Supplemental Reading 2

So, here is the second half of my supplemental reading, or at least what I remembered to make comments on.  This edition is made up of the books that I read this semester.  All but the final one connects to my research as well as being useful in my job.  The final one really connected with me as I was reading it with my book club and felt that I should share it. 

Lesesne, T.S. (2006). Naked reading: Uncovering what tweens need to become lifelong readers. Portland: Stenhouse Publishers.  (pages: 1-118)

            I work with tweens and teens, so I am always interested in ways to improve the reading motivations of my students.  I see the slump in reading starting in sixth grade as my students are finding more outside interests to replace reading as well as a lack of interest in ripping texts apart in the name of reading comprehension.  I know that I will be rereading this book as I find new ideas each time I return to the book for my research.  I love the un-book report ideas as well as the techniques to reconnect readers and books.

Lesesne, T.S. (2003). Making the match: The right book for the right reader at the right time, grades 4-12. Portland: Stenhouse Publishers. (pages: 1-232)

            I really love this book.  The snapshots of readers and essays from authors are great ways to connect to readers and introduce the chapters.  The chapter on moving from fiction to informational texts was interesting and helped me come up with some ideas for next year’s displays.  I loved the book lists in the appendix, I plan to keep them as nearby as I am purchasing books and putting together displays next year.  I hope to push the idea of pleasure reading on my teachers more strongly next year, and I know that this book will be a handy guide to use.

Lesesne, T.S. (2010). Reading Ladders: Leading students from where they are to where we’d like them to be. Portsmith: Heinemann. (pages: 1-116)

            I was so excited to read this book and I plan on using it to create suggested reading lists for my students next year.  As I was reading the book, I thought it would be great to create lists to have at hand so that when students come in looking for books on their lexile I can suggest something that I think they would like and at the same time would help them grow as readers instead of me just finding something off the shelf to replace their required lexile reading.  This way I can have several ideas at hand for the students and still help the teachers feel that I am challenging their students with their book selections.  I know that this is not quite the idea behind the reading ladders concept, but I think it would be a good way to start as I continue to ease teachers away from requiring students to read on their lexile levels and less for theory own pleasure and interests.

Solomon, G. & Schrum, L. (2010). Web 2.0 how-to for educators: The indispensable companion to web 2.0: new tools, new schools. Eugene: International Society for Technology in Education. (pages: 1-281)

            I purchased this book in the hopes that it would give me a better understanding of some of the web 2.0 tools that I am starting to use and have been using, but not well.  This book really lived up to my expectations.  It was really helpful that each chapter explains a type of tool, tells why it is useful, when teachers are using it, some ideas for classroom integration, professional development with the tools, who is using the tools to teach and learn, how to begin using the tool, and where to find more information about the tool.  The chapter on assorted other tools is a great resources as well.  I like getting small bites of information that I can read quickly without being overwhelmed as well as some ways to use the tools right away.  I know that this book is a great resource that I will keep returning to as I add more technology to my repertoire.

Covey, S. (1998). The 7 habits of highly effective teens. New York: Fireside. (pages: 1-253)

            I know that this is not a technology or education related book, but I was reading with my book club and realized how much the ideas were helping me as I worked through this semester.  This version of the book is teen-centered, but the ideas are easy to understand and actually to put into practice.  The easy layout of idea and “baby-steps” to take to work toward making the habit a habit are great techniques.  It is also easy to return to the habits if you slip up.  I have returned to the personal bank account section because I realized that I have run dry this semester and need the boost to my account so that I can work on my habits and help feed others’ bank accounts.  I was never a fan of the Steven Covey method in the past, but after reading this book, I have realized that his ideas can work if you have an open mind and are willing to make the effort to build yourself in a positive way.  If you have not read this or one of the other books in the 7 habits series you should.

Supplemental reading part 1.
     I do a lot of reading of the magazines Education Week, ASCD, School Library Journal, and Voya.  I have just started receiving Knowledge Quest and really like many of the articles in the most recent journal.  I thought these would be great ones to blog about.  Each one of the articles connected with me in some way and as I am now adding e-books and e-readers  in my library these were great articles to read for ideas and cautions.  I do have to admit that the first article that I read about finding the perfect book really resonated with me, not so much because that is how I found reading, but because I remember the first book I truly fell in love with.  In fact, I still own it.

Deedy, C.A. (2012). There’s a book looking for you. Knowledge Quest. 40(4). 78-80.

            I know that this is not a research-based article, but I thought that this was such a great memory for the author to share.  My memory of falling in love with reading is not the same, but I sometimes find myself having similar conversations with my own students.  I love when my students find the one book that they just adore.  It is sometimes hard to keep my sixth, seventh, and eighth graders motivated to read with everything else that is calling on their time, but I try to always connect them to the books I hope will connect with them.  I always hope that they will come back for more.

 Perez, L. (2012). Innovative professional development: Expanding your professional learning   network. Knowledge Quest. 40(3). 20-22.

            This feature article was a great way to give me just a bite of information about professional learning networks and why I need to be in one.  I do collaborate with one of my fellow middle school librarians, so I have a small network.  After reading this article I realize that I really need to spend more time on TLNing and other sites reading and talking to other librarians.  Being the only librarian, actually the only person in my library it is important for me to contact others and stay up to date on changes in the field.

Neumzn, D. (2012). Here comes the future: information is the building block for learning. Knowledge Quest. 40(3). 24-28.

            This was a really interesting article about the importance of teaching information literacy.  As the librarian in my school, I tend to be the expert, at least in my building, for information and finding information I try to make sure that students and teachers understand why it is so important to learn how to find information.  As the author mentions, it is difficult to get students to do more than visit a search engine and click on sites when doing research, but it is more important than ever to teach students to evaluate everything that they find online.  I liked that the author tied in synthesizing information and learning new technologies as part of information literacy.  This reminded me that I need to make sure I am talking to my teachers about what technology that they are using so that I am prepared to help them teach our students how to use it correctly.

Moorefield-Lang, H. & Gavigan, K. (2012) These aren’t your father’s funny papers: The new world of digital graphic novels. Knowledge Quest, 40(3). 30-35.

            I really liked this article.  I already love graphic novels, so learning about reading them online and what sites to visit was great.  I have so many students that read graphic novels and I would love to be able to add them to my digital collections.  I hope to introduce graphic novels to some of my teachers for use in their classrooms.  It is a struggle, but I am working on it.

Ercegovac, Z. (2012). Letting students use web 2.0 tools to hook one another on reading. Knowledge Quest, 40(3). 36-39.

            This is how I would like my library to be.  I want it to be a place where students read for pleasure, share with others, and use technology.  I am going to have to learn more about the ReadReviewRecommend program.  I plan on working with more web 2.0 tools next year, so this article gave me some interesting ideas.

Stephens, W. (2012). Deploying e-readers without buying e-books: One school’s emphasis on the public domain. Knowledge Quest. 40(3). 40-43.

            I was intrigued by this idea when I began the article, but I ended up being a bit confused.  I understand that because of budget issues the school choose to use free e-books, but I felt that the article left out the explanations of why this was better for general reading and not just classes.  The author ended with the statement that the English department could now clean out their book room, but other than using the readers for class sets she did not really explain how this would help reading for pleasure.  I have purchased two IPads for my library and I was really hoping that this article would give some ideas on how this school implemented using e-readers in the library, but it felt more like a quick conversation and ad for the Nook.

Edwards, B. (2012). Can-do spirit: Facing the challenges of budget cuts. Knowledge Quest. 40(3). 54-57.

            This article reminded me that I have to have a positive attitude no matter what and that ultimately it is my students who must come first.  I have been without an aide for four years and I still have to remind myself that yes, I am the librarian, but I am not superwoman.  I am the only one to do the work, so it will get done when it gets done.  It has been nice to be able to say that to people and explain to them that I am just one person and if they want something done immediately I shall have to have help.  I also like that the article gave some great ideas about what to do if there is a chance that my position will be cut, or in my case changed in any way.  A positive attitude will really help at those times.

Woodward, T. (2012). Now is the time: Embrace communication media and data use. Knowledge Quest, 40(3). 58-61.

            This article had an interesting premise, but lacked a bit on the follow through.  I am not sure why I should work myself into obsolescence, yet collect data, and embrace communication in a way that proves my importance.  I though that some of his examples were good, but could have used a bit more explanation.  Exactly how should I teach a research lesson for a “drop off” teacher that involves the teacher who does not want to participate.  If she can do the same lesson in the future, what does she need me to co-teach with her for?  After the first year of that, I definitely would be obsolete.  Do not get me wrong, I am all for co-teaching and sharing the lessons so that teachers can handle them by themselves, but if I am truly teaching myself into to not being needed that will happen.  Really, this article needed some solid ideas of how to do all of these things and still make the librarian relevant, but in a more updated way, just mentioning communicating in ways that will connect to students will not do that.

Chmara, T. (2012). Privacy and e-books. Knowledge Quest. 40(3). 62-65.

            I have e-books through Overdrive Media this year and while I thought I checked on all the issues and policies that might effect my students, I do not remember looking at information about privacy.  I will make it a point to look at that and make sure that I can protect any way I can if possible.  With the two IPads I will soon have for the library, this is something I will have to really watch out for.

Bates, N. (2012). Weaving a virtual story- creating book trailers 101. Knowledge Quest. 40(3). 72-76.

            This was a great reminder about the power of book trailers and how to create them.  I would love, when I have time, to create some book trailers for my students, but finding a place to save them that student that students can access is a problem.  I will have to work on that as I create book trailers that will hopefully spark my students’ motivations to read.