The School Library & SPED

Wednesdays are my favorite day of the week in the JCHS Library.  Every Wednesday Ms. Humphrey brings her students to the library for story time, to check out books and to explore, tinker, discover & create in our MakerSpace.

Story time is all kinds of fun! To accommodate the visual needs of some students in Ms. Humphrey's class I take pictures of the book pages and turn the book into a Google Slide presentation.  We use the Harvard Room with it's three large projection screens to read the story.  Some days we will also do arts & crafts activities associated with our story time book.

My favorite books for story time so far this year are The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers and The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.

The Man Who Walked Between Two Towers was so much fun to read because it was based on a true story and had just been made into a movie.  After reading the book I showed the students the movie trailer.  Everyone was enthralled...even those students that normally find story time to "baby" for them.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore was a beautiful story based on an Academy Award winning Best Animated Short Film.  After reading the story we watched the animated short film on which the book was based, but the best part of the book was that it is an augmented reality book! I downloaded the app to my iPhone and then attached my phone to the system in the Harvard Room so students could see the pages of the book come to life on the three giant projection screens.  It was SO COOL!

This week we read Interrupting Chicken.  The kids thought it was so funny how Little Red Chicken kept interrupting the stories her Papa was reading to her.  Each student made their own Interrupting Chicken to take home with them.

My 4th Block student aide, Jonathan, always helps with story time....even getting into character!  Below is a picture of Jonathan as the main character in the book, Baghead.

Getting REaL In The Library

R-Reflect, Revise, Reinvent

E-Evaluate, Energize, Expectations

and

L-Listen, Lead, Love, Laughter

This year I returned to the high school library full of ideas gathered from my PLN (Professional Learning Network) I hoped to implement.  Two ideas I have implemented, with the help of my library aide, Kim Johnson, and my student aides each block, are creating a MakerSpace and Genrefying the library fiction collection. 

Designing the MakerSpace started before I had a chance to meet and get to know the students in my new school.  I plowed through blog after blog from my PLN about MakerSpaces in the School Library and contacted a few friends to ask clarifying questions, crowdsourced ideas, suggestions and equipment.  Once students arrived the real work began.  First, I had to step out and "sell" the MakerSpace.  This meant finding kids and saying, "Have you heard of Google Cardboard? It is so COOL! Let me show you!"  "Come here! We just got Cubelets in the library! Look what you can do with them!"  "Don't you want to play the piano with bananas?"

As students became comfortable with not only talking in the library but relaxing, socializing, tinkering, creating, and exploring, I not only interacted...I watched.  As I watched I noted what areas of the MakerSpace attracted the students in my new school and which areas fell flat.  After a visit from the talented MakerSpace/Librarian guru, Wendy Cope, I revised the look and feel of the library MakerSpace with just a few simple changes.  I moved the green screen out of a back room in the library to the center of the library MakerSpace.  I also added popular board games and card games to the MakerSpace.  

After a few more weeks we received our LittleBits Kits which lead to more changes in the library MakerSpace.  I had my student aides use the LittleBits Kits to create interactive arts & crafts, thus leading me to move the "robotics" tables next to the arts & crafts area in the MakerSpace.  By having examples of what you can do with LittleBits out on the table students were more willing to jump in and try to make a creation of their own.

I also brought in a Wii and a flat screen TV from my house that I never use.  This has been the biggest hit in our library MakerSpace so far.  I absolutely love watching how animated the kids get as they play sports or dance their hearts out! 

The genrification of the library will be a year long process but the big task of moving, sorting and reshelving the books was accomplished in the first 19 days of school.  Student library aides were essential to the process of assigning books to genres but the assigning of genres have not been written in stone.  As students discover the new arrangement of books in the library we are open to and have received suggestions of the genre a book or books should be a part of.

As the library was genrefied it became clear what genres we needed to grow. When creating our first book order of the year we took into account not only the areas that genrefication had revealed to be weak, we also asked for input from students and teachers.

Just in our 2nd 9 weeks of school I have not only listened to the verbal and interactive (mostly through Google Forms) responses from our library patrons I have also tried to listen to non verbal cues as well and make changes accordingly.

Let's get REaL.  Changes to what is happening in the library will always occur if I am truly listening to the needs of our patrons.  Riding those ebbs and flows and rising to the challenges presented will make for a fun ride this year.

An area I hope to improve that has been somewhat pushed to the back burner this year is connecting and collaborating with the teachers at my new school.  I think this can start by partnering with our inspiring Instructional Partner, Kristi Combs.

Follow our adventures and growing pains throughout the school year though our various social media accounts, including SnapChat!

Take a glimpse into our library fun HERE or below.

This Week In The Library @JCHS: September 21-25, 2015

Visitors

Wendy Cope, Librarian at Woodstock Middle School and Media Specialist of the Year for Cherokee County, GA, came to visit the JCHS Library during her Fall Break.  We were delighted to have Wendy come see how we have shaken things up this year from genrefying the collection to setting up our MakerSpace.  

I had the pleasure of meeting Wendy Cope at the Georgia School Librarians Association Summer Conference this past summer.  I attended her MakerSpace session and learned so much.  What I liked most about Wendy when I first met her was her enthusiastic personality.  She is a dynamic individual filled with wonderful ideas that she is willing to share! 

Wendy jumped right into the day helping and talking with students, faculty members and administrators.  I was excited for Wendy to see how James Clemens High School runs "lunch" as we ditched the traditional lunch waves for a Refuel Hour.  Our students love this change and it allows for students to choose the direction that hour will take.  I am pleased to say that many students use this time to tinker, explore, discover and create in the new JCHS Library MakerSpace.  

Together, Wendy and I were able to collaborate, think out and put up the beginnings of a Banned Books Week display.  During this time we discussed how important it is for librarians to get out of their little isolated spots in the library and visit other libraries, public and school, as often as possible to keep your mind fresh and sharp looking for new ideas to incorporate for your patrons.

After Wendy left for Georgia I looked at the JCHS Library through new eyes and made some changes to the arrangement of the MakerSpace.  I certainly wish Wendy had stayed for another day or two because the changes I made caused traffic to the JCHS Library MakerSpace increase dramatically!

I hope to visit Wendy Cope soon at her school during my Fall Break in October!  Watch out Wendy! Here I come!

Class Visit

Ms. Humphrey's students came to the library this week for story time. We read, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.  After reading this story we talked about food chains and played a food chain game from BrainPop.

After story time was over we made our way from the Harvard Room into the JCHS Library to check out books and spend time in the MakerSpace.  

Professional Development

Dr. Jim Knight, Instructional Coach and author, brought his years of study and wisdom to Madison City Schools leading two 3 hour workshops on building better communication skills.  

This was definitely one professional development session that I felt was well worth my time.  It has provided me with realistic strategies I can use to become a better communicator.  I also loved how Dr. Knight had us divide into groups using a "clock".  I plan on stealing and using this idea next time I present! 

Library Collection

In the realm of "behind the scenes librarian stuff" is working on a book order.  This week I was finally able to take a moment to get our first book order created.  When preparing the book order many factors were considered.  Genrefying the collection this year let me know what areas we need to build.  I also reviewed our automated system to see what long term missing books needed to be replaced.  The most important part of creating a book order is listening to your patrons and what they want to read.  To get student and faculty input regarding books they would like to see added to the library collection, a Google Form was created and widely advertised.  

Tech Tips of the Week: September 21-25, 2015

Not Your Average Book Club (NYABC)

NYABC 

(Not Your Average Book Club)

I have been waiting for this week to come ever since the school year began because it is the first week that our new Not Your Average Book Club (NYABC) got to finally meet!  

To get members signed up I released a video detailing what type of book club we would have this year and asked students if they were cut out to be a member of the NYACB!

At James Clemens High School clubs are held during the day during Refuel Hour, not before or after school.  Due to this change, most clubs only get to meet for 30 minutes once a month.  Fortunately the Not Your Average Book Club is mostly virtual so time and date restrictions don't bother us; although was nice to all be together in the same place and the same time!

Unlike other book clubs you might be familiar with, the NYABC does not focus on all members reading and discussing the same book.  The NYABC focus is to connect club members with other school book clubs across the country. The two clubs we are currently connecting with are the #2JennsBookClub and the SWVBC or Somewhat Virtual Book Club.  

The #2JennsBookClub meets via Twitter.  During their twitter sessions participants discuss the book chosen for that date. Additionally, the #2JennsBookClub has the authors of the book participating LIVE during the twitter chat! As if that wasn't awesome enough, the #2JennsBookClub also gives away great prizes during each session!  

NYABC members get to choose whether to participate in the #2JennsBookClub or not. The choice is theirs to make. 

To learn more about the #2JennsBookClub click HERE.

The SWVBC or Somewhat Virtual Book Club meets using Google Hangouts. This way students from around the nation can see and talk with each other about the books they have read.  

The SWVBC meets once a month at 5 pm CT. Since this is after school students from the NYABC who would like to participate do so from home.  

The first SWVBC was September 2nd.  We decided to let students share some of their favorite books from the summer.  I was so proud of my NYABC member, Hailey, of making it onto the Google Hangout as there were some crazy technical glitches.

The next SWVBC meeting will be Wednesday, October 7 at 5PM Central Time to discuss I'll Give You the Sun. Mira Costa will be moderating.

The SWVBC November book is The Impossible Knife of Memory.

Again, NYABC members can decide if this is something they would like to participate in or not.

In addition to joining in the conversation with #2JennsBookClub and/or the SWVBC, NYABC members will get to help create a budget for purchasing new books for the JCHS Library, create book talkers, and more!

During our next meeting on October 16th we will have a NYABC "social" with punch, finger foods, and snacks.  While club members are eating and socializing they will also be given the opportunity to create book talkers or work on the book budget.  

As you can see, the NYABC is student centered and student driven.  Members get out of the club what they put into it and I love that it feels relaxed and happy and doesn't add to the stress of a full school load. 

MakerSpace Ribbon Cutting & Big Reveal

Thursday, September 3, 2015 Sandy Brand, Librarian at Liberty Middle School, held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new library MakerSpace.  

Creating a MakerSpace for the Liberty Middle School library has been a dream of Sandy's since she came to Liberty a year ago.  She had worked hard all last year and over the summer to make this dream a reality.  

Students started the school year a month ago and have been chattering about what could possibly be behind the big area covered with a black curtain in the library.  With the ribbon cutting ceremony students, teachers, parents and community members were finally able to see all of Ms. Brand's hard work and the amazing array of items students will now be able to use to create, discover, explore and learn.  

In attendance at the ribbon cutting were Madison City central office personnel, PTSO members, students, parents, Mayor Troy Trulock, and the local news media.

Students are certainly in for an exciting school year in the library at Liberty Middle School!

See more posts about the Liberty Middle School MakerSpace below:

• http://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/?L=1&LMID=598334&PN=Blog&DivisionID=13878&DepartmentID=&SubDepartmentID=&Blog=Permalink&id=9073

• http://whnt.com/2015/09/03/liberty-middle-school-adds-makerspace-addition-to-library/

• http://www.wsfa.com/story/29956618/liberty-middle-school-unveils-creative-initiativehttp://www.wsfa.com/story/29956618/liberty-middle-school-unveils-creative-initiative

JCHS Library End of Month Report: August 2015