Remember that time I was a technological idiot?

I was so excited to have my computer back that I overdid it on the whole internet thing and used up all the bandwidth my dorm allows for the week in two days. As a result, I'm banned from going on the computer. How silly. To honor my stupidity, here is the lowdown on Teen Tech Week 09 along with some other online and/or gaming information.

Here is a link to the YALSA blog detailing what to do with little to no money and still celebrate Teen Tech Week. It features several podcast type things that I can't listen to because the current computer I'm on is without speakers, but based on the blog post they seem like something worth checking out. There are videos on budgeting, TTW in the school media center, and how to get started if you're a newbie.

Speaking of YALSA, they shared an interesting survey on their blog about teens and their online presence. This reminded me of Laini Taylor's post this weekend about authors and young adults using the internet as a communication tool. Very interesting reads there, go check it out!

I was just having a conversation with someone (or a group of someones) recently about whether or not teen literacy is still declining and whether or not video games are hurting or helping. I feel like it was my Materials for YA class, but I can't be certain, so if you know you had this conversation with me please let me know. Thanks. Anyway, I had this conversation and I still think that video games DO help literacy and it turns out I'm not the only one! That's right, the ALA teamed up with the Verizon Foundation forever ago to determine the impact gaming has on literacy.

BONAS JONAS: Poetry Friday, tricked out tech style. Technically it is a remake of the Beatle's Paperback Writer, updated to say C++ Writer instead. Oh man. BUT since there is no recorded version of it that I know of, I count it as a poem. For your enjoyment, the C++ Writer.

Scrapblog in the library

I am an avid scrapbooker and was always hesitant to continue this hobby because of the expensive materials required and the amount of paper needed goes against my fervent anti-deforestation cause. This all changed last March when I discovered my favorite website ever. Ever. Scrapblog allows you to do so many neat scrapbooking techniques that previous to using this FREE website I could only dream about on my meager wages.

What's more is once I started using this website at work the quality of the library's flyers and booklists have definitely improved. Don't just take my word for it, check them out. Two of my colleagues who also use Scrapblog have generously allowed me to display their favorite publications on my blog so you can see what I mean. Also, the hyperlinks on each of our names takes you to our sc

Here is the booklist I made for a teen book discussion program for next month:

And here is Sara's flyer detailing the upcoming movie programs in the children's room:

Lastly, view Camille's flyer showing the teen programs for the next few months:

A Grimm assignment

My final project for the personal hell that is Learning Theory, Media and the Curriculum is surprisingly not painful (or as painless as a giant homework assignment can really be). Since I pretend actual school librarians read this blog, I'm going to briefly describe it in case anyone's interested in using it. Before that, I'm going to post some EXCITING news. The next Sisters Grimm book, The Everafter War is set to come out in May of 2009!!!! Look to the left to get a sneak peak at the cover.

In short, my unit consists of fifth graders reading one of my favoritest books ever, The Sisters Grimm: Fairytale Detectives by Micheal Buckley. After having book discussions with their primary teacher (or reading teacher if the school is into that), students come to the school library to research some of the fairytale characters featured in Buckley's work to compare and contrast their representations in his work and their more traditional roles. They will also be encouraged to check out some nontraditional depictions too (such as Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs). The characters selected for the character study are: the Big Bad Wolf, the Three Little Pigs, Prince Charming, Jack (of beanstalk fame), and the Giant (also of beanstalk fame). The findings will go on a graphic organizer created for the unit and make a poster out of them after all the data is collected. I'm stuck on the work computer, so I can't publish the organizer as of yet. Look for the edit if you're interested.

The last portion of the unit also takes place in the library. Students are reminded of basic story elements like plot, theme, setting, blah blah blah. Then they are asked to write up short stories of their own (1-2 pages typed) that include two fictional characters from different works. They may include more, but one character must be a protagonist and the other has to be an antagonist from another work than the first character. So no Harry Potter and Voldemort mashups. The premise of the stories revolves around the students suddenly finding out these fictional characters are more than literary figures, they exist in real life. Lastly, the students booktalk their short stories to one another in the library.

Interested in using the Sisters Grimm in a lesson plan but think my idea stinks? No matter, you can always check out the resources provided by the publishing company on the official site!

Mean Green Learning Machines!

I am all about this winter's lead story on School Librarian's Workshop online*. It is centered around elementary school aged children researching current global environmental issues and what they can potentially do about it. Not only does it educate the children that there is a problem, but it helps their self-esteem and researching skills by making them active participants in the solution. What's not to love? If you are working with this age-group and are environmentally conscious, I definitely recommend you read this workshop and incorporate it into your lesson plans. Perhaps around Earth Day? Or maybe Earth Hour?



Video is taken from the main page of the Earth Hour site



*This is not a perma-link for this article. To find the article discussed in this blogpost, open your browser's "find" application (on PC's it is usually control and F). Paste the following: It's easy being green. Voila!