I have begun to catalog my father's books in Library Thing. My parents moved into a retirement community last summer, and I took Dad's Clancy and Grisham collection because he really didn't want to part with it, but their new place already has more books than Mom wanted.
Library thing is real easy to use, especially after using TLC, two library circulation systems, and Marc Magician. With Library Thing, all I inputted was the ISBN and the location of the books (4th room).
I think I may catalog all of Dad's books and give him access to Library Thing.
I can see several uses for this contraption, now that you ask.
1. Teachers can catalog their classroom collections, quickly and easily. Tags could include ownership (school or personal), location, genre, author.
I can also see times when I might want to establish special collections for teachers or students.
What I really need to do with it, now that I think of it, is ask my students to catalog their personal collections. This could help me determine what AR quizzes I need to order, and might go a long way to demonstrate the state of our school's reading mindset.
Not a bad little tool.
But it's still cataloging. what is the marc tag for "go to bed, Dan!"??
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Train in the Library
The most massive part of the Treaure Forest Rail Road is the 10 foot long stone arch bridge. 5th graders did the painting.
I tried to use a re-painted cheap Christmas train, but I wasn't happy with the performance of the train.
In one shot, my grand daughter, Virginia is helping me inspect the train.
And I have been getting suggestions that I be sure to measure everything before we take it all down to change the carpet. You bet. With luck, it will come back better than ever.
Thing # 10 Images
I had some problems with the image gizmos. The only one I could make work for me was the trading card maker.
I can see many uses for this one. I would like to make trading cards for about 50 of the authors in my library.
I have made a card from an activity from the past. I think we could have fun with this.
I think my colleague who does the morning broadcast for our school will have more fun with this.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Thing # 9 RSS
I'm still not all that wild about this whole blogging concept. Don't I shoot the bull enough at work where there are people who will tell me to shut-up!?!
The thoughts on how to choose who you get blogged by was interesting. OK, it was a high-tech version of older suggestions on surrounding yourself with people smarter that yourself. Like that's real hard for me.
So, to the assisgment for this particular treasure hunt. I didn't find a newspaper dated Feb 1, but a neighbor did have a seat cushion for a high school stadium.
What did I like? I liked Google Blog Search best, probably because the RSS gods actually gave me blogs when I searched blogs. I asked for "million pennies" because I am about to propose our elementary school collect them next year, first to raise money, but also because there may be no better way to show kids just how much is a million. A Gifted and Talented group was proposing everything I would, but the kids are doing all the work. So much the better.
What did I not like? most of the rest of the search methods. Maybe my feed just doesn't like me but I tended to find commercial news rather than the folksy stuff like me.
An unfortunate bit of timing is that right now, when you search "million and pennies" you are going to find all sorts of stuff on the lucky stiff who just auctioned off 301 pennies for ten million dollars!
An observation on postings. I Google Blog searched SBISD and found an article on a recent school bus shooting. The comments were almost as frightening as the shooting. I saw racism, vulgarities and just scary stuff. What was it a colleage called it last week? Cyber bullying or Cyber trash?
I can see curling up with a couple of search parameters and looking for people who have already answered the questions I am just now thinking of. Like I have that much time.
By the way, for those who miss the train, our second graders still get a kick out of running the train when they earn the time. I entrust the remote to my more trusted readers and let them supervise the others. So far the train has not left the tracks (that are over 6 feet above the floor).
The district will be replacing the carpet in my library this summer, so all furniture, including the book shelves have to come out. That also means the train must be disassembled this May. Wish I had paid more attention to how I built it!!
Blessings upon all
The thoughts on how to choose who you get blogged by was interesting. OK, it was a high-tech version of older suggestions on surrounding yourself with people smarter that yourself. Like that's real hard for me.
So, to the assisgment for this particular treasure hunt. I didn't find a newspaper dated Feb 1, but a neighbor did have a seat cushion for a high school stadium.
What did I like? I liked Google Blog Search best, probably because the RSS gods actually gave me blogs when I searched blogs. I asked for "million pennies" because I am about to propose our elementary school collect them next year, first to raise money, but also because there may be no better way to show kids just how much is a million. A Gifted and Talented group was proposing everything I would, but the kids are doing all the work. So much the better.
What did I not like? most of the rest of the search methods. Maybe my feed just doesn't like me but I tended to find commercial news rather than the folksy stuff like me.
An unfortunate bit of timing is that right now, when you search "million and pennies" you are going to find all sorts of stuff on the lucky stiff who just auctioned off 301 pennies for ten million dollars!
An observation on postings. I Google Blog searched SBISD and found an article on a recent school bus shooting. The comments were almost as frightening as the shooting. I saw racism, vulgarities and just scary stuff. What was it a colleage called it last week? Cyber bullying or Cyber trash?
I can see curling up with a couple of search parameters and looking for people who have already answered the questions I am just now thinking of. Like I have that much time.
By the way, for those who miss the train, our second graders still get a kick out of running the train when they earn the time. I entrust the remote to my more trusted readers and let them supervise the others. So far the train has not left the tracks (that are over 6 feet above the floor).
The district will be replacing the carpet in my library this summer, so all furniture, including the book shelves have to come out. That also means the train must be disassembled this May. Wish I had paid more attention to how I built it!!
Blessings upon all
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Thing # 8 RSS
RSS Means Really simple syndication, but that doesn't mean anything to me. Really simple stuff might work.
Anyways, I created an account in Google, added several library blogs, my preacher's blog, and a library comic strip that hasn't really impressed me, yet.
What do I like about it? It's easy to do.
How do I think I might use it at school? I might look for blogs about grants, Accelerated Reader, and read-a-louds. I am interested in a project where we would try to help parents become readers to their children. I hate to re-invent the wheel, so I will look around for others who are already doing this.
With a little work, I think I could assemble a number of worthy feeds that could provide useful info to me without me having to search for it.
It's worth a try.
Anyways, I created an account in Google, added several library blogs, my preacher's blog, and a library comic strip that hasn't really impressed me, yet.
What do I like about it? It's easy to do.
How do I think I might use it at school? I might look for blogs about grants, Accelerated Reader, and read-a-louds. I am interested in a project where we would try to help parents become readers to their children. I hate to re-invent the wheel, so I will look around for others who are already doing this.
With a little work, I think I could assemble a number of worthy feeds that could provide useful info to me without me having to search for it.
It's worth a try.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Why I am a Librarian
Last week I had an experience akin to a father teaching his daughter to ride a bike, or the first time a grandfather plays catch with his grandson.
I couldn't find the book I had intended to read to my Kindergarten classes, and the first class was on the carpet, criss-cross, indian style. In desperation I grabbed the first book I recognized, and headed for my seat.
Keep in mind that I am from a middle-class background where we five children were surrounded by books, picture books, chapter books, grownup books. (Dad's Clancy and Grisham collection is here for safe keeping, Mom says they are out of room!) We subscribed to the monthly Beginner Books in the early 60's.
So, anyways, here I am with a book I assume every 6 year old has memorized, since my 4 year old sister actually did.
Those of you who work with underpriviledged kids will understand when I tell you I actually introduced 200 children to "Green Eggs and Ham"!! They had never heard of it! What a rush!! Of course they loved it! We made it into a shared reading, I would stop and let them finish each line. When our protagonist (does he have a name??) fell into the sea, I held my nose and gargled "Sam, I Am". The place fell apart every time.
I have introduced my 4 year old granddaughter to many books, but last week, I did it for over 200 children!
This is supposed to be a post about technology, but if my Kindergarten and 1st graders have never had their parents read to them from the good Doctor Seuss, I have a bigger calling.
Did you realize there are only 50 vocabulary words in the whole book? Seuss was challenged by his editor to write such a book, on a bet, and set up a whole industry.
In the Spanish edition, Sam I Am become Juan Ramon, which does rhyme with "Juevos Verde con Jamon", the title.
I have actually eaten green eggs. It happens in the Army when scrambled eggs spend too much time in the field warming containers, known for some reason as mermite cans. I have eaten them in a box, and in a house. I'm pretty sure I've eaten them with a mouse. The mouse was present, not part of the meal.
We are trying to establish a reading culture in the library. Our 2nd graders are major players in Accelerated Reader, a program where you read a book and then take a test over it. The computer awards points based on your score. Our second graders know how many points their classroom champion has, and also track the progress of neighboring classes. Dog tags for 50 and 100 points are worn proudly like Olympic medals. Friday afternoon there was real buzz among the dozen youngsters who were testing in the library when Christian, a precoucious Kindergartener, stepped up to the computer and took his first test of the day. All crowded around to see if the lad could do it. 100%. He tested on his second book. 100%. Whispers and comments of admiration and respect. A Kindergartener!
I actually get paid to do this. Life is good.
I couldn't find the book I had intended to read to my Kindergarten classes, and the first class was on the carpet, criss-cross, indian style. In desperation I grabbed the first book I recognized, and headed for my seat.
Keep in mind that I am from a middle-class background where we five children were surrounded by books, picture books, chapter books, grownup books. (Dad's Clancy and Grisham collection is here for safe keeping, Mom says they are out of room!) We subscribed to the monthly Beginner Books in the early 60's.
So, anyways, here I am with a book I assume every 6 year old has memorized, since my 4 year old sister actually did.
Those of you who work with underpriviledged kids will understand when I tell you I actually introduced 200 children to "Green Eggs and Ham"!! They had never heard of it! What a rush!! Of course they loved it! We made it into a shared reading, I would stop and let them finish each line. When our protagonist (does he have a name??) fell into the sea, I held my nose and gargled "Sam, I Am". The place fell apart every time.
I have introduced my 4 year old granddaughter to many books, but last week, I did it for over 200 children!
This is supposed to be a post about technology, but if my Kindergarten and 1st graders have never had their parents read to them from the good Doctor Seuss, I have a bigger calling.
Did you realize there are only 50 vocabulary words in the whole book? Seuss was challenged by his editor to write such a book, on a bet, and set up a whole industry.
In the Spanish edition, Sam I Am become Juan Ramon, which does rhyme with "Juevos Verde con Jamon", the title.
I have actually eaten green eggs. It happens in the Army when scrambled eggs spend too much time in the field warming containers, known for some reason as mermite cans. I have eaten them in a box, and in a house. I'm pretty sure I've eaten them with a mouse. The mouse was present, not part of the meal.
We are trying to establish a reading culture in the library. Our 2nd graders are major players in Accelerated Reader, a program where you read a book and then take a test over it. The computer awards points based on your score. Our second graders know how many points their classroom champion has, and also track the progress of neighboring classes. Dog tags for 50 and 100 points are worn proudly like Olympic medals. Friday afternoon there was real buzz among the dozen youngsters who were testing in the library when Christian, a precoucious Kindergartener, stepped up to the computer and took his first test of the day. All crowded around to see if the lad could do it. 100%. He tested on his second book. 100%. Whispers and comments of admiration and respect. A Kindergartener!
I actually get paid to do this. Life is good.
Thing # 7 Google and other venal sins
OK, boys and girls, I'm back. Bless me Father for I have sinned. It's been a month since my last posting. After getting set upon by two colleagues at today's library meeting over being AWOL, I am back.
But now I remember why I was gone. Google. My assignment is to play in Google.
So I tried to do Google notebook. A friend said I would like the features. I suppose I will when I can find the instruction book. Google has spent so much time shoving the toolbar at me, they forgot to tell me what to do or how to do it once I get into the notebook.
Now, I have looked at Google Maps, I go there all the time. I like to look at airfields and harbors on satelite, realizing that the images are about two years old, based on progress on the Katy Freeway.
I plan to use Google Maps and the satelite feature with my classes. I will start with the image of the US, zoom in on Texas, then to Houston, and finally to our school neighborhood. I dont' think many of my kids understand how their neighborhood fits into the Very Big picture.
So now that I have vented my frustration over Notebook, I am going back in. Someone cover me. Make sure the rope around my waist doesn't get tangled around my neck!
But now I remember why I was gone. Google. My assignment is to play in Google.
So I tried to do Google notebook. A friend said I would like the features. I suppose I will when I can find the instruction book. Google has spent so much time shoving the toolbar at me, they forgot to tell me what to do or how to do it once I get into the notebook.
Now, I have looked at Google Maps, I go there all the time. I like to look at airfields and harbors on satelite, realizing that the images are about two years old, based on progress on the Katy Freeway.
I plan to use Google Maps and the satelite feature with my classes. I will start with the image of the US, zoom in on Texas, then to Houston, and finally to our school neighborhood. I dont' think many of my kids understand how their neighborhood fits into the Very Big picture.
So now that I have vented my frustration over Notebook, I am going back in. Someone cover me. Make sure the rope around my waist doesn't get tangled around my neck!
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