningful when your state department of education endorses and validates your contribution to the learning culture of your school. This past fall, New York State recognized the specific contributions of its school librarians by approving a new School Librarian Evaluation Rubric. (AASL lists a variety of others as [...]
Fusenews: Bets lists towards best book lists
By on December 7, 2012
The best books lists are abundant and here! So very exciting, yes? I do love this time of year, and so it makes sense to begin with the cream of the crop. I refer, of course, to NYPL’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2012. Split into seven different categories (Picture Books, Folk and Fairy [...]
Fusenews: Bets lists towards best book lists
By on December 7, 2012
The best books lists are abundant and here! So very exciting, yes? I do love this time of year, and so it makes sense to begin with the cream of the crop. I refer, of course, to NYPL’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing 2012. Split into seven different categories (Picture Books, Folk and Fairy [...]
Consider the Source: Two Is the Thorniest Number
By on December 3, 2012 Leave a Comment
In his latest Consider the Source column, Marc Aronson uses the recent presidential election as a jumping off point to discuss the different ways that American history is viewed.
Fusenews: Grumble fish
By on November 30, 2012
“Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first person she meets and then teams up with three strangers to kill again.”
That would be an old line from a TV column in the Marin Independent Journal by one Rick Polito describing the film The Wizard of Oz. My brother-in-law Steve brought it up [...]
Consider the Source: The Mandate
By on November 20, 2012 2 Comments
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.
News Bites: Free Video Series from NBC Learn: “Writers Speak to Kids”
By on November 13, 2012 1 Comment
Watch a series of 17 interviews with children’s author’s for free, apply for book donation and literacy grants, get free writing rubrics, and much more—just check out this week’s News Bites for lots of great information for librarians, teachers, and everyone involved in education.
On Common Core | Content Over Coverage
By on November 1, 2012 1 Comment
One of the most common complaints about state or local curriculum standards is that they focus on covering a range of topics while sacrificing depth of understanding. Chances are you’ve heard your colleagues bemoan that these standards are “a mile long and an inch deep.” Are the Common Core State Standards any different?
The LC does CCSS
By on October 28, 2012
Earlier this week, the Teaching with the Library of Congress blog, announced that it has made its already fabulous teaching resources–designed to inspire analysis, critical thinking, and the value of working with primary sources–more findable for teachers by aligning them to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
It’s all free and available through a new search [...]
SLJ’s Resources on the Common Core
By on October 22, 2012 3 Comments
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) have become the topic du jour in educational circles, and librarians are key participants in the conversation. School Library Journal’s Leadership Summit, “Advocacy and E-volution: Creating Stronger Schools Through Stronger Libraries,” taking place in Philadelphia October 26-27, will focus on how librarians and school media specialists can propel the dialogue and help teachers and administrators deliver on the full potential of the Common Core.
The Wild World of Steve Jenkins | An Author Study
By on October 2, 2012 3 Comments
The Common Core’s emphasis on nonfiction challenges educators to provide insightful and interesting materials to students. In order to best serve my population, I decided to create a series of nonfiction author study units similar to those we already did. Since most teachers at my school tend to assign animal research reports to introduce nonfiction, I chose Steve Jenkins for my first nonfiction author study—someone whose books are found in most classrooms and libraries.
On Common Core | Creating Community
By on September 25, 2012 1 Comment
It may seem obvious to you, dear reader, but not everyone knows that the library is the heart of the school community, the place where student and faculty life converge—where children race to reserve the latest installment in that must-read series, to find that just-right book, to explore online resources, to work and collaborate on research projects, to reread a favorite fiction title before the movie is released, and to talk about the books they love with people who care. It’s the place where teachers discover new resources to incorporate into lesson plans, gather to discuss and map curriculum, and to attend professional development workshops after school hours.
