Alrighty there...
mid-May I wrote a post about a Summer Reading Challenge. 75 books in Summer 2013.
I'm a little less than a month away from my deadline of August 19th, but I'm 28 books in. AND, most of them have been adult books, so it isn't even including the stack of children's books I have waiting at my apartment for when I get back from vacation! (And definitely doesn't include all the Pinterest book recommendations I've been holding onto to start collecting.) While I'm not as far as I had hoped to be, I'm making a decent dent and I'm back to enjoying an afternoon reading rather than an afternoon watching tv, which was my personal goal.
I'm hoping next time I post I'll even have some reviews of the children's books up for people to enjoy. My goal this school year is for my students to post book reviews, so I want to test out some different Web 2.0 tools for them to use to do so. I got a lot of great ideas with my district's Digital Educator's Summer Academy, as well as my attendance of Technology in Education's (now InnEdCo) Conference in June. I got a lot of great ideas for myself, my teachers, and my students.
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer vacations and summer reading!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Me on the Map Project (1st & 2nd Grade)
Remember this post? (http://www.msbooklady5280.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-name-is-ms-book-lady-and-i-have.html)
(aka, how I spent two nights in a row cutting out 900 construction paper circles)
The first step is admitting your problem right? A couple weeks ago I found this:
It looked like such an awesome project, and it meets standards for first and second graders about understanding their place in the world so I couldn't pass it up.
The steps to produce this project included: A) I (plus my para and a parent) spent almost a week tracing and/or cutting out circles for this project. B) Now that classes are finishing up, each has to be hole punched and string tied (oy vey). Thankfully next year only 1st grade will do the project, because doing this times 200 is getting ridiculous. C) I had to grade these all of them, checking all of the options. Here is a snapshot of each of the projects (awesome examples from all 8 first and second grade classrooms):
The steps to produce this project included: A) I (plus my para and a parent) spent almost a week tracing and/or cutting out circles for this project. B) Now that classes are finishing up, each has to be hole punched and string tied (oy vey). Thankfully next year only 1st grade will do the project, because doing this times 200 is getting ridiculous. C) I had to grade these all of them, checking all of the options. Here is a snapshot of each of the projects (awesome examples from all 8 first and second grade classrooms):
Most students did a great job...I also used a checklist:
...while it obviously didn't help all students, it made a big difference for some--especially with punctuation, and making sure they capitalized/spelled correctly the proper nouns.
This was an amazing project. I truly recommend it, especially if you are in the classroom (aka, not creating 200+ of these, and only 30). It meets 1st and 2nd grade standards beautifully. (See below. These are Colorado State Standards, since CCSS hasn't expanded to Social Studies.)
Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level Expectations: Second Grade
Standard: 2. Geography
1. Geographic terms and tools are used to describe space and place.
Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level Expectations: First Grade
Standard: 2. Geography
1. Geographic tools such as maps and globes represent places.
1. Geographic tools such as maps and globes represent places.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Ms. Book Lady's Summer Reading Challenge
So I failed at the #shelfchallenge from April for School Library Month. I read like, 5 books. Maybe.
So I'm creating a Summer Reading Challenge. For myself. Read a book a (summer) day. I have 75 days of summer this year (kiddos have longer, but I'm only counting the teacher summer), so my goal is to read 75 children's books from June 6th - August 19th. Who wants to join me? One of my other friends who is also an elementary school librarian is doing this with me and we actually are going to create book talks to then use to roll out throughout the school year. Because who has time to read during the school year?
I'll try to create a list, or at least screen shot my GoodReads proof. I'm starting with Children's Book Week finalists (2011 Finalists, 2012 Finalists, 2013 Finalists) from the past few years. And then, with the most popular check-outs at my school. If you have suggestions, I'd love to have them!
So I'm creating a Summer Reading Challenge. For myself. Read a book a (summer) day. I have 75 days of summer this year (kiddos have longer, but I'm only counting the teacher summer), so my goal is to read 75 children's books from June 6th - August 19th. Who wants to join me? One of my other friends who is also an elementary school librarian is doing this with me and we actually are going to create book talks to then use to roll out throughout the school year. Because who has time to read during the school year?
I'll try to create a list, or at least screen shot my GoodReads proof. I'm starting with Children's Book Week finalists (2011 Finalists, 2012 Finalists, 2013 Finalists) from the past few years. And then, with the most popular check-outs at my school. If you have suggestions, I'd love to have them!
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| Ms. Book Lady's Summer Sanctuary |
Sunday, May 12, 2013
fresh snow and rice krispies treats
This post is from forever ago...but it could have been from a week ago. Gotta love Colorado. Wanted to share the Rice Krispies recipe at the bottom...because it's awesome.
--written mid-March--
While I know everyone doesn't feel this way...I actually love the fresh snowfall, especially the snow that we got today both this morning and afternoon. March is Colorado's snowiest month, and we need all that we can get this year...(I mean have you seen Lake Dillon lately?!) Plus, when it comes after I get to work, not during lunch hour (meaning we can have an outside day for the students), and before I have to leave work but without sticking to the roads, it's definitely got my vote.
--written mid-March--
While I know everyone doesn't feel this way...I actually love the fresh snowfall, especially the snow that we got today both this morning and afternoon. March is Colorado's snowiest month, and we need all that we can get this year...(I mean have you seen Lake Dillon lately?!) Plus, when it comes after I get to work, not during lunch hour (meaning we can have an outside day for the students), and before I have to leave work but without sticking to the roads, it's definitely got my vote.
While it came a little unexpectedly and definitely was more than was expected, driving home was gorgeous. The trees had a fresh coating, and best of all, all the old, dirty snow that has half melted, is coated as well. Thank you Mother Nature.
And even though they have nothing to do with each other, something has me in a Rice Krispies Treat mood. I have always loved the homemade kind, which I'll blame on my little brother since he hated cakes and for his birthdays, etc. mom would always make Rice Krispies for him.
I tweaked the normal recipe (Original Rice Krispies Treat Recipe), by adding at least another tablespoon of butter (mostly because the half sticks are 4 T of butter), another cup or so of marshmellows (I use mini's).
The most important part is adding about a tablespoon of Cinnamon and a teaspoon of Chinese Five Spice. Lemme tell you about Savory Spice Shop, the most amazing place in the world. (Okay, maybe not really, but it's awesome.) They have fabulous spices, and best of all, if one isn't in your area, you can have them shipped to you.
So next time you feel like cursing the snow, remember that it can actually help to make the world a pretty place. And remember when you are craving Rice Kripies Treats...add some extra yum and be amazed!
I tweaked the normal recipe (Original Rice Krispies Treat Recipe), by adding at least another tablespoon of butter (mostly because the half sticks are 4 T of butter), another cup or so of marshmellows (I use mini's).
The most important part is adding about a tablespoon of Cinnamon and a teaspoon of Chinese Five Spice. Lemme tell you about Savory Spice Shop, the most amazing place in the world. (Okay, maybe not really, but it's awesome.) They have fabulous spices, and best of all, if one isn't in your area, you can have them shipped to you.
So next time you feel like cursing the snow, remember that it can actually help to make the world a pretty place. And remember when you are craving Rice Kripies Treats...add some extra yum and be amazed!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
My name is Ms. Book Lady, and I have a problem with Pinterest.
(aka, how I spent two nights in a row cutting out 900 construction paper circles)
The first step is admitting your problem right? A couple weeks ago I found this:
http://kidworldcitizen.org/2011/11/26/my-place-in-the-world-project/
It looked like such an awesome project, and it meets standards for first and second graders about understanding their place in the world so I couldn't pass it up. I (plus my para and a parent) spent almost a week tracing and/or cutting out circles for this project. Plus, now that classes are finishing up, each has to be hole punched and string tied (oy vey). Thankfully next year only 1st grade will do the project, because doing this times 200 is getting ridiculous.
(Pictures coming soon!)
Oh, but while I'm whining about Pinterest, I guess I should show you all the cool stuff I've done from it:
I've used Pinterest to do other projects for school... like this:
http://keepingupwithclass.blogspot.com/2012/03/adjectives.html (the wordle suggestion).
And this Book Fair idea (so students don't have easy access to all the 'junk')...
http://threeringlibrary.blogspot.com/search/label/book%20fair
And Bulletin Board ideas up the wazoo!
I've also found cute stuff for friends gifts/super smart ideas for around the house:
http://gadgetsin.com/tag/great-ideas
and
Seriously yos... even if it keeps you up at night cutting out circles, it's worth it. People think the ideas are awesome sauce and your students will thank you over and over again. There is absolutely no reason to reinvent the wheel. None at all.
The first step is admitting your problem right? A couple weeks ago I found this:
http://kidworldcitizen.org/2011/11/26/my-place-in-the-world-project/
It looked like such an awesome project, and it meets standards for first and second graders about understanding their place in the world so I couldn't pass it up. I (plus my para and a parent) spent almost a week tracing and/or cutting out circles for this project. Plus, now that classes are finishing up, each has to be hole punched and string tied (oy vey). Thankfully next year only 1st grade will do the project, because doing this times 200 is getting ridiculous.
(Pictures coming soon!)
Oh, but while I'm whining about Pinterest, I guess I should show you all the cool stuff I've done from it:
I've used Pinterest to do other projects for school... like this:
http://keepingupwithclass.blogspot.com/2012/03/adjectives.html (the wordle suggestion).
And this Book Fair idea (so students don't have easy access to all the 'junk')...
http://threeringlibrary.blogspot.com/search/label/book%20fair
And Bulletin Board ideas up the wazoo!
I've also found cute stuff for friends gifts/super smart ideas for around the house:
http://gadgetsin.com/tag/great-ideas
and
random musings on a weekend from an elementary TL...
...how sad is it that I want to listen to my "school mix" over the weekend? (It's full of children's singers and Disney movie soundtracks.)
...I probably shouldn't have left my book at school over the weekend.
...oh goodness, my to do lists were in that book...even worse.
...you know you are stressed when you are doing everything by hand and paper rather than on the computer. Something about an actual pen to actual paper calms me down.
...Crock Pot Chex Mix (inspired by, you guessed it, Pinterest) worked! Recipe coming soon.
...I think I may have just planned out a rough sketch for the rest of the school year (minus 3rd and 5th grade).
...DVR is one of those inventions that I love to hate...
...good friends let you disappear from the face of the Earth for some time (weeks, months, years), but still welcome you back with open arms.
But since I'm currently going through the 300+ personal emails (oops), and now have to transfer my pen/paper musings to the computer, I should get going.
More later...
...I probably shouldn't have left my book at school over the weekend.
...oh goodness, my to do lists were in that book...even worse.
...you know you are stressed when you are doing everything by hand and paper rather than on the computer. Something about an actual pen to actual paper calms me down.
...Crock Pot Chex Mix (inspired by, you guessed it, Pinterest) worked! Recipe coming soon.
...I think I may have just planned out a rough sketch for the rest of the school year (minus 3rd and 5th grade).
...DVR is one of those inventions that I love to hate...
...good friends let you disappear from the face of the Earth for some time (weeks, months, years), but still welcome you back with open arms.
But since I'm currently going through the 300+ personal emails (oops), and now have to transfer my pen/paper musings to the computer, I should get going.
More later...
Friday, March 29, 2013
thoughts on being "professionally developed" on the Friday of Spring Break...
Conferences can be awesome. Professional Development can be awesome.
But as many teachers/adult learners know, TALKING
to us ABOUT engagement, differentiation, technology implementation is vitally
different from TEACHING us WITH engagement strategies, differentiation strategies,
and showing us examples of real live technology implementation.
I attended the Colorado Library Consortium (CLiC)'s
Spring Workshop in Ft. Morgan @Morgan Community College. Wow. It
was the Friday of my Spring Break, and a drive that required me to set my alarm
for a school-time wake up (let's just say there was a 5 at the beginning of the
time), and while it was something I was excited about when I signed up in February, I'll admit I was second guessing it Thursday afternoon. At that point, lesson planning, grocery shopping,
errands, and sleeping all seemed equally as important as furthering my learning.
I'm so glad I went...
Not only was I able to revive and reenergize my push for the end of the
school year, with great ideas to hold me until Technology in Education (TIE)
@Copper Mountain this June, I was able to chat with some awesome librarians and
remind myself how much I love my recent career choice and how much other librarians
rock this world (and more specifically this state). I have got great story time/early literacy foci for my K-2 babies,
and new Web 2.0 tools to engage my 3-5 (pre-)tweens in April, through May, and
even the beginning of June (aak!).
(Oh, and I was able to start taking pictures of Flat Stephanie, who will be joining me on my travels this Spring and Summer as I push region, state, and city studies with 3rd and 4th graders!)
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
don't let the pigeon...
I didn't discover Mo Willems until Knuffle Bunny came along. I wasn't even a huge Pigeon fan until this year. Yup...it took me until the year 2013 to fully back Mo Willems.
Omygosh. The kids went NUTS. So I read the rest of the books. And then read them to my students. And they exploded. With excitement. With giggles. With desire to share out in COMPLETE SENTENCES (with the help of these Read a loud Sentence Starters). And, with the inspiration to WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES. See these examples:
Other favorites: "Don't let the pigeon eat grapes." "Don't let the pigeon touch the flowers." "Don't let the pigeon watch tv." I love how random these guys are. If they struggled to come up with an idea I asked them what their favorite thing to do was. This got the best responses, and next year is how I'm going to start. I got: "Don't let the pigeon eat cookies." "Don't let the pigeon play Angry Birds." "Don't let the pigeon make a mess." "Don't let the pigeon play on the swings." First grade has been one of my harder groups this year, and this activity alone has made me fall in love with them all.
These are 1st graders. Half of the students are NOT native English learners (hence the translations provided in the caption)... I am beyond proud of these students. I've been showing off their work to ANYONE I can, and now you are the latest. I'll be emailing them to Mo Willems once they are done. I'm not kidding.
--A very happy Book Lady
Please, Mo Willems, take this as a personal apology. I made a huge mistake. Pigeon is amazing.It started with this video which I found on Pinterest (another obsession which will get it's own post soon).
My 1st grade students fell in love with it. They learned book care and fell for this character. I'll be honest, this is when I first read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems. And then I found this video...
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| "Don't let the pigeon fly in the library with the books." |
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| "Don't let the pigeon eat cotton candy bcause it is somebody else's." |
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| "Don't let the pigeon play video games." |
Other favorites: "Don't let the pigeon eat grapes." "Don't let the pigeon touch the flowers." "Don't let the pigeon watch tv." I love how random these guys are. If they struggled to come up with an idea I asked them what their favorite thing to do was. This got the best responses, and next year is how I'm going to start. I got: "Don't let the pigeon eat cookies." "Don't let the pigeon play Angry Birds." "Don't let the pigeon make a mess." "Don't let the pigeon play on the swings." First grade has been one of my harder groups this year, and this activity alone has made me fall in love with them all.
These are 1st graders. Half of the students are NOT native English learners (hence the translations provided in the caption)... I am beyond proud of these students. I've been showing off their work to ANYONE I can, and now you are the latest. I'll be emailing them to Mo Willems once they are done. I'm not kidding.
--A very happy Book Lady
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
the librarian who doesn't read?!?!
Wait! Obviously I do read. I read books aloud to students (almost) every day. I read news articles online, I read magazines, I read street signs (hey...it's reading)--but I don't give myself time to read for myself or time to read new children's books. And I miss it. While reading and inspiring students to read is not my sole job, it's a big part of it, and it's probably the number one reason I started to pursue this profession...the other pieces just fell into place. I'm not a big before bedtime reader (I fall asleep after a page or two), and I tend to veg in front of the TV when I get home (shhh...don't tell my students). The only time I get to read is when I carve out a morning/afternoon/whole weekend day to make it through a stack. I rarely sustainably read books. And it's driving me nuts.
So I've come up with a plan. My lunch-hour (ha, 45 minutes, but really 30 minutes, once I run into/converse with teachers, heat up my lunch, and make it to the bathroom for the first time all morning), will now be devoted to reading. I can read whatever I want (adult or young adult or children's, fiction or non-fiction, but it must be a book (or e-book).
Follow me on GoodReads and hold me accountable! (I started this on Monday and am already 120 pages into a book...it's looking promising!)
So I've come up with a plan. My lunch-hour (ha, 45 minutes, but really 30 minutes, once I run into/converse with teachers, heat up my lunch, and make it to the bathroom for the first time all morning), will now be devoted to reading. I can read whatever I want (adult or young adult or children's, fiction or non-fiction, but it must be a book (or e-book).
Follow me on GoodReads and hold me accountable! (I started this on Monday and am already 120 pages into a book...it's looking promising!)
Monday, January 28, 2013
Blueberry muffins...
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| http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/muffins/products/betty-crocker-premium/wild-blueberry |
:::Shhh::: It's a secret. I take fabulous Betty Crocker muffin (and cookie) mixes and tweak them to make them even yummier. People love them. This is my latest, but I promise, I will share the others. Thank you to Betty Crocker for creating mixes that mean I can bake without having to try THAT hard.
One of my many allergies is egg whites. But I love to bake. This causes problems, and tends to lead to sinus infections (don't ask...it's annoying yet true), which tends to make being a human, let alone a teacher, quite difficult. I decided I would start testing out different baking substitutes. This weekend was applesauce.
I took the Betty Crocker Wild Blueberry muffin mix and did this to it:
- exchanged blueberries provided with a pint of fresh blueberries
- instead of two eggs, used a snack applesauce cup (approx. 1/2 cup)
- added a mashed banana
- 2 T of flax seed
- 1/4 c of oatmeal
I baked these in the oven at the prescribed temp and time and was pleasantly surprised. No idea if this will turn out twice in a row, or how it will work for people not at altitude (5,280 feet).
Good luck. Enjoy. And next time can it snow after I make it home?
Ms. Book Lady
Welcome to the land of the books...
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| http://www.librarygirl.net/2011/05/rose-by-any-other-name.html |
Today I decided I'd break ground and start a Twitter account, as well as start blogging again. While this account will focus a lot on teaching, I will throw in a few recipes every once in a while, since cooking/baking is my other passion besides learning and teaching.
I've learned that the only way to deal with some interesting allergies and intolerances is to listen to my body and make food for myself (or eat really really good expensive food at restaurants). This connects directly with my opinion on teaching students--while I can fight the obvious, in all honesty, listening to my students and taking their cues and fixing my actions rather than taking it out on them is much more successful.
Case in point: Fifth grade. Oy vey, fifth grade. They have given me so much trouble and headache. Today was different. Our 45 minute class period today was scheduled and full the entire way through. The students were learning, taking notes, and filled out exit tickets that showed me they had been listening. The students had valid questions, and were focused. Their teacher was shocked and excited...and so was I.
Please stay tuned for more. I'll try to post as often as I can...or when something goes amazingly well/awesomely horrible.
Ms. Book Lady (The moniker I've taken for myself in the cyber world. A kindergartner once whispered blushingly to his mother while pointing to me "mom, that's the lady who loves books"...and book lady was born.)
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