Guess Again!

http://www.amazon.com/

Need a great book that illustrates the idea of prediction? Or just a hilarious read aloud? Grab a copy of Mac Barnett's "Guess Again!". Using silhouetted images and a rhyme that offers clues...really obvious clues...to what the hidden picture is. Kids delight in guessing then finding out the true identity of the hidden character. Adam Rex's illustrations are delightful and capture the silliness of the text with just the right amount of whimsy. Trust me, they love this book!Hide this post from any kiddos and check out this example:

http://pinkme.typepad.com/

He steals carrots from the neighbor's yard.

His hair is soft, his teeth are hard.

His floppy ears are long and funny.

Can you guess who? That's right! My

(Then you turn the page)

http://pinkme.typepad.com/

Grandpa Ned

I'm telling you...they will go bananas! Even though I've read it before, my 5th Graders still request it if we have a little extra time for a read aloud. Give it a try. Just be sure it's on a day when the library doesn't need to be a quiet place. 

CCSS connections: 

RI.K.1: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

RL.K.1: With prompting and support, ask and answer key details about a text. 

RL.2.1: Ask and answer such questions as who, what, when, where, why and how to demonstrate understanding in a text.

Three Little Ninja Pigs

I can't seem to have enough ninja books on hand for my students. Fiction or non-fiction they want ninjas! So imagine my joy when I found "The Three Little Ninja Pigs" by Corey Rosen Schwartz. The classic tale of "The Three Little Pigs" is retold with hilarious text and bold illustrations by Dan Santat. 

from http://www.amazon.com

When the the Big Bad Wolf heads to town the 3 pigs...well 2 hogs and 1 sow to be more accurate...start training to become martial artists. One studies aikido, one jujitsu and the other karate. Who will be the victor against the Big BadWolf? Which martial art style will vanquish the pigs foe? Read "The Three Ninja Pigs" to find out! KIYA!

CCSS Connection: RL.2.9: Compare and contrast two or more versions of the same story (e.g., Cinderella stories) by different authors or from different cultures.

This is a great book to add to your fractured fairy tale 

type of books. Kids will love to compare and contrast multiple versions of The Three Little Pigs. Try "The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale",  "The True Story of The Three Little Pigs" and "The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig"

Technology and Libraries go together like peanut butter and jelly!

www.zazzle.com

Peanut butter & jelly! Delicious, comforting, sticky, messy, potentially causes hives and anaphylactic shock!

Technology! Fun, helpful, fast changing, messy, potentially causes hives and anaphylactic shock!

It's all about how you handle it. Is it messy? Make sure you have a plan to clean up. Try hand wipes or and solid district tech plan to back you up. Also advice from someone who has made a pb&j or used the technology before is a great way to avoid potential messes. Hives? Have an Epi-pen at the ready and a good mindset before embarking on a new technology path. Fast-changing? Sometimes changes are a good thing...make things easier, more convenient, and mobile.

http://www.crushable.com/

Though sometimes technology might get too far away from what the students or patrons need...or want. No matter how you market it, it's still a sandwich in a can. 

http://www.thelunchtray.com/candwich-sandwich-can/

Add a little innovation and planning to a peanut butter & jelly sandwich or a put new technology in the hands of a skilled teacher librarian and you get this...the ultimate combination!

http://imgur.com/PrEDN0j

If libraries are the portals to information, then it makes perfect sense that they provide access to all forms of information. Remember, once upon a time the printing press was new technology.

Lib 740: Eisenberg Video Refection

from http://grhslibrarymediacenter.wikispaces.com/

Right from the fist question Mr. Eisenberg answers, I'm on board! All the "new" literacies branch of of Information Literacy. Regardless of how the information is viewed or consumed, we all need to know how to use it. The key word is "information". As students learn any form of literacy, there should be a repeatable process to help them gain mastery. He states that information literacy is a information problem solving process. In an elementary school setting I love the idea of teaching them a process. The Big 6 and Super 3 are a great way to, as he mentioned, to have a common vocabulary of how to problem solve and approach learning.  The more I learn about the Big 6 and Super 3, the more I want to implement it as our information literacy program. It not only helps them on finding and using information, but it also begins to teach them good study skills and habits. As my own high school boys are struggling with how to study and do good research, I see the benefits of a process like Big 6.