Being Interested

I attended the School Library Journal Leadership Summit last weekend and one of the main things that stuck with me is the idea that students learn more and stick to assignments longer if they are interested. The keynote speaker, Annie Murphy Paul, writes the blog Brilliant: The Science of Smart. She talked about libraries being perfectly positioned to evoke the interests of students. Libraries are, in fact, one of the few spaces in schools where children are able to self-select materials that align with their personal interests. After listening to the talk, I formed some questions that might guide our libraries as centers of interest for our students:

• How often are students using the library? Is use flexible and equitable? 
• Are students allowed to choose whatever they want to read without any parameters imposed? 
• What would help students have more and better access to resources related to personal interests? 
• How can we take personal interests and connect them to necessary learning?

I'm sure we could generate many more questions that might help us better understand the role of interest in learning and how we can help students connect these together. What questions do you have about student interest? 

Best APPs for Teaching and Learning

As a part of the American Association for School Librarians, I have had the opportunity to participate on several committees. My most recent service has been to the Best APPs for Teaching and Learning committee. We spent a year reviewing hundreds of APPs in order to create a list of 25 that are exemplars for use in education. At the American Library Association annual conference this summer, we revealed the inaugural list to our colleagues. As Maple Street and Milwood now have access to iPads for classroom use, you will notice the free versions of many of these APPs have been downloaded for your use. Please feel free to play around with them and get familiar with their function. I would love to co-teach some lessons using these APPs to help support your content. I am also interested in what APPs you would like to use-- and what you might recommend for our next list (coming June 2014!). The 2013 list is available here for your use.

Resources for READ 180

Each of the district's middle schools has READ 180 classes. There are nine units of study throughout the year. I have begun to compile lists of resources that may be used to extend the concepts in each unit. The resources are listed on each library's home page under "READ 180 Resource Lists." Please click through and check out the lists--many of the topics also relate to classroom curriculum and would be a great way to connect what the students in READ 180 are learning with what is happening in your class.

Edgar Allan Poe's Pie

Taking a cue from classic poems, J. Patrick Lewis has written Edgar Allan Poe's Pie:  Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems, a series of poems that contain math riddles to get students thinking about numbers. From Robert Frost ("Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening" becomes "Robert Frost's Boxer Shorts") to Shel Silverstein ("Boa Constrictor" becomes Shel Silverstein's "Hippo-po-tah-tum"), teachers will appreciate being able to reference the original poem, as well as tying in the new poem and working with their students to solve the math problems. This book is a fun way to tie literacy and numeracy together. Problems include adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, as well as fractions, decimals, and percentages.

In order to understand the poems and locate the math problems hidden with each one, students will have to look at textual evidence--a skill that is present throughout the Common Core State Standards, so the book, as well as the math contained within, will be useful at several grade levels.

Common Core Connections:

CCSS ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Edgar Allan Poe's Pie:  Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Michael Slack is currently available at Maple Street and Linden Grove.

Experiments With . . .

Students are curious about all kinds of scientific processes. Trevor Cook's Science Lab series, including Experiments with Heat and Experiments with States of Matter will allow them to extend their curiosity beyond the science lab. Each title includes basic background information, a list of necessary materials (my favorite supply is "friends can help"), and about a dozen experiments students can complete to learn more about the world around them.

Each process is clearly photographed, step-by-step, and a basic explanation of what is happening is given. However, maybe the best part is that there is a section at the end of each experiment that asks, "What else can you do?" and then provides extensions beyond the basic experiment. The book also includes "jargon busters" to help students with unfamiliar language and the author includes a glossary and website to help students further their knowledge.

Many times students read about scientific processes in connection with their classwork. These books present experiments that will help students understand the concepts from a hands-on perspective, as well as think deeply about how the process connects to their lives.

Common Core State Standards Connections:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.9 Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.

In addition to Experiments with Heat and Experiments with States of Matter, other titles in the series include Experiments with Electricity and Magnetism, Experiments with Forces, Experiments with Light and Sound, and Experiments with Plants and Other Living Things. Maple Street, Milwood Magnet, Linden Grove, and Hillside all own Heat and States of Matter. Would you like to see the other titles in your library?

Creative Writing in 5 Simple Steps

The Spilling Ink writing club at Maple Street has been busy preparing for our Literacy Night poetry slam. As they continue through the year, it's possible that more and more styles of writing and interests will begin to emerge and there is a new series that can help any young writer work on his or her craft. Write Fantasy Fiction in 5 Simple Steps is a book in the Creative Writing in 5 Simple Steps series. Each title is a guide for writers of a particular genre. In the fantasy title, students are encouraged to keep a journal, do research, learn more about the genre and its conventions, and complete other activities that will improve their writing.

Specific information about the genre is included, as well as excellent examples of work from popular authors that the students will recognize such as J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and Cornelia Funke. Advice about publishing is provided as well. The book ends will a detailed glossary, a list for further reading, and websites to visit so that students can extend their understanding beyond the pages.

In addition to fantasy, the other genres addressed in this series are: mystery, romance, graphic novels, science fiction, and horror. Students who enjoy reading these genres will love learning more about the conventions and each book provides opportunities for teachers to pull out elements that will help improve their students' writing.

Common Core State Standards Connections:

Sixth Grade:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W6.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W6.3aEngage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W6.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W6.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W6.3d Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W6.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events.

Seventh Grade:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W7.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W7.3a Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W7.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W7.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W7.3d Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W7.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.

Eighth Grade:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W8.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W8.3a Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W8.3b Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W8.3c Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence, signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the relationships among experiences and events.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W8.3d Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy W8.3e Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.

Currently, this title is available at Maple Street. I am considering purchasing the whole series for Maple Street. Would you like to see it at your middle school as well?

Flashback History

Flashback History is a set of nine titles that describe the lifestyles of people in different parts of the world throughout history. From farming to education, as well as art, religion, inventions, and how people spent their spare time, these books cover each topic briefly with many graphics that provide specific examples.

In each title, a timeline of events related to the specific group of people is presented, as well as a listing of events happening in other parts of the world at the same time. This is particularly useful to the middle school social studies curriculum as it will allow our students to connect new information to knowledge they have previously learned and to get a better perspective of the world as whole. In addition, vocabulary words are in bold text and a glossary and an index are provided at the end of each book.

Social Studies Curriculum Connections:

In the seventh grade Social Studies curriculum, the following scaffolding questions are presented for unit two:

What was life like in Ancient Egypt, India, and China?
What roles did government and religion play in shaping the culture of Ancient Egypt, India, and China?
What role does religion play in a civilization?

Using Flashback History: Egyptians, students can explore these questions as they relate to Egypt, thus gaining additional knowledge and understanding of the topics they are learning in class.

Common Core State Standard Connections:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH-6-8.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH-6-8.7 Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

In addition to Egyptians, this series explores Amazonian Indians, Aztecs, Celts, Greeks, Inuit, Plains Indians, Prehistoric People, and Vikings, so there are many additional connections to middle school studies throughout the series.

Flashback History books can be found at the Alternative Learning Program, Hillside Middle School, Maple Street Magnet, and *Milwood Magnet (*excluding Aztecs).

Six Questions of American History

The who, what, when, where, why, and how questions of American history are made much more interesting when put into an accessible format. The "Six Questions of American History" series from Lerner Publishing Group seeks to answer questions about the history of the United States in a fun and conversational way. Each of the 18 books in the series follows a similar format: basic background information about the events in question is laid out in an introduction. Then, each short chapter seeks to answer a question such as, "How did the delegates begin working together" (Who Wrote the U.S. Constitution?) or, "Who were the people trying to stop slavery?" (When Were the First Slaves Set Free During the Civil War?) The historical figures, places, and events are highlighted using paintings and photographs and key vocabulary terms are defined in boxes on each page. Many maps and documents are also placed as photographs in modern technological equipment such as cell phones and GPS devices to add interest to the graphics.

One of my favorite parts of this series is the final question in each book. The author always asks, "How do we know so much about . . ." each event and then discusses the primary sources that are available to help students and teachers better understand the concepts. Each book also includes a challenge to have students write their own story using the facts that they have learned, as well as a detailed timeline of the events discussed in the book.

Lerner has included esource downloads to accompany this series, including a series timeline (spanning events from 1492-1957) and teaching guide, which are available by creating a Lerner account.

These books can be used to promote critical thinking skills as students debate the "what if" questions that will inevitably come up when learning about the people and details surrounding the major turning points of American history. This series is the perfect complement to the eighth grade Social Studies GLCEs.

In addition, the titles in this series can be used to address several areas of the Common Core State Standards, including:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3 Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.8 Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

Copies of all 18 books in this series are currently available at Milwood Magnet School, Hillside Middle School, and Maple Street Magnet School. Search your school's online library catalog to  locate these resources.

     

And the winners are . . .

You've probably watched many different kinds of award shows. Movies, music, and television shows are awarded all kinds of different honors this time of year. It's also time to honor books. The American Library Association announces the winners of its book awards during the Midwinter meeting each year. On Monday, I sat patiently in the audience rooting for my favorites. I was surprised by some of the winners and am excited to read a few that were dark horses. Below are a few highlights from the honor and award books:

Newbery Medal

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

2013 Newbery Honor Books:

Three Times Lucky
by Sheila Turnage

Bomb: the Race to Build and Steal the World's
Most Dangerous Weapon
by Steve Sheinkin

Splendors and Glooms
by Laura Amy Schlitz

2013 Newbery Medal winner:

The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate

When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.

Coretta Scott King Award

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.  The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

2013 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Books:

Each Kindness
by Jacqueline Woodson

No Crystal Stair
by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

2013 Coretta Scott King Author Medal winner:

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America
by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Offers insight into the lives of ten influential African American men from different times in the history of the United States.

Pura Belpré Award

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

2013 Pura Belpré Honor book:

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano
by Sonia Manzano

2013 Pura Belpré Award:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Fifteen-year-old Ari Mendoza is an angry loner with a brother in prison, but when he meets Dante and they become friends, Ari starts to ask questions about himself, his parents, and his family that he has never asked before. 

For a complete listing of the American Library Association Youth Media Award winners, check out the press release. There is also a webcast of the award presentations so you can hear all the excitement as each award was announced. Many of these books are already available in the middle school libraries. Titles that are middle school appropriate and are not available will be ordered and you will have access to them soon. To look up these books, visit your school's library catalog.

Follow That Food Chain

In sixth grade science, the students learn about food webs. Specifically, they work to understand the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers. The series "Follow That Food Chain: A Who Eats What Adventure," by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn and Donald Wojahn, provides twelve titles that explore the interrelationships of organisms in the food web throughout various parts of the world. In each title, animals are classified as a consumer (tertiary, primary, or secondary), a producer, or a decomposer. At the beginning of each book in the series, students are asked to choose a tertiary consumer. Once the tertiary consumer is chosen, the student turns to the appropriate page and learns more about what this consumer eats within the food web and can then take a closer look at any of those organisms and what they consume, produce, or decompose. Each organism is labeled using a color-coded shape. These books have the feel of a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book because students can turn to any page and learn something new without following a specific page-by-page path throughout the book. There are many interesting facts and details and different paths to choose--most readers will probably immerse themselves for hours in these books.

Lerner, the publisher of "Follow That Food Chain," provides some sample activities through their eSource Downloads that can be used along with the books. Further reading and websites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index are also included.

Michigan Science Curriculum Connections:

L.OL.M.5 Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers – Producers are mainly green plants that obtain energy from the sun by the process of photosynthesis. All animals, including humans, are consumers that meet their energy needs by eating other organisms or their products. Consumers break down the structures of the organisms they eat to make the materials they need to grow and function. Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, use dead organisms or their products to meet their energy needs. *

    

L.OL.06.51 Classify producers, consumers, and decomposers based on their source of food (the source of energy and building materials). *

L.OL.06.52 Distinguish between the ways in which consumers and decomposers obtain energy.

Common Core State Standards Connections:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.9 Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic.

Titles currently available at Milwood Magnet, Hillside Middle School, and Maple Street Magnet School.

Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.

Secondary students from Kalamazoo Public Schools were invited to attend a celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. at Western Michigan University on January 19, 2013. Sessions included S.T.E.M. careers and there were speakers on several topics. Students from Milwood Magnet, Linden Grove, and Maple Street Magnet also competed in the Social Justice Book Bowl. Sixth graders read Social Justice: How You Can Make a Difference by Lynn Bogen Sanders and The Clone Codes by The McKissacks and seventh and eighth graders read Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way) by Sue Macy and The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinago.

Students read the books, prepared an essay as a team, and answered questions at the Book Bowl event. Team 4 from Linden Grove won the sixth grade event. Congratulations to William, Sienna, Destiny, Zonterio, Trinitee, and Amir. Team 6 from Maple Street won the seventh/eighth grade event. Congratulations to Galadrea, Lauren, and Sierra. Each of the students on the winning teams were presented with a Kindle Fire. All of the teams did an excellent job of preparing for the event.

Kalamazoo Public Schools Library Services Department has also prepared a list of Martin Luther King, Jr. resources available in KPS middle school libraries. This list is located on each library's home page (click to find your school). Please feel free to browse the list and request any items you might like to use with your students.

A View From the Middle

Libraries in the Middle is a place where resources available through the Kalamazoo Public Schools' middle school libraries will be highlighted. Check back on a regular basis for book reviews that link materials to the Common Core State Standards, websites that will enhance research and teaching and learning, and recommendations for apps that are useful in education. The middle school libraries are full of rich, diverse resources to enhance your practice--Libraries in the Middle will help you discover what is available and how it use it to make learning even better.