Technology takes over!!

I don't know what it's like at your school, dear librarian, but at mine, the librarian is in charge of getting all the technology and equipment out to the teachers.  Our projectors aren't mounted, we get new teachers every year and for some reason our equipment inventory is just a mess (not my fault).  Every summer, teachers are required to return all equipment back to the library (even though our library is open-no walls).  I'm always wishing for an easier way to do it, but it hasn't worked out yet (this is my 3rd year at this school, so maybe I'll figure it out soon!).  So the first few days, when we are not doing professional development, I am checking out equipment to the teachers and making sure that everyone can print to all printers.  For some reason, that was a big issue this year.  Not sure why!?!  Now that we've started school, I'm still getting people connected, but I should be almost finished.  It takes a while to get 31 or so teachers ready for their kids.  In the meantime, I'm trying to get the library and my classroom ready for students to visit!  We did some rearranging last year and now I have a little classroom to teach in!!  I'm very excited about it and now that I am finished with technology, I can focus on the important stuff, like getting books into the hands of my students!  Yay!!  I will be taking some pictures next week and blogging again soon!!

Until then,

Brandy

INSPIRED!!

There are two weeks left of summer and I'm getting antsy to be in my classroom/library!!  But since we can't get in until after the 10th of August, I am working from home on my TO DO list.  And tonight I am inspired,  I am visiting one of my favorite blogs and have just been inspired to do some new centers in my library.  The only issue is finding space to do them all!!!  The blogger is Cari Young, from Library Learners at the Centered School Library!  I'm still learning to blog, but I'll try to post a link.

Here is the link to her blog: http://librarylearners.com

Besides finding space for each of the centers, I haven't quite figured out how to explain them to 23 classes.  I think I will create a video, or a couple of videos, but we'll see.  I have seen a couple of explanation videos on Library sites, I better get busy!!!  Oh there's so much to do.  (But my 11 year old daughter wants to help, so maybe we'll get lots done!!)

And I still need to finish reading the books on the Sequoyah list, I think I only have three left.

Have you been inspired?  Who has inspired you lately?

Brandy

Summer Planning

Summer!!  As a Library Media Specialist, how do you spend your summer?  Vacations and hanging out, reading by the pool, or the beach!  Do you do any planning?

I've been struggling with my planning, last summer I had centers planned and everything ready to go!  This year, I don't know,  I'm not sure where I'm heading or what I'm doing.  I used to be in specials rotation and next year I won't be, so I've been working on a schedule, but since my wonderful aide is only part time, that makes scheduling classes difficult because I can only have class in the afternoon to keep the library open all day (my aide is in the afternoon).  But I think I have a schedule figured out, only my teachers and principal haven't seen it yet.  But now I'm ready to work on plans, but here in OK, CCSS is benched for the time being, so we're going back to PASS, I think.  It's all so confusing, so what skills do I focus on, where do I go with my planning?  There are the AASL standards, but to me, those are a little confusing and there are so many of them.  Which ones do I focus on?  How can I make my library program stand out?  What skills would benefit my students the most?  So I'm in a quandary!  What do I do?  I hate to wait until school starts to start planning, but I'm just not sure where to begin.  So if you have any great ideas, I'd love to hear them.  

I have decided to skip Orientation this year!  I got my fun little Library Brain box of ideas and one thing was, don't do Orientation, the kids already know it all, just review it.  And do you really want the kids first impression of you to be about RULES?  Read them a book, introduce yourself and tell them that they are welcome in the library.  

I have lots of great ideas for the library, just not my lessons.  Gotta get focused!!!  What is your focus for lessons?

The Mommy/Daughter Challenge

I challenged my daughter at the beginning of the summer (see previous post) to see who could read the most books.  And so far, I'm winning, but just by one book.  Here is a my stack of books, not including the books I've read on my Nook.

I'm working on book #10 and she is on book #9.  I'm very proud of her for taking on this challenge.  I'm hoping that she will start reading bigger books.

We're also watching the Harry Potter movies together as a family and I think she may move on to those next (I hope so!).  She's always shied away, but maybe...

Maybe I'll make a big reader of her yet!!

Brandy

The CHALLENGE!! Sammy vs. Mommy!!

Me:  Okay Sammy, I'm challenging you this summer to a reading challenge.  What should we call it?

Sammy: You're on!!  A Book-Off

Me: So what are the rules?  Because we need some rules.  I kinda think it should be per book, although my books might be bigger than yours. What do you think?  (oh, and I might have less time to read, since I'll be taking care of your brother)

Sammy:  I like per book.  

Mommy:  Okay, anything else?   No, okay, we'll do books!  So I think I've already got a head start.  I've finished two so far.  What about you?

Sammy:  I've only got one.  But I'm  going to win!!!!! 

MOMMY      SAMMY
ll                     l


What do you think?  Have you ever had a challenge with your kiddos before?  I hope I win!  Actually, I hope she wins!!  A love of reading is a goal of mine for both my kids.  What do you do to instill a love of reading?

Brandy

End of Year!!!

Are you excited for the end of the year?!?!  I am, although I'm a little nervous looking ahead to the summer.  My two kids are doing an awful lot of fighting right now and they're going to be home with me all day, everyday.  Now Sam will want to be out doing things, every day, Tate on the other hand is the homebody.  I think they're going to be wanting to do different things, everyday.  I may go crazy!!

But there's still three weeks left until summer, how are you feeling?  Too much to do?  Maybe you're feeling like a chicken-with it's head cut off!!  What does your To Do List look like?  Today, I repaired books and covered and recovered books.  Worked on a little bit of inventory, worked on my end of the year slide show, also been thinking ahead to next year.  What am I going to do differently next year, what am I going to teach?  I've also started working on my plan for next year.  What about you?  

TESTING!!

Long time~no posts!!  So sorry!!  As I'm sure you are, we are in the midst of testing!!  I don't know what this does to your library, but it causes ours to be closed at various times of the day.  I spoke with a friend of mine who is a counselor at a high school and she said that her school library is closed for 40 days because of testing-40 days!!  I cannot imagine!!  

Do you close your library for testing?  Do you close for any other reasons?  What are some reasons to close the library?