Sherry Gick - Mon. Sept. 29 to Wed. Oct. 1, 2014

Sherry Gick is the school librarian at Rossville Consolidated Schools in Indiana.

Sherry works daily in the middle school/high school library and supervises an assistant who runs the elementary library. She also teaches sixth and eighth grade language arts enrichment and peer tutoring/cadet teaching. She would be pleased to share with you ideas and insights as well as other issues and activities related to her school library and the work of school librarians in general.

Sherry is married to a teacher and coach. They are parents of two children. She is an avid reader and a runner.

Rossville Consolidated School District http://www.rcsd.k12.in.us/

RMHS Library
 http://library.rcsd.k12.in.us/modules/groups/integrated_home.phtml

Learn more about Sherry athttp://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/gick.html.

This year's startup question to all of our blog-guests is - "What is the most important part of your school library program at New Haven High this year?"

Website Resource: Our Documents

Looking for a way to talk with teachers about the Common Core? Start with primary source documents. Sit down together and work your way through the Our Documents website at http://www.ourdocuments.gov/

Book Review: Nancy Knows

NANCY KNOWS by Cybèle Young is the beautifully illustrated story of an elephant who’s having trouble with her memory. Nancy can recall everything except the one thing she’s trying to remember. Readers young and old alike will be able to relate to this charming story.

Intended for preschool and primary-aged children, both parents and teachers will be attracted to the theme of “remembering” associated with colors, senses, and emotions. This book would be a wonderful springboard to discussions about with children about the concept of reflection. This essential concept is difficult to teach, but Young’s story of remembering would be an excellent time to start young children thinking about their own thinking. The conclusion explores the important of mental relaxation associated with remembering.

Young is known for her intricate paper sculptures. While the character of Nancy is shown as a primitive outline, amazing miniature paper sculptures are woven throughout the picture book reflecting Nancy’s thoughts and memories. The illustrator also used this technique successfully in two of her other picture books, A FEW BLOCKS and A FEW BITES.

NANCY KNOWS is a book that belongs in every home and library collection. Unlike Nancy, you’re unlikely to forget it.

To learn more about Cybèle Young’s exceptional artwork, go tohttp://www.cybeleyoung.ca/.

LibraryThing ARC used for review

Book Review: Voices from the March on Washington

VOICES FROM THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon is a powerful poem collection providing readers with a wide range of perspectives on this historic day. 

The poems in this book will transport youth fifty years into the past. Although many books chronicle the events of August 28, 1963, few capture the emotions of the experience. Through poetry, readers become immersed in the hope, pride, and excitement of the march.

From analyzing the inspiring title page photograph to discussing the impact of individual poems, the possibilities for classroom activities related to the Civil Rights Movement are endless.

Use the poems to jumpstart activities. When Langston Hughes is mentioned, bring out his poems to extend the experience. For more about Langston Hughes, go to http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/langston-hughes. When poets talk about Jim Crow, show photos reflecting racial segregation. For ideas, go tohttp://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/civil-rights/.

Beyond the poems, the book’s introduction provides an excellent overview to the time period and context of event. In addition, the guide at the end of the book includes biographical notes about the key people mentioned in the book along with additional resources to extend the reading experience.

Add this book to the growing collection of high-quality works associated with the Civil Rights Movement in America.

NetGalley ARC used for review

Jennifer Brower - Thur. Sept. 25 to Sat. Sept. 27, 2014

Our first virtual guest is Jennifer Brower, the Library Media Specialist at New Haven High School, IN.

Jenn was awarded the2012 Outstanding New Media Specialist Award presented jointly by the Indiana Library Association and the Association of Indiana School Library Educators (ILF/AISLE). Currently, she is the Treasurer for AISLE.

In a short time-span, Mrs. Brower has established herself at her school as a energetic and knowledgeable leader who is willing to share and collaborate. She is one of the organizers for the Fort Wayne Edcamp and the Fort Wayne K12 Edtech Monthly Meetups

Learn more about Jenn at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/brower.html

Jennifer will lead off with her response to the startup question - "What is the most important part of your school library program at New Haven High this year?"

Banned Book Week 2014

For lots of ideas for celebrating Banned Book Week, go to the official website at http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/.

Jeanna Walker - Wed. Oct. 2 to Fri.. Oct. 4, 2013

This year's last guest blogger is Jeanna Walker, the media specialist teacher at Portage Northern High School (MI). There she is centrally involved in activities with students and teachers in the Library Learning Commons.

Visit the Portage Public Schools High School CyberLibrary.

Portage Northern High School's  library teaching program was selected to represent Michigan on Dr. Nancy Everhart’s AASL Vision Tour. Jeanna Walker was recently named by the Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) as Michigan's 2014 School Librarian of the Year.

Learn more about Jeanna, her work at Portage Northern High School, and a busy professional life at 

http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/walker.html

The startup question asked of all the blog-guests this year is: "Can you provide a few examples or ideas of what makes your library program successful?"

Jennifer Brower - Tues. Oct. 1 to Thur.. Oct. 3, 2013

Welcome to our next guest, Jennifer Brower, the Library Media Specialist at New Haven High School, IN.

Jenn was awarded the 2012 Outstanding New Media Specialist Award presented jointly by the Indiana Library Association and the Association of Indiana School Library Educators (ILF/AISLE). Currently, she is the District 3 Representative-elect and is Treasurer for AISLE.

In a short time-span, Mrs. Brower has established herself at her school as a energetic and knowledgeable leader who is willing to share and collaborate.

Learn more about Jenn at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/brower.html

She will lead off with her response to the startup question - "Can you provide a few examples or ideas of what makes your library program successful?"

Susan Eley - Mon. Sept. 30 to Wed. Oct. 2, 2013

Rejoining this year's class as a blog-guest is Susan Eley, the library media specialist at Hillside Elementary School (PreK to Grade 4) in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Susan is a graduate of Indiana University's MLS program and has a few year's of on-the-job experience.

She was been involved with her school district's Library Media Curriculum Writing Committee as they worked to incorporate the Common Core Standards for language arts. She would be pleased to share with you ideas and insights gained in that process as well as any other issues and activities related to her school library and the work of school librarians in general.

Learn more about Susan at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/eley.html.

This year's startup question is "Can you provide a few examples or ideas of what makes your library program successful?"

Pete Hildebrandt - Tues. Sept. 24 through Thurs. Sept. 26

Next up for blogging is Pete Hildebrandt, a 34 year veteran of public education. Pete is the Library Media Specialist at Sylvania High School  (OH).

He has taught grades 1,2, 4, 5 and 6, worked as a principal, and been a media specialist at the middle school / junior high as well as two high schools. An award winning educator, he has just about done it all!

This year's startup question is "Can you provide a few examples or ideas of what makes your library program successful?"

Learn more about Pete:

http://edu . . . /hildebrandt.html

Use this opportunity to learn all that you can from his work as a teacher and a teacher librarian.

Sherry Gick - Mon. Sept. 23 through Wed. Sept. 25

Joining the class as a first-time blog-guest this year is Sherry Gick, the school librarian at Rossville Consolidated Schools in Indiana.
http://www.rcsd.k12.in.us/ 

Sherry works daily in the middle school/high school library and supervises an assistant who runs the elementary library. She also teaches sixth and eighth grade language arts enrichment and peer tutoring/cadet teaching. She would be pleased to share with you ideas and insights as well as other issues and activities related to her school library and the work of school librarians in general.

Sherry is married to a teacher and coach. They are parents of two children. She is an avid reader and a runner.

Learn more about Sherry at
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/gick.html.

This year's startup question to all of our blog-guests is: "Can you provide a few examples or ideas of what makes your library program successful?"

Dana Fisher - Wed. Oct. 17 to Fri. Oct. 19, 2012

Our final guest blogger this Fall is Dana Fisher, a library media specialist at Florence Elementary School in High Point, NC.

Visit Dana's biopage for more information:
http://eduscapes . . .fisher.html

This week, Dana is in the midst of presenting lessons to her students that are required by the Children's Internet Protection Act. It's a busy week with a book fair in the library, an activity that is run entirely by PTA volunteers. That means that Dana is taking her "show on the road" to the children's classrooms.

Startup question: "What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Dennis LeLoup - Wed. Oct. 10 to Fri. Oct. 12, 2012

Next guest up is Dennis LeLoup, the school librarian at both Avon Intermediate Schools (Grades 5-6).

Dennis is the current President of the Indiana Library Federation and was recently appointed to serve on the 2014 Caldecott Committee(ALSC). He is also serving another term on the ALA Council as a Councilor-at-large. Learn more about him at:

http://eduscapes...leloup.html

Interactions can begin as soon as Dennis posts his response to this year's lead-in query:
"What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Jeanna Walker - Mon. Oct. 8 to Wed. Oct. 10, 2012

Our next guest is Jeanna Walker, the media specialist teacher at Portage Northern High School (MI). There she orchestrates a myriad of activities with students and teachers in the Library Learning Commons.

The library teaching program was selected to represent Michigan on Dr. Nancy Everhart’s AASL Vision Tour.

Learn more about Jeanna, her work at Portage Northern High School and a busy professional life at 
http://eduscapes.com/..walker.html

The startup question asked of all the blog-guests this year is: "What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Pete Hildebrandt - Wed. Oct. 3 to Fri. Oct. 5, 2012

Next up for blogging with class members is Pete Hildebrandt, a 33 year veteran of public education. Pete is the Library Media Specialist at Sylvania Southview High School (OH).

He has taught grades 1,2, 4, 5 and 6, worked as a principal, and been a media specialist at the middle school / junior high as well as two high schools. An award winning educator, he has just about done it all!
Learn more about Pete:

http://. . .hildebrandt.html

Use this opportunity to 'pick his brain' and learn all you can from his work as both a teacher and a teacher librarian.

Susan Eley - Mon. Oct. 1 to Wed. Oct. 3, 2012

Joining the class as the first blog-guest this year is Susan Eley, the library media specialist at Hillside Elementary School (PreK to Grade 4) in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Susan is a relatively recent graduate of Indiana University's MLS program and has a few year's of on-the-job experience.

This past summer, she was involved with her school district's Library Media Curriculum Writing Committee as they worked to incorporate the Common Core Standards for language arts. She would be pleased to share with you ideas and insights gained in that process as well as any other issues and activities related to her school library and the work of school librarians in general.

Learn more about Susan at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/eley.html.

My startup question to all of our blog-guests this year is: "What is the most important issue or activity facing you in your school library this fall?"

Dana Fisher - Wed. Oct. 12 to Fri. Oct. 14, 2011

Dana Fisher, an IUPUI SLIS graduate, now lives and works in North Carolina. This year, she moved from a media specialist position at a middle school library to become the libary media specialist at Florence Elementary School in High Point, NC (Both the schools are in the same district). Prior to moving to NC, Dana held a similar position at Tuttle Middle School in Crafordsville, IN.

Dana's unique perspectives include experiences with service learning, problem-based learning, collaborations with teachers, reading promotion activities, and maintaining her personal blogsite: The Quilted Librarian.

It is great to have the participation of a former student who is now working in the school library field. Learn more about Dana:
http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/fisher.html

I'm asking Dana the same 'kickoff' question posed to all our blog guests: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"

Robin Tanis - Tues. Oct. 11 to Thurs. Oct. 13, 2011

Robin Tanis is the Head Librarian at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, GA. At St. Pius, Robin has worked to establish a collaborative partnership with teachers. She was an early pioneer in technology integration bringing computers, automation, and the Internet into the library and then the rest of the school. Robin was the original Webmaster for the school and is still responsible for keeping the Flannery O’Connor Library Website up to date. A new change that she instituted this year is a fan page for the library on Facebook.

Encouraging pleasure reading is a professional interest of Robin’s. Robin is also known for ASPIRE! - - a Summer Reading Enrichment program. She has presented her program at state and national conferences. ASPIRE! was featured in both Knowledge Quest (Sep/Oct 2003, Access to PDF document requires login) and School Library Journal (Jan. 2004). She has established a Teen Library Council to give interested students leadership opportunities. She also moderates the Anime Club.

Asking Robin to respond to the same 'kickoff' question: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"

Learn more about Robin at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/tanis.html.

Maria Savoldi - Mon. Oct. 10 to Wed. Oct. 12, 2011

Maria Savoldi has experience as a classroom teacher, a school library media specialist, and as a county director of instructional media and technology - - much of that as employee of the Glynn County School System, Brunswick, GA. She has also designed and delivered professional learning courses (staff development, teacher training) that foster effective technology integration.

Like most of our guest experts working in the field, Maria often delivers presentations and workshops at state and national conferences and has served in various governance roles in professional organizations.

In 2006 Maria made a career jump to begin working full-time in distance learning / online education. In that arena, she was first employed by the Georgia Virtual School and during the last few years, works for the Mercury Online Academy. Maria now lives in Florida and at Mercury, she is the Manager of Online Instructional Services.

I've also asked Maria to first respond to the 'kickoff question': "What is it that people don't get about your Job?"

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/savoldi.html

Cindy Newton - Wed. Oct. 5 to Fri. Oct 7, 2010

Cindy Newton is the school library media specialist (SLMS) at Connersville Middle School (IN). Her background and expertise contains numerous positive teaching and learning experiences including work as an elementary teacher, followed by expanded technology responsibilities in the same school, and currently directing a successful library media program.

As  a school library media specialist, Cindy collaborates with teachers and assists student research projects. She has initiated and guided several different reading promotions and programs. She also serves as the web master for both the Library Media Center and the Connersville Middle School websites.

Cindy is a frequent presenter at professional conferences such as ILF, ISRA, and ICE. She has been selected as the Fayette County School Corporation'sTeacher of the Year and was named as an IU Armstrong Educator. Recently she was selected to attend a Library of Congress Summer Institute.

Learn more at http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/newton.html

I've asked Cindy this year's 'startup' question: "What is it that people don't get about your job?"