A student this past year introduced me to the Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard and decided to check it out. Red Queen is the 2015 winner of Goodreads Choice Awards, The #1 New York Times Bestseller and Victoria the Best Debut Goodreads Author. I was thrilled when my research led me to find it was a series. The second I tried on Smart Audiobook Player. I am now on Cruel Crown which set up in short stories of the past and behind the scenes. Currently, "leading" or Audio reading, the second short story Steel Scars and it is entirely distracting as this one I do not believe is fit well to Audio because of the use of coded messages between the Red Guard. Because of this, I am going to make this a short post tonight and come back to leave a more detailed review of the books. This is a fantastic series if you are all ready to dive in. However,I must say that this book is for mature audiences only, as it does have mild language and allusions to sexual interactions between story characters.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Monday, July 4, 2016
Midsummer's New Digital Tool Exploration
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| Jessica Robinson's snippet of Glogster |
The site name is glogster.com if you want to check it out on your own time.
Thanks for stopping by!
Friday, July 1, 2016
Midsummer Night's Camp Wannago
Not only am I a learning librarian but I am a mother of two, mom to three and sometimes it is difficult finding camps for my blended family. Not only trying to work camps with their schedule but also paying for them all to go can become expensive quickly! Even some of the most affordable ones can run at 75$ which add up when their are three and no discount for siblings. So, I found inspiration that I wanted to share for any parents or educators that would like a camp experience but without all of the expense and more flexibility!
I was given inspiration from Wendy's kid's meals I decided to grab one day for my kids. I do not often have them eating out but was pleasantly surprised when they opened their toys. My youngest child asked why he was given a book bag. Upon investigation, inspiration struck for my wilderness camp.
Welcome to Camp WannaGo!
Where fun and excitement are only a moment away! Each day is something new and badges are earned for each new skill, observation and merit!
There are many different badges Some can be paired together or if you want to stretch it further you can separate them. I will lay them out as I worked them, but you all can remix them as you wish. I do want to note that the badges I awarded my own children I got from the NotePack from the Wendy's kids meal. They were stickers, and I kept them myself and we would have a ceremony at the end of each day to give them their "badges." These I placed on their NotePacks (except for my oldest who wanted to put it on a special paper he made that he kept inside his NotePack.. to each his own..).
Here are the Badges, and the activities for their coinciding days. I will add pictures of the badges in the next 2 days:
Craft Badge: Children can do a multitude of crafts of their choice on this day Some ideas are:
Make a spiderweb. Make an outfit for your teddy bear. Make a quilt. Make baby blocks. Make a pot holder on a loom. Make a dollhouse. Painting and jewelry making are welcome too! This is a creative day, so let the kids choose!
Bug Badge: On this day, I put together a bug book for my kids to read, color the illustrations and create the cover for. Once they finished they presented their book and told some things they learned about bugs. Each book had a few different bugs to make it more interesting for the presentation. They then designed their own butterfly. Finally they made a bug box and went outside with their magnifying glasses and did some observation work. They would take notes, and for my youngest child just leaving kindergarten, drew pictures of the bugs they observed. This is a great way to incorporate science into summer. You can do the spiderweb project on this day too, if you choose.
Exploration Badge: This badge and the next I used on the same day as they were both evening activities. In the exploration badge we took a "night hike" more like late evening because my kids have bedtimes, where I gave them a scavenger hunt list and stamped the list when they found it. They all helped each other find the items and was great for teamwork building. We also attempted to catch and release fireflies on this day.
Campfire Badge: This is the time to teach about fire safety, how to start a fire, the terms used for materials you need to start a fire and another science insert: the three things you need to make a fire which are oxygen, fuel and heat. We then cooked over the open flames! Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows was great fun for us all. We then discussed how to safely put out a campfire to make sure wildfires don't start.
Nature Badge: I haven't gotten to this badge but I have some ideas for it at least. You can post your own ideas if you like. Let the children collect different specimen of vegetation and try to identify it. Collect litter. Teach them the importance of leaving nature as you found it. Go for a hike or a bike. Have the children make a teepee or their own structure as a math and engineering connection.
Aquatic Badge: This was a fun day. Mainly a splash day with water guns and water balloon fights but also the campers had to demonstrate: safety at the pool, a freestyle stroke, backstroke, breast stroke and a underwater flip (front or backwards).
Bird Badge: I am doing this one today and will need to stop this and come back and finish the post, but I think you have enough to start your camp experience. I borrowed a bird pathfinders book from the library, they will research about birds, observe birds in their environment and make notes in their NotePacks. There are some bird paper airplane cut outs they can design to learn about aerodynamics. We will finish up with making a bird feeder and bird sanctuary!
Sportsmanship Badge: (*note: the sportsman badge I took out of the derby car toy from Wendy's) This is a silly sports day meant to teach good sportsmanship, how to work as a team and how to enjoy a game for what it is: a game. I used horseshoes, they made their own derby cars from Wendy's, but you could use cardboard, and we will race them down ramps they build, silly dress up race, hoop toss, flight testing of their bird and flag football toss.
Nocturnal Nature Badge: I plan on giving this badge along with the camper badge. We will learn about the stars, the difference between day and night as well as nocturnal and creatures... Roasting marshmallows will probably happen too!
Camper Badge: Save the best for last with this badge. This is the night they get to camp in the backyard or if you are really adventurous join them outside where you choose! The badge will be awarded in the morning.
Have fun and remember to allow for kids' creativity! Hurray for Camp WannaGo!
I was given inspiration from Wendy's kid's meals I decided to grab one day for my kids. I do not often have them eating out but was pleasantly surprised when they opened their toys. My youngest child asked why he was given a book bag. Upon investigation, inspiration struck for my wilderness camp.
Welcome to Camp WannaGo!
Where fun and excitement are only a moment away! Each day is something new and badges are earned for each new skill, observation and merit!
There are many different badges Some can be paired together or if you want to stretch it further you can separate them. I will lay them out as I worked them, but you all can remix them as you wish. I do want to note that the badges I awarded my own children I got from the NotePack from the Wendy's kids meal. They were stickers, and I kept them myself and we would have a ceremony at the end of each day to give them their "badges." These I placed on their NotePacks (except for my oldest who wanted to put it on a special paper he made that he kept inside his NotePack.. to each his own..).
Here are the Badges, and the activities for their coinciding days. I will add pictures of the badges in the next 2 days:
Craft Badge: Children can do a multitude of crafts of their choice on this day Some ideas are:
Make a spiderweb. Make an outfit for your teddy bear. Make a quilt. Make baby blocks. Make a pot holder on a loom. Make a dollhouse. Painting and jewelry making are welcome too! This is a creative day, so let the kids choose!
Bug Badge: On this day, I put together a bug book for my kids to read, color the illustrations and create the cover for. Once they finished they presented their book and told some things they learned about bugs. Each book had a few different bugs to make it more interesting for the presentation. They then designed their own butterfly. Finally they made a bug box and went outside with their magnifying glasses and did some observation work. They would take notes, and for my youngest child just leaving kindergarten, drew pictures of the bugs they observed. This is a great way to incorporate science into summer. You can do the spiderweb project on this day too, if you choose.
Exploration Badge: This badge and the next I used on the same day as they were both evening activities. In the exploration badge we took a "night hike" more like late evening because my kids have bedtimes, where I gave them a scavenger hunt list and stamped the list when they found it. They all helped each other find the items and was great for teamwork building. We also attempted to catch and release fireflies on this day.
Campfire Badge: This is the time to teach about fire safety, how to start a fire, the terms used for materials you need to start a fire and another science insert: the three things you need to make a fire which are oxygen, fuel and heat. We then cooked over the open flames! Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows was great fun for us all. We then discussed how to safely put out a campfire to make sure wildfires don't start.
Nature Badge: I haven't gotten to this badge but I have some ideas for it at least. You can post your own ideas if you like. Let the children collect different specimen of vegetation and try to identify it. Collect litter. Teach them the importance of leaving nature as you found it. Go for a hike or a bike. Have the children make a teepee or their own structure as a math and engineering connection.
Aquatic Badge: This was a fun day. Mainly a splash day with water guns and water balloon fights but also the campers had to demonstrate: safety at the pool, a freestyle stroke, backstroke, breast stroke and a underwater flip (front or backwards).
Bird Badge: I am doing this one today and will need to stop this and come back and finish the post, but I think you have enough to start your camp experience. I borrowed a bird pathfinders book from the library, they will research about birds, observe birds in their environment and make notes in their NotePacks. There are some bird paper airplane cut outs they can design to learn about aerodynamics. We will finish up with making a bird feeder and bird sanctuary!
Sportsmanship Badge: (*note: the sportsman badge I took out of the derby car toy from Wendy's) This is a silly sports day meant to teach good sportsmanship, how to work as a team and how to enjoy a game for what it is: a game. I used horseshoes, they made their own derby cars from Wendy's, but you could use cardboard, and we will race them down ramps they build, silly dress up race, hoop toss, flight testing of their bird and flag football toss.
Nocturnal Nature Badge: I plan on giving this badge along with the camper badge. We will learn about the stars, the difference between day and night as well as nocturnal and creatures... Roasting marshmallows will probably happen too!
Camper Badge: Save the best for last with this badge. This is the night they get to camp in the backyard or if you are really adventurous join them outside where you choose! The badge will be awarded in the morning.
Have fun and remember to allow for kids' creativity! Hurray for Camp WannaGo!
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Windy Summer Night, change is coming
As promised, here is the second trilogy hinted in the last post. What's Left of Me, The Hybrid Chronicles by Kat Zhang is a fantasy story of United States set in an alternate universe. In this story, we meet two female main characters but they share a body! In a world where humans are born with two souls but and the civil war instead drew a line between two soul and one soul humans, we find Emma and Addie, hiding this secret to stay alive. They find themselves on a series of adventure. Will both souls survive them? Meant for a Middle School and above audience, this story would work well for a literary study concerning plot, style and vocabulary lessons. History lessons could cross the curriculum by incorporate What's Left of Me by having students make their own stories/comics/videos of the civil war, set in this period and universe using the factual characters from the time period. Easily characterized as a dystopia, hero novel students can learn great efforts can be won by persistence and belief in oneself. Recommended to mature audiences: violence.
Life Note: Today was a life changing day for many. My sister had her first baby, I had a phenomenal interview that let me know that I can be a great librarian, my husband solved a thieving and that was just in My family! But though we are in the ever present moment of now, the time has moved on to "tomorrow" and I must fall asleep. For another big day is on its way guaranteed. Change is coming.
Life Note: Today was a life changing day for many. My sister had her first baby, I had a phenomenal interview that let me know that I can be a great librarian, my husband solved a thieving and that was just in My family! But though we are in the ever present moment of now, the time has moved on to "tomorrow" and I must fall asleep. For another big day is on its way guaranteed. Change is coming.
Monday, April 18, 2016
The Current Midnight Read's
So excited to start book reviews!
There are two new books currently on my bedside table. Both trilogies, both having to do with souls and both vastly different from the other.
The first trilogy is the religious novels Conversations with God. I do not believe the the title does the book justice at all. Here are some of my ideas:
Soul's Work
Exploring the Cosmos Within and Without
The Call of the Smile
The All in All, Including You and Not You!
Tell me which you like or leave your own in the comments (I trust you all will be respectful digital citizens here as rotten fruit will not be left on the counter).
I was given this book months ago to read but did not pick it up. I hate to admit that it was the title mainly keeping me from it. The religious genre just does not appeal to me. However, after chastising myself for both judging a book, literally, by its cover (something a librarian Really should avoid) and limiting myself by Not trying new things such as this genre, I decided I would read it- and then I never put it down. This was not a religious book at all, spiritual yes, but did not speak for one specific religion therefore, can not be called religious. Meant for ages 18 and older, but readers as young as middle school could read it with parental guidance. Neal Donald Walsh asks the questions that so many of us have on our minds at one time or another and gives incredible documentary from a source that connects us all. The text connects spiritual masters from different regions and times in order to make known that in their examples one thing has been repeated: We all have the ability to become Masters, too. In this novel you take a ride with yours and others' soul through the Big Bang to now and beyond with one constant through the times, to achieve the highest vision of ourselves.
There are two new books currently on my bedside table. Both trilogies, both having to do with souls and both vastly different from the other.
The first trilogy is the religious novels Conversations with God. I do not believe the the title does the book justice at all. Here are some of my ideas:
Soul's Work
Exploring the Cosmos Within and Without
The Call of the Smile
The All in All, Including You and Not You!
Tell me which you like or leave your own in the comments (I trust you all will be respectful digital citizens here as rotten fruit will not be left on the counter).
I was given this book months ago to read but did not pick it up. I hate to admit that it was the title mainly keeping me from it. The religious genre just does not appeal to me. However, after chastising myself for both judging a book, literally, by its cover (something a librarian Really should avoid) and limiting myself by Not trying new things such as this genre, I decided I would read it- and then I never put it down. This was not a religious book at all, spiritual yes, but did not speak for one specific religion therefore, can not be called religious. Meant for ages 18 and older, but readers as young as middle school could read it with parental guidance. Neal Donald Walsh asks the questions that so many of us have on our minds at one time or another and gives incredible documentary from a source that connects us all. The text connects spiritual masters from different regions and times in order to make known that in their examples one thing has been repeated: We all have the ability to become Masters, too. In this novel you take a ride with yours and others' soul through the Big Bang to now and beyond with one constant through the times, to achieve the highest vision of ourselves.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The Heat is On
OK, so I have been working on my online resume. They make it look so easy! I made a QR code to link you there. QR codes, are a great way to link people with new materials. They also have an option for static or dynamic QR codes, dynamic being ones you can edit even after publication. I haven't tried my hand at this yet, but I certainly will as I continue to tweak the online look of my resume. It still isn't quite what I was hoping for but it is a start. ..... I also am going to be starting to posting reviews of the books I am currently reading. What book am I reading currently, you may ask?
Modern Love by Aziz Ansari. Quick literary review: this, so far, has lived up to Aziz's reputation if you are familiar with his stand up. If you are not, you should start there! He is hilarious, in my opinion of course. You can find him in Parks and Recreation but his best work has been stand up before the creation of his Netflix original show. The book takes a look at love in the modern world and how it compares with that of the past generations of those as old as our grand and maybe great-grandparents. The insightful data collected coupled with his animated storytelling skills has made this book hard for me to put down! If you enjoy learning, factual insight or new case studies but find long essays with subtext and Appendixes blindingly boring- this book is for you! If you are a young adult with questions of love and what is acceptable now, give this book a try! Co-authored by a Professor of Sociology Eric Klinenberg, this young adult (ages 20-25) is full of focus group data and interviews to show the differences in the search for love, before and after the technology revolution. A comically insightful piece in a genre all its own, it will have you laughing and learning all at once.
Modern Love by Aziz Ansari. Quick literary review: this, so far, has lived up to Aziz's reputation if you are familiar with his stand up. If you are not, you should start there! He is hilarious, in my opinion of course. You can find him in Parks and Recreation but his best work has been stand up before the creation of his Netflix original show. The book takes a look at love in the modern world and how it compares with that of the past generations of those as old as our grand and maybe great-grandparents. The insightful data collected coupled with his animated storytelling skills has made this book hard for me to put down! If you enjoy learning, factual insight or new case studies but find long essays with subtext and Appendixes blindingly boring- this book is for you! If you are a young adult with questions of love and what is acceptable now, give this book a try! Co-authored by a Professor of Sociology Eric Klinenberg, this young adult (ages 20-25) is full of focus group data and interviews to show the differences in the search for love, before and after the technology revolution. A comically insightful piece in a genre all its own, it will have you laughing and learning all at once.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Outside the box
Quick blip:
Here is some new technology for the classroom librarian. My own goal is to become more global with teaching strategies as well as a life long learner. This is a great way to help in that goal's attainment! Check it out!
https://youtu.be/eRf7_nX74PA
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