Biography, Autobiography & Lexile

Three classes back to back today all leaving the library with a biography or autobiography for their project.  They had a ditto they needed to fill out to turn into their teacher that included some information about the title and the Lexile level. Did a short talk with two classes on searching the catalog, how to look for their Lexile level of their chosen title and other ways they can search the catalog to find a biography or autobiography to fit their needs.

Each time this assignment is given at every school I have worked the student choice is super varied. You have the regular rotations of Walt Disney, Anne Frank and Albert Einstein but more recently Steve Jobs and David Bowie since his passing plus the resurgence of a few kids asking about Jane Austen and other female authors. It is always interesting to see what they gravitate towards.

921 is the place to be today. 

The thing I love is when the kids are open and ask for suggestions. Generally I do a little chat about what they are interested in and can sort of gauge what they might like. They want options and then generally will choose from the smaller pile. You end up getting the kids interested in someone they would have never picked - someone like James Dean or Marilyn Monroe. Maybe 10 years ago these two would have been chosen first up but they aren't really in heavy rotation. Either way this gives you a chance to see the collection more clearly and see which publishers and titles have timelines, photographs or other little tidbits that engage the kids. The most important is the one on one interaction with the kids and to be helpful and kind. This keeps them coming back to the library.

Some of the choices. 

Today was my last official day at the Laguna Middle School Library as an intern. I will still be coming in once a week after spring break on my own to work on a Lexile project and whatever else Ms. Schwoerer needs. I was there before the internship and will be there after. I was lucky to get such a great school site.

St. Patricks Day & March Madness

Took down the cupcake display and put up a quick, springy St. Patricks Day display!

Lots of Green! 

Interesting Irish Realistic Fiction.

March Madness has come to Laguna and I pulled some Basketball books to replace the Medieval display. I was careful not to pull any basketball biographies because we have classes coming tomorrow to pull biographies and it is unwise to split them up. I have a feeling some of the basketball ones will get checked out tomorrow. 

March Madness! 

Hoop Dreams.

I faced out some more books in the biography section anticipating the classes tomorrow. Also some supplemental biographies came from the IMC to support  students that need materials that are at a lower reading levels so they can still be engaged in the assignment. More to come on this assignment tomorrow  - when I see who the kids decide to choose for their assignment..........

Teen Tech Week Kickoff

As you can see the entrance to the Laguna Library was sign ready and the kids came streaming in for lunch ready to take apart computers, create some origami out of vintage book papers and finger knitting going as the day went on. Books were pulled and the cart set up for grab and go maker titles. 

The computer and scanner dismantling was a hit. The computer tech was there to answer questions and help the kids with anything that came up and to keep things safe and smooth. It was so great to see boy and girls going to town on these devices and learning about how they are created and what each of the parts do. 

Before and AFTER!

Tinker Time Laguna Library Blog - more photos!

Ms. Schwoerer was also in engaging the students outside the library by sending one short Common Sense Media video out to the teachers that they can play during homeroom. This goes in tandem with a short video she is doing with some of the students. 

Cyber Bullying - Common Sense Media VIA LAMS Library Blog.

The students are telling Ms. Schwoerer what they think is something that they need to be aware of when using the Internet. The responses were super varied and I can't wait to see the video on Friday. All this outreach to the school, having these type of events in the library and help them engage the library space in a new way is really what the best lesson for me is. Also working with other SLCUSD staff (in this case the technology department) is really how this is a true success.  I have a feeling a few maker type books will get checked out next week. 

Next week is my last week at Laguna Library. Looking forward to finishing up tech week Thursday and setting up a St. Patricks Day display and get some lucky green books faced out. Who knows what my last week will bring. 

Tell Them Again .....

Ms. Schwoerer made 3 minute video slideshow to send to all the classes after the Operation Discovery research talk. The presentation graphics and slides were more simple but the main part was the narration done with Screencast. This is a great tool to add voice to presentations and is another tool that you can use in the library or even to help newbies practice a presentation.

Started a project with the fiction collection. They are all not labeled with their lexile measure.  Today began the project of getting that rectified. Although a simple project it really gives me a chance to get more connected to the collection and see what books are at which level. I am surprised by some of the lexile measures and how high and low they are. Here is more information about this specific way of measuring texts and why some schools are adopting this as a way to better focus on at what level the students are reading.

What is Lexile measuring?

Also next week is Teen Tech Week. Who will sign up to Create It a the LAMS Library? More on that next week......

Busy Tuesday

Tasked with " springing up" the library, finishing up the medieval book section ( just waiting on all the cool student artwork to go with it!) and faced out some new books around the library.

Spring It Up! 

Medieval Titles

I was involved with two classes who needed autobiographies at lower reading levels. Ms. Schwoerer did the first presentation and I got to do the second. She was emailed by the teacher about 5 days before the classes came in. She got some books from the IMC and pulled some from the LAMS collection. It was good to visit the IMC and then see how the LMTs use the resource and get the titles as needed. 

Graphic Novel, Picture Book and Easy Reader Autobiography Options.

Ms. Schwoerer found two great short videos from YouTube about the authors. We read aloud from "A Boy and a Jaguar" by Alan Rabinowitz. He is now Dr. Rabinowitz who overcame his stuttering to be an advocate for animals. Then we heard from Patricia Pollacco. She discussed her learning disability and how it led her to art and writing all while working on a very intricate form of Ukrainian egg art. 

These students are in reading resource so it was great to focus on two autobiographies that are not only in a lower reading level but are really well written  and read more like a story. Plus both of these people overcame learning and stuttering issues to become leaders in their respective fields. 

Lots of kids coming in and out choosing titles for other assignments too. It felt good to get so much done in such a short time today. Plus I had fun doing the presentation and I think that at least of few of the kids were excited about some of their autobiography options. 

San Luis Obispo High School Library - Field Trip

Just a quick note to stay thanks to Jennifer Sawyer the Library Media Tech at SLOHS. She met with me today and let me pick her brain about a myriad of things but truly she loves her job and her library is the place to be on campus.

We had a chance to talk about the California School Library Association  and how she took some media literacy lessons and implemented them with all her 9th graders for the first time this year. It really cements in their minds how to look for trusted sites, use the ETC Portal and give them face time with her so they know where to come for school support. Also on site is Mary Dornish a library assistant there 6 hours a day.

She is a huge fan of Library 2.0 tools and is a real advocate for the library and it shows with her interactions with the kids. Her main advice when coming onto a new school site is to really utilize your space, get to know the campus and make connections. Also with so many different areas of  student interest you really need to make sure to not be afraid to try things and always ask students and teachers how you can help.

SLO High Website

SLO Library Display - Unwrap a new title. 

I wonder what title is inside the wrapper?

Cupcakes & Computers : Bonus - Field Trip!

We spent more time today talking tech. The library is the place where kids come for troubleshooting tech issues. Ms. Schwoerer is the go to troubleshooter and the liaison with the district if bigger issues arise. The district is moving to a 1:1 model and all the carts are being set up.

Ms. Schwoerer showed me her system and it's super streamlined. It makes it easy for the carts to get circulated and to know where the checked out cars are on site. I am lucky to be interning when the school is implementing and expanding their tech program. It is a big part of her work in the library and I have been able to help a few kids too. With all the focus on growing a collection, Common Core and other day to day issues of the library - effective technology implementation and troubleshooting is at the top of the list.

All bar coded, numbered and entered into the right sheets and programs.
Who needs to check out a Chrome book cart?

Another display? Why yes! Home EC is doing a cupcake challenge........ Heroes and Villains!

The students will be baking a cupcake based on the hero or villain. The costume and history of the character will be a part of the challenge. I can't wait to see what flavors and decorations they choose to showcase their hero or villains background and focus. This library display is another way to engage classroom learning and expand on it. 

Jabba the Cupcake - V is for Villain! 

Every Hero Has a Story. 

Cupcakes and Comics - Hey Little Ewok! 

Also a shout out to Kris Bell! She is the District Librarian for Atascadero Unified School District. She met with me for an hour and answered all my questions. Ms. Haupt the SLCUSD District Librarian sent me to meet up and I can see why. She gave me lots of insight on what it means to develop programs over many school sites, the importance of keeping your library up to date and how to handle site specific needs. It was really eye opening. No pics of her sadly, I dropped the ball on that. I did get some of the Atascadero High School library and it really is a very cool place on campus and she is lucky to have her office at a school site. Go Greyhounds!