Ditch Dewey?

Where is the Scary section?

Where are the mystery books?

I need a historical fiction book?

How many times as librarians have we heard this and what is the answer........there is no mystery section the books are shelved by the first three letters of the authors last name.  Little heads drop, eyes wonder about and I get a "really" look.  I offer to help but it just isn't the same.

Now if the kids go to Barnes & Noble they can find that section and that makes them happy. so why are we holding on the Dewey Decimal system?  Because that is how is has always been?  Yes probably. Also most librarians are type A personalities (I would never think that about myself but the older I get i think it might be true.)  Maybe we do all like the books in perfect order like Miss Lotta Scales in The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy.  However is that the best thing for the kids.  Well I'm not sure.  So I'm asking the kids should we Ditch Dewey?

The 3rd and 4th graders are going to do a little research on this by talking to adults, going to the public library and maybe even visiting a bookstore.  Then they get to decide yes or no, come up with a presentation and try to persuade me.

Shhh don't tell them, but I think it is a great idea.  It will be a huge amount of work for me and Mrs. Zuch but if it best for the kids then I say yes.  I don't think it can be done quickly or that it is best for the Easy section but I can totally see all those chapter books sitting pretty by their Genre.

Only time will tell if the kids think this is a good idea or not.  I'm really excited to see what they think.

Stay tuned.

To iPad or not to iPad that is the Question?

For me the answer is simple, YES!

I feel I have a different perspective on this topic because I moved from a school where we only had 30 shared iPads to a school where every child has one.  WOW what a HUGE benefit and advantage these children will have.  I heard  recently from Jennifer Lagarde that "We have to be using technology to communicate, collaborate, create, and think critically!"  I think that is the vision of LISD and what we are doing at Donald.

Does it happen overnight?  No!
Will there be bumps in the road?  Yes!
Will it cost money to get these devices into the kids hands?  Yes!
Will it take some management on the part of teachers and parents?  Yes!
Will the kids try to use the iPads for an expensive toy?  Yes they are kids!
Are filters 100% effective 100% of the time?  No!


I think you get my point when I say the benefits are too great for us to ignore.

I for one feel so blessed to work in a place and for a district that thinks 1:X is the way to do it.

Better late than never

I know, I know, I had great expectations of writing this wonderful blog at least once a week.  Well to be honest with you I'm a little intimidated with writing where kids, parents, colleagues and strangers might read it.  I'm going to put my fears aside and give it a try.  Let me start by saying I write just like I talk, so please no judging.

A little about me - I grew up as an only child and I was playing school from as long as I can remember.  I wasn't a good reader at all and everybody knew I had ADHD from a very young age.  Now back in the early 70's there weren't many Dr.s who even knew how to help me.  Imagine me in a quiet, cold library - it wasn't fun for me or for Mrs. Alford.  She was my first librarian and as much as I wasn't a good fit for a library I LOVED it.  I think it must have been the smell or the beautiful book spines because it sure wasn't having to sit still at tables and being quiet.  I went on to become a teacher and loved every minute of it.  I found myself wanting to plan and work with the librarian and so it hit me - this is what I need to be doing, I want to be a Librarian.  And that is exactly what I did and I haven't looked back.  The role of JUST reading books and story time is long gone and technology has moved in.  If you think about it, it makes sense since we are Media Specialist.  Technology is a form of media.  I couldn't be happier with the changes in my job and my choices.

So this blog is going to be full of the ups and downs of the Media Center and me.  The changes we are going through and the joys of Donald Elementary.  Most importantly I will also write about Books, because they are my favorite things.

So Mo Williems is one of my favorite authors and Gerald and Piggie are 2 of my favorite characters.  If you haven't read them then you should.

Bogey Bogey Par Par Bogey Bogey

Inservice can sometimes be like taking a foreign language.  It is quit funny to see the looks on the faces when you start throwing out words like......
Blog
Drive
Symbaloo
Flubaroo
ThingLink
i-nigma
hangout
Google+

If you know these words then you are in Education for sure.  If you don't know them the kids know more than we do for sure.

Whenever I hear something I don't know about I just say "Bogey Bogey Par Par Bogey Bogey!"  This must be what others hear when I talk "school language."

It's Time!!

It's time to start this blog....
It's time to start a new job......
It's time to work with new people.........
It's time to meet new kids............
It's time for the Donald Elementary Media Center to begin a new chapter.

I have been thinking about this blog since I found out I was going to be the Media Specialist in May of 2013.  I am beyond excited to jump in and get started.  In the last 10 years the role of the media specialist has changed.  We are no longer just the keeper of the books.

Stayed tuned to see all the wonderful things that are happening in our Media Center.

I'm so glad to be a Donald Dolphin now in the words of Dorie "Just keep swimming!"